Joe Rossignol

Joe joined MacRumors as an Editor in January 2015, based out of Toronto, Canada. He has been writing about Apple since 2008, with bylines at 9to5Mac, 9to5Google, and many other tech-focused publications.

Joe has been cited by major media outlets, including Bloomberg News, CBS, CNBC, CNN, NBC, Reuters, TechCrunch, and The Washington Post. Many of his headlines have been featured by tech news aggregator Techmeme.



DuckDuckGo Enhances Apple Maps Integration, Including Dark Mode

Tuesday July 16, 2019 10:31 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
DuckDuckGo has been using Apple Maps to power map-related searches on both desktop and mobile since January, and today the privacy-focused search engine announced further improvements to that integration. First, when switching to DuckDuckGo's dark theme, Apple Maps now also automatically switches to a dark appearance. DuckDuckGo has also added a dedicated Maps tab at the top of every search results page. Previously, this shortcut was only displayed for map-related searches, but it now appears for any search queries. For example, if you searched for "cupcakes," the Maps tab might display local bakeries that sell them. Whereas previously each new map-related search required returning to the default DuckDuckGo search page upon completion, a search field has now been added that allows users to refine local searches instantly. Last is intelligent autocomplete within the expanded map view. Updating or typing new search queries will now dynamically show you search suggestions that are tailored to the local region displayed. For example, as you type "coffee," search suggestions related to coffee will appear within the map area in view. These enhancements are available now on both desktop and mobile versions of DuckDuckGo.com. DuckDuckGo does not collect or share any personal information from DuckDuckGo users, a policy that extends to the Apple Maps integration. Identifiable info like IP addresses are not provided to Apple, and for searches where approximate location is gathered by the browser, it is discarded immediately after it's
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Apple's Rainbow Logo May Return to Some New Products as Early as This Year

Tuesday July 16, 2019 9:00 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple may be planning to reintroduce its classic rainbow logo on some of its new products as early as this year, according to a well-connected MacRumors tipster, who in turn cites a corporate Apple employee in Cupertino. MacRumors concept We don't know which products might be involved, but the Mac would be a good candidate, as the multicolored Apple logo was used on the original Macintosh in 1984 and on many other Apple computers before and after it. iPhones and iPads could also be suitable — perhaps special editions along the lines of (PRODUCT)RED. To be clear, this rumor could very well be untrue. We have elected to share it since it comes from a tipster who has longstanding connections to both Apple and related industries, but no other sources have shared similar information that we know of. And, even if true, the plans could certainly change. MacRumors concept Apple's rainbow or "six-color" logo made its debut on the Apple II computer in 1977 and was widely used until 1998, when it began to be phased out in favor of a monochrome Apple logo similar to the one used today. Despite not officially using its rainbow logo in over 20 years, Apple has continued to embrace its colors over the years. Apple Park was recently decorated with the colors of the rainbow logo in celebration of the formal opening of Apple's new headquarters, and as a tribute to Steve Jobs. The colors were splashed on stairs, walkways, coffee cups, and even a stage with a rainbow arch used for an employee-only Lady Gaga performance. Apple's departing design chief Jony Ive recently
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Mophie Launching New Line of iPhone and iPad Charging Basics at Select Apple Stores

Tuesday July 16, 2019 6:37 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Mophie today announced it is launching a new line of basic charging accessories for Apple devices like the iPhone and iPad, including a wireless charging pad, two car chargers, and a variety of USB and Lightning cables. Wireless charging pad: Delivers up to 7.5W of power on contact to recharge Qi-enabled devices like the iPhone 8 or newer. Available in white or black. Can charge through cases up to 3mm thick. $39.95. USB-A car charger: Single USB-A port with 12W charging output. Made of anodized aluminum with charge-indicator light. $24.95. Dual USB-A car charger: Two USB-A ports with 12W charging output. Made of anodized aluminum with charge-indicator light. $29.95. USB-A to Lightning cable: 1-meter cable for $19.95. 2-meter cable for $29.95. USB-C to Lightning cable: 1-meter cable for $19.95. 2-meter cable for $34.95. USB-A to USB-C cable: 1-meter cable for $19.95. 2-meter cable for $24.95. USB-C to USB-C cable: 1-meter cable for $19.95. 2-meter cable for $24.95.The accessories will be available on Apple.com and in select Apple Stores starting today, followed by Mophie.com later in July. Product listings are not immediately available, but they should be
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Airmail Users Frustrated About Sudden Switch to Subscription-Based Pricing on iPhone and iPad [Updated]

Monday July 15, 2019 7:36 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Airmail users awoke today to find out that the popular email app has switched to a subscription-based pricing model on the iPhone and iPad. Airmail for iOS is now free to download on the App Store, but push notifications and multi-account support have become premium features priced at $2.99 per month or $9.99 per year in the United States. The app was previously available for a one-time, upfront cost of $4.99 with all features unlocked. In response to this story, Airmail informed MacRumors that users who purchased the app still have access to multiple accounts but not push notifications, which it describes "a side service of the app." Those who purchased the app within the last four months will also have up to a four-month grace period. Unsurprisingly, many Airmail users have voiced their displeasure about this on Twitter and Reddit after already paying $4.99, especially since developer Bloop apparently failed to provide users with any advanced notice about the change. Push notifications now require a subscription.— Airmail (@airmailer) July 15, 2019 .@airmailer #airmail if it bothers you that email client you paid for wants you to pay subscription for *existing* features, try @SparkMailApp . Just tried it out and it feels great!And for the record, I would drop money for new features but not for that. You lost me.— Vito Meznaric (@meznaricnet) July 15, 2019 And so came an end to using #Airmail. In my opinion it is bad practice to suddenly remove a feature and make it paid one (on an paid app). Especially when the feature itself didnt really work well from
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Apple and BBC Co-Producing Comedy Series Starring Imelda Staunton From Harry Potter

Friday July 12, 2019 9:11 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple is teaming up with the BBC to co-produce an eight-part comedy-drama series with a working title of "Alabama," according to a report from British comedy website Chortle highlighted by Engadget. Imelda Staunton Written by former stand-up Andy Wolton, the show will reportedly star Imelda Staunton, who is best known for her performance in the British comedy television series "Up the Garden Path" and for playing Dolores Umbridge in the Harry Potter movies "Order of the Phoenix" and part one of "Deathly Hallows." The series is reportedly in production and is slated to air worldwide next year on Apple's upcoming streaming video service, Apple TV+. Apple and BBC declined to comment on the series, and plot details have yet to be revealed. Apple TV+ will feature dozens of original TV shows and movies with stars such as Steve Carell, Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Oprah Winfrey. The service is set to launch in over 100 countries in the fall within the Apple TV app on the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, and
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Apple Pay Users Can Get Free McDonald's Fries With Purchase on Fridays in July

Friday July 12, 2019 7:46 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple and McDonald's have teamed up to offer free fries every Friday in July. Today, and on July 19 and July 26, customers can use Apple Pay in the McDonald's app and get free medium fries with a minimum $1 purchase before taxes, excluding any dollar menu items. The promotion is limited to the United States. This is just one of many Apple Pay promotions that have been offered in recent
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Base 2019 13-Inch MacBook Pro Teardown Reveals Larger Battery, Soldered-Down SSD, and Updated Keyboard Material

Friday July 12, 2019 5:35 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
iFixit has shared a teardown of the new entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro, which was refreshed this week with Intel's latest 8th-generation processors, a True Tone display, Touch Bar, Touch ID, and the Apple T2 security chip. The teardown reveals a larger battery with a 58.2 Wh capacity, which slightly exceeds the 54.5 Wh battery found in the previous-generation function key model. iFixit guesses this is how the 2019 model manages to power the Touch Bar, Touch ID, and T2 chip while keeping the same 10-hour battery life. To make room for the Touch ID sensor alongside the Touch Bar, iFixit notes that Apple appears to be using a slightly smaller heat sink. The speaker opposite the fan also looks to have been shrunk in size. While the previous-generation entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro had a modular SSD, storage is soldered down in the 2019 model. However, there are some newly modular components, including the Thunderbolt board and the speakers. This configuration is in line with other modern MacBook Pro designs. As we confirmed earlier this week, the notebook has the same third-generation butterfly keyboard with updated material as the higher-end 2019 MacBook Pro models introduced in May, with Apple promising improved reliability. Like most other modern MacBooks, this model earned a low repairability score from iFixit due to the usual concerns, such as Apple's use of proprietary pentalobe screws, a glued-in battery, and soldered-down storage and RAM. One positive is that the trackpad can be replaced without touching the
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Powerbeats Pro Now Available to Order in Over 20 Additional Countries

Friday July 12, 2019 5:00 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple today began accepting Powerbeats Pro orders in over 20 additional countries, including many in Europe. The rollout includes Austria, Belgium, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. As in other countries, the headphones are only available in black at launch. Ivory, moss, and navy colors will be released later this year. Powerbeats Pro first launched in the United States and Canada in early May, followed by the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, and China later in the month. The headphones have faced tight availability, with orders placed today estimated for delivery in between 10 and 20 days in many countries. Powerbeats Pro are Apple's first totally wireless Beats earphones, equipped with the same H1 chip as the second-generation AirPods for hands-free "Hey Siri" and faster connection speeds between the iPhone, Apple Watch, and other devices. Like the Powerbeats3, the Powerbeats Pro feature adjustable, secure-fit ear hooks and earbud tips with four size options. They're essentially sportier AirPods, complete with a durable design and sweat resistance. They'll last up to nine hours per charge, with more battery life via an included charging case. Powerbeats Pro are priced at $249.95 in the United States and at €249.95 in many European
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Base 2019 13-Inch MacBook Pro is Up to 83% Faster Than Previous Generation in Benchmarks

Thursday July 11, 2019 9:14 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple this week updated its entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro with a Touch Bar and Intel's latest 8th-generation Core quad-core processors, and benchmarks for the 2019 model are now beginning to surface. Geekbench 4 scores indicate the base 2019 model with an 8th-generation 1.4GHz quad-core Core i5 processor has up to a 6.8 percent increase in single-core performance, and up to 83.4 percent faster multi-core performance, compared to the base 2017 model with a 7th-generation 2.3GHz dual-core Core i5 processor. Specifically, the 2019 model has average single-core and multi-core scores of 4,639 and 16,665 respectively based on eight Geekbench results, while the 2017 model averages 4,341 for single-core and 9,084 for multi-core. The new entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro is powered by Intel's Core i5-8257U processor, which appears to be a custom variation of its Core i5-8250U processor designed for Apple. The 15W chip is part of the Coffee Lake family and has a max Turbo Boost frequency of up to 3.9GHz. The notebook can also be upgraded to an 8th-generation 1.7GHz quad-core Core i7 processor. This configuration uses Intel's Core i7-8557U, which is likewise believed to be a custom variation of its Core i7-8550U processor, with a TDP of 15W and a max Turbo Boost frequency of up to 4.5GHz. Only one Geekbench result is available for the 1.7GHz configuration so far with single-core and multi-core scores of 4,835 and 15,515 respectively. There is room for variance here as more results come in, but this would be a performance increase of up to around 60 percent compared
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DigiTimes: Apple Has Temporarily Stopped Developing AR/VR Headsets, Team Disbanded in May [Updated]

Thursday July 11, 2019 6:11 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Update: As noted by Jeremy Horwitz, more details are now available on DigiTimes Taiwan, which reports that Apple has "temporarily stopped developing AR/VR headsets." The report claims the team working on them was disbanded in May and reassigned to other product developments. Original story below. Apple has reportedly "terminated" development of its widely rumored augmented reality glasses project, according to DigiTimes. MacRumors concept of Apple Glasses Multiple sources have claimed that Apple plans to release augmented reality glasses as early as 2020, including well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, and CNET, so the DigiTimes report if accurate reflects a cancellation of a major hardware project on Apple's roadmap. DigiTimes preliminary headline DigiTimes has a mixed track record in relation to reporting on Apple's future plans, but it appears to be citing another report in this case. However, the DigiTimes story is currently paywalled behind its "Before Going to Press" section, so we'll have to wait for specific details to be made public. Kuo said Apple's glasses would be marketed as an iPhone accessory and primarily take a display role while wirelessly offloading computing, networking, and positioning to the iPhone. He believed mass production could begin at some point between the fourth quarter of 2019 and the second quarter of 2020. In November 2017, Gurman reported that Apple's headset would run a custom iOS-based operating system dubbed "rOS" for "reality operating system." At the time, he said Apple had not finalized how
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Apple Rumored to Launch Notch-Less iPhone in 2020

Wednesday July 10, 2019 3:29 pm PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple may be gearing up to slim down and then completely remove the notch from iPhones over the next two years. First, reputable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is out with a new research note today via Chinese website MyDrivers in which he claims that at least one new iPhone in 2020 will be equipped with a smaller front camera lens for an improved screen-to-bezel ratio, suggesting the notch will be slimmer. Second, the China Times cites an analyst at investment firm Credit Suisse in Asia who believes Apple plans to release one new iPhone model without a notch or Face ID in 2020. The analyst claims the iPhone will instead feature an under-screen front camera and full-screen acoustic fingerprint authentication, which sounds like a version of Touch ID that would work anywhere on the iPhone's display. The analyst believes all three new iPhones will be notch-less in 2021, completing the transition to under-screen front cameras and full-screen fingerprint authentication. The report claims Apple is likely to develop its own under-screen fingerprinting technology rather than rely on a third-party provider. Together, these rumors paint the following timeline:2019: Three new iPhones with Face ID and no changes to notch 2020: Two new iPhones with Face ID and slimmer notches, one new notch-less iPhone with full-screen fingerprint authentication 2021: Three new notch-less iPhones with full-screen fingerprint authentication Just last week, a report claimed that Apple plans to launch a new iPhone with under-screen fingerprint technology, but the report suggested the device will be
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Apple Registers Five New iPad Models Running iPadOS in Eurasian Database

Wednesday July 10, 2019 10:27 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple has registered five unreleased iPad models in the Eurasian Economic Commission database today, including A2068, A2197, A2198, A2228, A2230, according to listings uncovered by MySmartPrice and confirmed by MacRumors. All of the iPad models are listed as running iPadOS: On the more imminent front, a recent rumor suggested that mass production of a new 10.2-inch iPad was set to begin this month, so a launch could be near. The 10.2-inch model, dubbed the iPad 7, is expected to be a slightly larger, slimmer bezel successor to the low-cost 9.7-inch iPad, which was last updated in March 2018. Both iPad 7 (10.2”) and the “new” iPad (10.5”, non-Pro) are coming. But not at the same time.— CoinX (@coiiiiiiiin) March 13, 2019 The source of the 10.2-inch iPad rumor, CoinX, has an accurate track record. The mystery account previously tweeted the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR names of the 2018 iPhones before anyone else, and also accurately revealed the 10.5-inch iPad Air, the 2018 iPad Pro being 5.9mm thick, and more. Looking farther out, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has claimed that two new iPad Pro models will enter mass production in the fourth quarter of 2019 or the first quarter of 2020. The current iPad Pro models were released in October 2018. Eurasian Economic Commission filings like these have foreshadowed the release of new Apple products on numerous occasions, including multiple iPad, iPad Pro, iPhone, Mac, Apple Watch, and AirPods models. The filings are legally required for any encrypted devices sold in Russia and select other
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Intel Reportedly in Exclusive Talks With Unnamed Buyer Over 8,500 Wireless Patents

Wednesday July 10, 2019 8:25 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Just weeks after Intel reportedly put around 8,500 wireless patents up for auction, the chipmaker has now taken the portfolio off the market and entered into a period of exclusivity with an unnamed buyer for a substantial portion of the assets up for sale, according to IAM. While the hopeful buyer has not been disclosed, the report speculates it could be Apple:Intel gave no indication of who the interested bidder might be; whether, for example, it is an operating company acting on its own, a consortium or an investor play. However, given the reports of Apple's interest in the chipmaker's overall smartphone modem business, the iPhone giant must be seen as among the most likely bidders.Intel is reportedly aiming to sell off 8,500 assets from its patent portfolio, including 6,000 patents related to 3G, 4G, and 5G cellular standards and an additional 1,700 patents on wireless implementation technologies. The portfolio would obviously be tremendously valuable to Apple as rumors suggest the iPhone maker is developing its own cellular modems that could be ready by 2022 or 2023, according to reputable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Apple is also widely expected to release its first 5G-enabled iPhone next year. In April, Intel announced that it is exiting the 5G smartphone business, not long after Apple and Qualcomm reached a settlement and a multi-year supply agreement that will see Qualcomm providing 5G modems for future iPhones. Apple is reportedly interested in purchasing parts of Intel's smartphone modem business following its exit, possibly including its German division.
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HomePod Launching in Japan and Taiwan This Summer

Wednesday July 10, 2019 6:31 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple has announced that its HomePod speaker will be available to order in Japan and Taiwan later this summer. The speaker has had a slow worldwide rollout since launching in February 2018, with availability currently limited to the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, Mexico, China, and Hong Kong. In April, Apple lowered the price of the HomePod from $349 to $299 in the United States. As of the fourth quarter of 2018, the speaker had an estimated worldwide market share of just four percent, according to Strategy Analytics. Pricing will be ¥32,800 in Japan and NT$9,900 in Taiwan.
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Angela Ahrendts Says Apple Store Employee Retention Rate Rose to Historic High of Nearly 89% During Her Tenure

Wednesday July 10, 2019 6:08 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
On a recent episode of the RBC Disruptors podcast with host John Stackhouse, Apple's former retail chief Angela Ahrendts revealed that Apple's retail employee retention rate rose from 61 percent to a "historic high" of "nearly 89 percent" during her five-year tenure at the company. Ahrendts, left, with YouTube star iJustine "I don't feel that Apple retail is facing near the headwinds that maybe a lot of other retailers are because we've spent the last five years almost changing and evolving, and refocusing if you will," added Ahrendts, citing strong retention rates, redesigned stores, improved communication tools, and more. Of course, with Apple being one of the world's largest companies, Ahrendts admitted that "there's a challenge a day." "I think when you run a business that big and that global, and nearly 70,000 employees when I left, there's a challenge a day. I think that if it is a challenge, it's your job to fix the challenge. So when I came in, there were a lot of systems that weren't connected, there wasn't a way to communicate." Under Ahrendts, Apple introduced new communication tools for its retail employees, including a "Hello" app that provides a daily summary of "need to know" information and a "Loop" app that allows retail employees to share useful tips and tricks amongst each other to help do their jobs better. Ahrendts also reflected on being recruited by Apple CEO Tim Cook, her early days at Apple, her vision of the retail industry as a whole, and much more. The full interview can be listened to on SoundCloud or Apple Podcasts. Ahrendts
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Apple Begins Selling Refurbished 2019 iMacs

Tuesday July 9, 2019 4:12 pm PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple today added certified refurbished 2019 iMac models to its online store for the first time in the United States and Canada. A selection of refurbished 21.5-inch iMac and 27-inch iMac configurations are available, with prices discounted by 15 percent compared to the equivalent brand new models. These models were originally released in March 2019. Apple says all refurbished iMac models are thoroughly inspected, tested, cleaned, and repackaged with a new box and all manuals and accessories, including a Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse 2, Lightning to USB cable, and power cord. Apple's refurbished products are virtually indistinguishable from brand new ones. Any refurbished iMac model comes with Apple's standard one-year warranty effective on the date the computer is delivered. The warranty can be extended to up to three years from the original purchase date with AppleCare+ for iMac for a one-time cost of $169 in the United States or $199 in Canada. Apple updated its iMac lineup in March with Intel's latest 8th-gen and 9th-gen Core processors and Radeon Pro Vega graphics options. Beyond the processors and graphics refresh, there is a lot of familiarity. 2019 iMac models have the same design used since 2012 and the same 4K and 5K displays as the previous generation. I/O also remains unchanged with two Thunderbolt 3 ports, four USB 3 ports, a SD card slot, a headphone jack, and Gigabit Ethernet. While the iMac Pro and other recent Macs are equipped with Apple's T2 security chip, 2019 iMac models do not have any T-series
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AirPods 3 With Water Resistance Expected to Launch Later This Year

Tuesday July 9, 2019 12:37 pm PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple plans to release third-generation AirPods with water resistance in late 2019, according to Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives. The first two generations of AirPods do not have IP-rated water or dust resistance. In a research note this week, shared by Philip Elmer-DeWitt, Ives said the new AirPods will be released in time for the holiday shopping season this year and may also feature some unspecified design enhancements. AirPods have had the same design since the original pair launched in December 2016. This info lines up with several rumors about new AirPods launching within the next year. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman was first to reveal Apple's roadmap for AirPods. In February 2018, he said Apple was working on new AirPods with Hey Siri support, which launched in March 2019 after a delay. In June 2018, he reported that Apple is working on another pair of AirPods with water resistance and noise cancelation. Gurman also reported that Apple is developing over-ear headphones with noise cancelation that could launch as early as this year. The headphones are said to be "studio quality" and will likely have Apple branding. In April, reputable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said two new AirPods models will likely go into mass production between the fourth quarter of 2019 and the first quarter of 2020, with one of the new models featuring an "all-new form factor design" and a "higher price" than the second-generation AirPods, which start at $159. Both new AirPods models are said to adopt a new system-in-package design internally, which can improve assembly yield rates, save
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2018 MacBook Air Available for $999 at Select Apple Stores While Quantities Last, $849 Refurbished

Tuesday July 9, 2019 11:37 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple today updated the MacBook Air with a True Tone display. The notebook also received a $100 price drop, with prices now starting at $1,099 in the United States, or $999 for qualifying students through Apple's education store. While this news means that 2018 MacBook Air models are no longer available to purchase through Apple's online store, a retail source informed MacRumors that Apple is offering $999 pricing on base 2018 MacBook Air models at select Apple Stores in the United States, while quantities last. Your mileage may vary. Apple is also offering certified refurbished 2018 MacBook Air models on its online store from $849, which amounts to $350 off the 2018 MacBook Air's original starting price of $1,199 when it was first released in October 2018. Apple says certified refurbished MacBook Air models are thoroughly inspected, tested, cleaned, and repackaged, with all manuals and cables included in the box. In our view, a refurbished Mac is virtually indistinguishable from a brand new one. They're also backed by Apple's standard one-year warranty. A refurbished Mac's warranty can be extended to three years from the refurbished purchase date with AppleCare+. All in all, customers who can deal without True Tone can save $100 or $350 or more by purchasing a 2018 model instead of a 2019 model. Of course, something new is always around the corner: well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently said a new MacBook Air with a scissor keyboard might launch later in 2019.
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Apple Music Offering Six-Month Free Trial to Students Until Late September

Tuesday July 9, 2019 10:36 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple has announced that students who have yet to subscribe to Apple Music can now get a six-month free trial, double the standard three months, in the United States and select other countries. The limited time promotion ends September 26, 2019, according to an internal memo obtained by the blog Appleosophy. When the trial ends, the Apple Music plan for students is $4.99 per month, compared to the standard $9.99 per month for individuals. While various carriers have offered extended Apple Music trials, this is the first time Apple has offered a six-month trial itself. The offer is part of Apple's annual Back to School promotion in which students can also get a free pair of Beats headphones with the purchase of an eligible Mac or iPad. (Thanks, Holden Satterwhite!)
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New MacBook Air and Base 13-Inch MacBook Pro Have Same Keyboard as Higher-End 2019 MacBook Pros

Tuesday July 9, 2019 9:13 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Good news: both the new MacBook Air and the new entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro models introduced today have the same third-generation butterfly keyboard design with an updated material as the higher-end 2019 MacBook Pro models introduced in May, we've confirmed directly. 2019 MacBook Pro keyboard teardown via iFixit Apple previously said the new material should substantially reduce issues that some users have experienced with its butterfly keyboards in recent MacBooks, according to The Loop. Apple apologized for the issues in March, but it continues to insist that a "small percentage" of customers are affected. Apple has not elaborated on the new material, but the repair experts at iFixit completed a teardown of the 2019 MacBook Pro and discovered a "subtle change" made to the silicone membrane covering the keyboard switches. Whereas the membrane in the 2018 MacBook Pro is "semi-opaque" and "feels like silicone," iFixit said the cover in the 2019 model is "clearer and smooth to the touch." Based on infrared analysis, it appears the 2018 membrane was made with polyacetylene, while the 2019 covers uses polyamide, aka nylon. Despite the new material, Apple has added all 2019 MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro models, including today's refreshed entry-level configuration, to its keyboard service program — hopefully out of an abundance of caution. This means any 2019 MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, or any Mac with a butterfly keyboard that experiences keyboard issues such as sticky or inconsistently responding keys qualify for free repairs from Apple for up
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