2016 Macbook Pro Issue - High Pitched Keyboard Clicking Sound

[kalel5]

I'm finally happy with this computer. Only took four tries! Haha!

Since you seem to be one of the few who received good one on the 4th try, do you think it's worth trying a FIFTH time? I ordered a 2015 model from Best Buy that will be here tomorrow, as they were being snatched left and right. I have played around with my 2016 one, and no matter what I do, as it heats, the keys become just terrible still. Thoughts?

 

[Atreyu25]

Since you seem to be one of the few who received good one on the 4th try, do you think it's worth trying a FIFTH time? I ordered a 2015 model from Best Buy that will be here tomorrow, as they were being snatched left and right. I have played around with my 2016 one, and no matter what I do, as it heats, the keys become just terrible still. Thoughts?

I mean, I feel your pain! I was tempted to do the same. Personal choice for sure! If you are getting a stock model go to a retail Apple Store and tell them you want to check everything before you leave.

 

[kalel5]

I mean, I feel your pain! I was tempted to do the same. Personal choice for sure! If you are getting a stock model go to a retail Apple Store and tell them you want to check everything before you leave.

I'm so fortunate for having others who understand. Can you believe no news blogs anywhere are discussing this? Unfortunately, my computer is always a custom build, so it takes weeks before I can get something. I'm a graphic artist and need the power. I'm in a really tough spot. I feel like I'm losing my mind. I have been using istat menu and any time the computer goes up into the 130°F, the keyboard is hosed.

 

[parajba]

Purchased a nMBP 13 base model a few days ago and returned it in a heartbeat because:

1) Up and down arrows register half of the strokes unless I hit the keys in an unnaturally strong way
2) Some keys are so LOUD, they make a metallic clicky sound. The keys don't all make the same sound, some are different, and the whole thing is like a tap dance.

In my opinion the keyboard has a general design flaw and will be subject of a recall. All keyboards I inspected make this sound, some more and some less.

Even if you get a perfect keyboard, there is no way I am going to trust it with my own hard earned money once it goes out of warranty. Unacceptable. So it went back for a full refund.

I shall keep my 2010 MBP for another year.

 

[AllThingsWild]

Yup mine did that too and others have said the same, your not the only one lol it's one of the reasons I returned mine. I didn't have any high pitched keys but mine were hollow sounding in the middle and quiet on the outer keys. It was not uniform at all. I really wanted to keep it, loved the screen, smaller form factor, miss the large track pad and SG. I'm back in a 2015 Pro and its big and I can feel that extra 1/2 lb.

I wish Apple focused on quality and consistency first before worrying about something like the touch bar. They had a lot of time to get it right. Between this and the battery issues, this model is a fail. I'm going to return mine. I love it otherwise, but damn, how did they overlook these things.
[doublepost=1485744439][/doublepost]Has anyone been successful in exchanging their computer for one with a good keyboard? This seems systemic, but wondering if I should exchange this out and see if the next one is any better. My machine is the 15" with touch bar.

 

[Sanpete]

I wish Apple focused on quality and consistency first before worrying about something like the touch bar. They had a lot of time to get it right. Between this and the battery issues, this model is a fail. I'm going to return mine. I love it otherwise, but damn, how did they overlook these things.
[doublepost=1485744439][/doublepost]Has anyone been successful in exchanging their computer for one with a good keyboard? This seems systemic, but wondering if I should exchange this out and see if the next one is any better. My machine is the 15" with touch bar.

My keyboard, and that of most others, is fine. So I suppose either we aren't noticing its fatal flaws, or you stand a good chance of getting a good one. (And the battery life is fine too.)

 

[kalel5]

My keyboard, and that of most others, is fine. So I suppose either we aren't noticing its fatal flaws, or you stand a good chance of getting a good one. (And the battery life is fine too.)

I would totally agree, except that I've now been through 4 of them, and they all have the same random, high-pitched popping sound.
[doublepost=1485752596][/doublepost]

Purchased a nMBP 13 base model a few days ago and returned it in a heartbeat because:

1) Up and down arrows register half of the strokes unless I hit the keys in an unnaturally strong way
2) Some keys are so LOUD, they make a metallic clicky sound. The keys don't all make the same sound, some are different, and the whole thing is like a tap dance.

In my opinion the keyboard has a general design flaw and will be subject of a recall. All keyboards I inspected make this sound, some more and some less.

Even if you get a perfect keyboard, there is no way I am going to trust it with my own hard earned money once it goes out of warranty. Unacceptable. So it went back for a full refund.

I shall keep my 2010 MBP for another year.

Thank you for this post. I'm thinking more and more that I should skip this model. I really love everything else about it. And, when the computer is cool, i actually like the new keyboard. But, it's just awful when the computer gets hot as I start doing the intensive work I need to do in Photoshop and the like. Fingers crossed that Apple learns from the issues with this machine.

 

[Sanpete]

I would totally agree, except that I've now been through 4 of them, and they all have the same random, high-pitched popping sound.

That's not in conflict with what I said. Most people have no problems with the keyboards. Could be because most people aren't doing much with the keyboard when it's 130 F.

 

[kalel5]

That's not in conflict with what I said. Most people have no problems with the keyboards. Could be because most people aren't doing much with the keyboard when it's 130 F.

My apologies that didn't read your post more closely. My sentiments exactly. I simply can't figure why else more people (that we know if) aren't reporting this flaw. Baffling.

 

[ManuCH]

My apologies that didn't read your post more closely. My sentiments exactly. I simply can't figure why else more people (that we know if) aren't reporting this flaw. Baffling.

I can tell you why: not all people are as sensitive.

My MacBook Pro has the high-pitched click on the ASDF keys (not only when warm). I notice it.

I handed the MacBook to several friends and asked them to check the keyboard, if they find something wrong. None (!) did.

When I made them listen to the key sound inconsistencies and the clickyness, they told me I'm crazy. "Nobody would even notice that, how does that bother you?"

As I previously said, I'm going to keep mine as I'm getting used to it - and all display models I tried in the store nearby have the exact same defect on the ASDF keys.

 

[parajba]

I beg to differ.

I can guarantee that I didn't reach such a high temperature in my case. It exhibited the popping sound out of the box.

 

[AlanHarper]

I sent email with video and this thread link and i also posted what one member had done with his keyboard. He took the key off and pressed it and put the key back. And now i can go there and the technician will do same thing for my affected keys. I set appoitment on monday so il post here again if my issue got fixed.

Hey all, so i went to apple support today and i showed few videos about the issue and also did some video rendering on spot to show them what keys where clicking. They wrote everything down and i left the shop. Then few hours they called me and said they have found the problem, they said something was sticking under the keys and that was causing the clicking sound. They also said that they might not be able to clean/fix it and might need to change the whole keyboard, but luckily it didnt come to that. So around 5 hours later they called me again and told me they couldnt reproduce that clicking sound on faulty keys and i went there to pick it up. So now i am here typing this on my fixed keyboard. So all of you who are returning it, just take it to local apple warranty shop and do the same i did. Peace

 

[cyayon]

Hey all, so i went to apple support today and i showed few videos about the issue and also did some video rendering on spot to show them what keys where clicking. They wrote everything down and i left the shop. Then few hours they called me and said they have found the problem, they said something was sticking under the keys and that was causing the clicking sound. They also said that they might not be able to clean/fix it and might need to change the whole keyboard, but luckily it didnt come to that. So around 5 hours later they called me again and told me they couldnt reproduce that clicking sound on faulty keys and i went there to pick it up. So now i am here typing this on my fixed keyboard. So all of you who are returning it, just take it to local apple warranty shop and do the same i did. Peace

Hi,

I'm curious to know what was under faulty keys ? Was it glue ? Or something else ?
How to clean them ourself ?
Thx

 

[- rob -]

I have not had any issues with this yet. But if even a single key made a sound like in this video, I'd take it back to Apple immediately:

Is that the sound people are talking about here?

 

[cyayon]

I have not had any issues with this yet. But if even a single key made a sound like in this video, I'd take it back to Apple immediately:

Is that the sound people are talking about here?

Yes same issue

 

[AlanHarper]

Hi,

I'm curious to know what was under faulty keys ? Was it glue ? Or something else ?
How to clean them ourself ?
Thx

I didnt ask about that, they said something sticky thats it, i didnt ask any questions on what did it look like. Apparently you can see it if you remove the key

 

[cyayon]

I didnt ask about that, they said something sticky thats it, i didnt ask any questions on what did it look like. Apparently you can see it if you remove the key

Thx, but how to remove the key without breaking it... :-(

 

[AlanHarper]

Thx, but how to remove the key without breaking it... :-(

Do not do it yourself, just go to local apple store. Or search from web where is the closest warranty shop and take it there.

 

[MrGuder]

My guess is there is glue residue under some keys causing the high pitched noise or something left over from factory assembly. There's no way dust would do that and there factories must be dust free anyway. It has to be glue residue and when heated causes stickiness causing the click sound. It could just be a spec of glue too.

 

[Keithboon]

Hi!!! You're Malaysian? Are you in the whatsapp group or the lowyat forums? I think I met you somewhere..

Yes im selling desktop at lowyat before and im malaysian

 

[a4k04]

Haven't read through the full thread so forgive me if this has been touched upon already -- got my first 15" during the first week that people started receiving them. The keyboard was very loud and had a 'sharp' tone to the sound. I got a replacement 15" today (due to TB port issues, not the keyboard), the keyboard sounds completely different. No 'sharp' noise, the keypress is less 'clicky' while still maintaining most of the feel from my first machine. Not sure why there is such a difference but the keyboard on the new machine is far quieter and the sound it does make is much softer.

 

[glhiii]

Alright, sorry then. I have to say I absolutely hate the keyboard. It's like typing on a block of wood. I already hated it on the 12" MB (and feel absolutely no difference between the two, btw) and I hate it even more now as the MBP is my productivity machine and I type on it 10 hours a day. Apart from it causing me hand and finger cramps, it's also way too loud, even without defective keys. My students have complained about it at several occasions already - in quiet environments (classroom - well, sometimes , libraries, or even a night train etc. it's obnoxiously loud. And it really doesn't matter how you type on it - there's no "quiet" way to do so on these things.

 

[Sanpete]

And it really doesn't matter how you type on it - there's no "quiet" way to do so on these things.

Actually, that's exactly what determines how loud it is. I can make it loud or quiet by typing forte or piano. Those accustomed to typing with heavy fingers are naturally put off by the sound and maybe the feel of the keyboard, but those who can type just as easily with a lighter touch don''t have those issues for the most part.

 

[glhiii]

I was considering a 2016 13" MBP, but then Bestbuy had a sale (2015 13" for $200 off). I saved myself some money, got a new computer, and do not have to worry about the keyboard. I have a MacBook, and I find the keyboard very hard to use and very loud. The new MBP seems a bit better, but still is very loud and not as good (imo) as the 2015 machine. I'm quite happy with the older MBP -- easy connectivity with USB-A, takes SDHC cards, and has two thunderbolt ports, a very good keyboard, and, as a machine that's been around for several years, no significant hardware issues (such as are reported here).

 

[Clairvoyant129]

Picked up my 2.7/512/460 BTO from the Apple Store today. No scratches or blemishes of any kind. Didn't have time to test out the keyboard since I'm at work but will update you guys tonight.