M1 MBP with severely uneven keyboard backlight. Send it in or deal with it?

[JackHinkle]

Hey guys. I’ve had my base model M1 MacBook Pro for about exactly six months. About a month in of owning it, I noticed that the keyboard backlight was very uneven. I don’t remember if it came that way or if something changed, but whatever. Here’s some pics.

Here's the image straight from my iPhone's camera with no edits.

Here's the same image, but modified to look as close as possible to how I see it in real life.

Finally, here's the heavily-modified version of that image. It should start to become obvious.

First, about the LOption, K, and 7 keys, they got damaged so I replaced them with keycaps from an old Magic Keyboard. Don't ask.

On that third image, you can really see the issue. It looks like three separate rays of light are coming in. One from the top-left, another from the top-right, and one last around the RCommand key. And yes, this really is obvious in real life. I have a moderately-sunlit room, and you can only tell that the 1, 2, 3, +, and - keys are lit when brightness is on max. Everything else looks un-lit.

So... should I try to contact support? The situation with the damaged keys is in my control, so I wouldn't go to support over that. But the backlight... I don't really want to try to fix that myself. It is genuinely bothersome. I want to see what you guys think.

Edit: I forgot to mention that I do have AppleCare+, expires early 2024.

EDIT 2: To clarify, the backlight issue came first. Five months ago was the backlight issue, and two months ago was the key issue. There is no way that the backlight issue could have been caused by the key issue, they are completely separate.

 

[Apple_Robert]

If you are in the U.S., you are well past your return window.

In my opinion, you shouldn't have tampered with those keys you mentioned. You should have had Apple repair them for you.

I would contact Apple about the problem and see about a repair. They may give you blowback on your own repair on the keys.

 

[dukebound85]

If I was apple, I would say you messed it up by doing your own repairs or the lighting was damaged by whatever damaged those keys

Those modified keys would bug me more than the lighting....

 

[baadapple]

Soooo... let me get this straight... You had damage on the keyboard which you admitted to. Then decided to attempt to fix yourself instead of bringing it into apple for the repair. You also mentioned you paid for Apple care + but still decided to do the repair yourself..

Now, you are complaining about backlight issue on the same keyboard you stated took damage and admitted to attempting a repair yourself.

I wish people would actually read what they are about to post before they actually do. For you to even think its apple’s fault or their responsibility at this point is laughable like your repair attempt.

Good Luck.

 

[JJL2026]

Soooo... let me get this straight... You had damage on the keyboard which you admitted to. Then decided to attempt to fix yourself instead of bringing it into apple for the repair. You also mentioned you paid for Apple care + but still decided to do the repair yourself..

Now, you are complaining about backlight issue on the same keyboard you stated took damage and admitted to attempting a repair yourself.

I wish people would actually read what they are about to post before they actually do. For you to even think its apple’s fault or their responsibility at this point is laughable like your repair attempt.

Good Luck.

What was the point of your reply? Obviously the Original poster realizes they made a mistake by replacing the broken keys themselves. But to be honest Apple Care has some ridiculous fees and I don’t blame the OP for trying to save some money. If I was in that predicament I would try Apple Care and see what they. Worse case scenario you use your MBP in well lit areas. (I’m assuming that won’t be to have d since you went a good amount of time before noticing the issue.)

 

[JackHinkle]

Soooo... let me get this straight... You had damage on the keyboard which you admitted to. Then decided to attempt to fix yourself instead of bringing it into apple for the repair. You also mentioned you paid for Apple care + but still decided to do the repair yourself..

Now, you are complaining about backlight issue on the same keyboard you stated took damage and admitted to attempting a repair yourself.

I wish people would actually read what they are about to post before they actually do. For you to even think its apple’s fault or their responsibility at this point is laughable like your repair attempt.

Good Luck.

Oh, no no. I had the backlight issue before the keys. The key issue occurred only about two months ago, the backlight issue has been going for about five.

Edit: Just now realizing that the entire original post was completely misleading, lol. Yeah no but I'm purely focusing on the backlight.

 

[dukebound85]

Oh, no no. I had the backlight issue before the keys. The key issue occurred only about two months ago, the backlight issue has been going for about five.

Edit: Just now realizing that the entire original post was completely misleading, lol. Yeah no but I'm purely focusing on the backlight.

You’ll have a hard time convincing apple