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Does anyone else here actually prefer the butterfly keyboard over the new 16" keyboard?

A

Abaganov

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 30, 2016
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Got the 16" MBP a few days ago and while the keyboard is probably much more stable I really prefer the typing experience on the old butterfly ones, I was typing so much faster and overall it was a joy to use. had 2 machines with the butterfly keyboard in the last years and never had a single issue. I know they are problematic but oh man I love typing on them and getting used to the 16" is hard. feels mushy and I dislike the long travel

anyone here feels the same?
 
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I don't have a 16" MBP but often use my 2016 model with an external Magic Keyboard, which by all accounts is very similar to the new one. I do prefer the typing experience of the Butterfly keyboard - it gives a very tactile feel. However, my laptop has been to Apple twice for keyboard repairs, so I'm not lamenting its loss. It's a shame they could never fix the reliability problems with the design.
 
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At first I was a bit "confused" while typing due to the increased height of the keys but once I got used to it I find it to be a clear improvement over the butterfly keyboard. Keys are slightly more wobbly but it's not that prominent.
 
I bought a new 2018 MBP last year and returned it because the keyboard was garbage. Not only was I worried about dust getting between the keys but I couldn’t type on it easily. I do a lot of development so when I can’t type on a keyboard it’s not worth $1300. My two cents though.
 
For me, the new keyboard feels rather similar to the butterfly, just with more travel (sans the space bar, that one is bad). It was a bit strange for a couple of data, but now that I’ve used to it, I think it’s an upgrade. In contrast, I absolutely dislike the external magic keyboard.
 
Butterfly is fun to type although I can't say I really enjoy it. It gives a unique feeling. However, not being reliable puts all these discussion meaningless. What's good of my preference if it breaks?
End of story.
 
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While there may be "better" and "worse" keyboards out there, people can (and will) adapt to anything that's in front of them. (And I say that while typing from a 2012 MacBook Pro 15 that has a problematic "S" key.)

BTW. My favorite Apple keyboard? The iPad Smart Keyboard. Shallow key travel but it doesn't feel "too low" and the material over the keys prevent it from being obnoxiously clicky like the butterfly.
 
When I first switched over to the 16" I still had my two butterfly-equipped MBPs and thought I was able to type faster on the butterfly keyboards. I did a typing test on all three and did it twice for each machine and it turned out my speed was identical on all three. But it still "felt" faster on the butterfly keyboard. For me then it's just a false perception of speed. YMMV.

I don't have sticky keys or key repeats anymore and that's a HUGE win for me.
 
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after I got use to the butterfly keyboard, I actually prefer it over the scissor keyboard. I can type faster on the butterfly keyboard.

I tried 16" MBP, but after using my 2018 MBP for over a year, I did not like the keyboard on the 16" MBP.
 
I really liked the typing experience on the butterfly keyboard and didn't have any sticky keys, but the new keyboard is fine and hopefully doesn't have the reliability issues that plagued the butterfly. I think my accuracy was a little better on the butterfly. The new keyboard mirrors my experience with the magic keyboard for my iMac. The new keyboard is quieter.
 
I much prefer the butterfly keyboard. In fact, I enjoy the butterfly keyboard so much that I just upgraded to a fully loaded 13" model last week. The 2019 keyboard feels even better than my 2016 model does, though I'm not sure if that is due to the redesign or just because the new keyboard hasn't been used for thousands of hours yet. o_O
 
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I like the clicking sound that the 15" keyboard makes but I have to say the 16" keyboard is better in every other ways. Having the reliability and travel of an older MBP keyboard and the size of the larger butterfly keyboard is the best of both worlds IMO.
 
urkel said:
While there may be "better" and "worse" keyboards out there, people can (and will) adapt to anything that's in front of them. (And I say that while typing from a 2012 MacBook Pro 15 that has a problematic "S" key.)

BTW. My favorite Apple keyboard? The iPad Smart Keyboard. Shallow key travel but it doesn't feel "too low" and the material over the keys prevent it from being obnoxiously clicky like the butterfly.
Click to expand...

OMG 100 times this. I got an older Macbook 13” with butterfly, the new 16” scissors and the iPad Pro Smartkeyboard on which I am writing the majority of content now. For me it’s the best of both worlds. The straight up consistent typing experience from butterfly and with the membrane on top of it, there can’t be any dust or other particles hindering key presses. So this thing works and works and works without breaking. Love it.

(except that two keys have their lettering come off. Shoddy Apple quality these days. A and N key’s I now only know by memory/position)
 
I'm using a 13 inch MBP and a 16 inch MBP. I much prefer the last generation of the Butterfly keyboard. It feels better to type on. Much more stable.

However, if it isn't reliable then it isn't reliable. Not much that can be done. I'm sure i'll prefer the new once when my 13 inch keyboard fails.
 
I am also a butterfly keyboard lover who is adjusting to new 16 inch MBP. I expected the transition to be easier, but man, these keyboards are quite different. For pete's sake Apple, just pick a keyboard design and stick with it! I can't believe they're making these kind of radical changes on their premier laptop year to year.
 
I liked the low travel and clickiness of the butterfly keyboard, but the reliability issues were not cool. As a result, the new keyboard is better overall.
 
I was a relative fan of the butterfly keyboard - it definitely got better with each iteration - having used a 12" Macbook recently I was genuinely shocked by the lack of travel compared to recent MBPs.

I took a while to adjust to the 16" keyboard but after a week or so came to love it. And am now back on a 13" MBP... I really, really miss the new keyboard.

If there's an updated 13" with the scissor-based keyboard, its a day one purchase for me.
 
I have a 2017 MBP and a 2019 MBA, the only Mac notebooks I've ever owned. I've never had any issues with either machine so the butterfly keyboards are "the norm" for me. I did, however, play with a new 16" MBP in Best Buy the other day and the keyboard was so much more comfortable and a joy to use. I can't wait for Apple to incorporate the scissor keyboard into the 13" MBP or MBA because I'll buy one just because of the new keyboard.
 
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I loved the butterfly keyboard, this new one is just ok I guess. Though my 'e' key is starting to stick / not work on this one too, so don't know if they're going to be any more reliable !
 
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