Computing

MacBook Butterfly Keyboard Lawsuit: Are You Entitled?

December 21, 2022
Carmen R. Sellers

Apple continues to compensate owners of MacBook laptops sold between 2015 and 2019 that featured the infamously buggy butterfly keyboards.

After settling a class-action lawsuit in July in which the company agreed to pay $50 million in damages, Apple is now moving forward with payments for those entitled. Here’s how to find out if you belong, how much you’ll get, and how to submit your claim.

How to find out if you are eligible

Apple has started emailing MacBook owners with instructions on how to know if they’re eligible for compensation and how to get their payments approved.

Our own Editor-in-Chief, Andrew Martonik, posted an excerpt from the email he personally received:

The email sent to the owners reads as follows: “Dear MacBook Owner, You are receiving this email because you have previously contacted our company regarding your MacBook laptop. On November 28, 2022, the court granted preliminary approval of a $50 million statewide settlement that would benefit MacBook buyers who had their “Butterfly” keyboards repaired. Visit www.KeyboardSettlement.com for more information about the settlement, eligibility, the approval process, and your options.”

If you received this email, you have been brought to court as a result of your purchase of a MacBook with a butterfly keyboard. The lawsuit affects MacBooks, including models of the 12-inch MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro, released between 2015 and 2019. The full list is as follows:

  • 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
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To identify your own MacBook, just click on the Apple logo top left above the menu bar, then click About this mac. The name of the model will then appear in the pop-up window.

How much money will you get paid?

Compensation comprises three main groups that qualify for financial compensation.

Peer group 1 group members include customers who had at least two repairs to their MacBook Pro that involved replacing the keyboard upper case within four years of purchase. This group is eligible for compensation ranging from $300 to $395 and will receive an automatic payment in addition to an email notification of the settlement.

Members of the Group 2 comparison group include customers who have had at least one repair on their MacBook Pro that involved replacing the keyboard upper case. This group is eligible for up to $125 in compensation and must submit a claim form to receive compensation.

Comparative Group 3 group members include customers who have had at least one keycap replacement repair performed on their MacBook. This group is eligible for up to $50 in compensation and must submit a claim form to receive compensation.

How to submit your claim

A California court on Nov. 28 granted preliminary approval to proceed with sharing details of how customers can be compensated after Apple agreed to pay out $50 million.

Claims must be submitted either online or by mail by March 6, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Proof of repair or purchase, either from Apple or the comparison member, is required to submit a claim.

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Settlement Members also have the opportunity to object to the Settlement and must do so by filing a written complaint with the court by February 10, 2023 or by attending a final hearing that will be held on March 16, 2023.

Any Group 1 members who did not receive an email or who need to confirm or update their mailing address can do so at KeyboardSettlement.com.

For more information and to submit claim forms, settlement members can visit the settlement website. Settlement members may also mail completed forms to:

Re: MacBook keyboard dispute resolution
c/o JND Rechtsverwaltung
PO Box 91341
Seattle, WA 98111

Compensation is expected to go out after the final approval hearing on March 16. However, the case is still subject to appeals, which CNET says could delay payments.

Why was Apple sued?

MacBook Butterfly Keyboard

The class action lawsuit originated in California in 2018. Apple has been accused of withholding details about the quality of its butterfly keyboard design to keep devices in the market. Flaws in keyboard design resulted in repeatedly mistyped keys, keys that felt “sticky,” or keys that would consistently not type, according to PCMag.

Apple’s efforts to address the issues with a repair program have reportedly done little to fix the underlying bugs on MacBook, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air laptops, instead just replacing old butterfly keyboards with new ones, the publication added .

Apple replaced its Magic Keyboard MacBooks in 2020 with models featuring a more conventional “scissor switch” mechanism, which has been included in every MacBook since.

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