Butterfly Keyboard Generations

[537635]

Yeah - but I seem to recall someone posting in these forums they had a '17 and did have their keyboard replaced with a '18. So I'm not completely buying the '18 won't work on a '17 thing.

Not possible.

 

[OriginalAppleGuy]

Not possible.

Okay - so why isn't it possible? Same footprint, right? What changed in the '18 or '19 to make it incompatible with a '17? With the Apple keyboard replacement program, what are they replacing it with? Another keyboard that is destined to fail, or one with improvements? The improvements came with the '18 and again '19.

 

[OriginalAppleGuy]

Okay - so now I wonder if I read someone's '16 was replaced with a '17. Apparently, the '18's batteries are larger and won't fit in a '17.

 

[537635]

Okay - so why isn't it possible? Same footprint, right? What changed in the '18 or '19 to make it incompatible with a '17? With the Apple keyboard replacement program, what are they replacing it with? Another keyboard that is destined to fail, or one with improvements? The improvements came with the '18 and again '19.

I don't work for Apple. I'm just stating the facts. Yes, they are replacing the keyboards with "fresh" ones, likely destined to fail in due time.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

I have a '16 Macbook, that have had the keyboard replaced twice. The repair guy specifically stated that it was a third generation butterfly keyboard with membranes, that was inserted on the second go. No idea if it is true, but I haven't had near the number of issues as I had with the original and first replacement keyboards, and I find it weird if he would lie about it.

 

[537635]

I have a '16 Macbook, that have had the keyboard replaced twice. The repair guy specifically stated that it was a third generation butterfly keyboard with membranes, that was inserted on the second go. No idea if it is true, but I haven't had near the number of issues as I had with the original and first replacement keyboards, and I find it weird if he would lie about it.

Probably he didn't lie, he just didn't know the truth.

2018 & 2019 keyboards simply do not fit the 2016 & 2017 chassis. There is no "maybe". The only option is/was to replace the whole laptop with the 2018 or 2019 model.


Again:

1st gen: 2015 Macbook
2nd gen: 2016 Macbook Pro
3rd gen: 2017 Macbook Pro (Apple never acknowledged this, although there is slight change in key design, and some indications that it was also a mechanism redesign), same change for 2017 Macbook
4th gen: 2018 Macbook Pro (additional silicone barrier)
5th gen: 2019 Macbook Pro (dome redesign) - most probably the final redesign

2018-2019 are interchangeable, also 2016-2017. To 2018 keyboard feels more or less like 2019.