Keyboard indentations on screen

[Bob_DM]

Well, if in a while those signs become permanent, it may be a problem.

They are permanent … but not visible in use with even dim screen (calibrated D50/80cd).

 

[IGHOR]

I have contacted Apple Support chat and they said "So it's not normal that the keyboard will leave a mark on the screen when you close it."
Also they told me to go to nearest Apple Store for inspection. They can fix it by replacing keyboard same day.
Anyone had similar experience? Is the issue really can be solved that way?

I did what they said, I bring it to Apple Store.
They said that those sign are some kind of liquid so they need to make verification that there is no liquid inside of MacBook, and if there is, no service going to be provided.
Half hour later they bring it back and confirmed that there is no liquid inside. Sadly they forgot to close two clips of back cover so they had to put it on its place by my request.

They tested keyboard and said that every button height is normal and no replacement needed.
But they can replace it for free if I wish so. Since they don't think that replacement will fix the issue I rejected replacement offer.
Overall their explanation was short, the keys are not touching the screen, when liquid appears (possibly fat from fingers), the liquid itself touches the screen. Also they said that no permanent signs should appear later, and if there will be any, they will replace the screen for free, while it is on warranty, of course.

As for me, I can see only space bar signs, but no other buttons.
So their recommendation was to clean keyboard every time before closing the lid.
Well, looks like we have to live with that.

 

[Novius89]

I absolutely love my MacBook but the tolerance of the keys to screen is just too little.
The shiny screen is also a bad choice from Apple.

Yeah it looks sharp and crisp, but seeing every fingerprint/ piece of dust / hair on the screen is just stupid and annoying, same for the reflection.

They could solve a lot of our problems by just making the screen matte and not glass as well. Just a normal laptop screen.

 

[stinkhorn9]

Again. Sigh...

I've had my 14" MacBook for a bit over a month now. This was a problem I was hoping Apple would have solved by now, but no, no such luck. Keyboard indentation still shows on the screen because there is just so very little clearance when the MacBook is in clamshell. And to think the new 14" and 16" even got thicker than the last models.

Luckily I have a screen protector, so it won't damage the screen, but for those who don't have a screen protector, I'd say... be very careful. Your screen may end up with the whole keyboard indented on it at some point. I have seen this before with all previous MacBook generations since 2016. It will eventually warrant a screen replacement from Apple.

I was afraid of this. Sigh.

What screen protector are you using?

When I got my 2009 MBP I got a nice thick, soft case for it made by an Italian company - who (as standard) included a keyboard-sized piece of felt-like material to lay over the keys before closing the lid. Has the keyboard-leaving-an-impression-on-the-screen thing ever been acknowledged by Apple?

 

[Fishrrman]

"They tested keyboard and said that every button height is normal and no replacement needed.
But they can replace it for free if I wish so. Since they don't think that replacement will fix the issue I rejected replacement offer."

MISTAKE !!
If they offered you a free replacement, you should have taken it.
Now (if you can't resolve the problem) you're stuck with the one you have.

 

[Novius89]

and liquid from the buttons can touch the screen according to apple? If I touch my keys with greasy/sweaty fingers (god forbid) its not even measurable what is on the keys. I can imagine putting a drop of water 3-4 millimeters hight, it can touch the screen, but fingerprints..... sounds to me it is to close to the screen in clamshell. Ridiculous explanation from apple if you ask me.

 

[IGHOR]

"They tested keyboard and said that every button height is normal and no replacement needed.
But they can replace it for free if I wish so. Since they don't think that replacement will fix the issue I rejected replacement offer."

MISTAKE !!
If they offered you a free replacement, you should have taken it.
Now (if you can't resolve the problem) you're stuck with the one you have.

since everyone reported the same issue I think it won't be fixed that way.

By the way, today I could see not only keyboard signs, but aluminum body signs, I don't know is it related to the Apple service.
Now I notice that while MacBook lid is closed, it is not tightly closed on left and right side, that could lead to small deformation of the screen that made the center of screen to be able touch keyboard more easily.
It possibly caused by this body case https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09R79NW8Z that I use, which plastic parts are preventing to close lid correctly.
I have removed it now and the lid closed tightly on every corner, so I'll test it out to see is it fixed.

 

[IGHOR]

I confirm that this case made signs appear faster, but without it signs appearing any way.

 

[0906742]

lol found an outline of the spacebar on my screen today. Turns out the space bar is ever so slightly taller than the rest of the keys. I'm not sure if it would actually damage the coating over time.

Just out of curiosity what is the keyboard height in relation to chassis around it? It is easy to measure with using plastic ruler placed horizontally across the keyboard all the way to the chassis edges testing each rows of the keyboard. Then press ruler slight to feel if it is even a hair thickness higher than the chassis.

Anyway, obviously gap between keyboard and screen is very little and with new type of flat display lid back design any pressure you put on the lid when it is closed will push the screen towards keyboard. I think it would have been better to use a little rounder shaped display lid in these new design MacBooks which would allow small gap in the middle of the lid to the back of the screen so it would absorb some of the pressure and guide it to the edges of the lid instead right in the middle of the screen as in new flat lid.

 

[Novius89]

Yeah or just make the lid a little bigger so we can have 2 mm “deep” edge around the display.

Or don’t have glossy glass displays at all.

I absolutely think the MacBook is a beautiful device, but the glossy thin glass displays are just a bad decision 😂😂

The thickness of the m2 air is perfect for a portable device (sadly I don’t own it)