Yeah, no big deal. It's not like this case cost $150 or anything.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPad Pro Smart Keyboard letters wearing off after four months
- Thread starter marmiteturkey
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
They were very nice at the Genius Bar. The guy said he's never seen an ASK with this issue. I'm not sure if he was telling the truth or if that is just their policy to say that about certain things. But he did seem surprised when I showed him.
Anyway, he went right over to the shelf and got a brand new one and gave it to me as a straight exchange. I had expected they would offer a refurbished unit, and was very pleasantly surprised.
I asked him the obvious question "what if this happens again in a few months?". He said he thinks perhaps this was just a bad one. When I told him of this thread on the Macrumors forum, he said perhaps there was a bad batch of them. But he did say that Apple stands behind their product, and if it happens again, I should bring it back in and they will do their best to help me.
I really love the ASK, and I do hope it was just a bad one that I had.
Anyway, he went right over to the shelf and got a brand new one and gave it to me as a straight exchange. I had expected they would offer a refurbished unit, and was very pleasantly surprised.
I asked him the obvious question "what if this happens again in a few months?". He said he thinks perhaps this was just a bad one. When I told him of this thread on the Macrumors forum, he said perhaps there was a bad batch of them. But he did say that Apple stands behind their product, and if it happens again, I should bring it back in and they will do their best to help me.
I really love the ASK, and I do hope it was just a bad one that I had.
I had seen a bunch of 12.9 keyboards in-store have various letters/symbols rubbing away about 2 weeks after launch. I just put it down to the excessive usage on the shop floor. But even so, after 2 weeks would have been quite bad.
I decided if the same thing happens again, I will exchange it for a magic keyboard and a Smart Cover. 99% of my use is at my desk, so I don't mind having an external keyboard. I can always manage with the on screen keyboard the few times per year that I travel.
[doublepost=1477947530][/doublepost]I have the same problem, and I think it may have something to do with the relative acidity and sweatiness of a person's hands and fingers. I know that sounds crazy, but I'm a guitar player and I find I burn through guitar strings far faster than most others, and I've come to the conclusion that it's because I sweat a bit more than the average person and that my sweat contains a considerable amount of acidity. If that's true, it's not a leap at all to see how a person like me would ruin the keyboard quickly, while someone like my wife, who never sweats, would not.
That's my two cents. In any event, I can barely see the I, O, L, M, and N, so this thread has emboldened me to run out to the Apple Store tomorrow. I hadn't even been thinking about the warranty.
Thanks!
Well, after less than two months with my new ASK (the one I received in exchange of my original one), a couple of the keys were already starting to wear off. So last month I went ahead and purchased the Brydge 12.9 keyboard from Best Buy during their 25% off sale.
So today I went back to the Apple store and to my surprise, they agreed to give me store credit. I pointed out that it was dumb to keep exchanging these as the same thing would obviously happen again. So thumbs up to Apple. They are always so easy to deal with on these sorts of things. I'm sure I will use the store credit soon enough.
So today I went back to the Apple store and to my surprise, they agreed to give me store credit. I pointed out that it was dumb to keep exchanging these as the same thing would obviously happen again. So thumbs up to Apple. They are always so easy to deal with on these sorts of things. I'm sure I will use the store credit soon enough.
I had the same issue. Several of the letters were almost completely worn off after 8 months of use. But I took it in to the Apple Store and they didn't even hesitate. They replaced it and I was out of there in 10 minutes. I have no reason to believe it won't happen again, but I don't mind running out to the Apple Store every 8 or 10 months to get a free keyboard!
For me, my letters are fine - no signs of disappearing. However, the edges of the ASK are separating. More so on the right side as opposed to the left. Doesn't affect typing at all and not really noticeable unless it actually breaks off - then it will be quite ugly.
I recommend the Logitech keyboard case. The light up keys make me feel like it is an Apple product. However, it can be a bit clunky
I am on my second iPad Pro 12.9 keyboard, and in a little over a year, ten letters have completely worn off the keyboard. When this began to happen with my first keyboard, after just three months, I took it to the Apple Store and they said there was nothing they could do—this was “my fault.” Fortunately, there was some minor issue with all Apple keyboards a few months later and I was able to get my keyboard replaced. I was hoping for the best with this replacement—but sure enough, the same thing began to happen within a short period of time.
Can’t understand why Apple has so little interest in fixing this—it shouldn’t be that hard to figure out a better way to adhere (or whatever process they use) the letters to each key. But I suspect this is just something too minor for them to care about. I’m grateful I’m a fairly good touch typist because I’m confident by the end of the year, I’ll be typing on a completely blank keyboard.
Can’t understand why Apple has so little interest in fixing this—it shouldn’t be that hard to figure out a better way to adhere (or whatever process they use) the letters to each key. But I suspect this is just something too minor for them to care about. I’m grateful I’m a fairly good touch typist because I’m confident by the end of the year, I’ll be typing on a completely blank keyboard.
This has happened to me. I never thought to take it back to Apple when it started, months in, and it irritates me that I didn’t think to do so. I don’t know WTF I was thinking. Mine looks absolutely terrible now, years later. The cloth surface is pealing up, too.
I posted a review on their site about a year in, and they deleted it and blocked me posting another. Now they don’t even have reviews.
I posted a review on their site about a year in, and they deleted it and blocked me posting another. Now they don’t even have reviews.
My letters weren’t wearing off but the sides started coming apart and it also wouldn’t always connect. I returned it for a replacement.
my letters are not wearing away but my actual "finish" is (only on my space bar) kind of annoying for a $200 keyboard, I am unfortunetly outside of my one year warranty so i need to live with it :-/
hey just want to thank everyone for letting me know I coud get a warranty replacement for my Folio keyboard.
I just got off a chat with Apple and it was by far one of the best support experiences I’ve had - Jaimal’s communications skills were completely on point - not only did he get my disappointment in keys wearing off (T being the worst) in less than 10 months, he got my excitement about my iPad Pro and clearly commited I remain a fan boy
in any case, gave him the serial # of the case, a replacement is in the mail and I just ship the old one back!
I just got off a chat with Apple and it was by far one of the best support experiences I’ve had - Jaimal’s communications skills were completely on point - not only did he get my disappointment in keys wearing off (T being the worst) in less than 10 months, he got my excitement about my iPad Pro and clearly commited I remain a fan boy
in any case, gave him the serial # of the case, a replacement is in the mail and I just ship the old one back!
This happened to the two Smart Keyboards I had too! It was very obvious that I tended to hit my space bar using my right thumb rather than my left thumb because of where the wear is on the space bar...