Apple is sending checks worth $395 of a $50 million settlement — but you need a specific keyboard to qualify

APPLE has agreed to pay $50 million after settling a class-action lawsuit over the company’s defective MacBook keyboards.

Consumers who purchased a MacBook with a butterfly keyboard between 2015 and 2019 may be eligible to receive up to $395 as part of the deal.

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In May 2023, a California federal court approved the class action settlement.

Apple agreed to pay $50 million to consumers who purchased MacBooks with defective keyboards.

Still, despite the hefty settlement, Apple denies all allegations made in the lawsuit, including that some of the laptops sold are or were defective.

The courts issued a payment order earlier this summer, and eligible users were told they could expect to see a small portion of the settlement by the end of August.

Some users have already reported that they received a check in the mail.

“Personally, I received two $395 checks in the mail today from the keyboard settlement and I suspect we will see others start receiving payments as the mail is delivered across the country today,” 9 to 5 reporter Michael Burkhardt shared on August 3.

“At the moment there is no sign of payments for people who have applied for the digital settlement, although I imagine we will see that happen later this week,” he added.

The settlement cited several issues affecting Apple MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro laptops purchased between 2015 and 2019.

The deal only applies to laptops purchased with a butterfly keyboard mechanism.

Many users have encountered problems with their keyboards, including stuck or unresponsive keys, unexpectedly repeated characters, or certain letters or characters not appearing.

Most of the problems stemmed from the keyboard’s design, which featured a hinge in the middle of each key.

The hinge was V-shaped, which gave the keyboard its nickname butterfly.

The design also allowed dust, crumbs, dirt, and other particles to accumulate under the individual keys, causing them to stick.

In 2019, Apple quietly reverted to an older design for its newer laptop models, using scissor keyboards.

These switches are X-shaped, making it more difficult for dirt and debris to remain trapped under the switch.

Scissor switch models provide a more stable and responsive experience to users.

They are also considered more durable and reliable than their butterfly counterparts.

Based on the terms of the settlement, not all consumers who purchased an Apple laptop are eligible, even if they have a defective keyboard.

The settlement applies to consumers who lived in the US between 2015 and 2019, specifically in one of the following states:

Consumers are also eligible to receive a settlement only if their MacBook laptop is repaired.

Unfortunately, consumers who otherwise ignored the problem, dealt with the sticky keys, or simply purchased another laptop are not eligible for payment.

Consumers who have searched for a solution and attempted to repair their faulty keyboards are eligible for a payment.

The estimated payment amount still depends on the amount and types of repairs received.

Group 1 Settlement Class Members:

Users who have obtained at least two Top Case replacements from Apple or an authorized service provider within four years of purchase.

A Top Case consists of a battery, a keyboard, and some smaller keyboard components.

Group 2 Settlement Class Members:

Users who obtained a single Top Case replacement from Apple or an authorized service provider within four years of purchase and the repair did not resolve their keyboard issues.

Group 3 Settlement Class Members:

Users who obtained one or more key replacements from Apple or an authorized service provider within four years of purchase and the repair did not resolve their keyboard issues.

Keycaps are small covers that fit over the keys of a computer or laptop.

They are labeled with the key function or alphanumeric character.

According to the deal details, eligible users in each group will receive the following:

• Group 1: Up to $395 for two or more Top Case replacements
• Group 2: Up to $125 for a Top Case Replacement
• Group 3: Up to $50 for key replacements

Eligible users should receive a check in the mail or a digital payment, for example a deposit into their bank account, before the end of the month.

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