iPhone owners could receive up to $95 under a proposed $250 million settlement resolving claims that Apple misled customers about Siri’s artificial intelligence features, according to a recent court filing.

The class-action lawsuit, filed in federal court in the Northern District of California on behalf of U.S. consumers, claims that Apple deceived customers by marketing “Enhanced Siri features” that did not yet exist, leading them to buy iPhones based on false advertising.

The plaintiffs are seeking a settlement payment of $250 million, according to a recent court filing. If approved by a judge, it could rank among the largest settlements involving Apple.

“Apple has reached a settlement to resolve claims related to the availability of two additional features,” an Apple spokesperson said in an email to CBS News. “We resolved this matter to stay focused on doing what we do best, delivering the most innovative products and services to our users.”

Here’s what to know about the recent settlement.

Am I eligible?

The settlement covers people who purchased an iPhone 16 model, iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max between June 10, 2024, and March 29, 2025. 

Approximately 37 million iPhone owners are eligible, according to the court filing.

Customers will be notified by either email or mail if they can file a claim. An online social media campaign will also provide information about the settlement website and who is eligible, according to the court filing.

How much money could I get?

Eligible customers will initially receive $25 per device. Depending on how many claims are submitted and other determining factors, the final payment may increase or decrease, but it will not exceed $95 per device, according to the court filing.

How do I file a claim?

Claim filing details are not released yet. Clarkson Law Firm, which filed the original lawsuit against Apple, said on its website that a settlement website with more details will be available in “a few weeks.”

According to the court filing, the website “will include all necessary information to learn about the settlement” and a number consumers can call with questions. (CBS)

The post iPhone owners could get up to $95 from Apple settlement appeared first on Newswire.

Apple is urging users to update their iPhones after the discovery of new spyware that can take over phones running older versions of the iOS operating system.

The powerful software exploit can steal information from potentially hundreds of millions of users, said cybersecurity researchers at Lookout, iVerify, and Alphabet’s Google.

It is unclear how many iPhones are vulnerable to the spyware known as Darksword, a type of malware designed to secretly steal information from mobile devices.

It affects users running an older version of the iOS operating system, released between March and August 2025 (versions 18.4 to 18.6.2).

An estimated 220 to 270 million iPhones still run on older iOS versions, according to researchers.

Analysis from the three companies shows the iPhone hacking tools have been focused on several groups: Ukrainians targeted by Russian intelligence; Chinese cryptocurrency users; and people in Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Malaysia.

On 3 March, Google and iVerify revealed details of a separate powerful iPhone spyware tool called Coruna, which was linked to Russian intelligence groups and Chinese cybercriminals.

Darksword was found on ​the same servers that suspected Russian operators of Coruna have used.

Researchers said the two hacking tools indicate a flourishing market for malware. Darksword can steal data, including emails, usernames, passwords, photos, and even cryptocurrency wallets.

Lookout described it as “highly sophisticated” malware, which “appears to be a professionally designed platform”.

An Apple spokesperson, Sarah O’Rourke, said the two tools only work against devices running older versions of Apple’s operating system, reinforcing the need for people to apply updates regularly.

“Keeping software up to date remains the single most important thing users can do to maintain the high security of their Apple devices,” she said.

John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at Citizen Lab, a University of Toronto-sponsored cybersecurity lab, told NBC News: “The barrier to entry for widespread, devastating mobile attacks has been decisively lowered… it’s clear this problem is only going to grow.”

“The scary takeaway for regular users is they can’t spot this attack,” he added.

Apple’s latest operating system, iOS 26, was released in September and protects users against both hacking campaigns, according to the company.

Last week, Apple made the unusual move of releasing a special update for iPhone users with older devices that cannot handle a full upgrade to iOS 26, specifically to block hackers from using the hacking tools. (Sky News)

The post Apple issues iPhone spyware alert, urges users to update iOS operating system appeared first on Newswire.

Apple is shifting its production focus to three high-end iPhone models for 2026, including its first-ever foldable iPhone, while delaying the launch of the standard iPhone 18 to the first half of 2027, Nikkei Asia reported Friday, citing four sources familiar with the matter.

The US tech company is expected to unveil the foldable device alongside two non-folding flagship models featuring upgraded cameras and larger displays in the second half of 2026. The decision is part of a revised marketing strategy and response to supply chain constraints, the report said.

Apple aims to optimize resource allocation and boost profitability amid rising costs for memory chips and other materials. The delay also helps reduce production risks associated with the complex manufacturing process required for its foldable device.

“Supply chain smoothness is one of the key challenges for this year, and the marketing strategy change also played a part in the decision,” an executive from an iPhone supplier told Nikkei Asia. (Newswire)

The post Apple to make foldable iPhone, Nikkei Asia reports appeared first on Newswire.

Apple Inc. assembled $22 billion worth of iPhones in India in the 12 months ended March, increasing production by nearly 60% over the previous year in a sign of continued diversification away from China.

The Cupertino, California-headquartered company now makes 20%, or one in five, of its prized iPhones in the South Asian country, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified as the information isn’t public. The dollar figure represents the devices’ estimated factory gate value, rather than the marked-up retail price.

The ramp-up suggests the iPhone maker and its suppliers are accelerating a pivot to India from China, a process it began when harsh Covid lockdowns hurt production at Apple’s largest plant. The bulk of India-made iPhones are assembled at Foxconn Technology Group’s factory in southern India. Tata Group’s electronics manufacturing arm, which bought Wistron Corp. and controls Pegatron Corp.’s operations, is also a key supplier.

Apple did not respond to a request for comment outside of regular business hours.

Of the total India production, Apple exported 1.5 trillion rupees ($17.4 billion) in iPhones from the region in the fiscal year through March 2025, the nation’s technology minister said on April 8.

Shipments of iPhones from India to the US accelerated after President Donald Trump announced his plans for the so-called “reciprocal” tariffs in February, the people said. Apple’s average India production and exports surged all through the fiscal year to March.

Apple will increasingly prioritize iPhones from the India supply chain for its US customers, Bloomberg News reported previously.

The Trump administration late Friday exempted electronics goods including smartphones and computers from its reciprocal tariffs. That’s good news for companies such as Apple and Nvidia Corp., though the reprieve doesn’t appear to extend to Trump’s separate 20% duty on China, applied to pressure Beijing to crack down on fentanyl.

This also means iPhones made in India will not attract any duties as of now. Barring the exceptions made Friday, Trump’s cumulative levies on China remain at 145%, and will likely force companies such as Apple to intensify their supply chain shift.

But with nearly 200 suppliers and an overwhelming reliance on China, moves to other countries could take years to play out. Despite Trump’s ambition to have iPhones made in the US, Apple is unlikely to move production there any time soon due to factors including a shortage of facilities and labor needed to produce the devices.

Apple’s Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook has often praised China’s high-level of skill in making its marquee devices. In 2022, Bloomberg Intelligence estimated it would take eight years to move just 10% of Apple’s production capacity out of China.

Apple now assembles its entire iPhone range in India, including the more expensive titanium Pro models. Its manufacturing success in the world’s most populous nation is also helped by state subsidies tied to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambition to turn the country into a manufacturing hub.

Modi is also seeking to widen electronics component manufacturing with $2.7 billion in new financial incentives, and is focused on advancing its semiconductor ambitions.

Apple has a nearly 8% market share in India’s smartphone market, where its sales — a bulk of those from iPhones — reached almost $8 billion in fiscal 2024. (Economic Times)

The post Apple India produces $22 billion of iPhones in a shift from China appeared first on Newswire.

US President Donald Trump has boasted “jobs and factories will come roaring back” as he unleashed unprecedented tariffs around the world during his “Liberation Day” address.

With his sweeping global tariffs now in effect, steep price hikes on products ranging from clothing to electronics could largely be borne by American consumers. Now, a prominent tech analyst has warned that the price of an Apple iPhone could soar to around $3,500 if they were made in the US.

The president and his economic officials have promised that, as a result of the tariffs, numerous manufacturing jobs will eventually be “reshored” to US, employing millions of Americans.

But Dan Ives, global head of technology research at financial services firm Wedbush Securities, told CNN’s Erin Burnett that the idea is a “fictional tale.”

US-made iPhones could cost more than three times their current price of around $1,000, he added, because it would be necessary to replicate the highly complex production ecosystem that currently exists in Asia.

“You build that (supply chain) in the US with a fab in West Virginia and New Jersey. They’ll be $3,500 iPhones,” he said, referring to fabrication plants, or high-tech manufacturing facilities where computer chips that power electronic devices are normally made.

And even then, it would cost Apple about $30 billion and three years to move just 10% of their supply chain to the US to begin with, Ives told Burnett on Monday. CNN has reached out to Apple for comment.

The making and assembly of smartphone parts shifted to Asia decades ago, as American companies largely focused on software development and product design, which generate much higher profit margins. That move has helped make Apple one of the world’s most valuable companies and cement itself as a dominant smartphone maker.

Since Trump’s inauguration in late January, Apple’s shares have lost around 25% of their value due to concerns about the impact of tariffs on its sprawling supply chain, which is highly dependent on China and Taiwan. About 90% of iPhones are assembled in China.

“That’s why I think you see what’s happened to the stock, because no company is more caught up in this tariff front and center in this category five storm than Cupertino and Apple,” he said. “It’s an economic Armageddon, but especially for the tech industry.”

The chips that power iPhones are mainly manufactured in Taiwan, while its screen panels are supplied by South Korean companies. Some other components are made in China, and final assembly mostly takes place in the country.

In February, Apple announced it would invest $500 billion in the US over the next four years as part of its effort expand production outside China and to avoid Trump’s tariffs on the country.

Tech analysts agree that iPhone prices are likely to rise, even if supply chains stay where they are. Rosenblatt Securities, a New York-based investment bank, said iPhones could be 43% more expensive, should Apple pass on the entire cost of higher tariffs to consumers, according to a research note cited by Reuters.

Neil Shah, vice president of research at Counterpoint Research, estimates that iPhone could cost about 30% more, but this could depend on where they are made.

Apple has previously been seeking to diversify its production bases from China to India and Brazil and could look to shift production of key components to countries that face lower tariff barriers to keep the cost of its phones down. India faces 26% tariffs, whereas Brazil has been hit with 10%. Although Trump’s tariffs on Brazil are the lowest among key iPhone manufacturing centers, it probably doesn’t produce enough capacity to fill the gap left by China, Shah said. (CNN)

The post iPhone could triple in price to $3,500 if they’re made in the US appeared first on Newswire.

Apple plans to introduce a foldable iPhone as early as 2026, according to a new report, which would mark the first new variant of the company’s most popular product since its ill-fated iPhone Mini in 2020.

Citing two people with direct knowledge of the plans, The Information reports that the phone would fold across its width, like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip or an old clamshell flip phone. If a foldable iPhone does get released in 2026, it would come seven years after Samsung’s first effort in the category.

The people cited in the new report said Apple’s foldable iPhone had progressed from the ideation stage, and that the company had reached out to suppliers in Asia to make components for it. Apple is also apparently planning a camera upgrade for the same year, which would let users control the size of the aperture with a mechanical system, possibly allowing for the creation of a depth-of-field effect.

Of course, anything could change in the next two years. But before we see a potential folding iPhone in 2026, Apple will be focused on the AI features and new cameras of this year’s iPhone 16, followed by the 2025 iPhone 17 line-up, which is rumoured to introduce an extremely thin iPhone “Slim” model, replacing the iPhone Plus. Additionally, Apple has just released its first extended reality headset, the Apple Vision Pro, this year.

Foldable phones have grown steadily as a category since 2019, with Samsung models dominating in the West but seeing some competition from Google (with the Pixel Fold, which has not been officially released in Australia) and Lenovo’s Motorola brand. In China, competition is much tougher with Samsung competing against local manufacturers Honor and Huawei.

The global foldable smartphone market grew 49 per cent in the first quarter from a year earlier, marking its highest rate of increase in six quarters, according to a Counterpoint Research report from May. Huawei took the top spot for the first time, beating Samsung. By 2026, Apple may enter a significantly more established market, which is comfortable territory for the iPhone maker.

Samsung’s latest foldable phones, the Z Fold6 and Z Flip6, were announced earlier this month and launch on July 31 for $2750 and $1800 respectively. Like the forthcoming iPhone 16, they come with a raft of built-in artificial intelligence features that let you generate images, summarise web pages or access instant translations.

A second iteration of Google’s Pixel Fold has also been confirmed and is set for a full reveal on August 13, though it remains to be seen if this version will make it Down Under. (Sydney Morning Herald)

The post Apple’s first folding iPhone could arrive as early as 2026: report appeared first on Newswire.

Apple has warned iPhone users against drying their phones with a popular ‘hack’. Putting your phone in a bowl of rice might be a commonly known trick to do if you accidentally get your device wet, but the tech giant says you shouldn’t.

Despite many people swearing by the method, experts have rallied against it as tests suggest it doesn’t work, as reported by the BBC. Apple has released new guidance telling users it could be damaging to their devices.

By putting your phone in rice, it could lead to small particles of the rice damaging parts of the device. Instead, Apple suggested gently tapping out any liquid, with the phone connector facing down and leaving it to dry out on its own.

As well as avoiding rice, Apple also advised against drying a wet phone via an “external heat source or compressed air”, meaning radiators and hair dryers should be avoided. The company also warns against inserting a “foreign object”, such as cotton buds or tissue paper, into your mobile.

All Apple device from the iPhone 12 onwards are able to withstand immersion up to a depth of six metres, for up to half an hour. Here is what Apple’s new guidance says.

Apple’s guidance

According to Apple’s support site, there are a few things you should remember if your iPhone or Apple accessory gets wet. Fisrtly, remove the cable and don’t plug it back in until your iPhone and the cable are completely dry.

How to dry your iPhone

Next, tap your iPhone gently against your hand with the connector facing down to remove excess liquid. Leave your iPhone in a dry area with some airflow.

After at least 30 minutes, try charging using a Lightning or USB-C cable or connecting an accessory. If you see the alert again, there is still liquid in the connector or under the pins of your cable. Leave your iPhone in a dry place with some airflow for up to a day.

You can try again to charge or connect an accessory throughout this period. It may take up to 24 hours to dry fully. If your phone has dried out but still isn’t charging, unplug the cable from the adapter and unplug the adapter from the wall (if possible) and then connect them again.

What you shouldn’t do

According to Apple, you absolutely should not do dry your iPhone using an external heat source or compressed air. Or insert a foreign object, such as a cotton bud or a paper towel, into the connector.

And don’t put your iPhone in a bag of rice. Doing so could allow small particles of rice to damage your iPhone. (Bristol Post)

The post Apple warns users against using rice to dry their iPhones in new guidance appeared first on Newswire.

French regulators on Tuesday ordered Apple to halt sales of the iPhone 12 for emitting too much electromagnetic radiation, and to fix existing handsets. 

The French agency that regulates radio frequencies, the ANFR, said testing found that the model emits more electromagnetic waves susceptible to be absorbed by the body than permitted.

The ANFR said it “ordered Apple to remove the iPhone 12 from the French market from September 12 due to the model exceeding the limit” for electromagnetic absorption by the body.

It said accredited labs had found absorption of electromagnetic energy by the body at 5.74 watts per kilogram during tests simulating when the phone was being held in the hand or kept in a pocket.

The European standard is a specific absorption rate of 4.0 watts per kilogram in such tests.

“Concerning phones already sold, Apple must in the briefest of delays take corrective measures to bring the affected phones into compliance,” said the ANFR in a statement on its website.

“Otherwise, Apple will have to recall them.”

ANFR noted that tests that measure the electromagnetic radiation absorbed at a distance of five centimetres was in compliance with the limit of 2.0 watts per kilogram.

ANFR said its agents would verify beginning Wednesday that iPhone 12 models were no longer being offered for sale in France.

When contacted by AFP, Apple disputed the ANFR’s results, saying it had presented multiple independent analyses showing the devices were in compliance, but that the company would nonetheless continue to work with the regulator.

Regulators in a number of countries have limits on the amount of electromagnetic radiation mobile phones may emit to prevent adverse health effects.

The World Health Organization states on its website that following a large number of studies that “no adverse health effects have been established as being caused by mobile phone use”.

The news from France came the same day that Apple unveiled its new iPhone 15 lineup, the first to feature a universal charging port in place of its unique “Lightning” ports after a tussle with European regulators.

The EU is insisting that all phones and other small devices must be compatible with the USB-C charging cables from the end of next year, a move it says will reduce waste and save money for consumers.

“USB-C has become a universally accepted standard. So we’re bringing USB-C to iPhone 15,” said Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice president of iPhone marketing at a launch event.

The update comes as the Silicon Valley tech giant faces declining iPhone sales, as premium prices push customers to delay switching to newer models.

“Apple needed to deliver more than just minor updates to get people excited about buying new products,” Techsponential analyst Avi Greengart said in a demo area at the event.

“I think they delivered on that with lots of updates, some of them not so minor.” (NDTV)

The post France orders Apple to halt iPhone 12 sales appeared first on Newswire.

iPhone exports from India touched a record ₹10,000 crore in May, boosting the outward shipments of smartphones from the country to ₹12,000 crore during the month, according to industry data.

Indian officials hope to use Apple’s deepening India engagement as an example to convince other US companies such as Tesla to shift their supply chains here, said government officials familiar with the matter.

Read more at:

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/may-iphone-exports-swell-to-record-rs-10000-crore/articleshow/101092287.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

The post iPhone exports from India swell to record Rs 10,000 crore in May appeared first on Newswire.