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DeepSix

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Feb 4, 2022
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890
Just curious if any of you have keyboard flex on your M3 Air? I ordered a new M3 Air but I haven't opened it yet. When I checked out the demo M3 13" Air at Best Buy, I noticed that when I pressed as hard as I could on the keyboard and put my weight into it and even the palm rest area, I could feel and hear keyboard and chassis flexing. Is chassis and keyboard flex normal? I thought these were made of metal and are flex free, I'm confused.

Not opening my M3 Air until I can confirm that it's not normal for them to have keyboard or chassis flex in the palm rests.

Thanks
 
Last edited:

krspkbl

macrumors 68020
Jul 20, 2012
2,440
5,855
In normal use I don't experience any flex. I would guess if I were to try then it would probably flex a bit. It's such a thin laptop so I wouldn't be surprised but it is very well built and feels solid to me.
 

DeepSix

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Feb 4, 2022
810
890
In normal use I don't experience any flex. I would guess if I were to try then it would probably flex a bit. It's such a thin laptop so I wouldn't be surprised but it is very well built and feels solid to me.

Thanks, good to know this. Its reinsurance.
 

krspkbl

macrumors 68020
Jul 20, 2012
2,440
5,855
Thanks, good to know this. Its reinsurance.
OP is a samsung fanboy/apple hater who seems to be here to troll based on previous posts.

Have you actually bought an Air? lol

So you tried out an Air which apparently flexed. You then bought one and refuse to open it until you can confirm it doesn't flex. That makes sense.
 

DeepSix

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Feb 4, 2022
810
890
OP is a samsung fanboy/apple hater who seems to be here to troll based on previous posts.

Have you actually bought an Air? lol

So you tried out an Air which apparently flexed. You then bought one and refuse to open it until you can confirm it doesn't flex. That makes sense.

The demos in Best Buy flexed. I opened mine 2 hours ago and I didnt bother checking for flex. If I start checking, then I won't stop.
 
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krspkbl

macrumors 68020
Jul 20, 2012
2,440
5,855
The demos in Best Buy flexed. I opened mine 2 hours ago and I didnt bother checking for flex. If I start checking, then I won't stop.
So what was the point of this thread? You could've just not went looking for "problems" and used the device normally.
 
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DeepSix

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Feb 4, 2022
810
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So what was the point of this thread? You could've just not went looking for "problems" and used the device normally.

It's been many years since I've owned a MacBook, I just wanted to see if the keyboard flex was commonly found on the new airs.
 

DeepSix

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Feb 4, 2022
810
890
Im exchanging this unit for another one. the keyboard on this is unacceptable because the outside keys don't have the same feel when pressed and my caps lock key doesn't always register. Unacceptable for this device
 
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DeepSix

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Feb 4, 2022
810
890
What the heck is keyboard flex, the chassis is made out of solid aluminum. It doesn't flex at all.

It being metal has nothing to do with it. Ive been able to get the demos in Best Buy to flex more than you could ever imagine.
 

MajorFubar

macrumors 68020
Oct 27, 2021
2,167
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Lancashire UK
People who look for the tiniest of absolutely-insignificant faults with mass-produced consumer-grade products have <undiagnosed issues> I'm sure. About a year ago there was another one complaining that when he shut the lid on his Air there was enough gap on one side between the screen and the keyboard to <almost> slide in a piece of paper several microns thick.

I can't believe how shoddily these things are built. /S
 

sdante

macrumors regular
Oct 13, 2023
209
102
I thought these were made of metal and are flex free, I'm confused.
It is made of metal but very thin. Something made out of metal does not mean it will not flex then, it is matter of what type of metal is used and thickness and size of the piece whether it flexes or not. While testing MBA M2 demo units in local shops I noticed this immediately both keyboard and chassis flex pretty easily under pressure but this is not a fault. Both MBP 14" and MBP 16" are sturdier and have much less flexing, almost none. But neither of these are as solid as older type MBP 13" M1 chassis (and the same chassis used in Intel CPU versions) was.
 

DeepSix

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Feb 4, 2022
810
890
It is made of metal but very thin. Something made out of metal does not mean it will not flex then, it is matter of what type of metal is used and thickness and size of the piece whether it flexes or not. While testing MBA M2 demo units in local shops I noticed this immediately both keyboard and chassis flex pretty easily under pressure but this is not a fault. Both MBP 14" and MBP 16" are sturdier and have much less flexing, almost none. But neither of these are as solid as older type MBP 13" M1 chassis (and the same chassis used in Intel CPU versions) was.

I just returned my unit for another one at Best Buy Because of the caps lock key and poor keyboard keys.
Before returning my original unit. I figured I would check for flex and if you press squeeze squeeze squeeze really really hard I've managed to get to flex and squeak and creak
 

sdante

macrumors regular
Oct 13, 2023
209
102
I just returned my unit for another one at Best Buy Because of the caps lock key and poor keyboard keys.
Before returning my original unit. I figured I would check for flex and if you press squeeze squeeze squeeze really really hard I've managed to get to flex and squeak and creak
Yes, they flex like that but it is normal for this model. There can be slight difference in keyboards between units, I guess there is more than one vendor for keyboard part making some difference. But I would not expect night and day difference between units so if you was unhappy with the one you already had...
 
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