- Apple introduced "butterfly" keyboards in 2015 — but they were wildly unpopular and prone to failure.
- The MacBook keyboards prompted a class-action lawsuit, which Apple agreed to resolve with a $50 million settlement.
- As part of the settlement, customers who had to replace their keyboards can get a payout up to $395.
Apple has agreed to pay $50 million to settle a class-action lawsuit over the company's notorious "butterfly" keyboards.
The lawsuit argued the keyboards were sticky, unresponsive, and easily damaged — and that the company knew the keyboards were flawed.
As part of the settlement, which was filed late Monday night, Apple will pay customers who replaced the butterfly keyboard on a MacBook, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air laptop between 2015 and 2019.
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 as a way to make its laptops even thinner — but they weren't well received by customers. 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 wrongdoing in agreeing to settle.
CNBC reported that if approved, the settlement will apply nationwide.