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What is killing the 2016/2017 MBP Keyboards?


  • Total voters
    85

SurfaceBookUser

macrumors member
Nov 13, 2016
70
38
Perhaps heat, dust and plain usage are all factors. The most threatening would depend on a user's usage habits.

I'm convinced mine is failing from heavy usage. I went 13 months with a perfect keyboard and all of a sudden keys that I use often are starting to double register (''r", "e", spacebar). For context, I'm a JavaScript developer which explains why I deem "r" a heavily used key. Spacebar and "e", well that's obvious.

@kudos212: I suppose I knew how to use the keyboard for over a year but then suddenly forgot how ;)
 
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Wags

macrumors 68020
Mar 5, 2006
2,239
1,701
Nebraska, USA
THIS thread is ridiculous. This is a perfect example of how overblown this issue is. There is less than 10 people commenting on this one and that's including the 2 moderators. I'm starting to think it comes down to user error.

queen6 - never owned a MacBook Pro 2016. complaining about a flawed design he knows nothing about.

Go back to "stain-gate" and there are hundreds and hundreds of people complaining about that WITH actual video and photo proof that it was happening. That is why apple did something about it.

Look at this issue, there are very few threads and the majority all have the same issue, repeat keys. Yet, in all of these threads they always take it to the Genius Bar and *gasP* what a surpriise, they cannot replicate the issue, yet they get their keyboard replaced anyways, and *surprise* they still think it's broken. The fact that this is the only thing people are complaining about on the new MacBook Pro is quite amazing, considering that the older MacBook pros had much more serious issues especially when getting repaired. (these are the kind of users who don't know there is a setting of *KEY REPEAT* in macOS)

I have yet to see someone actually provide any kind of proof that they got their MacBook Pro keyboard replaced 4-5 times and each time it was broken. This just doesn't make any sense at all, as it would qualify as a lemon for sure. Yet, here we are, people complaining again and again with no expertise.


The butterfly keyboard is shallow and most users are unwittingly double typing. Look at the different youtube videos on this issue online.
Previous thread had 18 out of 48 with problems. That would be significant if was carried over to mass sampling.
 
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slimwallet

macrumors newbie
Oct 9, 2015
25
2
I vote for heat since I keep it really clean and the problem reoccurred soon after top case was replaced. I also use the laptop under heavier than most by gaming. "b" key that had issues is not used more than others, much less than AWSD keys that were used a lot.
 
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Queen6

macrumors G4
THIS thread is ridiculous. This is a perfect example of how overblown this issue is. There is less than 10 people commenting on this one and that's including the 2 moderators. I'm starting to think it comes down to user error.

queen6 - never owned a MacBook Pro 2016. complaining about a flawed design he knows nothing about.

Go back to "stain-gate" and there are hundreds and hundreds of people complaining about that WITH actual video and photo proof that it was happening. That is why apple did something about it.

Look at this issue, there are very few threads and the majority all have the same issue, repeat keys. Yet, in all of these threads they always take it to the Genius Bar and *gasP* what a surpriise, they cannot replicate the issue, yet they get their keyboard replaced anyways, and *surprise* they still think it's broken. The fact that this is the only thing people are complaining about on the new MacBook Pro is quite amazing, considering that the older MacBook pros had much more serious issues especially when getting repaired. (these are the kind of users who don't know there is a setting of *KEY REPEAT* in macOS)

I have yet to see someone actually provide any kind of proof that they got their MacBook Pro keyboard replaced 4-5 times and each time it was broken. This just doesn't make any sense at all, as it would qualify as a lemon for sure. Yet, here we are, people complaining again and again with no expertise.


The butterfly keyboard is shallow and most users are unwittingly double typing. Look at the different youtube videos on this issue online.

I have owned a Retina MacBook for well over two years and it's had very little issue with the keyboard. I have tried and have used multiple 2016 15" MPB all the keyboards were inconsistent, especially under heavy load. Anyone with an ounce of common sense can search and see prior to the 2016 MBP Apple had hardly any issue related to keyboards. Today a different story with a significant increase in issue related to the keyboards easily viewable across the numerous forums.

Do you seriously believe Apple is swapping out multitudes of keyboards just to keep people happy? Apple is replacing the keyboards as they are failing Apple's own criteria. Apple rep's have even been quoted by reputable members that the keyboard failure rate is a significant issue with as many as 1 in 5 being returned, nor do they have an axe to grind as they prefer the new design.

If the issue was solely related to the shallow key travel we would have observed far more issues with the Retina MacBook, people either like or dislike, however now significant upsurge in posts related to failure certainly nothing like the MBP.

What is missing is the option for people to vote for a "non issue" to me undoubtedly there is an issue, the bigger question how wide spread...

Q-6
 

Saturn1217

macrumors 65816
Apr 28, 2008
1,360
1,048
Are the rMacBooks not affected?

I'm pretty sure the rMBs also have this issue (if it is indeed an issue - I have neither computer so I really don't know): https://9to5mac.com/2017/01/23/12-inch-macbook-stuck-keys/

I don't have hard numbers but I would hazard a guess that there are far more MBP users than 12" rMB users (especially if you look at the subset of users likely to post on MacRumors or other technical leaning sites).
 
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Sebastian79

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 12, 2017
154
21
I vote for heat since I keep it really clean and the problem reoccurred soon after top case was replaced. I also use the laptop under heavier than most by gaming. "b" key that had issues is not used more than others, much less than AWSD keys that were used a lot.
Did you use a keyboard cover? Just curious...
 

alex00100

macrumors 6502
Mar 17, 2011
469
1,227
Moscow, Russia
Alt key stopped working just when my computer was about to turn one year old and run out of warranty. After that I accidentally dropped my MBP on a table (the fall was no more than 1ft.) and literally half the keys stopped working.
 

Hand_Model

macrumors newbie
Mar 1, 2018
29
54
Just registered to provide my feedback.

I purchased a 15' TouchBar MacBook Pro at launch, my keyboard worked flawlessly until February 27th. Now keys are double clicking, or not registering out of nowhere. Unfortunately, I didn't purchase AppleCare.

Trying to figure out what to do.
 

SurfaceBookUser

macrumors member
Nov 13, 2016
70
38
Just registered to provide my feedback.

I purchased a 15' TouchBar MacBook Pro at launch, my keyboard worked flawlessly until February 27th. Now keys are double clicking, or not registering out of nowhere. Unfortunately, I didn't purchase AppleCare.

Trying to figure out what to do.

Pretty much the exact same timeline as me. Welcome to the club ;)
 

Sebastian79

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 12, 2017
154
21
Just registered to provide my feedback.

I purchased a 15' TouchBar MacBook Pro at launch, my keyboard worked flawlessly until February 27th. Now keys are double clicking, or not registering out of nowhere. Unfortunately, I didn't purchase AppleCare.

Trying to figure out what to do.
Could you share what you think caused this...
 

Hand_Model

macrumors newbie
Mar 1, 2018
29
54
Well, I purchased a can of compressed air with no success. Scheduling an Apple store appointment.

As to the cause, I believe the keyboard was not designed for quality.
 

Fishrrman

macrumors Penryn
Feb 20, 2009
29,177
13,225
hand wrote:
"Now keys are double clicking, or not registering out of nowhere. Unfortunately, I didn't purchase AppleCare.
Trying to figure out what to do."


Well, the solutions are stark:
1. Repair it
2. Replace it.

Apple will charge $700+ for the repair (top case replacement).
But be aware that the replacement may be as susceptible to failure as was the original part. Maybe you'll get lucky the second time around.

If it was me, I'd throw in a little extra $$ and get a 2015 design MBPro.
Those keyboards seldom break.

By the way, I think we're going to see A LOT more folks with problems such as yours -- broken keyboards, out-of-warranty, and HIGH repair costs... :(
 
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AJB1971

macrumors 6502
Jun 23, 2011
451
429
AppleCare is only a partial solution anyway as it only covers your MacBook for the first three years.

MacBooks may be expensive but at least the residuals are usually decent. If you look at the sold prices on eBay you’ll see that three-year-old plus MacBooks still fetch good money.

My own 2013 13” is probably worth around £600. Whilst I accept that it will break at some point, I would hate to have to sell it for parts just because one of the keys had stopped working and it was uneconomical to repair it. If the screen or the logic board failed, then I could accept it.

I can’t help but think that as this problem becomes more widespread it’s likely that the 2015 MacBooks will have better residuals than the 2016 ones.

If I did have an out of warranty issue with one of these MacBooks then I would complain politely, but persistently about it, and I would certainly use the information that’s available online to argue that this is an inherent problem with the design.
 

Hand_Model

macrumors newbie
Mar 1, 2018
29
54
My credit card covers out of warranty repairs up to $500 for 2 years. Maybe Apple will lower the cost of repair to $500?
 

slimwallet

macrumors newbie
Oct 9, 2015
25
2
no need to, mine works flawlessly and I do a lot of cpu demanding taks (heat wise)
I wonder if it could be the GPU instead of CPU issue. I have the Radeon 460.
[doublepost=1520014124][/doublepost]
My credit card covers out of warranty repairs up to $500 for 2 years. Maybe Apple will lower the cost of repair to $500?
One time my top case replacement was quoted $700, another time it was $300, not sure why there's a discrepancy.
 

sputnikBA

macrumors 6502
Jan 2, 2018
301
402
My credit card covers out of warranty repairs up to $500 for 2 years. Maybe Apple will lower the cost of repair to $500?
I don’t recall this happening without some extremely bad publicity.

Repairs seem to have become more costly as Apple move to ever more integrated thinner designs and larger sections or device swap-outs have become the norm for their repair process. To be fair, part of this is due to the designs of the hardware themselves and part of it seems to be a solution for providing in house care to an increasing number of customers... but I digress.

The only times I can think of where the price of a repair has “lowered” is from whatever it was to “free” after a large scale public outcry / class action status lawsuit where the work was then done for free. Eg dodgy Nvidia GPUs from a while back, or more recently the iPhone battery CPU throttling thing.

So unless you start reading about masses of people complaining about their keyboards in NYT / WSJ and other mainstream outlets instead of just reddit & macrumours forums... I wouldn’t get my hopes up.
 

kudos212

Suspended
Jan 20, 2018
43
37
Repairs seem to have become more costly as Apple move to ever more integrated thinner designs and larger sections or device swap-outs have become the norm for their repair process. To be fair, part of this is due to the designs of the hardware themselves and part of it seems to be a solution for providing in house care to an increasing number of customers... but I digress.

you're over 5 years late. Repairs have always been expensive for anything computer related. Top case has had to be replaced with the retina models since they've existed.
 

Spudlicious

macrumors 6502a
Nov 21, 2015
936
818
Bedfordshire, England
THIS thread is ridiculous. This is a perfect example of how overblown this issue is. There is less than 10 people commenting on this one and that's including the 2 moderators. I'm starting to think it comes down to user error.

queen6 - never owned a MacBook Pro 2016. complaining about a flawed design he knows nothing about.

Go back to "stain-gate" and there are hundreds and hundreds of people complaining about that WITH actual video and photo proof that it was happening. That is why apple did something about it.

Look at this issue, there are very few threads and the majority all have the same issue, repeat keys. Yet, in all of these threads they always take it to the Genius Bar and *gasP* what a surpriise, they cannot replicate the issue, yet they get their keyboard replaced anyways, and *surprise* they still think it's broken. The fact that this is the only thing people are complaining about on the new MacBook Pro is quite amazing, considering that the older MacBook pros had much more serious issues especially when getting repaired. (these are the kind of users who don't know there is a setting of *KEY REPEAT* in macOS)

I have yet to see someone actually provide any kind of proof that they got their MacBook Pro keyboard replaced 4-5 times and each time it was broken. This just doesn't make any sense at all, as it would qualify as a lemon for sure. Yet, here we are, people complaining again and again with no expertise.


The butterfly keyboard is shallow and most users are unwittingly double typing. Look at the different youtube videos on this issue online.

Interesting view.
 
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hajime

macrumors 604
Jul 23, 2007
7,906
1,306
From a completely different perspective though - why would a perfectly well-designed keyboard even require a cover in most circumstances?

Because when the user types, the fingernails create thin scratches on the key surface?

Until the 2016, the MBP keyboards were one of the best in the market. It is no longer the case thanks to those at Apple who are obsessive with thinness. Go ahead and make future generations so thin that they bend and break easily and everybody returns for a refund.
 
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