Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Did Apple give any indication hardware issues from 2016 MBPs have been fixed?

aevan said:
Yup, it's 1st gen to 2nd gen - they clearly say "it was changed to accomodate the new switch form factor".

Two things: first, even though there are some reports of Apple Store people claiming that Apple started reinforcing or changing the switches, I don't really think that's true, to be honest. Second - I don't think issues are widespread. Please, if you have keyboard issues, I really feel for you and you have every right to be dissatisfied, but I have to say that, other than hearsay, we still have no evidence that this keyboard is failing at a substantial rate. There is a lot of people without any issues out there. I know this may piss off some users here, and again, I understand them, but I don't think people should really be scared to go out and buy a 2017 MBP. Most likely they will get a great keyboard, and a very small percentage may have issues - and will end up here to talk about it.

Just my opinion, please don't get pissed if you disagree.
Click to expand...

Based on checkins, the keyboard seems to have more frequent issues than the older style, but the quantity of these issues are relatively small compared to the total number of MacBook Pros being sold.

There is not much we can say about the longevity of the new design because it simply hasn't been out long enough. However, I would not let that discourage someone from enjoying the new design. There is always AppleCare for some extra coverage anyway.

On your first point, I believe the keyboard was in fact slightly modified, but I will have to ask one of the techs to take a peek at a display model.
 
lambertjohn said:
iFixit just did a teardown of the 2017 MacBook Pro, and this is what they said regarding the keyboard:

"The keyboard trigger looks like a more classic switch this go-around. The plastic butterfly mechanism appears to have thinned out to accommodate the new switch form factor. The keystroke and travel feel about the same to us, so perhaps the real change is reinforcement for repeated use."

They did. See my previous post.
Click to expand...


That is taken from the MacBook teardown where they are talking about the new butterfly (2nd gen) mechanism.


  • The mechanical switch that detects the keystroke is a simpler rounder dome, not the fancy 'x' shape it once was.



  • The plastic butterfly mechanism also accommodates the new switch, swapping to a new, slightly thinner frame.
Click to expand...


The X shape was the first gen, and you can see that the new switch doesn't have the "X" and looks like the one iFixit is showing on the new MB - and just like the one they showed on nTB MacBook Pro teardown from 2016. It's just bad writing in that blog post.

And the "keystroke and travel feel about the same to us" - that is just iFixit being iFixit, throwing out jabs on every new Apple product. Of course the feel is not the same, but they are talking about 1st vs 2nd gen anyway.

Find their MacBook Pro nTB teardown and you'll see that the gen 2 switch looks the same (it doesn't have the "X" but that disc-like dome switch).

And judging by some of the issues that people have, it's probably the same switch. As for the "it feels better" comments, these are subjective, really, maybe a bit of placebo effect there. Detroitborg review says the keys feel the same, and they definitely sound the same.

Look, I don't know if Apple did anything, but I stand by my previous post:

1. The 2017. probably has the same switch as 2016. The photo of the switch on the 2017. MacBook looks the same like the one on 2016 MBP, and different from 1st gen.
2. I would say a vast majority of 2nd gen keyboards work fine. Some people are having issues, just like some people are having issues with.... every part of every Mac. Just like people had issues with the screen on previous MBPs, or hinges on iMacs from 2012, or GPUs from 2011. These issues weren't made up. They were real. But they also affected a small group of people. Apple needs to solve these issues for everyone that has them, but that doesn't mean tthe new keyboards are "beta" or a "failed design" or whatever.
 
I just received the 2017 13" tb model this morning at work. I was only able to use it for a few minutes but it does feel as if there's a little more clicking when typing compared to my 2016 model.
 
triangletechie said:
I just received the 2017 13" tb model this morning at work. I was only able to use it for a few minutes but it does feel as if there's a little more clicking when typing compared to my 2016 model.
Click to expand...
Good to hear! I'm hopefully I'll placing an order for a 15" today so hopefully all goes well!
 
BuCkDoG said:
Good to hear! I'm hopefully I'll placing an order for a 15" today so hopefully all goes well!
Click to expand...
I'm thinking about doing the same. But isn't it better to get 2016 model? As it was said many times here, most people come to this forum to report about problems. But there's the other part of people who're happy with their machines.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 8692574
kirqe said:
I'm thinking about doing the same. But isn't it better to get 2016 model? As it was said many times here, most people come to this forum to report about problems. But there's the other part of people who're happy with their machines.
Click to expand...

I will be getting the 2017 as the savings really isn't much off anyways and it's just better resale value down the line with the extra year.
 
913479 said:
Blown speakers, sticky keys, rattling noises, popping sounds, etc. Is there any indication these issues have been silently fixed in the 2017 models? I had 3 of the 4 issues in my 2016 15 in. that I returned.
Click to expand...

Those issues are just normal small percentage problems people get. You just return it and get a fixed laptop.
 
BuCkDoG said:
I will be getting the 2017 as the savings really isn't much off anyways and it's just better resale value down the line with the extra year.
Click to expand...
oh, I thought you were talking about mid2015 :) It's a good choice then
 
shansoft said:
I dont think that is small percentage at all. In fact, so far every single machine have that problem...
Click to expand...
In the big scheme of things it's a small percentage. Your bud luck doesn't imply every laptop came out with issues.
 
shansoft said:
I dont think that is small percentage at all. In fact, so far every single machine have that problem...
Click to expand...

I don't know for a fact if it's a small percentage or not (I do believe it is, though) but my MacBook Pro 2016 has none of these problems, so it's definitely not "every single machine".

I don't have sticky keys. Honestly I don't.
I don't have popping sounds. Really.
I don't have blown speakers. I love the speakers.
I am not sure what you mean by rattling noises - if it's that thing you hear stuff when you shake your MBP, I wouldn't know because I treat my notebook with care and respect and I never shake it. I can tell you that while using it normally, which includes putting it in and out of a backpack every day, I never noticed any rattle.

I feel for everyone that has issues. Really, it sucks. But the reality is, we don't have the statistical data, only anecdotal evidence and hearsay and "cognitive bias" based on the fact that forums tend to gather people with issues.

If you return your notebook for issues 4 times and come to a forum where a lot of people complain about the same thing - you will be convinced that this MUST be a widespread issue. However, in reality, you could just have bad luck (or run into a bad batch or something) and everyone with issues could be in minority. Even the official replacement programs are, in fact, a small percentage of devices! Also, just look at YT reviews - I didn't see one review where a Youtuber went out and got a MBP that had issues. That is also anecdotal evidence and based on that you could say that no MBPs have issues (opposite to what people are saying on the forums). Heck, even the polls on this forum say that most people don't have issues (seriously, while a lot of people complain, it's always at least 70% votes that say 'no issue' in every 'do you have issues with X' poll here)

So, the only answer to the question "do 2016 and 2017 MPBs, in general, have issues" is: we don't know. Probably not.

Again, feel bad for everyone that does, and if anyone had multiple returns because of issues, this must all seem impossible - and that's understandable - but that doesn't mean it's not the truth.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Saturn007 and 8692574
I exchanged 4 mbp 2017 today and all 4 didn't have the keyboard issue but they sure did have a crap ton of cosmetic dents
 
  • Like
Reactions: Saturn007
vipergts2207 said:
Uh oh, 2016 MBP scratch-gate redux?
Click to expand...

I picked up my mbp from FedEx, and just inspected the outline and it looked so rushed. Dent in the front, scratches and the metal looked like it was peeling away. My apple store tried to blame me even tho I only had the mbp for less than 20 mins. Needles to say the 5th mbp had one small ding, they took 70 off and I said eff it.yup scratch-gate is back
 
  • Like
Reactions: yukonsnow
Was it space grey or silver? Just curious how the scratches look if it was space grey. I will buy mine in the Apple store just because of these issues so I can open there and inspect it. Almost makes me wonder if Apple has gone with a new supplier for the MBP? I have ordered my macs online for the last 20 years and never got a faulty or damaged one so it makes me wonder/
 
  • Like
Reactions: yukonsnow
nph said:
Was it space grey or silver? Just curious how the scratches look if it was space grey. I will buy mine in the Apple store just because of these issues so I can open there and inspect it. Almost makes me wonder if Apple has gone with a new supplier for the MBP? I have ordered my macs online for the last 20 years and never got a faulty or damaged one so it makes me wonder/
Click to expand...

For what it's worth I picked up my space grey MBP from FedEx on Wednesday and there's 0 cosmetic damage.
 
I tried several machines 2016 after reading about the keyboard issues here. Both at Best Buy and Apple store and in both places at least 50% of the 2016 machines I could tell had keyboard issues. I would say that it is a pretty widespread issue. On he 2017 so far only a stuck enter key or rather not very responsive key.
Now if you are not a touch typist like i am maybe you won't notice for a while etc. But I am sure i would have noticed this after some time with the 2016 machines. I really hope the 2017 machines have been fixed in some way. For the first time ever I will buy directly from my local Apple store due to this (and an employee discount plan I realized my company has). Up until now I have always felt secure about Mac quality and ordered online for a good price but not the time which is a bit sad.
 
  • Like
Reactions: yukonsnow
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back