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MacBook Pro M4 Keys

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pavvel

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jul 18, 2013
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329
Hi all,

A really small but somewhat big thing. I have recently upgraded from an M1 to an M4 pro 14" and I have noticed a difference in the keys. Albeit they have the same travel and feel - to a degree, they feel A LOT more clicky on light touch which is apparent on normal typing.

Has anyone noticed this or just me? I saw one reddit article of the same.

If you gently touch the keys there is a definite click to them almost a slight looseness, although they are not loose. I have the silver model.

Maybe it's because my M1 is 'worn in' a bit more (don't know if this is a thing?)
Thought?
 
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P

pavvel

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jul 18, 2013
197
329
jabbr said:
probably just a manufacturing/supplier variance. I've noticed the same thing on 13" models in the past
Click to expand...
Does it get better or stay the same? Worthy of replacement or is this just how the keys are on m4?
 
J

jabbr

macrumors 6502
Apr 15, 2012
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I wouldn't count on that kind of break-in

I believe I ended up returning the clicky 13" MBP. Unfortunately, It's just a luck of the draw with mass manufactured goods.
 
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pavvel

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jul 18, 2013
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329
Ah so this is normal thing and it’s bloody Russian roulette! Brilliant!

Any idea what could be causing it?
 
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MaximTV

MaximTV

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Sep 10, 2016
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Germany
pavvel said:
Any idea what could be causing it?
Click to expand...
Not sure, it's either the key itself or the hinge (white clips located beneath the keys) or both.

I was able to eliminate the annoying clicking sound on one of my friend's MacBook Pro M3 Pro by removing the key and just re-installing it. This only worked for 2 out of 4 keys, though.

Also, I've personally had gone through a few M1 Pro units until I got one that was perfect. And I was hoping that Apple managed to fix this issue after 3 generations of MacBook Pros, but looks like they just don't care that much about quality control.
 
P

pavvel

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jul 18, 2013
197
329
MaximTV said:
Not sure, it's either the key itself or the hinge (white clips located beneath the keys) or both.

I was able to eliminate the annoying clicking sound on one of my friend's MacBook Pro M3 Pro by removing the key and just re-installing it. This only worked for 2 out of 4 keys, though.

Also, I've personally had gone through a few M1 Pro units until I got one that was perfect. And I was hoping that Apple managed to fix this issue after 3 generations of MacBook Pros, but looks like they just don't care that much about quality control.
Click to expand...
Thanks for that. What a pain this is.
 
MaximTV

MaximTV

macrumors 65816
Sep 10, 2016
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pavvel said:
Thanks for that. What a pain this is.
Click to expand...
Yeah... the manufacturing tolerances are just too high and it seems like they have several suppliers for the keyboard. Maybe Apple hasn't fixed it yet since it doesn't bother most people, otherwise there would be hundreds of posts everywhere by now.

I'm getting my M4 MacBook Pro next week and can only hope that the keyboard is fine. If there's a bad key and none of my attempts to fix the keys work, I'll just have them exchange it for a new one.
 
LogicalApex

LogicalApex

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Nov 13, 2015
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Some of us pay good money for pronounced clicking sounds from our keys :)

That said, the keys feel a lot better for me than my 2018 MBP with the Butterfly keyboard. They also feel nicer to type on than my Wife's M1 MBP.

But you'd probably be better served checking out the local Apple Store to see if you experience the same in person. As others mentioned you can get different keyboard feels based on everything from tolerances during manufacturing to different keyboard suppliers. I remember the hoopla over getting the keyboard supplier that had keys that made much more pronounced clicks in my Lenovo ThinkPad days.
 
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LogicalApex

LogicalApex

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Nov 13, 2015
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MaximTV said:
I totally get that. However, it's just really annoying when certain keys, which are being used frequently, sound totally different than the rest.

If they would all sound that way, it'd be fine!
Click to expand...
Yeah, a different sound would annoy me as well.

Definitely take it to Apple and let them swap it out...
 
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nathansz

nathansz

macrumors 68000
Jul 24, 2017
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I didn't notice anything,

I've used the odd MacBook but never owned one so I don't know if it's different or good or bad? now I have something knew to worry about ;)

I don't much like typing on laptops as it is, prefer my mx keys
 
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Parowdy

Parowdy

macrumors regular
Mar 16, 2024
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Europe
pavvel said:
Does it get better or stay the same? Worthy of replacement or is this just how the keys are on m4?
Click to expand...
Can you go to a store and try out there? Doesn’t have to be an Apple Store, any bigger and summer small but more expensive spittle have them on display considering where you’re at.
 
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pavvel

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jul 18, 2013
197
329
Parowdy said:
Can you go to a store and try out there? Doesn’t have to be an Apple Store, any bigger and summer small but more expensive spittle have them on display considering where you’re at.
Click to expand...
Was thinking that, but I don’t have Apple Store close. Might be worth a trip I guess though.
 
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