Canadian iPhone users could be part of a new class-action lawsuit proposed against Apple, accusing the brand of falsely advertising Apple Intelligence features.
On May 11, Consumer Law Group filed the class-action lawsuit against Apple Inc. and Apple Canada Inc. in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice over claims of “deceptive marketing and advertising of the Apple iPhone 16 suite of products.”
In addition to iPhone 16 users, the lawsuit applies to Canadians who purchased certain iPhone 15 models. A separate lawsuit was filed on behalf of Quebec residents.
The proposed lawsuit comes after Apple agreed in May to settle a similar U.S. class-action lawsuit for at least US$250 million.
The allegations
According to the Statement of Claim, Apple began promoting its latest iPhone products in the summer of 2024, emphasizing its Apple Intelligence range of features, including a more advanced AI-powered Siri.
However, the lawsuit alleges that the company “convinced customers to purchase either or both of these iPhones on the basis of Artificial Intelligence features that were not actually available at the time of the advertisement, or at the time of purchase, and some of which remain unavailable today.”
It also alleges that Apple failed to disclose the fact that several features were unavailable at the time of purchase and remain “in development” and won’t be available until at least late 2026.
“As a result, consumers got less than their money’s worth in purchasing a phone that did not have features Apple prominently advertised,” states the law firm’s website.
The court document alleges that Apple violated several laws, including the Consumer Protection Act, the Competition Act, and the Sales of Goods Act. Apple is also being accused of breaching its contract with consumers by selling them phones that weren’t equipped with all the advertised features.
Are you eligible?
You could be eligible if you meet the following criteria:
- You purchased an iPhone 16 (any model)
- You purchased an iPhone 15 Pro and/or Pro Max
If you qualify, you can join the class action by signing up online and providing your personal information and contact details.
How much could you receive?
For now, the amount isn’t available yet as the class-action lawsuit is still in the proposal stage and still has to be certified. The law firm is seeking compensation for out-of-pocket and inconvenience expenses, as well as restitution for class members.
Daily Hive has reached out to Apple Canada for a comment and will update this story once it receives a response.
In 2024, a B.C. Supreme Court judge approved the $14.4-million settlement in a class action against Apple in Canada, claiming that performance mitigation features of Apple’s iOS software (versions 10.2.1, 10.3, 11, and/or 11.2 for iPhones) caused defects, leading the iPhones to “prematurely age, degrade, or shut down unexpectedly.”
