Apple MacBook owners who were affected by the company’s problematic butterfly keyboard design are starting to receive payments as part of a class action lawsuit settlement. According to the settlement website, payments for approved claims began going out in August, and some recipients have already reported receiving checks in the mail.
The lawsuit, filed in 2018, alleged that Apple knew about the keyboard’s issues and failed to disclose them to consumers. Although Apple denied the allegations and did not admit to any wrongdoing, the company agreed to pay $50 million as part of the settlement.
The amount of the payment varies depending on the extent of the repairs needed on the affected MacBook. Owners who received two or more topcase replacements within four years of purchasing their laptop can expect to receive between $300 and $395. Those who received only one topcase replacement may receive up to $125, while claimants who only needed keycap replacements will receive a maximum of $50.
To be eligible for a payment, claimants must have filed their claims by the deadlines outlined in the settlement. The settlement only applies to customers who purchased the affected laptops in certain states, including California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Washington. The full details of the settlement can be found in the case’s FAQ section.
It’s worth noting that Apple began phasing out the butterfly keyboard design in 2019, after complaints arose about “sticky” and unresponsive keys, as well as susceptibility to debris and other issues. The company has since replaced the design with a new keyboard mechanism.
