If you’ve bought a MacBook in the past few years, you may be entitled to money from one $50 million settlement Apple pays to resolve complaints about defective keyboards.
plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit Submitted in 2018 claim Apple knew that its “butterfly” keyboard design, introduced in 2015, would often result in characters being unexpectedly repeated or accidentally omitted. The company “fraudulently withheld” these issues from customers, according to their complaint, until finally changing the keyboard design in 2019.
Apple approved the million-dollar payout in July, and a California court granted preliminary approval on Nov. 28. Now MacBook owners are getting emails about their part in the transaction.
Below you can learn more about the MacBook keyboard comparison, including who is entitled to money, how much you can get, and how to make a claim.
For more class action lawsuitslearn why Keurig is spending so much money $10 million to users of his K-Cups and see if you’re eligible for money from T-Mobile $350 million data breach settlement.
Recent Articles
What is Apple accused of in the lawsuit?
The first generation butterfly keyboard from 2015.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Apple introduced the butterfly keyboard design in its 2015 12-inch MacBook. The keys were attached with a wing-like hinge, unlike traditional keyboards that use two pieces of plastic that cross and close like scissors.
At the time, the tech giant said the butterfly design was 40% slimmer, which also made the laptops slimmer.
But customers complained that “characters repeat unexpectedly, letters or characters don’t appear, and/or keys feel ‘sticky’ or don’t respond consistently,” according to the lawsuit.
The butterfly design “had some things that made it really good,” Apple’s then marketing director Phil Schiller told CNET in 2019, happy with it.”
Schiller also acknowledged that there were “quality issues” with the butterfly design, which Apple phased out in 2019.
But the class action lawsuit claims the tech giant knew about the design flaw for years and didn’t tell customers. It started a repair program in 2018, but only replaced old butterfly keyboards with new ones.
Apple did not respond to a request for comment but denied any wrongdoing in the filings.
Who is eligible for a payment from Apple?
If you bought a MacBook between 2015 and 2019 and had to replace the keyboard or individual keys, you are entitled to compensation.
If you’re not sure if your model is covered, you can check here.
How much money could I get?
The amount you could get from the comparison depends on how many repairs you had to do on your MacBook.
Consumers who have had multiple keyboard replacements within four years of purchase are considered members of Peer Group 1. They are eligible for an estimated payment of between $300 and $395 and should receive an email this month.
You can still qualify for Group 1 as long as you need two or more top case replacement parts before November 28, 2024. (The top case houses the keyboard and other important components.)
If you believe you are in Group 1 but have not received notification, you can call the Claims Administrator at 855-579-1311. (If necessary, you can also fill out a change of address form.)
If you ever had to replace the keyboard, you’d be considered part of the Group 2 comparison class and could get up to $125. However, you must submit an application form.
And if you just need to replace individual keycaps, you’re eligible for up to $50. (You must also submit a claim form.)
How do I submit a claim?
You can submit a claim on the comparison website or send a completed form to:
Re: MacBook keyboard dispute resolution
c/o JND Rechtsverwaltung
PO Box 91341
Seattle, WA 98111
For all students, if Apple does not have a record of your repair or purchase, you must provide proof of purchase or repair.
The deadline for filing a complaint is March 6, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. PT. If you wish to opt out of the Settlement — or self-exclude and retain the right to separate litigation — the deadline for notifying the court is February 10, 2023.
When do I get my money?
A final approval hearing is scheduled for March 16, 2023. After that, all payments would be phased out, but the process could be delayed by appeals.
