Apple Changes MacBook Butterfly Keyboard After User Complaints
May 21 2019 - 1:30PM
Dow Jones News
By Joanna Stern
Stop me if you've heard this before: Apple Inc. is promising to
fix the MacBook keyboard issues. Yes, again.
Apple on Tuesday said it was changing a material used in its
butterfly keyboards and expanding its keyboard-repair program. The
program previously covered first- and second-generation keyboards,
but now includes coverage of the third-generation keyboards
introduced last year on MacBook Air and high-end MacBook Pro
models.
At the same time, Apple upgraded its line of MacBook Pros.
Users of all generations of Apple butterfly keyboard have
reported missed keystrokes and double presses of keys. When I
sought answers from Apple about the issues I've had on my own
MacBook Air earlier this year, and detailed the types of problems
that other users were also reporting, the company apologized. It
said only a small number of users are experiencing the issues.
For people who are having butterfly-keyboard issues, Apple's
news can be broken into two pieces that may be of use:
Changing a material. The company said it has made a change to a
material in the keyboard mechanism. Apple didn't say what
specifically changed but said it would help with the double
key-press issue. The newly announced MacBook Pros -- shipping
Tuesday -- will have this new material.
Improving repairs. All Mac laptops with butterfly keyboards are
now eligible for Apple's program and are covered for up to four
years after the original purchase. Apple said it is also shortening
the repair time, which previously could take a week.
The best news? Apple said the keyboard fix it is providing to
currently qualifying MacBook models will include the new material.
Of course, we will have to see whether that is the solution we have
been waiting for.
When asked if it would continue to use the butterfly keyboards
in future models, the company declined to comment on future
products. The keyboard is only one of several recent
product-related problems Apple has had, from iPhone battery
software issues to shipment delays of the HomePod and AirPods to
the cancellation of my absolute favorite Apple product that never
was, the AirPower wireless charger.
Write to Joanna Stern at joanna.stern@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 21, 2019 13:15 ET (17:15 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2019 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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