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Has anyone had any keyboard issues with the MacBook Air 2018?
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Glad to hear it. I am really hoping the new MacBook Air keyboard will be more reliable than the predecessor butterfly keyboards. I still have some life left in my 2014 MBA, and I am watching the reviews with the idea of replacing it with the new MBA down the road. Time will tell.
Go over to the mbp section and do a search. From what I have read, it can range from as short as a week to 1.5 years before started having issues.
So, if you do have issues with the keyboard on the new MBA what is the solution? If it's in warranty and you take it to the Apple store what will they do? Repair or replace? How long will repair take? If you are out of warranty, but you have apple care +, what will they do?
As far as I know as long as you’re under warranty it will be covered. But the “keyboard replacement program” that was for the 2016 and 17 pros I think were just for those models. So I wouldn’t think anything beyond warranty.
So basically, if you don’t buy Apple care +, you’re good for a year on your new MBA/P keyboard. If you buy Apple Care + you’re good for three years, but after that you’re still going to have to pay for a new top case if the keyboard fails and that’s going to be expensive. So basically these computers are good for a year outside of Apple care and good for 3 years with Apple care. Beyond that you better just hope it lasts.
Direct from Apple's website:
Every Mac comes with one year of hardware repair coverage through its limited warranty and up to 90 days of complimentary support. AppleCare+ for Mac extends your coverage to three years from your AppleCare+ purchase date and adds up to two incidents of accidental damage coverage, each subject to a service fee of $99 for screen damage or external enclosure damage, or $299 for other damage, plus applicable tax.1 In addition, you’ll get 24/7 priority access to Apple experts by chat or phone.2
I guess technically you could be covered for 4 years if you purchase Apple Care + at the end of your 1 year manufactures warranty. That would probably be the smartest way instead of buying Apple Care+ at the time of purchase. But, correct me if I'm wrong.
You can contrast this with Lenovo's PREMIER warranty options which are 1-5 year plans.
1 year: 28.00
2 year: 111.20
3 year: 255.20
4 year: 287.20
5 year: 415.20
Features of premier warranty:
Prioritized Parts & Labor
Advanced Phone Support from Lenovo Engineers
Repairs done Onsite, Next Business Day Response
1 year battery warranty Included on all laptops
Comprehensive Hardware & Software Support
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In total, it is still 3 years of Apple Care+ protection, no matter when did you purchase it. If you purchase it later, it means you have just less months under Apple Care+ coverage.
Check the link below.
https://www.macworld.com/article/3227045/hardware/applecare-warranty-faq.html
Wrong. Apple did its best to cope with this keyboard disaster (membrane, al lot of fixing dots) – but not successfully...
[doublepost=1545822375][/doublepost]
Stop your advertising – senseless – this disaster will grow and Apple will have to admit the reality finally: they have to redesign the keyboards and laptop line – no way to escape...
No issues on my side.I'm amazed by people who say there are no keyboard issues with Gen 3 because they own their laptop for TWO WEEKS already and it still works very well
Bought my Air on release day and unforttunately I am experiencing issues witth the keyboard as you can clearly see in this response. Some keys are stticking and double typing and I will have tto bring it to the authorised resellerr I bought it from (there are no official Apple stores in my country). They said thatt they will test it and see if tthere are any issues with the keyboard and if there are the machine will be in the shop forr 3-5 working days.
When purchased might be in Christmas extended return period. Maybe should just return and purchased another if still want.
As I wrote the machine was purchased day one on the release date, left it at licensed reseller and they told me that if there is a defect with the keyboard Apple will replace the machine for new one but for that I need to wait tomorrow to see if the machine really has keyboard failure or in this case same problem as last gen keyboard. I'll post an update when I get more info from them
So bummed that this is happening but on other hand better now when the machine is covered with warranty, there is no option for me to buy Apple care here because there is no Apple store to buy it from....
UPDATE
The machine is in the shop and now I’m waiting for keyboard replacement next week
UPDATE 2
Well some weeks have passed since last update but in the meantime I got my MacBook Air back and the top case was completely changed to new. The premium reseller we have here had it for 15 days in the shop and saying Apple was to blame because they were the reason the top case was delayed. Now everything is peachy and it works flawlessly but as a precaution I will definitely buy Apple care somewhere by the end of limited warranty.
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I have concluded that, when I replace my flawless 2014 MBA in a year or so, I am going to have to buy Apple Care as insurance against the failure prone butterfly keyboard.
I love the MacOS and the new MBA checks the right boxes for me, so I am not going to jump ship.....just have to buy some insurance.
I love the MacOS and the new MBA checks the right boxes for me, so I am not going to jump ship.....just have to buy some insurance.
I wonder if that's what apple wants...? making products that "may fail" so we have the perfect excuse to purchase apple care which is 100% profit.
I think they want us to get into the apple hardware lottery so have to buy extra insurance for our products which means more profir for them.
Yeah, I considered this possibility. But I think the simpler explanation is the more likely. Apple just plain screwed up, and now they are committed to this design philosophy. I am not defending it. I am just accepting the reality of the situation, and looking for the best way to move forward given the fact that I love MacOS on my laptop.
As I mentioned before, I will take a different approach when we replace my son’s 2012 MBA for college next year. He is going to get a 2017 MBA because it is just so reliable. We don’t want to risk keyboard failure in the middle of the semester. Apple Care won’t be much help when a midnight term paper deadline looms.
My needs, on the other hand, don’t demand the same level of reliability, and I can handle the down time if I need to send a new MBA in for work under Apple Care.
Experienced an issue with Apple Smart Keyboard on my iPad which is similar to what you all experience. I also used the Apple Bluetooth keyboard and experienced a similar issue. It was a bizarre software issue for me which seems to be resolved now following latest update. Might be worth connecting a Bluetooth keyboard to see if experience any of the same issues.