Apple agreed to a $50 million settlement to resolve claims that past MacBook laptops were sold with a defective butterfly keyboard.
The settlement benefits consumers who purchased certain Apple MacBook products and obtained a keycap replacement or top case replacement repair from Apple or an authorized service provider within the first four years of ownership. The Apple butterfly keyboard settlement covers the following Apple products:
- MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)
- MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016)
- MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, 2017)
- MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)
- MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2019)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, two Thunderbolt 3 ports)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017, two Thunderbolt 3 ports)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, two Thunderbolt 3 ports)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, four Thunderbolt 3 ports)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017, four Thunderbolt 3 ports)
- MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)
- MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2017)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2018, four Thunderbolt 3 ports)
- MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, four Thunderbolt 3 ports)
- MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019)
The settlement class includes three groups.
Group 1 is made up of class members who obtained at least two top case replacements. Group 2 is made up of class members who obtained only one top case replacement. Group 3 is made up of class members who obtained one or more keycap replacements.
According to an Apple class action lawsuit, these laptops were equipped with defective keyboards that caused repeated sticking or failure of keys. Plaintiffs in the case claim Apple knew its 2015 to 2019 laptops were defective but failed to take action to fix the problem. Instead, Apple allegedly forced consumers to foot the bill for costly repairs.
Apple hasn’t admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to a $50 million class action settlement to resolve these claims.
Under the terms of the Apple butterfly keyboard settlement, class members can receive a cash payment based on their group status and the amount they paid for keyboard repairs.
Members of Group 1 can receive an initial payment of $300 but could receive up to $395, based on the number of participating class members.
Group 2 class members can receive up to $125.
Group 3 class members can receive up to $50.
Actual payments for all groups may be reduced based on the number of participating class members.
Apple butterfly keyboard settlement class members remain protected by Apple’s four-year Keyboard Service Program, which provides coverage for future keyboard issues.
The deadline for exclusion and objection is Feb. 10, 2023.
The final approval hearing for the Apple butterfly keyboard settlement is scheduled for March 16, 2023.
Group 1 class members will receive their payments automatically but can update their address on the settlement website. Group 2 and 3 class members must file a claim to receive payments.
In order to receive settlement benefits, class members may need to take action by March 6, 2023.
