Got a MacBook? Apple could owe you $400

I am typing these words on the Magic Keyboard of an M1 MacBook Air. There’s decent key travel. None of the keys are sticking. It feels good. But my fingers have not yet forgiven the horror – nay, the pain – of years gone by. I am of course talking about those godawful MacBook Butterfly Keyboards.

For a few years, Apple’s MacBook keyboards were extremely prone to failing. A single spec of dust could render a key unusable – and rather than replace a single key, Apple had to replace the entire top shell of the laptop. It was a ridiculous time. I should know – my 12-inch MacBook had the top case replaced three times. And if yours needed repairing, you might just be due some dough from Apple. (Happily, the Butterfly Keyboard is no more – check out today’s best MacBook Pro deals for delightful typing experience.)

According to Macworld (opens in new tab), a judge has just approved a huge $50m payout for those affected, with customers potentially able to net up to $395 in compensation. To be eligible for the top payout, you need to have had multiple keyboards replaced – otherwise there are payouts of $125 (one replacement) or $50 (just keys replaced).