iFixit Examines Apple’s 4th Try at Butterfly Keyboard
- Paul Thurrott
- May 24, 2019
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30
The teardown experts at iFixit revealed today that Apple has made two minor changes to its 4th-generation butterfly keyboard in a bid to finally put the reliability issues behind it. But the changes are minor, and it’s unclear if Apple has solved the problems.
“Apple’s newest MacBook Pro features a mysterious new keyboard material,” iFixit notes. “Since it’s unlikely that Apple’s going to expound on this ‘material,’ and we’re never satisfied with an unsolved mystery, it’s time once again to take a closer look at the infamous butterfly keyboard.”
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And the butterfly keyboard is infamous. The first version debuted with the 2015 Macbook, and subsequent versions appeared in various MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models released since then. In each case, users reported multiple problems with the keyboards, forcing Apple to quietly and then publicly expand its free service program for the laptops.
Earlier this week, Apple announced a new generation of more powerful MacBook Pros, and while Apple isn’t marketing the keyboard fixes—it only notes that the new keyboard offers a “quieter typing experience”—the firm had previously apologized for the issues and was known to be releasing an updated keyboard with its next MacBooks.
So, now that they’re here, iFixIt has torn one apart to see what Apple changed. And it ain’t much.
“The transparent switch cover material [which is designed to keep dust and debris out] changed this year,” iFixIt reports. “The cover in the 2018 model is semi-opaque, somewhat tacky, and feels like silicone. The new model is clearer and smooth to the touch.” Basically, Apple changed the cover material from Polyacetylene to nylon. But iFixit has no idea why.
Second, the metal dome switch in each key in the keyboard changed a bit, too. iFixit believes they are still made of ferritic stainless steel, but that Apple has changed the composition of the thin polymer coating on the bottom in order to make the switches more durable, hopefully eliminating some failures.
So. did Apple “fix” the butterfly keyboard?
No, iFixit says. “The fundamental problem with this laptop remains—if the slightest thing ever goes wrong, you’ll be replacing half the machine,” the firm notes. “Even if the keyboard is perfect this time, you’re taking a gamble on everything else.” And it has rated the new MacBook Pro a woeful 1/10—its worst-possible score for repairability.
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Conversation 30 comments
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Stooks
<blockquote><em><a href="#430536">In reply to TEAMSWITCHER:</a></em></blockquote><p>8 Cores in the same form factor. Please do a search on the 2018 6 core Mac….aka Throttle book. </p><p><br></p><p>Within a week of its release you had videos on YouTube where people were rendering video content on those 2018 i9-6 core Macbooks that would throttle like crazy. The 4 core i7's were able to out perform them in the same test. </p><p><br></p><p>The issue was too much CPU in a small form factor. Heat issues. The fix from Apple, was a firmware update that never let the CPU hit its Turbo frequency, basically gimping the CPU. Windows laptops that used the same 6 core CPU fared way better, because they were thicker, heavier and all around bigger.</p><p><br></p><p>So how in the H E double LL is a 8 core going to do any better in the same form factor?</p><p><br></p><p>Hey but you can spend a lot of money on one and look cool at the same time!</p>
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dontbe evil
<blockquote><em><a href="#430536">In reply to TEAMSWITCHER:</a></em></blockquote><p>8 cores with throttling, over heating and faulty keyboard … go help your beloved apple buying it</p>
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BrianEricFord
<p>Saying Apple didn’t fix a breaking keyboard problem … that may actually have been fixed … because consumers can’t repair a problem that … might now be fixed is … a curious angle to take.</p><p><br></p><p>But classic iFixit.</p><p><br></p>
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Stooks
<blockquote><em><a href="#430507">In reply to puggsly:</a></em></blockquote><p>Puggsly….put down the cool-aid. Facts…</p><p><br></p><p>Since they moved to this Keyboard design (12inch 2015 Macbook nothing) they have had both problems and bad review after bad review after bad review.</p><p><br></p><p>They ignored it for 2015, 2016, 2017 (making changes to the 2017 models, but not acknowledging those changes in 2017) and finally addressed it in 2018 with a free repair/replacement program that covered 2015-2017 devices, and a fix that for 2018 models to END THE MADNESS. In 2019 they fixed it for a third time and added the 2018 Macbooks to the free repair/replacement program, and admitting that the 2018 fix, did not fix the issue. There is no way Apple would do all of this unless they had a serious problem…..aka Xbox 360 RROD….type problem.</p><p><br></p><p>So now in 2019 they made some minor changes for the third time, to fix the problem despite that FACT that customers are screaming for the 2015 < type keyboard to come back. Seriously WTF…Over???</p><p><br></p><p>I am being nice, honestly I am. If you are buying these throttle books, at these prices, with this joke of a keyboard (shallow, horrible feel, that is fixed…this time….we promise) you are simply a narcissistic idiot that values being cool (or thinking you are cool) by having a Macbook…..aka Form over Function. These type of people make for good people watching in airports while waiting for a plane.</p>
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dontbe evil
<p>the best keyboard evaaaaaaaaaaaa… if you have some issues, is just because your typing it wrong</p>