MacBook Pro M1 - Keys leaving marks on the screen

[Alpha Centauri]

Looks like your keys have left a ghost imprint onto the screen. Unfortunately, It's a design flaw. The screen doesn't have enough clearance, is in contact with the keyboard when closed, and gets marked. Over time the key marks may became permanent, as sweat, debris, oils, etc on my hands would have degraded the screen coating over time.
As suggested above, this will help but for a $3000+ laptop Apple should of fixed this flaw by now!?

It's ridiculous, especially when my M2 experiences no potential pressure issues as it doesn't really leave home.

I'm using the original paper sheet that came with the purchase from new but your link looks interesting. People forget that oils are also deposited on the palm wrist and track pad also so I'm just wondering, the extra height of this product on the KB, does it negate that particular contact as well? I suppose it would as I only have KB marks on the screen.

Damn, not available on Amazon and I'm located in the EU. Was about to order it right away.

Edit: stuff it, shipping alone to the EU was as much as the product itself. So have just ordered it anyway as the original paper sheet I was using has gone a bit origami on me.

 

[Populus]

You need a hard case for the laptop (something with ballistic nylon and hard-pressed corner edges), 2) a protective silicon keyboard cover which you remove whenever you are closing the lid (this will take the oil from your fingers, and avoid putting it in contact with the screen when transporting), and to take extra care to ensure that when it is in a bag, that force isn't being placed into the center of the case (therefore pressing the screen into the keys).

Avoiding all of that hassle is one of the reasons why I switched from a MacBook Pro to an iPad + Mac combo.

 

[h.gilbert]

Every single MacBook I have ever owned has done this.

I've only ever had two macbooks, a 2016 13" MBP and my current M1 Air, but I've never once seen a key imprint on the screen on either of them. That includes stuffing both in backpacks while travelling. I don't keep the keyboard that clean either.

It must be just due to manufacturing tolerances then. Doesn't really surprise me as I remember noticing things slightly out of alignment on my old MBP, like the hinge gap left and right, and screen bleed only on one side. Similar things with my Air. These things aren't built that precisely.

 

[throAU]

I've only ever had two macbooks, a 2016 13" MBP and my current M1 Air, but I've never once seen a key imprint on the screen on either of them. That includes stuffing both in backpacks while travelling. I don't keep the keyboard that clean either.

It must be just due to manufacturing tolerances then. Doesn't really surprise me as I remember noticing things slightly out of alignment on my old MBP, like the hinge gap left and right, and screen bleed only on one side. Similar things with my Air. These things aren't built that precisely.

All of these did it for me:

2011 15” Macbook Pro
2015 13” Macbook Pro
2020 13” Macbook Air (intel)
2021 14” Macbook Pro

The only one to have any screen damage (after 5-6 years) was the 13” Macbook Pro (staingate)

The rest have been fine with a wipe, so far.

 

[MikeTaku]

Hello! Hope you people are doing well, I have a question for you guys can you please tell me why some MacBooks get key imprints on the screen while others don’t? Could it be due to small manufacturing differences?
Thank You,
Mike Taku.

 

[throAU]

Hello! Hope you people are doing well, I have a question for you guys can you please tell me why some MacBooks get key imprints on the screen while others don’t? Could it be due to small manufacturing differences?
Thank You,
Mike Taku.

Yes most likely manufacturing tolerances, and also possibly how much other stuff you have in a backpack if you use one with the laptop in it.

Also probably depends how much you use teh laptop keyboard vs. pairing or plugging into an external keyboard when at a desk.

 

[MikeTaku]

Yes most likely manufacturing tolerances, and also possibly how much other stuff you have in a backpack if you use one with the laptop in it.

Also probably depends how much you use teh laptop keyboard vs. pairing or plugging into an external keyboard when at a desk.

That makes sense. I know one of my friend usually travels with his laptop in a backpack, but he doesn't use an external keyboard much. Maybe that’s why he hasn’t seen any imprints.

 

[throAU]

That makes sense. I know one of my friend usually travels with his laptop in a backpack, but he doesn't use an external keyboard much. Maybe that’s why he hasn’t seen any imprints.

I was referring to the other way - more built in keyboard use = more finger grease = more transferred to the screen.

I just cleaned my screen again (I don't do it much, just when it annoys me enough) and so far so good - no permanent marks on my 2021 machine.

For what it's worth I use the built in laptop keyboard almost 100% of the time. Only time I don't is if I need to work from home and I'm plugged into my home monitor. Which has been maybe 10 days out of the 1100 or so I've owned the machine.