Sounds like they can go ahead and add the mid-2019 to the keypad repair program as well then.
If Apple insists that there isn't anything wrong with the keyboard, why has it been redesigned so many times?
The old keyboard managed to go between 2006 and 2015 without controversy.
It’s frustrating that they won’t just admit the butterfly design was a mistake. It’s ok, companies make mistakes. But stubbornly sticking to it after years of failure and consumer dissatisfaction is stubborn.
They already did.Sounds like they can go ahead and add the mid-2019 to the keypad repair program as well then.
Sounds like they can go ahead and add the mid-2019 to the keypad repair program as well then.
I vaguely remember the 2008 unibody keyboard design going through some teething problems and complaints from the previous silver keyboard.
My god. Looking back, those non-Retina MBPs were disgusting. Thick and Heavy. Jesus
That’s why you don’t trust a repair technician to analyze these things.
An actual engineer could take the components from both keyboards and determine exactly what the differences are, why they were made and what benefits resulted from the changes.
These guys are just guessing because “it looks different”.
If Apple insists that there isn't anything wrong with the keyboard, why has it been redesigned so many times?
That didn't take long at all. I was waiting for this piece of news...
Apple surprised us with a MacBook Pro refresh earlier this week. 2019 models feature faster Intel processors with up to eight cores for the first time, as well as "new materials" added to the keyboard to hopefully reduce issues such as sticky and repeating keys that prompted Apple's worldwide repair program.
![]()
Apple didn't elaborate on the new materials, but the repair experts at iFixit have completed a teardown of the 2019 MacBook Pro and discovered a "subtle change" made to the silicone membrane covering the keyboard switches.
Whereas the membrane in the 2018 MacBook Pro is "semi-opaque" and "feels like silicone," iFixit says the cover in the 2019 model is "clearer and smooth to the touch." Based on infrared analysis, it appears the 2018 membrane was made with polyacetylene, while the 2019 covers uses polyamide, aka nylon.
iFixit also found that the metal dome over each key switch is "subtly different" as well. "It could be a new surface treatment, and/or a tweaked alloy, possibly to alleviate problems with durability, bounce-back, or other issues."
![]()
2018 MacBook Pro parts on left, 2019 MacBook Pro parts on right in each image
Beyond the keyboard, the 2019 MacBook Pro has few changes, as this was merely a spec bump. The notebook still earns iFixit's lowest repairability score, as the processor, RAM, and flash storage are soldered to the logic board, while the keyboard, battery, speakers, and Touch Bar are glued together.
Article Link: iFixit Finds 2019 MacBook Pro Keyboard Has 'Subtle' Changes to Membrane Cover and Switches
Great!
Now fix the problem where the F-keys turns into a cumbersome OLED display and all the ports seem to vanish. Once the Esc/F-keys are working again and USB/SD slots reappear we're back to a working laptop!
The question shouldn't be if a teardown website finds changes "subtle" but if the changes address the issues of reliability.
Sounds like they can go ahead and add the mid-2019 to the keypad repair program as well then.
If Apple insists that there isn't anything wrong with the keyboard, why has it been redesigned so many times?
The old keyboard managed to go between 2006 and 2015 without controversy.