how does the 16" macbook pro keyboard compare to pre-butterfly macbook keyboards?

[Ricebucket]

See question in title.

It's my understanding that the 1mm travel on the 16" MBP is still shorter than it used to be. So I'm curious how this key feel compares to the pre-2016 macbooks.

 

[turbineseaplane]

It feels about like you might expect.

It is between the two and noticeably better than the butterfly to my fingers.

That said it doesn’t have the amount of softness and bounce at the bottom that the older keyboard had.

I’m a little old-school and I still prefer the older one, but I could live with these new ones if this is the direction it is going to go as long as we don’t lose any more travel.

(btw: The wobble has never bothered me, in fact I like that it ensured intentionality to my keypresses - no mistakes or key presses I did not intend)

 

[TheRealAlex]

See question in title.

It's my understanding that the 1mm travel on the 16" MBP is still shorter than it used to be. So I'm curious how this key feel compares to the pre-2016 macbooks.

Keep in mind Apples decisions to move from traditional keyboard switches to butterfly keyboard Keyes was a long term play at cost cutting to eventually eliminate the keyboard completely by eliminating key travel. Eventually they wish to implement a Patent they have to use Haptic feedback to simulate keyboard touches.

 

[4sallypat]

I have both the pre butterfly keyboard (2015 15" MBP i7) and a butterfly first gen (2015 12" Macbook Retina).
I can use both and have never had an issue with either keyboard.

I have yet to test out a 16" MBP keyboard...

 

[ascender]

It feels like the 2015 one but more stable which I guess is partially down to the reduced travel. I prefer the 16” keyboard for that specific reason.

Pop to a store and try one out if you can.

I don’t think cost was the reason for the butterfly keyboard, I think it was all about their quest for thinness. They saw how much space it could shave off in the MacBook and decided to apply it to the rest of their models.

 

[turbineseaplane]

It feels like the 2015 one but more stable

I would quibble with this just slightly..

The travel is quite a bit less and to me the 16" is, not surprisingly, way way closer to the Magic Keyboard feel than to the 2015 and before laptop keyboards.

 

[jerryk]

...

I don’t think cost was the reason for the butterfly keyboard, I think it was all about their quest for thinness. They saw how much space it could shave off in the MacBook and decided to apply it to the rest of their models.

I think you are right. My 2 cents is :

• 2016 was a Johnny Ives driven design. Thinness is king.
• 2019 16" driven by someone who listened to users

 

[turbineseaplane]

We need to stop only blaming Ive.

The whole design team is now likely filled with people who share Ive's ideals and design aesthetic.

Like a cancer, his influence has no doubt metastasized all over and will take a long time to root out
(if it's even possible)

 

[yachtmac]

I think It feels just like a 2013/14 MacBook Air 11" keyboard which was my all time favourite so I am very happy with it.

 

[poorcody]

Very subjective, obviously, but I think it is closer to the pre-2016 keys than 2016+. I actually find it to be kind of the best of both worlds: not as mushy as the older keys, but softer and more feedback than the butterfly, but also faster to type, closer to the butterfly keys. I think they got it just right. (Assuming it's reliable!)

 

[jerryk]

Very subjective, obviously, but I think it is closer to the pre-2016 keys than 2016+. I actually find it to be kind of the best of both worlds: not as mushy as the older keys, but softer and more feedback than the butterfly, but also faster to type, closer to the butterfly keys. I think they got it just right. (Assuming it's reliable!)

So worthy of the name "magic keyboard"?

 

[poorcody]

So worthy of the name "magic keyboard"?

I don't have an external magic keyboard to compare it to, but I don't notice lesser key travel compared to my Apple Wireless Keyboard. It certainly has zero learning curve, unlike the butterfly. I had learned to like the speed of the butterfly, but I admit, I already think this is better.

 

[AustinIllini]

I use a Magic Keyboard all the time. I don't think the MacBook Pro keyboard is quite as good as the Magic Keyboard because the Magic Keyboard simply has more travel. In this form factor, though, this keyboard feels like the best overall option.

 

[MarvinHC]

I think It feels just like a 2013/14 MacBook Air 11" keyboard which was my all time favourite so I am very happy with it.

I am yet to try the 16" but your comment is making me very happy. I absolutely despised the feeling of the butterfly keyboards and have been crossing my fingers that my current machine lasts until Apple makes a decent keyboard again (typing this on my 2013 11" Air). I touch type pretty fast and the butteryfly keyboards just feel like typing on an ipad, not enough feedback and kind of painful. Now let's hope that this updated keyboard comes to the rest of the MacBook range soon.

 

[kmahmood]

is there any chance the 16” scissors switch keyboard may be a one-off limited edition and Apple might soon go back to a revised Butterfly Keyboard ( maybe call it caterpillar keyboard or something else)

 

[leman]

The 16” keys are similar in size to butterfly ones. It has more travel than the external Magic Keyboard. It is still more wobbly than the butterfly, but not as bad as pre-butterfly MBP. Overall, it feels like a hybrid between butterfly and magic keyboard with a pleasant typing experience.

 

[Royksöpp]

It has slightly less travel than the external Magic Keyboard, but It’s hardly noticeable when switching between the two. The butterfly keyboard was nightmare to type on. I would always miss characters when I typed large bodies of text. It was difficult to have a consistent feel of the keyboard when typing quickly. It was also uncomfortable on my fingers. It was almost like typing on a flat surface. Plus, the noise was absolutely unbearable. Once you use the 16 inch keyboard you will be amazed. It sounds so smooth and even when typing. It feels so good! It’s much sturdier than the external magic keyboard. There isn’t as much wiggle room. It’s a great improvement to the 2015 keyboard. The butterfly keyboard was and will always be trash. Goodbye and good riddance!

 

[leman]

By the way, I find it very interesting how many contrasting perspectives people offer in this thread. Truly typing is a purely subjective experience. It seems thigh that with the 16” Apple managed to find a decent compromise. It is sufficiently different from butterfly to satisfy people who hate it, but also sufficiently similar to butterfly to satisfy people who liked it.