Has anyone had any keyboard issues with the MacBook Air 2018?

[gbooster]

Having problems with the spacebar on my Retina MBA 2018, which is just 4 weeks old.
Spacebar is getting worse and worse: Sometimes it doesn't react, sometimes it react as a double space.

First time I bought hardware by a Authorized Partner instead of Apple itself, so I will have to talk to the AP....

Anything which I can consider while contacting them? There isn't a recall for the MBA 2018...

 

[ascender]

I’ve not had much luck with the search function, but am I right in saying that in the UK, if a fault develops in the first 6 months or so, you have to give the retailer a chance to repair the item before you can request a refund?

I can’t believe I’ve got keyboard issues with the Air already. And its not a major one like repeating or stuck keys, but a few keys on the left hand side have developed less travel already which just sucks for typing “feel”. Very frustrating.

 

[Nokers]

My e key has been acting up for a couple weeks now, feels normal but was double typing a lot. Now it's starting to not respond at all, and the r and t keys are beginning to show the same issue. It hasn't been exposed to any sand or anything like that. I've got an appointment to take it to the Apple Store on Monday. Wonder how long a repair will take? I adore this machine otherwise.

 

[Michael383]

I've had mine for a month and a half now and no problems so far.

 

[Lioness~]

No problems here, after the 3 months I’ve had it. Love the keyboard, really wonderful to write on.

 

[jpn]

bought the new 2018 Air 3 months ago when my 2012 Air needed to be replaced.
i of course really wanted the old style keyboard...

but the 2018 keyboard has given me no problems.
i really like it. no "but..." or issues at all.
the keyboard travel is simply not an issue - although i really feared it would be.
and i type much faster.

although the new Air keyboard is nice, its definitely not a quiet keyboard.
not a click-clack loud, but just a muffled loud.
i can't imagine how people can type on this in a noise sensitive location such as a library or a classroom or a really small shared office.

 

[AustinIllini]

Having problems with the spacebar on my Retina MBA 2018, which is just 4 weeks old.
Spacebar is getting worse and worse: Sometimes it doesn't react, sometimes it react as a double space.

First time I bought hardware by a Authorized Partner instead of Apple itself, so I will have to talk to the AP....

Anything which I can consider while contacting them? There isn't a recall for the MBA 2018...

Did you buy it new? If you did it’s still under warranty. In fact, I think they all still are.

 

[ascender]

I’ve had the keyboard fixed on my Air and have sold it on taking a loss in the process. I’m out as far as their laptops are concerned until they provide a re-designed keyboard.

I’m still not entirely sure how Apple can release a keyboard like this and persist with it.

 

[CaptRB]

So....I have a previous gen MacBook Air as well as the version before it. They are bullet proof.

I had tried the MacBook Pro (13 and 15" touchbar) and both had keyboard failures. I had a huge fight with Apple, which I won. I had been one of the original "keyboard denial" users who finally got bit when MY keyboards started to fail two years ago.

And now I was considering a new MacBook Air with a nice retina. My buddy said "Keyboard issues are fixed" and ran out and bought one last week. Well yesterday he calls me and says the spacebar won't work on the left side and the "C" key is double-typing. I look online and it's only the work of a few minutes to see that the latest keyboards are still failing WAY TOO MUCH. Needless to say I'll keep the 3K I was about to fork over and use what works, but it's a real shame.

So what the hell is wrong with Apple? Are they insane? The butterfly keyboard is a disaster for too many users and I will buy a Windows machine next if Apple doesn't grow up and build a proper notebook.


RB

 

[myrtlebee]

If you haven’t seen, there are multiple threads about this, and you are right. I am in the same boat, sticking with my 2014 11” Air. It is a matter of when, not if, when it comes to the failure of the butterfly keyboard it seems - gens 1-3. It’s a total embarrassment for a trillion dollar company not to be able to figure this out after 3 generations of the same type of keyboard.

 

[torana355]

Apple don't make a laptop with a proper reliable keyboard anymore, im Hoping my 2011 mba lasts long enough till Apple wake up and redesign them.

 

[KB23]

Making a whole new thread to complain about something...why not just comment on one of the 4757538 threads already talking about the keyboard issue?

 

[CaptRB]

I don' think playing netcop over keyboard threads is a good idea.

Since this is not a small problem that Apple has utterly failed to handle, EVERY thread should be slamming them until it's straightened out.

Apple does pay a chunk of money to monitor public response to their products. They're not getting a more money from me until they fix this.

RB

 

[Ghost31]

I don' think playing netcop over keyboard threads is a good idea.

Since this is not a small problem that Apple has utterly failed to handle, EVERY thread should be slamming them until it's straightened out.

Apple does pay a chunk of money to monitor public response to their products. They're not getting a more money from me until they fix this.

RB

At some point it’s overkill though. When there are so many posts on here about the same damn issue, yours is no more special or unique than anyone else’s. It should go in a thread that’s already there since you’re not adding anything new or extra relevant to the issue that warrants it’s own thread

 

[turbineseaplane]

At some point it’s overkill though. When there are so many posts on here about the same damn issue, yours is no more special or unique than anyone else’s. It should go in a thread that’s already there since you’re not adding anything new or extra relevant to the issue that warrants it’s own thread

I don't know...
I keep seeing all the posts about how "this isn't really a big deal" and "no problem here, best Mac ever!", etc, etc

I normally agree about "no new posts about the same thing", but this particular issue is really one overrun by deniers and apologists covering for Apple.

To some extent it can't get enough coverage, new threads and updates over time.

My particular favorite are the posts of "one week with my 2018 MBA and all good here!"

Wow.. An entire week of the keyboard working ok on your $2k+ laptop?
What magic from Apple! True innovation, reliability and build quality!
lmao

 

[CaptRB]

BTW, according to my contact at Apple...

1st gen was a complete disaster. 2nd gen fix was a bandaid that was a marginal improvement. Current gen. fix is still flooding with dead/repeating keys. She thinks it's not related to dust, but to the membrane itself.

"Best Mac ever!" reports should be viewed with a lot of skepticism. Best of luck to buyers who take the risk. I can, quite literally, afford what I want. So when I take a hard pass on a product like this, I do it because of the clear evidence.

I currently own: 2 maxed out MBA units, 2 iPad Pro, 1 iMac i7 twin 5K maxed out, 1 i5 iMac 5k and even the latest Apple TV tied into my dedicated 4K 120" projection system. So...No one can say I'm not a fan of Apple!

RB

 

[Ghost31]

I don't know...
I keep seeing all the posts about how "this isn't really a big deal" and "no problem here, best Mac ever!", etc, etc

I normally agree about "no new posts about the same thing", but this particular issue is really one overrun by deniers and apologists covering for Apple.

To some extent it can't get enough coverage, new threads and updates over time.

My particular favorite are the posts of "one week with my 2018 MBA and all good here!"

Wow.. An entire week of the keyboard working ok on your $2k+ laptop?
What magic from Apple! True innovation, reliability and build quality!
lmao

The problem with anecdotes is what are we supposed to do with it? If some stranger I never met all the way across the world has keyboard issues, how much weight am I supposed to put in that? Do I say “a few people are complaining on a forum mostly dedicated to complaining about crap”, so therefore I should disregard MacBook as a good machine?

Not saying it’s not an issue. But fact of the matter is unless there’s a study done on this with real numbers, it’s all just people on the internet complaining. And people on the internet complain about everything.

The sample size of this site is so small compared to the millions of Macs sold. If there’s a thread with 30 posts complaining about it, but there have been more than 40 million butterfly laptops sold, then where’s the real truth here? If this is a widespread issue, wouldn’t we see news of this everywhere? Especially considering how much the media loves their new gates. Battery gate. Antenna gate. Bend gate. Keyboard gate would be great for clicks. If there’s anything I’ve learned is “follow the money”. There’s money to be made in sensational news and I’d honestly wonder why I’m not hearing about it everywhere.

I know quite a few people with 2016 MacBook pros with keyboards that work perfect. But they don’t post here saying their stuff still works.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Not saying it’s not an issue. But fact of the matter is unless there’s a study done on this with real numbers

How would one ever really do that?
Who would do it?

Where would the data come from?
Even then, what sample size would convince you the data is relevant and meaningful?
For that matter, what keyboard failure rate would you even say is acceptable or not?

[doublepost=1551075894][/doublepost]

If this is a widespread issue, wouldn’t we see news of this everywhere?

News about it from where?
If it’s not from Apple, wouldn’t you just say it’s all anecdotal and how can we trust that?

Apple will essentially never truly cop to issues, so what’s the standard that you’ll believe?

 

[Ghost31]

How would one ever really do that?
Who would do it?

Where would the data come from?
Even then, what sample size would convince you the data is relevant and meaningful?
For that matter, what keyboard failure rate would you even say is acceptable or not?

[doublepost=1551075894][/doublepost]

News about it from where?
If it’s not from Apple, wouldn’t you just say it’s all anecdotal and how can we trust that?

Apple will essentially never truly cop to issues, so what’s the standard that you’ll believe?

I remember a report not too long ago about apples internal numbers of keyboard repairs and how ever since they switched to butterfly, the number of repair incidents didn’t really go up much. I think it was on youtuber Rene ritchie’s Video. Maybe I could find it and link you.

But you would think if this is a widespread issue, apple is fixing these ALL the time right?

Problem is perception. Like the media. You see these non issues being touted as these earth shatteringly huge things when really, it’s not a big deal. There was a study done recently I read through thoroughly that said people perceived current times as MORE dangerous and the world in a far worse place than it was years ago. Despite the fact we are at the most peaceful time in history. So I always try to look at facts rather than just general perceptions.

Like I said before, how much weight are you supposed to put towards people on here saying they have keyboard issues? When we have no numbers, no real data, nothing other than a few incidents, what do we make of it? What’s the threshold? When do we consider it a massive issue?

 

[turbineseaplane]

But you would think if this is a widespread issue, apple is fixing these ALL the time right?

Not at all. That was why I asked what failure rate you’d think would be ok.
All it takes is an increase in the problem, of a very small percentage, and it’s a large issue.

With something as critical as the keyboard, literally going from 1-2% failure rate to 4-5% is a nightmare, especially at the scale we are discussing.

[doublepost=1551077958][/doublepost]

When we have no numbers, no real data, nothing other than a few incidents, what do we make of it? What’s the threshold? When do we consider it a massive issue?

So what should we do?
Discount all anecdotal data?

Why stop at the negative anecdotes though?

Shouldn't we also discount everyone glowingly praising their Apple products too?

 

[Ghost31]

Not at all. That was why I asked what failure rate you’d think would be ok.
All it takes is an increase in the problem, of a very small percentage, and it’s a large issue.

With something as critical as the keyboard, literally going from 1-2% failure rate to 4-5% is a nightmare, especially at the scale we are discussing.

[doublepost=1551077958][/doublepost]

So what should we do?
Discount all anecdotal data?

Why stop at the negative anecdotes though?

Shouldn't we also discount everyone glowingly praising their Apple products too?

I think it’s important to complain. But I also think it’s important to have perspective. This issue isn’t affecting everyone and the way some are making it sound, it is literally EVERY MacBook being sold. Complain if the issue effects you, but keep it grounded in reality. Not hyperbole

 

[turbineseaplane]

This issue isn’t affecting everyone and the way some are making it sound

Well that sounds like your interpretation or perception based upon reading threads here.
Has anyone ever said anything even remotely close to "it's affecting everyone"?
[doublepost=1551079262][/doublepost]

Complain if the issue effects you, but keep it grounded in reality. Not hyperbole

People are doing that - they are sharing their stories..

But you indicated that you largely reject the anecdotes and/or "general perceptions" (your words), you want hard data, numbers..facts..

I'm confused - what counts as relevant data to you?

What if it really is a big problem?
What if Apple isn't leveling about it (they never do)..
What if, on a percentage basis, it's real...and the anecdotes really are sharing a look at a real problem that's there but hard to pin down due to the scale and distribution of the problem, people, where data is collated, etc?

Do you agree it's possible it is a meaningful problem?

 

[giffut]

The damage causing failures of keys is heat related. Heat warps the butterfly mechanism and causes double or delayed inputs or none. The warping changes the "feel" and "sound" of the keys first so this is a sign of impending failure.

Many people on Macbook Pros may not utilize the machines enough to cause the heat damage firsthand. But anyone doing CPU/GPU intensive work is always experiencing keyboard failures. That was our experience with several Macbook Pros 2016 to 2018.

The Macbook Pro cooling generally is inadequate for the power envelope it is supposed to deal with. The Macbook Air 2018 has much worse cooling - the fan and heatsink are not directly linked together and spaced quite far away from each other. Therefore the airflow is inefficient Aand the Macbook Air 2018 will get hotter much sooner and therefore experience heat induced damage to the butterfly mechanism much faster.

It got nothing to do with dust.

 

[turbineseaplane]

It got nothingto do with dust.

If that's the case, why has installing a rubber condom that prevents dust/foreign object ingress helped with failure rates?

I'm not saying you're wrong, merely that people feel it's "gotten better" and all that appears to have changed is the new rubber condom Apple put in butterfly v3 keyboards (2018).

 

[giffut]

The silicone membrane indeed changed the "feel" and loudness of the keys slightly. Dust is a problem, but the more severe failures we experienced were were heat related. That's why many of our Macbook keyboard failed while docked with an external keyboard attached.