Apple Inc. agreed to pay $50 million to settle a class action lawsuit over allegedly defective "butterfly" keyboards in certain MacBook models. The lawsuit claimed that the low-profile keyboard mechanism, used in laptops manufactured between 2015 and 2019, was prone to failure from even small amounts of dust or debris, leading to repeating characters or unresponsive keys. Despite settling, Apple denied all allegations of a design defect.
Eligibility and Affected Models
The settlement benefited U.S. consumers who purchased specific MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro models and sought repairs for keyboard issues.
- Product Range: Covered devices included various 12-inch MacBooks, 13-inch MacBook Airs, and 13- or 15-inch MacBook Pros manufactured between 2015 and 2019.
- Repair Requirement: Class members must have obtained at least one keycap replacement or "top case" replacement (a full keyboard assembly) from Apple or an authorized service provider within four years of purchase.
- Nationwide Scope: The settlement applied to eligible purchasers across all 50 U.S. states.
Award Tiers and Final Payments
Payouts were tiered based on the severity and frequency of the repairs obtained by the user.
- Group 1 (Multiple Repairs): Users who received two or more top case replacements were eligible for the highest payouts, which reached up to $395.
- Group 2 (Single Full Repair): Users who received one full top case replacement were eligible for smaller payments, typically around $125.
- Group 3 (Keycap Repairs): Those who only received individual keycap replacements were eligible for payments of approximately $50.
Case Status and Timeline
- Claim Deadline: The final deadline to file a claim was March 6, 2023.
- Final Approval: The court granted final approval on May 25, 2023.
- Distribution: After a year of administrative processing, Apple began issuing settlement checks and digital payments to approved claimants in August 2024.
- Ongoing Support: While the settlement is closed, Apple's four-year Keyboard Service Program remains the primary resource for future hardware issues on eligible machines.
