Apple has decided to settle claims that its previous MacBook laptops were sold with a defective butterfly keyboard with a $50 million settlement. Consumers who bought certain Apple MacBook models and obtained top case replacements or keycap replacements from Apple or any authorized service provider within the first four years of ownership are eligible to claim the benefits of this settlement.
Settlement website – KeyboardSettlement.com
Objection deadline – 02/10/2023
Exclusion deadline – 02/10/2023
Claim Form – https://secure.keyboardsettlement.com/
Deadline for submitting the claim – 03/06/2023
Final Hearing date – 03/16/2023
Settlement amount – $50 million
Potential claim amount – Variable
Proof of purchase – Claimants can submit the serial number of their MacBook and/or proof of model purchased, amount of the purchase, seller credentials, and purchase date in terms of month/year as valid proof of purchase.
The following Apple products are covered by the Apple butterfly keyboard settlement:
- 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-inch, 2016, two Thunderbolt 3 ports)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017, two Thunderbolt 3 ports)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, two Thunderbolt 3 ports)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, four Thunderbolt 3 ports)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017, four Thunderbolt 3 ports)
- MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)
- MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2017)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2018, four Thunderbolt 3 ports)
- MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, four Thunderbolt 3 ports)
- MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019)
The settlement class comprises three groups:
- Group 1 is made of class members who got a minimum of two top-case replacements.
- Group 2 comprises class members who got just one top case replacement.
- Group 3 comprises class members who got one or more keycap replacements.
The class action lawsuit contends that the Apple laptops had defective keyboards causing repetitive striking and failure of keys. The plaintiffs have claimed that Apple was aware of its faulty laptops between 2015 to 2019 but didn’t take any action to fix the same. Rather they billed the customers for costly repairs.
Plaintiffs have cited multiple documents to support their argument that Apple was aware of the low-travel design of its butterfly keyboard which was defective throughout the class period. The tech giant also knew that the new designs weren’t solving customers’ problems. In 2019, Apple argued that it has addressed all issues with its Keyboard Service Program by a provision for repair or refund. However, the company’s bid was rejected by a judge as the plaintiffs’ claim for breach of warranty or injury wasn’t properly addressed by the same.
The butterfly keyboard was introduced by Apple in certain MacBook laptops in 2015. The main purpose of this design was to make all devices more efficient and slimmer. But Apple was bombarded with complaints about the keyboard. According to users, the keyboard malfunctioned every time small amounts of dust were collected around the keys. The “sticky” keys either over-responded or failed to respond upon being used. As a result, the company stopped using this design in 2020.
In the following lawsuits, the plaintiffs alleged that the keys of its butterfly switch keyboard were barely raised off of the main computer and were propped up with two intersecting pieces of plastic. The delicate butterfly switches are held in place by four threads of brittle plastic. In previous designs, the Apple keyboards had keys that were barely raised from the computer body thus lessening the chances of dust and debris being trapped under the keys.
The delicate build of butterfly switch keyboards can render the keyboard mechanisms inoperable if any dust or debris gets trapped under the keys. The plaintiffs further added that the butterfly switch most commonly rendered inoperable by this problem of dust and debris is the space bar. As per the class action lawsuit, the keys cannot be removed and cleaned without risking damage to the keyboard.
While thousands of consumers have reported this problem to Apple, the company replied that consumers should try holding their computers at a 75-degree angle and spraying compressed air under the keys. However, this solution didn’t work at all and in maximum cases offered temporary results without preventing the problem from recurring further. As per the Apple laptop keyboard defect class action lawsuit, all Apple products come with a year’s warranty but the company didn’t fill these obligations with these computers. Self-help solutions were offered by the company rather than acting upon its warranty obligation of addressing the keyboard problems.
This problem also occurred with computers outside its one-year warranty and Apple refused to pay for either repair or replacement which cost consumers between $400-700. According to consumers, Apple should have known of the keyboard defect but continued to sell the computers nonetheless. The company received unjust enrichment from these sales which caused financial loss to consumers and breached warranty by not offering adequate solutions to the problem.
Apple has agreed to resolve the claims with a $50 million class action settlement despite not admitting to any wrongdoing. Under the settlement terms, class members are eligible to receive a cash payment according to their group status and also the amount paid by them for keyboard repairs. Group 1 members can initially receive a payment of $300 but are eligible to receive a maximum of $395 depending on the number of participating class members. The maximum payment ceiling for Group 2 members is $125 while Group 3 members are eligible to receive a maximum of $50.
Actual payments for all groups may be reduced based on the number of participating class members. All settlement class members will be protected by the four-year Keyboard Service Program of Apple which will offer coverage for upcoming keyboard issues. Though the Group 1 class members will automatically receive their payments, they can update their addresses on the settlement website. However, Group 2 and 3 class members need to file a claim for receiving their settlement payment.