2019 Keyboard Problems

[frankie1000]

Hi there,

So I recently picked up a 2019 13" MacBook Pro (4 port model, 2.4 i5) and it looks like I may have finally had my luck run out on my many years of no problem butterfly keyboard use.

It seems the R key has developed it's own personality, just came to the machine this evening and it almost appeared as though it was stuck down with gunge. Very clicky sound from it compared to the others and it touched from the bottom of the key, wouldn't register a press.

Not sure what the next steps are, it kinda of works but I sense that it might be on it's way out completely and will just stop working.

Purchased brand new sealed off eBay less than 2 weeks ago so asked seller about next steps as I really don't want to be going through Apple and being without a machine for a while.

Wonder if this might be one of the first failures out there? Not completely failed yet but I sense the "R" key might not have many fights left in it!

Anyone else with keyboard problems on the 2019's?

Been ok all these years with every version of the 12" MacBooks and 2018 MacBook Pro I had for a short while too.

 

[slam5]

I don’t think you have much choice except to return. 4th gen butterfly kb mechanism suppose to be cured of this problem but some folks said some Apple store may still have the stock and they will fix it. Why did you buy off eBay instead of an Apple store?

 

[posguy99]

I assume there's a reason you think you need to dance this? Apple will repair/replace those keyboards for four years after purchase.

Why in the *world* would you buy Apple kit, let alone *2019 Apple kit*, off of eBay?

 

[jgorman]

Anyone else with keyboard problems on the 2019's?

I had a stuck key on a 2019 13-inch MBP (1.4 i5). I returned it.

 

[frankie1000]

I assume there's a reason you think you need to dance this? Apple will repair/replace those keyboards for four years after purchase.

Why in the *world* would you buy Apple kit, let alone *2019 Apple kit*, off of eBay?

Well (supposedly) no different to buy most other manufacturers stuff from anywhere?

Also, £1250 for this sealed box model vs apple store price was good enough reason. Still covered for a year by Apple warranty also.

 

[0906742]

Those of you who have had stuck key issue with 2019 models have you tried cleaning if there is some debris entered in the mechanism or tried to hit stuck key several times? I've had couple issues with my 2019 1.4 Pro where first I think it was "S" key that stuck but I gently kept hitting it and it started to work, I also cleaned it afterwards with compressed air and it has not stuck again.

Recently I got another key stuck in up position. It was "I" key this time and I think it might have been heat related as this is one of the areas that get hot during high load. Again I got it working by just gently hitting it several times and it finally started moving after making loudish click sound. But it seems that area keys sometimes feel a bit different (when machine is hot) probably due to heat. I understood the latest keyboard version use nylon instead of silicone, I would have though silicone would be durable material in high heat. I never had single stuck key with Air 2018 I had for a short time and I felt that keyboard was more pleasant feeling to type.

 

[frankie1000]

Ok, so this is a bit weird, the "R" key seems to be feeling better now! Less clicky sounding and seems to be responding similar to the other keys. I also noticed that under load these areas get very hot, this seems to change the feel and sound of the key.

I too noticed that when the key was acting up, pressing it firmly made it click back into place almost.

I can't say I think it would be debris in there, I keep my machines clean and never really eat close by them, so not sure what it is all about!

Anyways, seems to be better, but for how long, who knows. Bit concerning really as all these years I've never had the problems others have seem to had on a regular basis and now I'm somewhat anxious that it may happen to be and be a permanent thing!

 

[posguy99]

Also, £1250 for this sealed box model vs apple store price was good enough reason. Still covered for a year by Apple warranty also.

Assuming it's covered at all, that warranty begins when the original purchaser bought it, not when you bought it.

 

[0906742]

I also keep my machine clean and never eat and use them the same time, so I also doubt mine had anything bigger than dust there but with "S" key cleaning did the trick and it has not done it again. But I think "I" key and that area is different thing, probably heat related as the feel of the keys in hotter area tend to change after machine is running hot.

Anyways, these have 4 year warranty on keyboards and as far as I know battery is glued to top case, so do we also get the new battery every time with new keyboard? If so then it might be a good thing as batteries are what they are today.
Only thing with this is, that I'm not too keen with the idea of sending my machine to service and wait for repair. I have no previous experience with Apple service but from other gear I had to have serviced I have noticed that devices almost always seem to come back with more or less abused looking (smudges, dents and scratches).
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Assuming it's covered at all, that warranty begins when the original purchaser bought it, not when you bought it.

Well, the 2019 1.4 Pro model has been on market for about 1 month so far, it does not really make much difference. But I see your point, especially with models that have been introduced longer time ago.

Apple has a web site you can check your serial and see the warranty for your current gear. From what I've noticed is that when you buy from Apple web store, your warranty is starting from the date they shipped you the gear but when you buy from official reseller, it starts from the date your machine goes online for the first time.

 

[slam5]

Well (supposedly) no different to buy most other manufacturers stuff from anywhere?

Also, £1250 for this sealed box model vs apple store price was good enough reason. Still covered for a year by Apple warranty also.

Well, you took your chance this time you didn’t come out ahead. I will not buy a grey market Apple product but I have no qualm with used ones. All my mac stuff are used.