Apple's New MacBooks Have a Keyboard Change You Might Have Missed

[MacRumors]

The new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models feature a keyboard change that was easy to miss during Apple's announcements last week.

The new U.S. English keyboard layout​

On the U.S. English version of the new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro keyboards, the tab, caps lock, shift, return, and delete keycaps now have glyphs on them. On previous-generation models, these keys are labeled with text instead.

This change was spotted by "Mr. Macintosh" last week, and it extends to the MacBook Neo.

The previous U.S. English keyboard layout​

Given the U.S. English keyboard layout is the default option for MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Neo models sold in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore, this change effectively extends to those countries and a few others.

If you live in Europe, this will look familiar to you. Apple has long showed glyphs on the tab, caps lock, shift, return, and delete keycaps on its keyboard layouts for British English and other European languages, so this is nothing new there.

The new MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Neo models launch this Wednesday.

Article Link: Apple's New MacBooks Have a Keyboard Change You Might Have Missed

 

[Astuces iOS]

I'm not dumb, I saw that on the base M5 MacBook Pro couple of months ago

 

[Tim Jobs the 2nd]

I'm not dumb, I saw that on the base M5 MacBook Pro couple of months ago

In America at least, the base M5 MacBook Pro did not have this change at launch. Not sure about the rest of the world.

 

[Aka757]

Well, I was on the fence about upgrading but now I’ll pull the trigger. Fully loaded 16” M5 Max to be sure.

 

[delsoul]

But why? Is it that difficult to just put “Tab”
On the key?

 

[nikhsub1]

Making computer keyboards like iphone keyboards...

 

[Tim Jobs the 2nd]

But why? Is it that difficult to just put “Tab”
On the key?

Aesthetic choice, subjective of course.

 

[Astuces iOS]

In America at least, the base M5 MacBook Pro did not have this change at launch. Not sure about the rest of the world.

Hmm watching again and I see they actually added more, so there was an f10 change and FN too but now on caps... hmm ok I see

 

[robvalentine]

Checks my UK English Keyboard, Yay I don't have to upgrade! [/Sarcasm]

 

[Apple MessagePad]

This changes everything. Just cancelled my pre-order.

 

[Westside guy]

Calling it a "keyboard change" seems a trifle overboard. The keyboard is the same as it's always been - this doesn't affect a person's typing in the least.

What it does do, though, is remove information in an apparent attempt to bring the physical keyboard down to the iPhone keyboard's level.

 

[naoul]

I applaude, next step for the US consumers: use Meter, Kilogram and Celsius 🙂

 

[Farquar]

THIS IS TERRIBLE! UNUSABLE.

Just kidding, just trying to Macrumors correctly.

 

[dannys1]

Americans are going to be confused now.

 

[ELman]

I like the old keyboard better.

 

[Scipster]

You’d think for the thousands of dollars these cost, they could fit a few measly little letters on these keys 🙄

I actually like the words, even though I rarely look at the keyboard. It has a more balanced aesthetic. Very disappointed.

 

[Tim Jobs the 2nd]

THIS IS TERRIBLE! UNUSABLE.

Just kidding, just trying to Macrumors correctly.

Obviously Tim is pinching pennies, every character saved is a fraction of a penny but that adds up!

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

surprised I haven’t seen it yet so I’ll do it…
STEVE WOULD NEVER!!!

 

[Tim Jobs the 2nd]

Americans are going to be confused now.

I'm American and not confused at all, looks like your xenophobia went to waste.

 

[Farquar]

I applaude, next step for the US consumers: use Meter, Grams and Celsius 🙂

I like meters. But celsius is a woefully insufficient unit of measure for temperature. Far too small of a scale for something as intricate as temperature.

 

[Diopter]

I’m surprised Alan Dye didn’t convince them to change the return key to a tick and the delete key to an x

 

[jarman92]

Can't say I'm a fan, though I may just be used to the old style.

 

[tech_enthusiast_]

Curious why they kept the text and glyph on the Command, Option, and Control keys but removed the text completely from the keys where they added glyph. Why not be consistent and do both text and glyph on all?

 

[WarmWinterHat]

I applaude, next step for the US consumers: use Meter, Kilogram and Celsius 🙂

American already uses metric. All healthcare, science, and the majority of military/government are 100% metric, and all kids are taught it in elementary school.

 

[Line_Noise]

Good change. macOS has used iconography to show key combinations for ages and the shift icon wasn’t present on a lot of the keyboards.