Apple MacBook owners could receive a payout under a new $50 million class action lawsuit, though those who own the laptops must meet certain criteria to qualify.
The original lawsuit revolves around laptops equipped with a specific type of keyboard that were available for purchase between 2015 and 2019.
However, not everyone with these laptops is eligible for a payout as part of the settlement.
Here’s what you need to know and how to find out if you’re eligible:
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What is the severance pay and how much is it?
According to court documents, a class action lawsuit filed in 2022 alleges that MacBook laptops sold between 2015 and 2019 contained defective butterfly keyboards. The malfunctions, according to the lawsuit, can result in “characters repeating unexpectedly, letters or characters not appearing, and/or keys feeling “sticky” or not responding consistently.”
While Apple denies all allegations made in the lawsuit, a $50 million settlement was reached in July 2022.
According to a Macworld report, the lawsuit was originally limited to eligible users in the eight states where consumers filed the lawsuit – Massachusetts, New York, Illinois, Florida, Washington, New Jersey and Michigan. However, a November 2022 decision by a judge in a Northern California district court approved the $50 million settlement, which would apply statewide to buyers of the specific MacBook laptops.
What exactly is a “butterfly” keyboard?
In 2015, Apple released its redesigned MacBook, saying it was “reinvented in every way to deliver the thinnest, lightest Macs ever,” according to a company announcement. “Every component of the new MacBook has been carefully redesigned to create a Mac® that weighs just two pounds and is 13.1mm thin.”
The announcement goes on to describe the laptop’s redesigned butterfly keyboard, noting that such a thin MacBook design means “a complete overhaul of how a notebook keyboard works.”
According to Apple, the keyboard’s butterfly mechanism is “40% thinner than a traditional scissor keyboard mechanism, but four times stronger and offers greater precision no matter where your finger hits the key.”
However, complaints and reports indicate that the keyboard often malfunctions.
According to a BBC report, Apple launched a “Keyboard Service Program” for affected laptops in 2018 after several complaints, covering keyboard repairs for four years from the date of purchase.
However, the BBC reports: “Customers said the replacement units often had the same problems.”
According to tech website 9to5 Mac, in 2020 Apple ditched the butterfly keyboard and returned to using standard scissor switches.
The $50 million settlement says Apple denies any MacBooks are defective “and denies that Apple did anything improper or illegal,” adding that “Apple has numerous defenses to the claims in this case.” doing” and that the comparison to the resolution of the case “is not an admission of guilt or any wrongdoing by Apple.”
How do I know if my MacBook is part of the comparison?
If you bought a MacBook between 2015 and 2019, you may be owed a payout. However, the amount you could receive is based on tiers and you need certain information to submit a claim correctly.
According to the comparison website, “The comparison class includes all individuals and entities in the United States who have purchased one or more of the following Apple MacBook models, except for resale:”
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″ 2016 Dual Thunderbolt 3 Ports
MacBook Pro 13″ 2017 Dual Thunderbolt 3 Ports
MacBook Pro 13″ 2019 Dual Thunderbolt 3 Ports
MacBook Pro 13″ 2016 Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports
MacBook Pro 13″ 2017 Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports
MacBook Pro (15 inch, 2016)
MacBook Pro (15 inch, 2017)
MacBook Pro 13″ 2018 Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports
MacBook Pro (15 inch, 2018)
MacBook Pro 13″ 2019 Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports
MacBook Pro 15″ 2019
The comparison website also notes that the lawsuit covers “all buyers, including individuals, businesses and other entities.”
Here you can quickly identify the make/model of your MacBook.
How do I submit a claim?
Eligible buyers received an email or postcard notification with a unique ID and PIN number to submit a claim, the settlement website said. Those who have not received this information can file a claim here.
However, if you are unsure whether you will be included, or believe you should be included but have not received notification, “you may call the Claims Administrator at 1-855-579-1311 for more information “, the settlement website states.
Note that proof of purchase and your MacBook laptop serial number are required for the claim to be approved.
Businesses or individuals who have purchased 25 or more affected models must follow a special process to facilitate the filing of claims and email the Settlement Administrator for assistance, the settlement said.
how much could i get
According to the Settlement Dispute website, the amount you could get from the settlement ranges from $50 to $395 and depends on how many times you’ve tried replacing either your entire keyboard or individual keycaps.
“The amount that peer group members receive (and what they must do to receive payment) depends on which of the three categories they fall into and how many eligible peer group members ultimately fall into each category,” leads the website in detail.
Here’s a breakdown of each of these categories. Note that all keyboard replacements must have been performed within four years of purchase, the fine print on the statement states:
Group 1: Those who have received two or more top case or full keyboard replacement parts will receive payment without having to file a claim, the site says.
“Peer group members in this group will receive an email or postcard confirming eligibility to pay and requesting confirmation of contact information.”
According to the website, class members in this group “will receive an initial payment of $300, but the actual payment could be more or less depending on the number of eligible peer group members in each category.”
The maximum payment for Group 1 is $395, the website says.
“A member of the comparison group may meet the eligibility requirements for that group and receive payment if they receive two or more top case replacement parts by November 28, 2024,” the comparison reads.
Group 2: the, the only received a replacement top case “must file a claim for payment,” says the Settlement Administrator, “and state that the repair did not solve their keyboard problems.”
“The maximum payment for members of the Group 2 peer group is $125, but may be less,” the settlement reads.
Group 3: “Those who have received a replacement keycap(s) must submit a claim for payment” and “must declare that the repair did not resolve their keyboard problems.”
The maximum payment for Group 3 is $50, the statement said.
According to the Settlement Administrator, all top case or keycap replacements or repairs must have been performed by Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider for a claim to be eligible for a payout.
My MacBook is part of the class action lawsuit, but my keyboard was never replaced. Can I make a claim?
You can make a claim but are not entitled to a payout, the settlement said.
“If you own a class computer and have not received a keycap replacement or top case replacement within the first four years of ownership, you are not eligible for payment,” the statement reads.
“Apple’s keyboard service program provides four years of protection and remains available to all group members who may encounter future issues within four years of purchase,” the settlement reads. In some cases, the comparison points out, Apple may have a record of your repairs.
When is the deadline for making claims?
All claims must be submitted electronically, by email or by postmark “no later than March 6, 2023,” the settlement said.
How and when do I receive a payout?
A “final approval hearing” is scheduled to take place on March 16, 2023.
“If the settlement is approved, there may be appeals. The appeal process can take some time. If no appeal is filed, your Settlement Benefit will be processed promptly. Please have a little patience.”
For those who are eligible for payment, the settlement indicates that Apple may reach out to eligible buyers for information on how to receive payment. If Apple doesn’t have a repair on record, class members should file a claim form, the settlement website says.
More information about the settlement can be found here.
