MacBook Owners With Faulty Butterfly Keyboards to Get Payouts Soon

[petekjohnson]

Two years after Apple paid $50 million to settle a class-action lawsuit over faulty MacBook butterfly keyboards, funds from the settlement will be going out to affected customers.

An update on the MacBook Keyboard Litigation Settlement website says that the court issued a payment order on June 27, 2024, with payments set to be issued for approved claims by August 2024.

Emails about the lawsuit were sent out in December 2022 to MacBook owners eligible for a payment. MacBook owners who had at least two topcase replacements from Apple within four years of purchase are set to receive a maximum of $395, while customers who had one topcase repair will receive up to $125. Those who had keycap replacements are eligible for up to $50.

Claims were accepted through March 6, 2023, and the settlement was ultimately approved on May 25, 2023. There is no word on why there has been more than a year's delay getting payments sent out to customers.

Apple used butterfly keyboards in Macs between 2015 and 2019, and while the design was updated several times during that four-year period, the butterfly mechanism was prone to failure. Thousands of customers had issues with repeating keys, sticking keys, and keyboard failures due to crumbs, dust, and other issues.

Apple launched a repair program in June 2018 covering the MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro models manufactured from 2015 on, but it only covered machines for four years after purchase and because butterfly keyboards were replaced with another butterfly keyboard, no permanent fix was available.

Due to the major failure of the butterfly keyboard, Apple swapped back to a scissor switch mechanism. Macs manufactured since late 2019 have had the much more reliable scissor switch keyboard that is able to stand up to wear and tear.

Article Link: MacBook Owners With Faulty Butterfly Keyboards to Get Payouts Soon

I had one of these ahd had the keyboard replaced once. Is it too late to get added to the class?

 

[parajba]

I have a MBP 2017 13” that unfortunately has been working fine. I say unfortunately because I absolutely hate the keyboard and the fact that the (single) fan comes on for literally nothing and it’s ver loud. Waiting to offload it and replace with an Air M3.

 

[0423MAC]

butterfly keyboard was ahead of its time. the feeling was great but the technology was just not ready for it yet.

What technology is this that you speak of? It was a complete and utter failure of an idea from concept, prototype, testing and shockingly SHIPPING to customers.

I suppose Apple COULD revive the 12” MacBook with an M series chip that won’t thermal throttle as soon as you open Safari.

The keyboard however felt off from the very start.

 

[DarrenSW]

It does not apply to the UK.

In the UK, the trick is to make a claim under consumer law. If you have a well-documented case of a persistent fault that is not resolved by the retailer despite repeat attempts (such as the butterfly keyboard faults), you can claim for a full refund of the original purchase through the small claims court. It takes a bit of work but if your claim is legit, Apple will almost certainly just pay it rather than let it go to court.

Make a court claim for money

How to take legal action if someone owes you money (small claims court), how much it costs, what happens next. Includes information from withdrawn guidance EX303, EX304, EX306, EX321, EX325 and EX350.

www.gov.uk

(Note that consumer law claims are against the retailer, however, not the manufacturer)

They will hand it to SCS Law who will try and defend the claim. I’m in the Small Claims Court due to them not making good on their Beats Pill XL Speaker Recall Program - and this is the second such time I’ve had to litigate.

 

[dandyryan]

What technology is this that you speak of? It was a complete and utter failure of an idea from concept, prototype, testing and shockingly SHIPPING to customers.

I suppose Apple COULD revive the 12” MacBook with an M series chip that won’t thermal throttle as soon as you open Safari.

The keyboard however felt off from the very start.

i literally just said the technology wasnt ready for the concept calm down

 

[LV426]

It does not apply to the UK.

In the UK, the trick is to make a claim under consumer law. If you have a well-documented case of a persistent fault that is not resolved by the retailer despite repeat attempts (such as the butterfly keyboard faults), you can claim for a full refund of the original purchase through the small claims court. It takes a bit of work but if your claim is legit, Apple will almost certainly just pay it rather than let it go to court.

Make a court claim for money

How to take legal action if someone owes you money (small claims court), how much it costs, what happens next. Includes information from withdrawn guidance EX303, EX304, EX306, EX321, EX325 and EX350.

www.gov.uk

(Note that consumer law claims are against the retailer, however, not the manufacturer)

I wish I’d thought of going through the courts. I did have Apple Care, and the 2016 keyboard was replaced twice, but it was a right pain in the neck.

After the second repair, I immediately flogged it on eBay. I couldn’t bear the prospect of missing or multiple key strokes happening again.

 

[Fuzzball84]

One of the most embarrassing and costly engineering fails in tech in the past 20 years I’d say. They tried to re invent the wheel.

And the reason? To make devices thinner. That was the only reason. Not to improve the typing experience, definitely not to improve reliability.

It’s shocking that it was greenlit by Apple for consumer release. Just goes to show you can be one of the most valuable companies, employing some of the best people in the Industry and still… well mess up big time.

 

[Moleyman69]

Is this why they finally fired Jony Ive?

That era spawned some great satire...

Oh man… this is soooo funny!!! Are you sure it’s satire??? Shows what the mainstream populace might think about Apple nowadays especially with all the laughing at the Vision Poo!

It is such a shame though as Apple used to be such a great company. I was as hardcore Apple as anyone else until about 2012 but now I just have various bits and pieces as toys/hobby and use a proper PC for anything serious. You know, one where I can add internal ssds, ram, cpu, gpu or whathaveyou myself.

Macs nowadays are good if you just want to be a spoon-fed user - and there’s nothing wrong with that, a lot of people are still afraid of computers - but the minute you want to do anything proper computery in this day and age you find you can’t.

 

[SoldOnApple]

I got the 12 inch retina MacBook refurbished from Apple and although it was otherwise superbly crafted, the battery died within like six months and wouldnt' work without power connected, the keyboard was trash like we all know, and now the battery is puffing up something fierce. For these reasons it is not just the worst Mac I have ever owned, it's the worst computer I have ever owned.

 

[Tozovac]

Butterfly was form over function. Thin design over practical use.

Apple after Steve and before Jony lost his Ginsu knife grip on Apple design:

_______________ was form over function. Thin design (or vague interface design, or something unnecessarily “less” than or removed from the prior year model) over practical use.

The limits of Jony’s genius showed when it was clear he couldn’t differentiate “opportunity with a need” from “because we can and I want.”

 

[CausticSoda]

It does not apply to the UK.

In the UK, the trick is to make a claim under consumer law. If you have a well-documented case of a persistent fault that is not resolved by the retailer despite repeat attempts (such as the butterfly keyboard faults), you can claim for a full refund of the original purchase through the small claims court. It takes a bit of work but if your claim is legit, Apple will almost certainly just pay it rather than let it go to court.

Yes, this is correct. In UK law a warranty does not trump statutary rights (which is precisely why they have to state after the warranty terms that "statutory rights are unaffected)." So if a retailer says something faulty is out of warranty, you can threaten to go to a small claims court to say that you reasonably expect a £1,000 laptop (or whatever) to last beyond 18 months, and you would probably win from what I have heard, especially for a premium product. However, most consumers and shop workers do not know this, and just assume the game is up once the warranty has expired. But HQ and customer services do understand this law.

 

[Jamie0003]

I have a 2019 16" Intel based MacBook Pro and the entire lower right keyboard corner has failed... the arrow keys primarily. However, the settlement stops short of this model. But the keyboard still sux.... Soon I will be replacing it with an M3 or M4 MBP, but I've had to live without arrow keys for several years. Was quoted $650 to replace the keyboard.... There is no settlement for me, however.

Maybe don’t give Apple more money if you’re not happy?

 

[TFK.]

Glad I missed this entire train.

Went from a 2012 Pro to a M1 Air.

Same here, glad to miss that gen.. The TouchBar, Keyboard

 

[jonnysods]

Wow I sure got a lot of keyboards replaced on my machines and client machines. In Canada so no moolah but I was just grateful to get a new topcase each time!

 

[coolajami]

I have a 2017 Macbook pro that had to be repaired twice, but never heard anything! Yeah pretty sure the funds will reach the claimants.…

 

[MacLawyer]

Jony Ive should chip in.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

i literally just said the technology wasnt ready for the concept calm down

It wasn't ready because it was bad tech from the get-go. There is nothing that can be done to improve it other than move on to something else, which Apple did.

 

[zoozx]

That whole generation of Apple laptops was a complete dumpster fire. Thermally throttled almost instantly, bad battery life, ran hot, keyboards were junk, touch bar was a stupid gimmick, webcam that looked like a 2002 dialup video chat, abandoning ports that people loved and needed.

The fact that Apple did not immediately reverse course spoke volumes.

Apple doesn't give a SH about you.

Apple is now like all of corp America and has been for many years, how much $ can we squeeze out of the consumer, and how little support can we get away with.
That's it nothing more.

 

[darngooddesign]

Whomever it might have been originally, at the end of the day it was Jony Ive who signed off on it and Tim Cook who kept it in the lineup, even after the issues were known.

I doubt Johnny Ive oversaw the durability testing so the blame lies with whomever decided to move forward despite whatever issues were discovered during test. He may even have advocated for a different keyboard but was overruled by those more powerful than him. The blame ultimately lies with Tim Cook tho since he decided that it would be cheaper to replace keyboards, which weren't likely to fail in one year, than redesign both the keyboard and body to accommodate a new keyboard.

 

[gnipgnop]

LOL…the keyboard has always been one of the most likely parts to fail for any computer. Just do an internet search for keyboard failure and you’ll find all kinds of complaints about a wide variety manufacturers’ keyboards. Per the butterfly mechanism, nobody complained about it failing when it first appeared in the MacBook. That came out a year before the MBP version.

 

[gnipgnop]

I doubt Johnny Ive oversaw the durability testing so the blame lies with whomever decided to move forward despite whatever issues were discovered during test. He may even have advocated for a different keyboard but was overruled by those more powerful than him. The blame ultimately lies with Tim Cook tho since he decided that it would be cheaper to replace keyboards, which weren't likely to fail in one year, than redesign both the keyboard and body to accommodate a new keyboard.

Nobody has ever provided numbers for keyboard repairs related to the butterfly mechanism. AppleInsider did a rough attempt at it by surveying Apple Store employees that were involved in repairs and all they came up with is that MAYBE the first year of the butterfly mechanism in the MBP had higher than average repairs. And like I already posted in this thread, the MacBook started using the butterfly mechanism a year before the MBP.

 

[Jimmy Bubbles]

I'll believe it when I see it. Had a 2017 MacBook, and a 2017 MacBook Pro. Both had keyboard issues and went in for replacement. I know I filled the claim for one of them. Good to hear a check may be coming...

I believe there wasn’t a need to make a claim if you are in the group. At least, that’s what my email says.

 

[WestonHarvey1]

Maybe don’t give Apple more money if you’re not happy?

I certainly won't be buying anymore butterfly keyboards from them. Considering they aren't made anymore.

I can be mad at Apple all I want, but they have the best keyboard on a laptop right now.

 

[dimplemonkey]

I "wifed" mine down and she's still using it. Haven't had any issues. 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

[Aoligei]

I certainly won't be buying anymore butterfly keyboards from them. Considering they aren't made anymore.

I can be mad at Apple all I want, but they have the best keyboard on a laptop right now.

Meh. There is a laptop with mechanical keyboards, which is way better than any laptop keyboard.