Payments related to a 2018 class-action lawsuit over Apple's butterfly MacBook keyboards have reportedly begun to arrive. clearance website It now states that payments for approved claims will be made in August, and indeed, 9a5MacMichael Burkhardt reports that he received two compensation checks in the mail on Saturday. The amount eligible MacBook owners will receive varies depending on the extent of the repairs their devices need. But for some, it could mean a check (or several) for up to $395.
After Apple introduced the butterfly keyboard in 2015, complaints arose about “sticky” and unresponsive keys, susceptibility to dirt, and other major issues. The company eventually began phasing out the design in 2019. The lawsuit filed in 2018 accused Apple of knowing its keyboards had problems and hiding it from consumers. While Apple denied the lawsuit’s allegations about defective keyboards and did not admit to any wrongdoing, it did agree to pay $50 million as part of a settlement.
According to the settlement website, people who got two or more top-case replacements within four years of purchasing one of the affected MacBooks are expected to get between $300 and $395. MacBook owners who got just one top-case replacement could get up to $125. Claimants who only needed key replacements will receive a maximum of $50. Of course, to receive a payment, you’ll need to have filed any claims by the deadlines outlined in the settlement. And, when the settlement was first reached in 2022, Reuters reported that it will only apply to customers who purchased the affected laptops in California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Washington. Full details can be found in the case Frequently asked questions.
