MacBook Air 2020 - Keyboard Quality

[Minh Lim]

This may sound like a very silly post, but I am wondering if anyone here has similar issues with their new MBA 2020.
Recently took delivery of the base i3 MBA 2020 model.
Its been less than a month, but I have noticed that the matte finish on the keyboard keys are fading.
The spacebar would probably the most over used key on any keyboard and I have noticed that the matte finish is now a shiny spot in the middle of the keys - or at least where the fingers are hitting the respective keys.

Similarly, the most heavily used keys are also showing the same.

I am just wondering if anyone here has experienced the same. As its less than a month old and I would imagine that with heavy usage, the keyboard will most definitely lose its initial matte finish - but not so quickly (as in less than 1 month of use). I usually wipe the keyboard down with a cloth after each use but I am just a bit stumped with how quickly the keyboard has lost its matte finish.

 

[RiaKoobcam]

I can't be sure but I think that's skin oil that would probably come off with an alcohol wipe. I've got the same on my 2019 MBA I'm typing on now, I think isopropyl alcohol wipes would probably do the trick.

EDIT: Just tried it - no, you're right. Even after multiple alcohol wipes, I've got the same shiny mark on my spacebar where the matte coating has come off from key strikes.

For context, my 2019 MBA was purchased on the 1st of March, so this has happened after two months' use.

 

[kreasonos]

This should help you: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/shiny-oil-marks-on-macbook-pro-keyboard.2023802/

 

[kreasonos]

I can't be sure but I think that's skin oil that would probably come off with an alcohol wipe. I've got the same on my 2019 MBA I'm typing on now, I think isopropyl alcohol wipes would probably do the trick.

EDIT: Just tried it - no, you're right. Even after multiple alcohol wipes, I've got the same shiny mark on my spacebar where the matte coating has come off from key strikes.

For context, my 2019 MBA was purchased on the 1st of March, so this has happened after two months' use.

Grab one of these when they come back in stock: https://store.gouppercase.com/products/premium-keyboard-protector?variant=31917857767503

 

[magbarn]

Grab one of these when they come back in stock: https://store.gouppercase.com/products/premium-keyboard-protector?variant=31917857767503

Have they made them thin enough to not mark the screen? The last time these were ok to use was pre-butterfly keyboard. Since then, Apple has lowered the space between the keys/screen when closed and every one I've tried has bumped against the screen and marked it over time...

 

[throAU]

99% sure that will be skin oil.

It will likely wipe off with an appropriate cleaner. My 2015 did it as well and I wiped it off and got it back pretty much to new.

edit:
if it isn't..... meh. all keyboards do it.

 

[lambertjohn]

I've never had a computer keyboard that didn't do this. It just happens with use, and there's nothing you can do about it. Ignore it and enjoy your computer.

 

[kreasonos]

I will say my 4.5 year old thinkpad t460s hasn't done this but thinkpads have some kind of military grade coating on them. But every macbook i've ever had has done this accept for maybe my ibook g4 because that had white keys.

 

[deeddawg]

I will say my 4.5 year old thinkpad t460s hasn't done this but thinkpads have some kind of military grade coating on them. But every macbook i've ever had has done this accept for maybe my ibook g4 because that had white keys.

Imagine if Thinkpads ran macOS....

(no I'm not interested in the hackintosh game of will-this-update-break-it)...

 

[ARJR84]

People will say that it is inevitable - but it isn't on some laptops. Have an old XPS for 4 years and while you can see where oil is, it still retains it's matte, certainly not even close to "shiny" and I would have no problem reselling it due to the keyboard oil. My hands are kept consistently clean, though, I just hate the feeling of having greasy fingers. I know sometimes people like to eat and use their laptops, I do too, I just always have a wet wipe with me before I ever touch the keyboard again.

 

[lumchai]

Based on my experiences,

It really depends and boils down to a lot of factors in regards to keyboard wear. It's something that I've found to vary greatly within my use of Laptops over the years. My old 2013 MacBook Pro had little to no wear/gloss over 5 years of heavy use (programming & Uni) whereas my current 2020 13" is showing the exact same amount of wear as the pictures you've posted after only 2 months of use. I suspect it may have something to do with the manufacturing process of the new generation scissor switch keyboards although don't quote me on that.

It's notable to also mention that my 2015 MSI Laptop was used for 4 years heavily by 4 different people in my household (including 2 children with greasy fingers!) and yet only now have the keys started to gloss every so slightly.

I understand how much it may bother you (Believe me!) it sucks when your beautiful, brand new, sparkling machine starts to wear down a little, I even considered replacing the keyboard on mine because I thought it may have been a manufacturing quality issue but after a while I just forgot about it and accepted that these machines will wear over time.

Hope this helped give you some peace of mind!

 

[CheesePuff]

Grab one of these when they come back in stock: https://store.gouppercase.com/products/premium-keyboard-protector?variant=31917857767503

Per Apple do NOT use a keyboard cover: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203671