How long will new keycaps last?

[ferencav]

I bought a new Macbook Pro at the beginning of this year and the keycaps got really shiny/glossy after a few months. This seems to be common with the latest Macbooks.

I am thinking of replacing the keycaps, but I am looking for keycaps that will last longer. So does anyone have experience with replacing the keycaps? Are they more durable then the originals? And where did you buy them?

You can buy new ones at Apple, but I'm assuming these will last as long as the original caps that came with my laptop.

 

[dumastudetto]

I think it varies based on how often you type with your fingers covered in grease after eating junk food.

 

[chrono1081]

If you type a lot, your keys will get shiny in no time on any keyboard. Also the Mac keycaps are actually pretty difficult to replace, I wouldn't recommend it.

 

[ferencav]

I think it varies based on how often you type with your fingers covered in grease after eating junk food.

I always wash my hands before typing and I don't eat near my laptop. As a lot of others have pointed out, it's the matte finish that quickly wears off on Macbooks.

 

[ferencav]

If you type a lot, your keys will get shiny in no time on any keyboard. Also the Mac keycaps are actually pretty difficult to replace, I wouldn't recommend it.

That's what I'm curious about. I can't remember having a keyboard that shows glossy spots this quick. It's as if someone ate some fries and started typing directly afterwards. My Macbook 2012 didn't have this problem if I remember correctly. I also see a lot of other users pointing out that this matte finish wears out very quickly on the latest Macbooks and that they didn't had this problem on other laptops. But it could also be the case that I'm a bit too precious with my new Macbook.

Either way, I saw a video on replacing the caps, it's tedious but doable. If there is a brand that lasts for some years then I'm willing to try it.

 

[chrono1081]

That's what I'm curious about. I can't remember having a keyboard that shows glossy spots this quick. It's as if someone ate some fries and started typing directly afterwards. My Macbook 2012 didn't have this problem if I remember correctly. I also see a lot of other users pointing out that this matte finish wears out very quickly on the latest Macbooks and that they didn't had this problem on other laptops. But it could also be the case that I'm a bit too precious with my new Macbook.

Either way, I saw a video on replacing the caps, it's tedious but doable. If there is a brand that lasts for some years then I'm willing to try it.

Yea they do seem to wear a little faster the past few years.

Just know that it's not just tedium with the caps, there are super tiny little parts that need to fit together and it's really hard to do that correctly and often times your key may end up crooked or spongy feeling vs clicky. If you can find a cheap Magic Keyboard/wired apple keyboard to test on I would highly recommend it before doing it on your laptop.

If you do go for it though I hope you have better luck than I did. I gave up after a few keys.

 

[ferencav]

Yea they do seem to wear a little faster the past few years.

Just know that it's not just tedium with the caps, there are super tiny little parts that need to fit together and it's really hard to do that correctly and often times your key may end up crooked or spongy feeling vs clicky. If you can find a cheap Magic Keyboard/wired apple keyboard to test on I would highly recommend it before doing it on your laptop.

If you do go for it though I hope you have better luck than I did. I gave up after a few keys.

Good to know it isn't as easy as it may seem. And thanks for the tip to test it on magic keyboard first.

 

[Technerd108]

Shiny keys. I wrote about this with my 2022 MBA.

Honestly there isn't a solution other than don't type.

I agree about NOT ever experiencing shiny keys on any laptop I have owned except for the super cheap old printed keypads. Every Windows laptop I have had in the past 10 years at least never had shiny keys no matter how old.

People say all plastic keypads do this but only MacBooks have ever had this issue.

All that being said after a while you just get used to it and forget about it. The keys may get shiny but that is all.

Good luck!

 

[MacMorrison]

Also, try cleaning the key caps with alcohol wipes or some non-reactive cloth (Apple stores use Whoosh to clean iPad screens, etc.). Some of that shine might just be from oil, and not worn plastic coatings.