Tested: Apple's updated 2019 MacBook Pro butterfly keyboard
Apple made it a point to tell users that the new MacBook Pro has a material change, and has a more reliable keyboard. We put the new updated third-generation keyboard to the test to see how the sound, type, and feel compared to the previous generation and break down exactly what Apple has changed that makes a difference for users day-to-day.
2019 MacBook Pro
First is the metal dome switch, the part that actually makes the clicking feeling when you press down on a key cap. They have slightly different appearances on the outside which could be something as minor as switching manufacturers or it could be a new heat treatment as iFixit has theorized.
Should this dome be damaged, a key would start to act erratically or not at all.
2018 key membrane (left) & 2019 key membrane (right)
Secondly, there's the gasket that sits within the switch and focuses the pressure from a keypress centrally onto the dome switch. In all previous generations, this material was semi-opaque and had the soft, tacky feel of silicone. The updated switch design has a more translucent membrane, with a material shift to a form of nylon.
In speaking to material scientists, and other hardware engineers, we suspect that the tackiness of the silicone in the 2018 keyboard may cause debris to stick in place, similar to how pocket lint adheres to the outside of an iPhone case made out of similar material. By switching to nylon, which does have a higher propensity for static, dust may not stick in-place as easily as before.
But, the clearances between materials are the same. The overall design of the key, the butterfly mechanism, and the contacts are the same. At present, it appears that the change may make it easier for Apple to perform maintenance in-store, and may cut down on total replacements of the upper case, which includes the speakers, the keyboard, the battery, and the case metal.
If the changes helps to keep customers out of the Genius Bars remains to be seen.
We pulled out our 2018 MacBook Air which has the original third generation keyboard design -- complete with silicone barrier -- as the 2018 MacBook Pros and typed the same phrase on each to see how they felt and sound.
2019 MacBook Pro
Largely, there was no difference. You can hear in the video for yourself but the newer model has a slightly lower pitch than the MacBook Air. This is partially due to the difference in density and weight of the two machines and there was no change in the actual clickiness or overall sound.
If anything, the new keyboard was slightly softer to type on which could be attributed to either of the two material changes outlined above, or even just a new keyboard with several hundred thousand fewer words on it.
If you were comfortable and happy typing on the previous butterfly keyboards, you will feel at home here.
AppleInsider's own research has shown how small of an issue the keyboard problem really is, (though it is above the previous design's average) and if Apple really did improve the reliability here then the number should fall even further. We'll be speaking more about this in about six months, as we collect the data.
We will know over time if Apple's new keyboards are any more reliable than before but at the moment all we can say is the sound, type, and perform the same and that there were, in fact, subtle changes in materials.
$150 off 2019 13" MacBook Pros
2019 MacBook Pro
What's changed
Apple has remained mum surrounding these changes so we are left with third-party analysis on what they specifically are. In traditional fashion, iFixit was one of the first with an in-depth breakdown of these keys and reporting what they found. The whole mechanism has remained the same with two notable changes.
First is the metal dome switch, the part that actually makes the clicking feeling when you press down on a key cap. They have slightly different appearances on the outside which could be something as minor as switching manufacturers or it could be a new heat treatment as iFixit has theorized.
Should this dome be damaged, a key would start to act erratically or not at all.
2018 key membrane (left) & 2019 key membrane (right)
Secondly, there's the gasket that sits within the switch and focuses the pressure from a keypress centrally onto the dome switch. In all previous generations, this material was semi-opaque and had the soft, tacky feel of silicone. The updated switch design has a more translucent membrane, with a material shift to a form of nylon.
In speaking to material scientists, and other hardware engineers, we suspect that the tackiness of the silicone in the 2018 keyboard may cause debris to stick in place, similar to how pocket lint adheres to the outside of an iPhone case made out of similar material. By switching to nylon, which does have a higher propensity for static, dust may not stick in-place as easily as before.
But, the clearances between materials are the same. The overall design of the key, the butterfly mechanism, and the contacts are the same. At present, it appears that the change may make it easier for Apple to perform maintenance in-store, and may cut down on total replacements of the upper case, which includes the speakers, the keyboard, the battery, and the case metal.
If the changes helps to keep customers out of the Genius Bars remains to be seen.
Look, sound, and feel
From the outside, the new MacBook Pro keyboards look identical to their 2018 counterparts. With those changes on the inside, we were curious about how they would change the typing feel or sound of they keyboard.We pulled out our 2018 MacBook Air which has the original third generation keyboard design -- complete with silicone barrier -- as the 2018 MacBook Pros and typed the same phrase on each to see how they felt and sound.
2019 MacBook Pro
Largely, there was no difference. You can hear in the video for yourself but the newer model has a slightly lower pitch than the MacBook Air. This is partially due to the difference in density and weight of the two machines and there was no change in the actual clickiness or overall sound.
If anything, the new keyboard was slightly softer to type on which could be attributed to either of the two material changes outlined above, or even just a new keyboard with several hundred thousand fewer words on it.
If you were comfortable and happy typing on the previous butterfly keyboards, you will feel at home here.
Is it more reliable?
Apple seems to be tackling the perceived problems with its keyboard design head-on, but it's not clear what the changes are actually going to do. They've expanded their repair program to now include the 2018 MacBook Pro and MacBook Air and are actively touting the new keyboards as having improved reliability.AppleInsider's own research has shown how small of an issue the keyboard problem really is, (though it is above the previous design's average) and if Apple really did improve the reliability here then the number should fall even further. We'll be speaking more about this in about six months, as we collect the data.
We will know over time if Apple's new keyboards are any more reliable than before but at the moment all we can say is the sound, type, and perform the same and that there were, in fact, subtle changes in materials.
Where to buy
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Comments
Independent information to back this up;
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All personal computing devices have a rate of failure. This is why computer repair has existed since the dawn of the PC.To determine whether a product is inferior, depends on its rating by customers compared with the competition.
- Apple has some of the highest rated smartphones.
http://www.jdpower.com/press-releases/jd-power-2017-full-service-smartphone-satisfaction-study
- Apple has some of the highest rated laptops/desktops.
http://www.theacsi.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=147&catid=&Itemid=212&i=Personal+Computers
* Regarding the Apple MacBook Pro keyboards, it has been claimed that it is inferior to Windows laptop competition. But that is not the topic I am replying to. It is the straw-man claim about the iPhone 4 which I dispute.
PS. My experience on the MacBook/MBP post-2106 keyboards is that I actually make fewer typos, not more, because the keys are larger (I have biggish hands). Since I'm used to a "gentle touch" on my previous and present keyboards, I'm finding the 2016-later "very flat" keyboards to be just fine for me.
The low travel hasn't been an issue for me even though I frequently switch between a MacBook keyboard and an old (pre-2016) MBP "chicklet" keyboard and a logitech K480 (quite the opposite of either of those keyboards) for my writing.
Or possibly testing by the wrong group of people -- used to finger-peck typing on a virtual keyboard rather than a quality one with feel and travel for touch typing.
But, for me, it's non-starter. It rules out any MacBook with a butterfly keyboard. I can make-do with the old style on the 2017 MacBook Air, but's that as far as I am willing to compromise.*
* Although I might, at some point, decide to get one to use primarily as desktop device with a separate keyboard and mouse but that let's me travel with it on occasion.
It's like comparing a Stingray to a Mercedes sedan: They are meant for different purposes and appeal to different groups.
The Stingray is small and sleek and does what it does very well -- just like the thin, light and sleek MacBooks. But trying to take a trip in one with a family or stop at Lowes to pick up a new lawn mower just doesn't work well.
Rather than call it a "bad design" I would call it a "limited design" targeted at those who are able and willing to put up with the compromises inherent in using as device that is first and formost 'thin, light and sleek'.
For myself, those compromises are simply not worth it.
Either:
I think it's the last one. I think that one sucky part of Apple's laptop manufacturing is having to produce all kind of regional variants of models with different keyboards:
It's especially bad when you consider the last one. The French Canadian layout is unique among the world (it's QWERTY, unlike France's AZERTY, but with extra keys for accented characters), and I estimate that as little as 15-20% of the Canadian Mac using population uses it (confined to Quebec, with 20-20% of Canada's population), and that's probably overstating it. At best, you're talking 100,000 people, but it's more likely in the tens of thousands. Yet Apple needs to manufacture a special model of MacBook Pro just for them.
I speculate that Apple is fed up with having to incur these operational costs seeing as iPhones and iPad just have a glass screen and virtual keyboard.
If I'm right, Apple will have all its laptop users typing on glass within five years.
Ugh!
I will say that I am personally not the biggest fan of the keyboard. I am a touch typist and have for many years thought the earlier generation of Apple keyboards had found the perfect combination of feel and usability. Not too much and not too little key travel. But while I don’t like them as much as previous keyboards, they are hardly unusable and are still much better than the vast majority of PC laptop keyboards. I certainly wouldn’t hold off buying a new Apple laptop over this issue.
As many others have stated, some folks aren't going to be happy no matter what Apple does to mitigate issues and will always assume that Apple has nefarious and self serving intentions in everything they do. If you fall into this camp, why continue to torture yourself by remaining as a customer of Apple? If you're not a customer of Apple and just enjoy coming here to bitch about something where you are not a stakeholder, then perhaps you should consider buying a Chromebook, taking up a hobby or getting a girlfriend/boyfriend or a dog/cat/hamster and spending time doing something that inspires you.