Much to everyone's surprise, Apple released a spec revamp of the MacBook Pro this week, bringing plenty of changes under the hood that enhance the laptop's overall performance.
That being said, probably what everyone wanted to know was whether it sports a better keyboard than the lackluster, issue-laden butterfly keyboards of older MacBooks, which Apple is still trying to fix with an ongoing repair program. As such, many are left wondering if the new laptop's largely unchanged keyboard remains susceptible to dust and crub contamination.
Redesigned MacBook Pro Has A New Keyboard Mechanism
Now, according to iFixit's latest report, the new MacBook Pro apparently uses a slightly different configuration of the butterfly keyboard mechanism. It uncovered a silicon membrane layer underneath each individual key to keep dirt, dust, and other unwanted particles from entering the keyboard and locking the key. iFixit dismantled the new 15-inch MacBook Pro keyboard and discovered this improvement in the mechanism.
Remember The Patent?
For those who still remember, an Apple patent that surfaced back in March detailed various methods for keyboard design that would prevent particles from getting underneath the keys. One of the methods describes a "guard structure extending from the key cap" that funnels contaminants away from sensitive areas of the keyboard. This structure is separated from the base when undepressed, so it doesn't make contact with the base even when depressed because of a gasket in between.
The patent application further describes that this said gasket could be made up of a layer of silicone that would serve as a membrane. That sounds exactly what iFixit has uncovered, and because of this membrane, the keyboard sounds quieter than the previous iteration.
Of course, users still have to wait and see whether this new mechanism actually improves the keyboard's many issues. Since the company shifted to a butterfly mechanism for its entire MacBook lineup many years ago, customers have been complaining about a number of technical difficulties, such as keys that sometimes become sticky or fail entirely when they come into contact with dust. Part of Apple's overall appeal is its meticulous design principles, and a keyboard that's too delicate to function is strikingly in conflict with what makes it so popular among the tech crowd in the first place. An Apple product, no matter how overpriced it may be, is sure to have exemplary craftsmanship and stellar design. A broken keyboard tarnishes that image.
In any case, the slight revamp illustrates that Apple is taking this issue more seriously instead of just enrolling everyone in a free repair program. As always, though, it's remaining quiet on the change, possibly over fear of admitting that it has, indeed, quite a big problem.
