Apple compensates MacBook owners with up to $395: Here's why
Apple has initiated the process of compensating troubled MacBook owners who reported issues with their butterfly keyboards. This move is part of a $50 million settlement that the tech giant agreed to in 2022, following a class action lawsuit filed in 2018. The lawsuit was brought by MacBook users who alleged that the butterfly keyboard was "inoperable and unsuitable for its ordinary and intended use."
A brief history of user complaints
The butterfly keyboard was first introduced by Apple in 2015 on the new 12-inch MacBook, and later extended to the MacBook Pro in 2016 and MacBook Air in 2018. However, this design soon faced criticism from users who reported sticky keys, duplicate characters, or complete inability to type certain characters. In response to these issues, Apple began phasing out the butterfly keyboard design in late 2019.
Settlement claims and eligibility criteria
The claim process for the settlement began in late 2022 and received final approval in May 2023. However, only residents of California, Illinois, Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Washington were eligible to claim this settlement. This left a significant number of butterfly keyboard users across 43 US states unable to participate in the settlement. The compensation amount varies depending on the severity of keyboard problems experienced by users.
Compensation details and Apple's stance
Users who had two or more top case replacements could receive up to $395, while those with one top case replacement could get up to $125. Those who only needed keycap replacements were eligible for a maximum of $50. On June 27, a payment order was issued by the court and payments began being issued on August 3. Despite denying allegations of defective keyboards and not admitting any wrongdoing as part of the lawsuit, Apple agreed to pay settlement amounts.
