Own a MacBook? You could get up to $395 in nationwide lawsuit. Here’s who qualifies
Apple sold MacBooks with “defective” keyboards and affected owners could get paid, according to the terms of a national class-action settlement.
Those who bought select Apple MacBook laptops between 2015 to 2019 could receive up to $395 as part of the $50 million settlement, court documents show.
In July 2020, a lawsuit accused the tech giant of selling MacBooks fitted with faulty butterfly keyboards that rendered the laptops useless and unable to type.
“When the MacBook’s butterfly keyboard fails, the keys stick, register multiple key strikes when a key is pressed only once, or stop registering keystrokes ...,” plaintiffs said in the 101-page complaint. “Because of the defect, at least thousands of consumers who purchased a MacBook have had keys become non-responsive or fail entirely.”
Apple denied all claims laid out in the lawsuit, including charges that it continued to sell the defective MacBook keyboards despite being aware of the issue. The company ultimately agreed to pay $50 million into a settlement fund, according to the official settlement website.
McClatchy News reached out to Apple and did not immediately receive a response.
Not all MacBook owners who bought a laptop are eligible for a payout, however, and the amounts of the payments will vary.
Here’s how to know if you qualify.
Which MacBooks are covered in the settlement?
Those who purchased, other than for resale, one or more of these laptops and required repairs are eligible, according to the lawsuit.
- 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)
Who is eligible?
Eligible MacBook owners are broken up into 3 groups, according to the settlement website.
Group 1 members “who, within four years of purchasing a Class Computer, obtained two or more Topcase Replacements, will receive a payment without the need to submit a claim,” the website states. “Settlement Class Members in this group will receive an email or postcard Notice confirming eligibility for payment and requesting confirmation of contact information.”
Group 2 and Group 3 members include MacBook owners who received a single Topcase Replacement or multiple Keycap Replacements that did not fix their keyboard issue, according to the website.
How do I get paid?
Buyers who fall into Group 1 don’t need to file claim and will receive an automatic payment of up to $395 after being notified via mail or email.
For Group 2 and Group 3 members, these owners must submit a claim as well as provide proof of purchase or repair to get paid, the settlement website says. The maximum payments for Group 2 and Group 3 are $125 and $50, respectively.
The deadline to submit all claims is March 6.
This story was originally published January 12, 2023 at 10:40 AM with the headline "Own a MacBook? You could get up to $395 in nationwide lawsuit. Here’s who qualifies."