Trackpad and Keyboard on 15" 2016 MacBook Pro

[Ilhan The Man]

I just picked up my 2016 15" MacBook Pro from the Apple Store.

Here are a couple of things that are bugging my OCD/paranoia with new Apple computers:

- Not all of the keys on the keyboard have the same level of "clickyness". Some give a higher pitched and more snappy click. Some feel almost more "mushy" (but that's too strong a word) and have a lower pitched click. One of the clickiest keys feels like it almost gets stuck sometimes when typing.

- The trackpad really doesn't give a lot of haptic feedback when clicking, even at the firmest setting. I've used a 2015 13" MacBook Pro for a period of time with a Force touch trackpad and remember it being much more clicky-feeling than this one. This trackpad almost feels cheap, and the sound it gives is hollow.

Does anyone else find this? Should I go in and ask for another laptop as an exchange to be sure it's not just poor quality control on the part of Apple?

 

[fs454]

Make an appointment and go in - test the keyboards on the display models and see if they're like yours. Doesn't seem normal that your keys differ - the replacement notebook (Boot Camp speaker issue) I just got had a really loud and clicky delete key, but after wearing it in a bit on the first day it's back to consistency with the rest of the keyboard.

As for the trackpad, I had a hard time getting used to it coming from a Late 2013 with the regular click, but I think it just takes some getting used to. I don't have enough seat time on any previous Force Touch models to say that this one is weaker or cheaper sounding, but I found that having Force Touch gesture turned off (unless I find a great use for it, that extra click throws me off when dragging with my thumb down) and medium or firm click strength really firms up the feel of the trackpad as a whole. Definitely worth a trip to the store to compare.

 

[jackoatmon]

i find you just gotta work it in for a day or two

 

[Brookzy]

I just picked up my 2016 15" MacBook Pro from the Apple Store.

Here are a couple of things that are bugging my OCD/paranoia with new Apple computers:

- Not all of the keys on the keyboard have the same level of "clickyness". Some give a higher pitched and more snappy click. Some feel almost more "mushy" (but that's too strong a word) and have a lower pitched click. One of the clickiest keys feels like it almost gets stuck sometimes when typing.

- The trackpad really doesn't give a lot of haptic feedback when clicking, even at the firmest setting. I've used a 2015 13" MacBook Pro for a period of time with a Force touch trackpad and remember it being much more clicky-feeling than this one. This trackpad almost feels cheap, and the sound it gives is hollow.

Does anyone else find this? Should I go in and ask for another laptop as an exchange to be sure it's not just poor quality control on the part of Apple?

There are a lot complaints about spongy keys (myself included). It seems luck of the draw unfortunately. Go to the Apple Store and compare with display models.

The trackpad is just like that unfortunately. There is no more artificial sound feature meaning the click sounds less clicky, somewhat hollow, and does not have a silent click option. The larger trackpad also dissolves the effect somewhat, so the click feels less deep than in previous generations, even on the firmest setting. You get used to it after a while.

 

[npreq]

Had a similar problem, and swapped. Meanwhile a second one arrived for my girlfriend, and her keyboard is spot-on perfect. Exchange it, it's a faulty keyboard.

 

[Ilhan The Man]

Had a similar problem, and swapped. Meanwhile a second one arrived for my girlfriend, and her keyboard is spot-on perfect. Exchange it, it's a faulty keyboard.

Thank you. This is reassuring. I've paid near $5000 CAD for this laptop, so I think I deserve a replacement if I'm not satisfied.
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The trackpad is just like that unfortunately. There is no more artificial sound feature meaning the click sounds less clicky, somewhat hollow, and does not have a silent click option. The larger trackpad also dissolves the effect somewhat, so the click feels less deep than in previous generations, even on the firmest setting. You get used to it after a while.

That's what I wondered — if it's simply because the sound is being dissipated or dampened somehow by the larger trackpad.

 

[therealseebs]

I was fine with the sound on the trackpad on mine, it just wasn't very good at registering clicks.

 

[Ilhan The Man]

This is the video that put me on guard in the first place:

 

[BafS]

I also have a weird feeling, specially with the "enter" key. I made a video.

 

[Ilhan The Man]

I also have a weird feeling, specially with the "enter" key. I made a video.

Ha! A kindred spirit. For better or for worse.

 

[BafS]

Does anyone know how to remove a butterfly v2 key ?

 

[Brookzy]

Does anyone know how to remove a butterfly v2 key ?

It's easy to break when re-seating a removed butterfly key (including 2nd generation).

But if you just want to access underneath it, e.g. for cleaning, then you can half remove it. See my post below from another thread:

It's a very finicky process and they are quite easy to break. However, you can half-remove them so they hinge upwards from the bottom, which gives enough room to remove debris (especially if you have compressed air) without much risk.

View attachment 675861

• Get a guitar pick, or, if you don't have one of those, a sheet of decent quality paper will do
  • If using a pick, prise up the top part of the key cap. It takes quite a bit of force.
  • If using paper, slide the paper into the crevice above the key cap as far as it will go, and then wiggle the paper to the left or right edge of the key cap so that the paper is under the corner of the key. Prise up the top part of the key cap. It takes quite a bit of force.
• On the shift key (pictured) there are two clips - one on the left, and one on the right. On other keys there may be just one, or more in the case of bigger keys like the space bar
• Keep pulling until the clip(s) un-click. Now the key cap will hinge from the bottom as pictured, allowing you to clean underneath

If not absolutely required, do not remove the bottom clips as these can break very easily.

To replace the key cap, simply press down on the top part so the clip(s) re-seat.

 

[BafS]

Thank you for the feedback.
Hum, I don't know what do do. All the keys are really "clicky" (on or off) but the enter key is really continuous, like there is little piece of plastic under. I'm not sure I can fix it by half removing it (or removing it fully either)...

If I go to an apple shop I need to backup everything before ?

 

[Ilhan The Man]

Thank you for the feedback.
Hum, I don't know what do do. All the keys are really "clicky" (on or off) but the enter key is really continuous, like there is little piece of plastic under. I'm not sure I can fix it by half removing it (or removing it fully either)...

If I go to an apple shop I need to backup everything before ?

If it's new, you can probably do an exchange. Worth it to show it to a Genius, at least. It should have at least a little bit of click to it.

 

[Squuiid]

Same issue with the spacebar on my 2016 MBP. Spongy and makes typing very difficult as you really can't tell if the spacebar has been pressed or not.
Will need to arrange a repair I think as I got the unit on day one and I'll be out of the return period.
I thought I'd give it time to 'break-in' but it just didn't. Very disappointed in QA of these new 2016 MBPs.

 

[Reflexiste]

My "Enter" key is also strange, it slams, it is less cushioned than the others. ( keyboard French )

 

[robvas]

The key switches are different depending on the key so of course they will sound different

Those butterflies are not a good design and are very fragile

 

[Ilhan The Man]

Same issue with the spacebar on my 2016 MBP. Spongy and makes typing very difficult as you really can't tell if the spacebar has been pressed or not.
Will need to arrange a repair I think as I got the unit on day one and I'll be out of the return period.
I thought I'd give it time to 'break-in' but it just didn't. Very disappointed in QA of these new 2016 MBPs.

Yes, these apparent QA issues on the MBP 2016s are why I returned mine, in the end, and decided to continue using my 2011 13" MBP with SSD upgrade for the time being. I hope that they fix things by 2017, but I'm going to make do with what I have right now for as long as I can. The next time I upgrade, I don't expect to be delighted.

I will, however, make sure there are no big discrepancies in the clicky-ness or sound of the keys on an individual keyboard. That just seems off for me.
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The key switches are different depending on the key so of course they will sound different

Those butterflies are not a good design and are very fragile

I'm not sure how to interpret this image. Can you please explain it to me?

 

[Reflexiste]

Under the guidance of technical support, I was at the apple store to show my keyboard to make sure that my enter key has no flaw.
I could compare with all the machines in demo and all the keyboards have the key enter which slams more than the others.
So design is what it is.

 

[Fzang]

Under the guidance of technical support, I was at the apple store to show my keyboard to make sure that my enter key has no flaw.
I could compare with all the machines in demo and all the keyboards have the key enter which slams more than the others.
So design is what it is.

Maybe it's intentional if it's the enter key? I know that people like to give that key a proper slam.

 

[Ilhan The Man]

Under the guidance of technical support, I was at the apple store to show my keyboard to make sure that my enter key has no flaw.
I could compare with all the machines in demo and all the keyboards have the key enter which slams more than the others.
So design is what it is.

Maybe that's true for the Enter key, which is shaped differently and likely has a different switch. But it shouldn't be true for all of the regular letter keys. Those were the ones that had variations on mine.