Apple's $50 million butterfly keyboard settlement receives final approval

MacBook owners to receive compensation for repairs.

A federal court judge in California has granted final approval to Apple's $50 million settlement over the company's problematic butterfly keyboard design, according to a report by Reuters. The settlement brings closure to a class-action lawsuit that arose from the flawed keyboard design found in Apple laptops manufactured between 2015 and 2019.

US District Court Judge Edward Davila rejected an attempt to amend the settlement agreement, stating that approximately 86,000 individuals had filed claims seeking compensation for repairs they had paid for. This figure sheds light on the scope of the affected MacBook owners who will now receive monetary compensation.

The lawsuit got attention because the keyboard is affected by failures and malfunctions caused by small debris, such as crumbs or dust, that make typing difficult or cause the keys to malfunction.

Despite Apple's efforts to address the issue through various keyboard revisions, it was not until the release of the 16-inch MacBook Pro in 2019, featuring a return to the more reliable "scissor switch" design, that the problem was resolved. Apple phased out the butterfly keyboard design with the introduction of the redesigned 13-inch MacBook Pro.

Although Apple's settlement does not include an admission of liability, it will reimburse affected individuals for their repair costs, with compensation amounts reaching up to $395.

MacBook owners who filed verifiable claims for keyboard-related compensation before the March deadline can now expect to receive their reimbursement in the near future.