Am I the only one who thinks this new “Magic keyboard” sucks?

[CaptHook]

This is my first MacBook but this is the “improved” keyboard version everyone was raving about? I can’t believe Apple would released his thing. The Pixelbook Go I tried and returned when this came out had a far better keyboard. The MacBook Air keys seem loose and make a ton of noise. I can’t even imagine how bad the last one was if this is an improvement. I even checked to make sure I didn’t accidentally receive a 2019 model but it is definitely a 2020. I don’t see anyone else complaining about this either.

 

[deaglecat]

True that the PB Go has a very good keyboard. Still waiting on my MBA2020, so can't comment on that.

But...PBG has no touch id, indifferent trackpad, worse aspect ratio screen, worse screen resolution, way less App flexibility... and by using it Google will know how often you breath, drink coffee and go to the toilet....

These devices are all compromises - you just choose the ones that you can live with.

 

[CaptHook]

True that the PB Go has a very good keyboard. Still waiting on my MBA2020, so can't comment on that.

But...PBG has no touch id, indifferent trackpad, worse aspect ratio screen, worse screen resolution, way less App flexibility... and by using it Google will know how often you breath, drink coffee and go to the toilet....

These devices are all compromises - you just choose the ones that you can live with.

I agree that the MacBook Air is a far better value than the Pixelbook Go—particularly compared to the more expensive models up from the base model. My main complaint with the Pixelbook Go is the screen. Its PPI is too low when compared to today’s smartphones. To mitigate that you have to step up to the top end model and that’s far overpriced.

The 2020 MacBook Air a nice machine and well built, performance is good so far, decent battery life (around 6 hours with my daily working from home usage in a very bright room), and it’s almost as light as the Pixelbook Go.

But I am specifically talking about the keyboard. My expectations were higher based on all the noise about the “Magic Keyboard.” It is very surprising to me that I am not seeing any mention of complaints on the 2020 keyboard. It almost makes me wonder if I received a bad one.

 

[mick2]

It's a low bar. Anything that isn't the error prone butterfly and that has a modicum of travel will be lauded for a while.

 

[roncron]

But I am specifically talking about the keyboard. My expectations were higher based on all the noise about the “Magic Keyboard.” It is very surprising to me that I am not seeing any mention of complaints on the 2020 keyboard. It almost makes me wonder if I received a bad one.

You might have a bad one. Literally every professional reviewer says the keyboard is a huge improvement over the butterfly keyboard on the 2019 model. Some reviewers say the keyboard alone is enough to justify the upgrade.

It's too bad apple stores are closed, otherwise you could see one in person to see whether it's the same as yours. You could also order another one and, if the keyboard is better, return the first one.

If it's not, then you just have different preferences than the reviewers. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[CaptHook]

You might have a bad one. Literally every professional reviewer says the keyboard is a huge improvement over the butterfly keyboard on the 2019 model. Some reviewers say the keyboard alone is enough to justify the upgrade.

It's too bad apple stores are closed, otherwise you could see one in person to see whether it's the same as yours. You could also order another one and, if the keyboard is better, return the first one.

If it's not, then you just have different preferences than the reviewers. Nothing wrong with that.

That’s exactly what I saw in the reviews too—universal praise for the keyboard and yes, some did say that alone might be worth the upgrade. I had considered I may have a bad one as well and you’re right, nowhere for me to test it. I have until 4/29 to return this one so maybe things will change before then and I’ll be able to test another one. I’ve never tried a “butterfly” keyboard that everyone hated so there’s that too but I had never really considered a keyboard to be so crucial that it would make me consider a return when everything else was very well done.

 

[roncron]

That’s exactly what I saw in the reviews too—universal praise for the keyboard and yes, some did say that alone might be worth the upgrade. I had considered I may have a bad one as well and you’re right, nowhere for me to test it. I have until 4/29 to return this one so maybe things will change before then and I’ll be able to test another one. I’ve never tried a “butterfly” keyboard that everyone hated so there’s that too but I had never really considered a keyboard to be so crucial that it would make me consider a return when everything else was very well done.

Not everyone hates typing on the butterfly keyboard, though I think very few people love it or prefer it to the scissor mechanism keyboard from pre 2016 MacBooks and the new 16" MBP and 2020 MBA. I have a 2018 MBA with a butterfly keyboard and I tolerate it just fine, but I strongly prefer the scissor keyboard. I had a couple pre 2016 MacBooks with scissor keyboards and I liked typing on them a lot better than the keyboards on Dell laptops or Thinkpads I'd either owned or used at my job.

But it's your money and your computer. All that should matter for your purchase decision is what you prefer, not what reviewers or me or anyone else likes.

It really sucks that this is happening now, when most stores are closed. But the extended return window helps. In any case, I'm sorry you're in this position, wondering if you got a unit with a bad keyboard. Because if you did, and you could get a unit with a good keyboard, I think you'd probably like it way better and then you could just enjoy your expensive purchase.

 

[CaptHook]

Not everyone hates typing on the butterfly keyboard, though I think very few people love it or prefer it to the scissor mechanism keyboard from pre 2016 MacBooks and the new 16" MBP and 2020 MBA. I have a 2018 MBA with a butterfly keyboard and I tolerate it just fine, but I strongly prefer the scissor keyboard. I had a couple pre 2016 MacBooks with scissor keyboards and I liked typing on them a lot better than the keyboards on Dell laptops or Thinkpads I'd either owned or used at my job.

But it's your money and your computer. All that should matter for your purchase decision is what you prefer, not what reviewers or me or anyone else likes.

It really sucks that this is happening now, when most stores are closed. But the extended return window helps. In any case, I'm sorry you're in this position, wondering if you got a unit with a bad keyboard. Because if you did, and you could get a unit with a good keyboard, I think you'd probably like it way better and then you could just enjoy your expensive purchase.

Thanks. Fortunately this isn’t a major problem in life and I still like it. Best Buy has an extended return policy now so maybe I’ll be able to try another one before then. All in all I really like it but it’s surprising to me that this is the best Apple could do unless mine is actually defective. It does seem to be all keys except the delete key, which seems a bit better.

 

[Jimmy James]

True that the PB Go has a very good keyboard. Still waiting on my MBA2020, so can't comment on that.

But...PBG has no touch id, indifferent trackpad, worse aspect ratio screen, worse screen resolution, way less App flexibility... and by using it Google will know how often you breath, drink coffee and go to the toilet....

These devices are all compromises - you just choose the ones that you can live with.

Agree. Platform is now a decision on how much you want to be tracked. For non-professional users everything else should be secondary.

 

[JamesGoodman]

This is my first MacBook but this is the “improved” keyboard version everyone was raving about? I can’t believe Apple would released his thing. The Pixelbook Go I tried and returned when this came out had a far better keyboard. The MacBook Air keys seem loose and make a ton of noise. I can’t even imagine how bad the last one was if this is an improvement. I even checked to make sure I didn’t accidentally receive a 2019 model but it is definitely a 2020. I don’t see anyone else complaining about this either.

I think there is something wrong. My keys, if anything, are on the firm side and the keyboard makes no noise. I've been using it for about five days. The keys are definitely firmer than those on the stand alone bluetooth keyboard, either the original or the current model sold with iMacs or separately.
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It is not a Lenovo, by any means, but it is a return to something close to the keyboards on the original airs and MacBook pros. I had nothing but problems with the butterfly.

 

[Dhonk]

I can't speak about the current Air yet. I loved my 2010 MBA 11 and love my MBP 13 2014. My work computer is a MBP without Touch Bar w/butterfly, and I immediately noticed that I make about 5x more typing mistakes with it. I like the feel and the noise, but the lack of travel often tricks me into thinking that I didn't hit the key and will instinctively re-hit the letter. At least that's one of my issues with it.

 

[brilliantthings]

Can you post a video of your keyboard?

 

[Saturn007]

“Am I the only one who thinks this new “Magic keyboard” sucks?”

Seems so!

😃

Certainly the only one who uses a crude pejorative to describe the problems they've encountered.

While you may have dramatically different expectations, it sounds like you may have gotten a bad one!

 

[CaptHook]

Can you post a video of your keyboard?

Yes, I had considered that but figured nobody cared enough, but since you asked...
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“Am I the only one who thinks this new “Magic keyboard” sucks?”


Certainly the only one who uses a crude pejorative to describe the problems they've encountered.

I got you to click the thread.

 

[AxiomaticRubric]

But I am specifically talking about the keyboard. My expectations were higher based on all the noise about the “Magic Keyboard.” It is very surprising to me that I am not seeing any mention of complaints on the 2020 keyboard. It almost makes me wonder if I received a bad one.

Many of the complaints about the butterfly keyboards are completely subjective. Some prefer more key travel, others prefer less. Some users like more keyboard clack noise, others less. (This is why Cherry Corp. makes so many different flavors of keyboard: blue switch, brown switch, white switch. etc.)

Personally I've had no problems with the butterfly keyboard and I actually prefer them a bit over the older keyboards.

 

[CaptHook]

Notice that the delete key has far less noise that most other keys. I did not depress any keys during this test, this is just the little travel they have before they actually engage as a keystroke. Sorry for the video orientation.

 

[benshive]

I do like the new keyboard but I went back and used my old 2014 MacBook for something and I still liked those keys better.

 

[lambertjohn]

I have a 2018 Air and I love the keyboard; it's fast and easy to type on. I love it way more than I did the one on my 2015 Pro. That thing was mushy and slow. If they've gone back to the one that was on the 2015 Pro and earlier, then I'm probably on-board with CaptHook. Gonna try one myself when the stores will finally let me (and everyone else) back in to try one. Apple store closed. Best Buy only doing curbside business. Costco doesn't have them in stock yet. Etc. Etc.

 

[AustinIllini]

The magic keyboard is exactly what it should be: an unremarkable keyboard.

 

[DomKud]

Whys that so loud lol. DO you have your mic on full blast?

 

[throAU]

It's a low bar. Anything that isn't the error prone butterfly and that has a modicum of travel will be lauded for a while.

On the contrary, if it is anything liek the pre-butterfly keyboards, they're amongst my favourite top 2-3 laptop keyboards of all time.

I do use a lot of PC laptop keyboards. if you think the macbook one is bad, jesus... try some of the trash on the pc market.

 

[mick2]

On the contrary, if it is anything liek the pre-butterfly keyboards, they're amongst my favourite top 2-3 laptop keyboards of all time.

I do use a lot of PC laptop keyboards. if you think the macbook one is bad, jesus... try some of the trash on the pc market.

Yeah I never did get the big love for the pre-Butterfly apple keyboards. They're fine. They work. There are worse keyboards out there. But ime they're not something I'd go out of my way to praise.

I've had Dells, IBMs, Lenovos and Macbooks of various sorts and eras and the Macbook kbs have been the most 'meh' of all of them. Not awful, just nothing i'd get excited about. Tbf I've not tried a 'Magic' kb so far, and I've not spent much time on any 300 quid cheapo laptops either.

 

[throAU]

I've had Dells, IBMs, Lenovos and Macbooks of various sorts and eras and the Macbook kbs have been the most 'meh' of all of them. Not awful, just nothing i'd get excited about. Tbf I've not tried a 'Magic' kb so far, and I've not spent much time on any 300 quid cheapo laptops either.

Admittedly i haven't had a dell for a while but we used to be a dell shop and dell's keyboards and trackpad palm rejection were terrible.

That was about 10 years ago though. Since then we've been a HP shop at work and the recent elitebook keyboards are truly trash tier.

I agree Lenovo thinkpad keyboards are decent. I rate them up there on par with or maybe slightly ahead of the macbook.

If you don't use macbook keyboards a lot they do feel a little odd for the first week or so. But once i'd used my first one for a week and gotten familiar with the feel, i very much like.

 

[ascender]

I like the precision feel of the butterfly keyboard but miss the increased travel. When I first got my 16”, I found the keyboard ”mushy” feeling - not as bad as the previous generation MBP, but imprecise compared to the butterfly. However, within a few days I had adjusted to it and think its a much better keyboard than the last one.

Keyboards are a very personal thing though and generally prompt a wide range of different feedback from users Based on their own preferences.

 

[seek3r]

I like the new KB a lot. Got it yesterday, took about an hr to get used to it and now typing on my work 2016 15" MBP is irritating.