Apple Suppliers Ramping Up Production of Scissor-Switch Magic Keyboards

[MacRumors]

Apple suppliers are reportedly ramping up production of hardware featuring Apple's scissor-switch Magic Keyboard, despite concerns over reduced orders owing to the global viral pandemic.

According to DigiTimes sources, suppliers have seen no cutbacks in orders for the products, which include the 16-inch MacBook Pro and Apple's recently announced 13.3-inch MacBook Air and new 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models.

The MacBook models mentioned above have integrated Magic Keyboards, while users of iPad Pro devices can benefit from the new scissor switch design by way of the Magic Keyboard case, which is sold separately and will launch sometime in May.

The new Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro is equipped with scissor switch keys with 1mm of travel and backlighting, making the new keyboard more similar to a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro keyboard. It costs $299 for the 11-inch version and $349 for the 12.9-inch model.

Apple is rumored to be planning to release a new 13-inch or 14-inch MacBook Pro with an updated scissor switch keyboard during during the second quarter of 2020.

Article Link: Apple Suppliers Ramping Up Production of Scissor-Switch Magic Keyboards

 

[recoil80]

My 2016 MBP keyboard is starting to have problems, I'm working from home so it is my daily driver now while I usually work on my Mini at office, I guess that's the reason why it failed now.
Apple ought to get rid of the butterfly keyboard as soon as possibile. I wonder when the 13 (or 14) MBP will be released. Even the Air has a better keyboard now!

 

[AgentMcGeek]

My 2016 MBP keyboard is starting to have problems.

When stores reopen, you can bring it to Apple for free repair under the keyboard support programme (up to 4 years after purchase). I will probably have to do that with mine.

 

[ruka.snow]

I really quite like the 2018 keyboard and am not too keen to go back to the older mechanism. I really like the response the butterfly mechanism gives me, its no mechanical keyboard, but still feels better than the prior scissor mechanism.

 

[lambertjohn]

My 2016 MBP keyboard is starting to have problems, I'm working from home so it is my daily driver now while I usually work on my Mini at office, I guess that's the reason why it failed now.
Apple ought to get rid of the butterfly keyboard as soon as possibile. I wonder when the 13 (or 14) MBP will be released. Even the Air has a better keyboard now!

All of this is subjective. Plenty of people love the butterfly keyboard and think it's the better keyboard...now! I know I do. Loving my 2018 Air!

 

[FrankCataldi14]

Apple is (rightly) pushing to sweep the butterfly keyboard into the dustbin of history. The 13 inch MacBook Pro can't come fast enough, although I think releasing the Air first was the right call. Amongst non-MacRumors readers, the Air is probably (and should be) the default for most users.

 

[Reason077]

All of this is subjective. Plenty of people love the butterfly keyboard and think it's the better keyboard...now! I know I do. Loving my 2018 Air!

I actually quite like the feel of it, and now that I'm used to it I also like the direction key arrangement. It actually seems like it will be a backwards move to me to go back to the "inverted T".

However the reliability issues are the problem for me. Every now and then a piece of dust or crumb of food works its way into one of the keys, making it feel "gummy", and its a total pain to get it cleared and working perfectly again. I've been through quite a few cans of air duster!

On the other hand, I appreciate Apple's keyboard service program, and the fact that you get a free battery when they replace the keyboard was a nice bonus

 

[coolfactor]

With the US government handing out $1200 cheques to people that make plenty of money, I'm sure Apple is counting on a few sales.
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Curious why the author of this article chose to show a laptop, when this is clearly talking about the standalone keyboard.

 

[dugbug]

I really quite like the 2018 keyboard and am not too keen to go back to the older mechanism. I really like the response the butterfly mechanism gives me, its no mechanical keyboard, but still feels better than the prior scissor mechanism.

were you the one filling in all the keyboard surveys for apple?

 

[jonnysods]

I have the mid 2019 keyboard, the 4th gen. I have to say it much better than the others (I had a 2016 MBP), but even 2 months after having the 19 MBP, I had to take it in to get the keyboard fixed. I had no idea at the time I purchased in July that a new 16" with a redesigned keyboard would come out 3 months later. And a physical escape key, that was the dagger!

 

[groove-agent]

Whomever came up with the butterfly keyboard I hope was fired. Think of how much money this has cost Apple. I bet it was one of the most epic failures in the history of the company.

 

[theluggage]

I really quite like the 2018 keyboard and am not too keen to go back to the older mechanism. I really like the response the butterfly mechanism gives me, its no mechanical keyboard, but still feels better than the prior scissor mechanism.

Trouble is, if you're going to use the same keyboard across your entire laptop range (which has usually been the case for Apple) then it's not a case of how many people love it - it's a case of how many people hate it - since there's no other choice (if you need a laptop) apart from dumping Apple.

Apart from the reliability issues (apart from that, Mrs Lincoln, how was the play?) the butterfly keyboard is just too extreme to be one-size-fits-all. The original scissor-switch "island" keyboard was a masterpiece of compromise - lots of people loved it while few people hated it (apart from the "you can have my Model M clone with individually named key-switches when you prise it from my cold, dead - but surprisingly RSI-free - fingers" brigade). Dumping that should go down in the history books as a classic example of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

Its worth noting that the "new" scissor keyboard isn't the original one from the pre-2016 MacBook Pro/Air & external keyboards - by all reports it seems to be based on the current wireless "Magic Keyboards" that were introduced a few years ago, with significantly shorter travel and marginally wider keys*. So in terms of being tried-and-tested we're talking ~3 years (and only in desktop environments) rather than 12 years (including laptops) but, still, we'd probably have heard if there was a mass problem with Magic Keyboards.

* I've got a Magic Keyboard w/number pad that came with my 2017 iMac - it got consigned to a cupboard after a few months of use and I went back to my old, previous generation wired keyboard. Still, the legends are already starting to wear off the keys and its assumed the traditional saggy middle due to being "made of cheapium" (it's lighter than the original despite including a battery). The latter doesn't have any practical effect, but if I'd paid the full $150 rather than the iMac option price I'd be furious. So even ignoring my subjective preference for the longer travel, "worse" is still the new "better"...

 

[Kabeyun]

which include the 16-inch MacBook Pro and Apple's recently announced 13.3-inch MacBook Air and new 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro

...and the upcoming 13” MacBook Pro, amiright??

 

[pneme]

What about (separate hardware) Magic Keyboard (3)?
Does anybody know?

 

[Enerccio]

why won't they release new MBP 13? FFS APPLE!!!

 

[code-m]

I really quite like the 2018 keyboard and am not too keen to go back to the older mechanism. I really like the response the butterfly mechanism gives me, its no mechanical keyboard, but still feels better than the prior scissor mechanism.

You like it until you experience constant problems and then come here and complain why Apple sold you a defective designed keyboard and only provided a warranty. Then we will hear about you keeping your laptop longer than the warranty period and so on so forth.

news flash the numbers are in many people had an issue with the butterfly mech keyboard it was costing Apple a lot to replace the top case just for the keyboard, Apple has redesigned it and many feel for the better. If you like the defective mech keyboard and stand behind it then do us all a favour and if you experience an issue with it don’t use the warranty because you know it’s perfect.
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why won't they release new MBP 13? FFS APPLE!!!

Probably waiting to put 10th Gen processors and stock issues. The 2020 MBA is perfect if only I can be reassured of the thermal issue.

 

[nvmls]

All of this is subjective. Plenty of people love the butterfly keyboard and think it's the better keyboard...now! I know I do. Loving my 2018 Air!

Sure buy them all please. Thanks in advance.

 

[recoil80]

When stores reopen, you can bring it to Apple for free repair under the keyboard support programme (up to 4 years after purchase). I will probably have to do that with mine.

That's what I'm going to do as soon as I'll be able to go back to the office and use my Mini.
For now I'm using an old USB keyboard and the Magic keyboard is on its way.
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All of this is subjective. Plenty of people love the butterfly keyboard and think it's the better keyboard...now! I know I do. Loving my 2018 Air!

I used to love my butterfly keyboard as well, until it broke.
Reliability is too important, I know they improved the keyboard a lot in 2017 and 2018 models but I guess the scissor mechanism is better if they decided to go back to it for the new laptops.

 

[kemal]

Must be quite a pile of butterfly keyboards for the 13" MBP to work through. Oh, Apple: Real Esc key, please.

 

[PickUrPoison]

...and the upcoming 13” MacBook Pro, amiright??

why won't they release new MBP 13? FFS APPLE!!!

I’m certainly hoping we’ve seen our last 13”. The 14.1” as rumored is supposed to have mini-LED backlighting but maybe spring is too early to get that?

It’ll be interesting to see if they keep the two different performance tiers (15W/28W), I suppose it depends on which CPUs Intel releases.

 

[seek3r]

It’ll be interesting to see if they keep the two different performance tiers (15W/28W), I suppose it depends on which CPUs Intel releases.

My bet is they won't, given the air now fills the "low end quad" niche

I'd bet the new differentiator will either be base model 28w quad, higher end hex or a dedicated GPU - or both.

 

[Kabeyun]

I’m certainly hoping we’ve seen our last 13”. The 14.1” as rumored is supposed to have mini-LED backlighting but maybe spring is too early to get that?

It’ll be interesting to see if they keep the two different performance tiers (15W/28W), I suppose it depends on which CPUs Intel releases.

All I want is an MBP with non-butterfly keys that isn’t lapzilla. Beyond that it’d take a lot to get me to complain.

 

[rmariboe]

I really quite like the 2018 keyboard and am not too keen to go back to the older mechanism. I really like the response the butterfly mechanism gives me, its no mechanical keyboard, but still feels better than the prior scissor mechanism.

Yes, I just received the 16" - had forgotten how happy I was with the switch to butterfly. Scissor just feels dated and wobbly

 

[Kabeyun]

Yes, I just received the 16" - had forgotten how happy I was with the switch to butterfly. Scissor just feels dated and wobbly

Keyboard feels are personal. De gustibus non est disputandum. But there’s also no disputing the poorer reliability of the butterfly mech. My 2G wireless keyboard is still perfect after 13 years.

 

[rmariboe]

Keyboard feels are personal. De gustibus non est disputandum. But there’s also no disputing the poorer reliability of the butterfly mech. My 2G wireless keyboard is still perfect after 13 years.

100% with you (still rocking my MS IntelliMouse from around 2000?) - I'm just missing the precise feel of the butterfly mech. The 8 cores and 64 GB of RAM will help me get over it ? Work gear budget FTW ?