Apple to compensate MacBook owners who had to fix theirs 'butterfly' keyboards up to $395

Apple introduced the butterfly keyboards in 2015 to make its laptops even sleeker

Apple has agreed to pay $50 million to settle a class-action lawsuit over the company's infamous "butterfly" keyboards. The lawsuit claimed that the keyboards were sticky, unresponsive, and easily damaged — and that the company knew the keyboards were flawed. As part of the settlement, filed late Monday night, Apple will compensate customers who replaced the butterfly keyboard on a MacBook, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air laptop between 2015 and 2019. Apple customers who replaced multiple keyboards could be paid between $300 to $395, those who replaced one could get $125, and those who replaced just one key could be paid up to $50.

According to Reuters, customers also remain eligible for four years of free keyboard repairs following their purchases. Apple introduced the butterfly keyboards in 2015 to make its laptops even sleeker — but customers didn't receive them well. One user took to YouTube to air their frustrations with satire, while another wrote a long-winded complaint on the sticky keys. Another called it the worst product "in Apple history." Even though Apple apologized for the issues in 2019 and began phasing out the keyboards the same year, the company denied any wrongdoing in agreeing to settle.