Apple's Beats brand in April unveiled the Powerbeats Pro, a redesigned wire-free version of its popular fitness-oriented Powerbeats earbuds.
Apple Apologizes Over 'Small Number' of Users Who Continue to Have Issues With Third-Generation MacBook Keyboards
Last year, Apple introduced new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models with a redesigned third-generation butterfly keyboard that was meant to address issues with sticking and non-responsive keys. However, as noted by The Wall Street Journal's Joanna Stern, some customers are continuing to experience these issues.
Third-generation butterfly keyboard on 2018 MacBook Pro via iFixit
In a statement, an Apple spokesperson acknowledged the issues and apologized:
Unfortunately, while Apple initiated a service program offering free repairs of affected 2015-2017 MacBook and 2016-2017 MacBook Pro models with first- and second-generation butterfly keyboards, the latest 2018 MacBook Pro and 2018 MacBook Air models with third-generation butterfly keyboards do not qualify at this time.
Stern wrote her column without using the letters E or R as a clever way of illustrating the problem — there are toggle switches to turn each letter back on. Humorously, there are also toggle switches to read the article with double E's or double T's, as repeating letters are one symptom of the sticky keys.
In an internal document obtained by MacRumors last year, Apple said the third-generation keyboard has a silicone membrane under the keycaps to "prevent debris from entering the butterfly mechanism." However, the membrane has only reduced the keyboard issues instead of eliminating them entirely.
Apple has not admitted this reasoning publicly, instead saying that the third-generation keyboard delivers a "quieter" typing experience.
Stern concludes with a plea to Apple to "stop prioritizing thinness over usability."
In a statement, an Apple spokesperson acknowledged the issues and apologized:
We are aware that a small number of users are having issues with their third-generation butterfly keyboard and for that we are sorry. The vast majority of Mac notebook customers are having a positive experience with the new keyboard.Apple added that affected customers should contact the company for support.
Unfortunately, while Apple initiated a service program offering free repairs of affected 2015-2017 MacBook and 2016-2017 MacBook Pro models with first- and second-generation butterfly keyboards, the latest 2018 MacBook Pro and 2018 MacBook Air models with third-generation butterfly keyboards do not qualify at this time.
Stern wrote her column without using the letters E or R as a clever way of illustrating the problem — there are toggle switches to turn each letter back on. Humorously, there are also toggle switches to read the article with double E's or double T's, as repeating letters are one symptom of the sticky keys.
In an internal document obtained by MacRumors last year, Apple said the third-generation keyboard has a silicone membrane under the keycaps to "prevent debris from entering the butterfly mechanism." However, the membrane has only reduced the keyboard issues instead of eliminating them entirely.
Apple has not admitted this reasoning publicly, instead saying that the third-generation keyboard delivers a "quieter" typing experience.
Stern concludes with a plea to Apple to "stop prioritizing thinness over usability."
Related Roundup: MacBook Pro
Buyer's Guide: MacBook Pro (Don't Buy)
[ 334 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
(View all)
4 weeks ago
Are you ****ing kidding me? After three years, a $2400 laptop continues to have issues because Apple wants to be different ― nobody else needed the keyboard to be different!
4 weeks ago
Apple really ought to just acknowledge that these butterfly keyboards are awful, and revert back to the 2015 MacBook keyboards. It’s crazy. They went from having literally the greatest laptop keyboards on the market in 2015, to having the absolute worst keyboards on the market in 2016, all just to save half a millimeter in thickness.
4 weeks ago
I hope the next trend is function over form. Make everything durable, serviceable usable with big batteries.
4 weeks ago
they really tried to downplay the issue by saying "small number". most people who have the keyboard seem to have issues. i have a macbook air 2018 and the "e" key clicks itself twice sometimes..
they dont wanna admit that the buttlerfly keyboard is sort of flawed
edit: read the article and she mentions my "sticky e" problem wow
they dont wanna admit that the buttlerfly keyboard is sort of flawed
edit: read the article and she mentions my "sticky e" problem wow
4 weeks ago
Can Apple just admit the design is flawed and move to something reliable in the next gen?
Or perhaps bring back the old retina MacBook Pro to sell as a different range - put the latest internals in it, replace thunderbolt ports and USB A with USB-C thunderbolt 3, put in Touch ID and an equivalent display to the new Macs.
Or perhaps bring back the old retina MacBook Pro to sell as a different range - put the latest internals in it, replace thunderbolt ports and USB A with USB-C thunderbolt 3, put in Touch ID and an equivalent display to the new Macs.
4 weeks ago
When Apple says "small" the mere fact they are making a statement means that it's big. We know the keyboards have a fundamental design flaw that the thin silicone barrier does not fix.
4 weeks ago
The numbers must not be so small after all for Apple to acknowledge the issue publicly.
4 weeks ago
The butterfly keyboard design completely took the joy out of typing on my MacBook Pro away from me. Used to be effortless and accurate on old designs. Typing is now a chore.
[ Read All Comments ]
Last year, we shared a list of some of the best HomeKit products you can buy, which was quite popular with MacRumors readers, so we thought we'd follow it up.
In our 2019 HomeKit video,...
Amazon is discounting the 2019 AirPods with Charging Case to $139.99, down from $159.00. Apple just refreshed the AirPods last month with an updated H1 chip and "Hey Siri" support,...
As part of its ongoing effort to rebuild Apple Maps, Apple has added detailed terrain features to the U.S. states of Arizona and New Mexico as well as the southern portion of Nevada, including the...
Tik Tok, which was pulled from the App Store in India last week to comply with a government demand to block downloads over child safety concerns, is allowed to return to the App Store, reports...
Amazon is currently discounting the latest 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar to a new all-time-low price. Specifically, this is the 2.3 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5 model with 8GB RAM and a 512GB...
Over four years after debuting on Android, and following a significant redesign last year, Google Fit is now available on iOS.
The fitness tracking app can track workout sessions completed...
Following a flash sale on Easter, Best Buy has returned this week with a new 4-day sale that offers discounts on the MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, iPhone X, Beats products, iPhone cases, and more. The...
iPhone XR remained the best-selling iPhone model in the United States in the first quarter of 2019, as it was in the fourth quarter of 2018, according to a survey conducted by research firm CIRP and...
