If you paid Apple to fix your MacBook's “butterfly” keyboard, you may be due for a payday.
Apple today reached a $50 million class-action settlement concerning its butterfly keyboards, which were infamous for breaking and becoming unresponsive. The problems sparked a group of consumers in seven US states to sue over allegations Apple knew the keyboard designs were prone to failure.
Cupertino originally tried to dismiss the lawsuit while pushing back on the defect claims. But following four years of litigation, the company decided to pay up, without admitting guilt. The settlement covers US customers who bought certain MacBook models from 2015 to 2019 —including MacBook Airs and MacBook Pros— which carried the thin, but fragile butterfly keyboards. It was only in 2020 when Apple began ditching the keyboards for the traditional scissor-switch system in new MacBooks.
Through the settlement, Apple plans on reimbursing affected owners from $300 to $395 if they paid Apple or its authorized service providers for two or more keyboard replacements within a four-year period after buying their MacBook.
Owners who paid Apple once to fix the keyboard only to see the problems persist can receive up to $125 in compensation. Meanwhile, customers who paid Apple to fix one or more keycaps can only receive up to $50.
The settlement still needs to be approved by the judge. Organizers of the settlement will then begin notifying affected owners about filing for compensation.
Consumers who paid for two or more keyboard replacements will automatically receive a payment from Apple. “These Settlement Class Members will be paid based on Apple’s records without having to file a claim,” the settlement adds. All other consumers must file a claim within 120 days of the judge approving the settlement.
Meanwhile, the prosecuting lawyers for the class-action lawsuit will receive up to $15 million from the $50 million settlement to cover attorneys' fees.