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MBP 2016- Keyboard is loud

digitalfx

digitalfx

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 18, 2007
753
238
Received my BTO MBPro 2016 yesterday and am very impressed with the build quality. The best looking and built MBP to date (upgrading from late 2014 model). While I love the new keyboard, it is extremely loud and has an unusual sound.

When in a meeting everyone looks at you.

Will this soften over time?
 
It's louder yes, maybe use less force to type. And I doubt it will soften overtime.
 
I think it is very unwise of Apple to make a laptop keyboard that makes such a loud noise when writing, as MacBooks often are used in places where silence is wanted or needed (libraries and other places/settings).

Will Apple make a change, so that the mechanical clicking noise will disappear? If someone likes this clicking noise, I am sure that an app can be activated to make a clicking noise to those users who like it.

In fact, there are now iOS writing apps for the iPad that has options in the settings for the iPad keyboard to create a clicking noise.
 
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The mechanical clicking noise itself is only a small portion of the sound. Most of the sound is likely due to bottoming out the keys hard. As suggested, try typing with a bit less force.

Edit - the trick with this kind of keyboard is to try and feel the 'click' of the key as your trigger mechanism rather than the feel of the key bottoming out.
 
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It is louder, but I have been in many meetings with people with the Surface Pro, not close to as loud as that keyboard.
 
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Is it 100% a noise generated by the physical keys, or is it a software noise?
 
cmaier said:
I'm not really sure it's louder, but it certainly makes a "chunkier" noise that's more noticeable.
Click to expand...

its 1000% louder than the 2014 MBPro. And typing "lighter" as suggested is just silly...its not possible to type light enough too make any significant difference unless you deliberately touched each key one at a time very cautiously...who has time or patience for this, and why would you even think this is a valid option?
 
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digitalfx said:
its 1000% louder than the 2014 MBPro. And typing "lighter" as suggested is just silly...its not possible to type light enough too make any significant difference unless you deliberately touched each key one at a time very cautiously...who has time or patience for this, and why would you even think this is a valid option?
Click to expand...

What are you talking about? I didn't say anything about typing lighter.

As for whether it's louder or not, i have my magic keyboard sitting right next to it. They clearly make different sounds. The MBP makes a sound like a "clunk" in a lower register than the magic keyboard (which sounds much more like my old MBP). But I can't tell that one is louder than the other. The MBP is certainly more distinct and could be more distracting.
 
cmaier said:
What are you talking about? I didn't say anything about typing lighter.

As for whether it's louder or not, i have my magic keyboard sitting right next to it. They clearly make different sounds. The MBP makes a sound like a "clunk" in a lower register than the magic keyboard (which sounds much more like my old MBP). But I can't tell that one is louder than the other. The MBP is certainly more distinct and could be more distracting.
Click to expand...

The typing lighter comment was in response to the posts above yours.

Regarding louder, if you read my first post I said its louder than my "late 2014 MBP"...and yes indeed its significantly louder. Not different, not clunkier...its louder. The late 2014 keyboard is silent compared to this MBP.
 
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digitalfx said:
The typing lighter comment was in response to the posts above yours.

Regarding louder, if you read my first post I said its louder than my "late 2014 MBP"...and yes indeed its significantly louder. Not different, not clunkier...its louder. The late 2014 keyboard is silent compared to this MBP.
Click to expand...

My previous MBP was also a late 2014 15" MBP and I disagree.
 
cmaier said:
My previous MBP was also a late 2014 15" MBP and I disagree.
Click to expand...

Maybe I have a magic keyboard then...no one can hear me type on my old computer, but when I use the new MBP in a meeting, everyone looks at me. The difference is night and day.
 
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digitalfx said:
The typing lighter comment was in response to the posts above yours.

Regarding louder, if you read my first post I said its louder than my "late 2014 MBP"...and yes indeed its significantly louder. Not different, not clunkier...its louder. The late 2014 keyboard is silent compared to this MBP.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I mean who would want to actively try and improve their skill on something they spend much of every day doing? LOL.

Nobody who teaches typing technique will tell you to bang away at the keys. That's asking for a RSI.

Just try to feel the activation point of the key and you will make a LOT less noise on these keyboards.
 
digitalfx said:
Maybe I have a magic keyboard then...no one can hear me type on my old computer, but when I use the new MBP in a meeting, everyone looks at me. The difference is night and day.
Click to expand...

Again, it could be the pitch and not just the volume. I made a video to compare.

 
In a sentence....

"You are typing it wrong!"

Had to let that out of my system... but yes it is definetly not a good thing, another "cons" of this newest generation devices!
 
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