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MacBook Pro M4 Keyboard problems

Old MBP: night shift is always on with no color washout, deep colors, proper rendering of colors, and effectively makes whites more mellow. New MBP: At same night shift settings as old mac, whites do not become warm and are still way too bright led headlight white. If increase the warmth even more then it becomes too yellow all while hardly reducing harsh bright whites. So the night shift on the new MBP is really ineffective. Even with night shift off, the new MBP has color washout and weird color rendering. Frustrating.
 
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I'm now in the same boat. Tried a couple more units and have ended up in contact with the Senior Manager.

The m4 keyboard IS DIFFERENT in a very bad way. Like has been said already, it’s bouncy, cheap, noisy and horrible to type on compared to the Magic Keyboard and M1 MBP. Keeps click when lightly touched and feel wobbly and boucy.

I have been through about 6-7 units, all have bad keys in different places and range from terrible, bad, and about just OK is the very best you can get too (if you're lucky) but in general the keyboard is awful. I have no idea what Apple haS done but the M1 keyboard was great and they have really ruined it.

Some in store units feel less noisy but still not good and it seems total pot luck as to what kind of unit you will get.

I'm speaking again to the Manager at Apple about what I can do. I want an M4 pro MBP (in silver) but looks like the quality is just not there and I'm not really prepared to just put up with the cheap feeling keyboard. She even agrees that I shouldn't have to do that.

Shame on Apple for this really cause it must have been a conscious decision to change something, or use different materials OR there manufacturing process QA has completely let them down. Either way it's a big problem and makes what would be an awesome laptop not a viable buy, unless you can look past this issue, which I absolutely can't.

I'll update with any outcome from my future convos.
 
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This shows my latest unit. First is Magic Keyboard, second the M1 MBP (which feels great and has practically no noise at all) and last the new M4 MacBook Pro. This is just the noise from lightly tapping but it's hard to describe the cheap horrible feel when pressed. This noise alone is bad enough though.

You can truly see the inconsistency with keys on the M4 and how worse they sound compared to the other keyboard.

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It's crazy, I ordered two macbook pro M4 14 inch machines - the second because I made the mistake of buying the 'nano texture' display - which - just like a cheap $5 'matte' screen protector you might buy for your iphone - makes the screen blurry, lower contrast, and slightly crystalline.

The original one, I'm returning because of the screen, had a GREAT keyboard. I liked it more than my outgoing M3. I can't remember what my M1 was like, but this M4's keyboard had great travel, and was easy to type on. It was predictable, gave great feedback, and even the trackpad was great.

The new one I got without the scam matte screen protector attached - I hate the keyboard. Tiny travel, way too soft, no feedback - I'm making tons of mistakes all the time. To the point where I kind of have to return it. It's basically the worst keyboard I've ever had on any device. Interestingly, the rubber seal around the screen - it's about 1.5mm thinner on this new machine than my first.

BUT even that second keyboard doesn't have the 'clicky' issue described by others here, which makes me super scared that actually even my second one was one of the 'good' ones.

Its insane to me how different these machines are.

Also - FWIW - the screen is slightly dimmer and more yellow by default, on both, than my M3.
 
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Thanks for sharing that. I have no idea what they are doing with this keyboard. Seems like they are having a real manufacturing variation issue.
 
n8vision said:
It's crazy, I ordered two macbook pro M4 14 inch machines - the second because I made the mistake of buying the 'nano texture' display - which - just like a cheap $5 'matte' screen protector you might buy for your iphone - makes the screen blurry, lower contrast, and slightly crystalline.

The original one, I'm returning because of the screen, had a GREAT keyboard. I liked it more than my outgoing M3. I can't remember what my M1 was like, but this M4's keyboard had great travel, and was easy to type on. It was predictable, gave great feedback, and even the trackpad was great.

The new one I got without the scam matte screen protector attached - I hate the keyboard. Tiny travel, way too soft, no feedback - I'm making tons of mistakes all the time. To the point where I kind of have to return it. It's basically the worst keyboard I've ever had on any device. Interestingly, the rubber seal around the screen - it's about 1.5mm thinner on this new machine than my first.

BUT even that second keyboard doesn't have the 'clicky' issue described by others here, which makes me super scared that actually even my second one was one of the 'good' ones.

Its insane to me how different these machines are.

Also - FWIW - the screen is slightly dimmer and more yellow by default, on both, than my M3.
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Can I ask are you in the UK or where are you located? What keyboard lay out do you have?
 
Well, I ended up going to the Apple Store, first unit I got sounded better than all the others I had, I decided to go with that. The long right hand shift key is a little noise and ALL the keys, like my other units have a slight tick to them, but there is nothing terrible, so I decided to keep this one. Apple have definitely done something to keyboard since the M1, night and day when you try then side by side. I suppose it's just a case of getting used to the fact they they feel different, maybe I'll grow to love the new feel, maybe not. It's all just very weird.
 
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So after a little use, the delete key has now started to actually SQUEAK. Final verdict this M4 keyboard is a POS, I don't know what Apple have done but it sucks. This is going back and I won't be getting another one. Apple have COMPLETELY messed up this keyboard.

Can't believe there isn't more fuss about this, or I'm one of the few with this problem, or notices it.
 
pavvel said:
Maybe it's because my M1 is 'worn in' a bit more (don't know if this is a thing?)
Click to expand...

I know you already got a replacement unit, but wear-in really is a thing, but you can't always predict how much or how well it will wear in. I didn't like my M1 Pro's keyboard when I first got it. It was too stiff, but after a year it was perfect.

I'm going through something similar with my new M4 Pro. I hope it follows the same pattern.
 
Maybe this is the case. Here is a latest demonstration of my unit. First the delete key, it squeaks if you can hear it.

Then the right shift and command keys are extremely slickly when lightly touched and when you compare to the same sound on the caps lock key which is almost silent to touch, it makes me think these are just faulty keys.

See what you think. Does yours sound like that? A video would be appreciated.

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pavvel said:
Maybe this is the case. Here is a latest demonstration of my unit. First the delete key, it squeaks if you can hear it.
Click to expand...

Yeah, lots of my keys make squeaky noises if you push the keys off center. That's pretty common for non-mechanical scissor switched keyboards. I honestly can't remember exactly how my current keyboard compares to my M1 Pro at the equivalent time, but I do think that my M4 Pro rattles more.

Every keyboard you get is going to be a little bit different. I wouldn't worry about it if it's not affecting usage. With breaking in, it may do it less... or it could just as easily start doing it more. You just don't know how things will wear. Perfect now doesn't mean perfect later and imperfect now doesn't mean it won't get better.
 
The Airs keyboard is MUCH worse than the new M4 Pro's keyboard for rattling keys. Like it's a night and day difference. I could gently tap any key and it makes a much louder noise than when the keys are actually pressed and bottom out. It's horrible to just type on it. So glad I no longer have to deal with that garbage keyboard.

The keyboard on my M4 Pro feels tight in comparison. My first unit was good and a keeper but the new unit I have now is even better. The feedback when keys bottom out is a bit stronger than my first unit and I like it.

I get an ever so slight tick when you tap on the alphabetical keys but it's very minor compared to the Air when I had it. I do get more tick sounds when tapping on the outer keys like return, shift but that's normal on Apple keyboards for the outside keys to feel more rattly just because of the garbage keycap quality and cheap trash stabilizers under them.

This is why on the outside keys when you press on the inner part of the key, then the middle and then the outsider part of the keys. It feels different in each spot and that is due to garbage quality stabilizers.

Apples bluetooth Magic Keyboard is tight and has no rattly keys. I don't get why Apple couldn't just use the same keyboard in their laptops?
 
pavvel said:
Maybe this is the case. Here is a latest demonstration of my unit. First the delete key, it squeaks if you can hear it.

Then the right shift and command keys are extremely slickly when lightly touched and when you compare to the same sound on the caps lock key which is almost silent to touch, it makes me think these are just faulty keys.

See what you think. Does yours sound like that? A video would be appreciated.

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Click to expand...

That is completely normal for MacBooks, mine is the same but I don't think mine is as rattly as yours. The outer keys are noticeably more rattly than the inner keys and that is due to the crappy stabilizers that Apple uses. That would explain why you get different sounds and feel when pressing the outer keys (shift, return) from differenct spots on the keys.
 
I don’t understand why they can’t replicate the Magic Keyboard, I have that and it’s great no noise. This problem seems to have really started from M4s I have an m1 for works and it’s super tight no rattle. I heard the M2 are the same as well. Seemed to start going down hill after that.

I’m thinking of bagging myself an M2 pro brand new for £800 less and taking a small performance hit for a good keyboard. This M4 keyboard is total junk.
 
pavvel said:
I don’t understand why they can’t replicate the Magic Keyboard, I have that and it’s great no noise.
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Because it's a lot easier to make a stand-alone keyboard than it is to make a keyboard that has to play nicely with other things around it. The Magic Keyboard is fully encased in aluminum. The MBP keyboard has to sit on top of a battery, electronics that are generating heat, and there may be design compromises that had to be factored in.

Also, I can't believe you're citing the Magic Keyboard as an example of perfection. People have complained about inconsistencies in that one too.
 
smirking said:
Because it's a lot easier to make a stand-alone keyboard than it is to make a keyboard that has to play nicely with other things around it. The Magic Keyboard is fully encased in aluminum. The MBP keyboard has to sit on top of a battery, electronics that are generating heat, and there may be design compromises that had to be factored in.

Also, I can't believe you're citing the Magic Keyboard as an example of perfection. People have complained about inconsistencies in that one too.
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Never once said the Magic Keyboard was “perfection” but it’s WAY superior to this M4 keyboard. No clicky, rattle or noise at all.
 
Surprised to see how many folks are getting faulty keyboards. Something odd happening with QC this gen. I've gotten 2 M4s thus far (tried them out), both were fine, thankfully. Hope you folks are able to get your situations sorted out! Apple needs to do better
 
Aka757 said:
Surprised to see how many folks are getting faulty keyboards. Something odd happening with QC this gen. I've gotten 2 M4s thus far (tried them out), both were fine, thankfully. Hope you folks are able to get your situations sorted out! Apple needs to do better
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Can I asked what model you got and what country (layout) you have. Also was it customised or “off the shelf?”
 
Aka757 said:
I got a 16” M4 Pro and a 14” M4. Both US layout and custom orders.
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That’s interesting. Seems like custom orders have better keyboards. Can I ask what colour they are?

I was going for silver, but even heard space black keyboard were not causing any problems..which is totally bizarre as there should be not reason for that.
 
pavvel said:
That’s interesting. Seems like custom orders have better keyboards. Can I ask what colour they are?

I was going for silver, but even heard space black keyboard were not causing any problems..which is totally bizarre as there should be not reason for that.
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Both were space black. Agreed that color shouldn’t cause any variances but I can see something in the manufacturing process for stock builds causing an issue
 
pavvel said:
Never once said the Magic Keyboard was “perfection” but it’s WAY superior to this M4 keyboard. No clicky, rattle or noise at all.
Click to expand...

Well, I meant of a product that doesn't have issues because there's plenty of old conversations here from people who were frustrated by how different one Magic Keyboard was from the other. When the Magic Keyboard was released, I was very interested in one, because I really liked the Bluetooth Keyboard that came before it.

The reason why I never got a Magic Keyboard was because I thought it rattled too much and the only ones that felt right to me were the ones that shipped with iMac Pros.
 
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