Apple agrees to $50 million settlement over butterfly keyboard complaints

Apple on Monday agreed to pay a $50 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit over so-called butterfly keyboards, a component of some MacBook laptops that has left many users angry at the frustration of key-shattering over typing failures.

Butterfly keyboard, a fluffy model intended to provide more precision, ended up not as graceful as the flapping wings of the nectar-seeking creature. Many customers have complained about characters being clicked repeating or not appearing on their screens at all. Some said the devices have it Keys that felt sticky He did not respond consistently.

Typographical meltdowns prompted a class action lawsuit in 2018, leading to the settlement filed Monday night after four years of litigation in the San Jose Division of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Apple said the agreement was not an admission that it was wrong.

Simon S. Grill, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said U.S. District Court Judge Edward J.

“The plaintiffs are pleased to file for court approval a $50 million settlement with Apple that will resolve many years of litigation over the MacBook butterfly keyboard,” Mr. Grill and Stephen Schwartz, the plaintiff, said in a statement. MacBook buyers nationwide are eligible to participate.

As a result of the agreement, Apple can soon make adjustments to MacBook users who received repairs to a laptop with a defective butterfly keyboard from 2015 to 2019. Customers said the company was aware of the defect in these MacBooks; Apple offered free repairs to customers with faulty keyboards in 2018 and then phased out them.

The company suggested payments ranging from $50 to $395 to affected customers.

Court documents said the lawsuit represented a buyer of about 15 million computers.

Court documents said Apple “strongly denies responsibility”. The company did not respond to a request for comment.

“The proposed settlement of this issue is not an admission of guilt or wrongdoing of any kind on the part of Apple,” the agreement reads.

Anyone in the United States who received keyboard issue fixes for MacBooks purchased from 2015 to 2017, MacBook Pro from 2016 to 2019 and MacBook Airs from 2018 to 2019 can claim a share of the settlement. The company will consider customers who get replacements for the “top case” — which includes the battery, the touch-sensitive pointing device known as the trackpad, speakers and keyboard — or “keycap,” which refers to the letter caps on the keyboard.

“All Settlement Class members who went to Apple or an authorized service provider and received an “uppercase” or “keycap replacement” within four years after the date of their class computer purchase are eligible for a cash payment, the court documents said.

Customers will be categorized into one of three groups, depending on the amount of repairs their devices have received at the time.

Court documents said the first group included people who had two or more uppercase suits. A maximum of $395 will be paid.

The second group – users who got a top-end replacement that didn’t solve their problems – would get up to $125. The third group includes people who replaced the keycap but not the entire top box. They will be eligible for up to $50.

Apple will contact many customers, but people can also submit claims with documentation proving that repairs were made.

Court documents said the plaintiffs representing consumers intended to file for damages of up to $5,000 each in settlement money.

Apple introduced the faltering keyboards with its “all-new MacBook” in 2015. The butterfly indicated a new switching mechanism that expanded like wings under the keys, different from the more common, thicker, scissor-shaped switches. The keyboard is described as “34 percent thinner” and “four times firmer” From the previous scissors model. But she also seemed prone to picking up dust and suffering from other problems. Soon customer complaints started.

Over the next five years, Apple tried to tweak the keyboard in updated models before abandoning it entirely by 2020, when all of its laptops were included. Well-received and redesigned keyboard That brought back the scissors keys.

Jesus Jimenez Contribute to the preparation of reports.