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My new M5 Air has a worse (noisy) keyboard than the M1

osplo

osplo

macrumors 6502
Original poster
I just bought a new MacBook Air M5, though I loved my old MBA M1. Bad move. The new one has a terrible keyboard. While the M1 was practically silent and the keys had very short travel this one is like playing a (terrible) musical instrument when I type fast (or not that fast).

Is it just my unit? Do you guys experience anything like that? Taking it to the Apple Store for revision would be of any help? I cannot return it now.
 
I can't really help with the keyboard, but I wanted to ask: have you noticed any difference in smoothness and speed on the M5 compared to the M1 in basic tasks like browsing, messangers, Word, and Excel? Or is the difference unnoticeable in these tasks?
 
WalsallSaddler said:
I can't really help with the keyboard, but I wanted to ask: have you noticed any difference in smoothness and speed on the M5 compared to the M1 in basic tasks like browsing, messangers, Word, and Excel? Or is the difference unnoticeable in these tasks?
Click to expand...

I have noticed no difference whatsoever. The M1 was completely fine for all that. (In fact, I hate the notch and the smaller menu bar area!)
 
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osplo said:
I have noticed no difference whatsoever. The M1 was completely fine for all that. (In fact, I hate the notch and the smaller menu bar area!)
Click to expand...
To be honest, I've been debating upgrading from the Air M1 to the M5 for a while now.

But my tasks are so basic (mostly browsing), so I assumed I wouldn't notice much of a difference.

Plus, I'm not sure if I'll like the notch or the fact that the laptop is thicker where your palms rest. I also heard the sound on the 13-inch model is worse than on the M1. But overall, the M5 is definitely a great laptop.
 
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Try a few at the store see how they compare

Does your m5 feel tighter or looser lighter or heavier with key travel out of curiosity

I think different tolerances and manufacturers combo
 
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Good idea, I'll do it at the Apple Store. But these are often very noisy places and the keyboard sound is drowned out by the crowds. At home, in a quiet room, at night, in silence, it's a completely different thing. Anyway, I'll do it.

But I'd like to know if it is just me or any M5 owners have complaints about it too?
 
osplo said:
Good idea, I'll do it at the Apple Store. But these are often very noisy places and the keyboard sound is drowned out by the crowds. At home, in a quiet room, at night, in silence, it's a completely different thing. Anyway, I'll do it.

But I'd like to know if it is just me or any M5 owners have complaints about it too?
Click to expand...

not experiencing the same. 15 M2 previously, 15 M5 now. Seems quiet as well.
 
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I haven’t noticed any sound from my new M5 keyboard, and I really hate keyboard noise. After seeing this post, I had to go double check. There is a very faint sound if I put my ear a couple inches from the keyboard, I don’t hear it in a normal sitting position.
 
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Pjrufus said:
I haven’t noticed any sound from my new M5 keyboard, and I really hate keyboard noise. After seeing this post, I had to go double check. There is a very faint sound if I put my ear a couple inches from the keyboard, I don’t hear it in a normal sitting position.
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Thanks. I assume you have an Air too. Well then maybe I got a faulty keyboard?
 
We just got an M5 Air for my wife as a replacement for her M1, so I had both machines side by side while doing all of her setup. The keyboard isn't dramatically louder to me.

Overall, I have nothing but positives about the M5 versus the M1. The only thing I slightly prefer about the M1 is the perceived thinness. Even though the M5 is objectively thinner, the wedge design makes the M1 feel thinner. The notch still sucks (although you forget it’s there after a few days), but the thick bezels of the M1 suddenly look pretty retro by comparison.

It’s too early to tell for sure, but the one-bounce app launches are impressive on the new machine. Then again, all new Macs feel snappy with a fresh install of macOS versus the cruft that builds up over a few years. I’ll be resetting the M1 soon for a more direct comparison.

That said, M1s feel every bit as good today as they did when they came out. Apple really knocked it out of the park with first gen Apple silicon.

OP, I think what you’re feeling is a bit of subjective disappointment about a machine that was perfect for you being replaced with something different. I suspect you’ll feel happier as time goes on. The M5 Air is an impressively powerful machine.
 
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Is your MBA from Vietnam? Mine I’m is, and I found that the key-travel is longer than in used to. Feels mushy. But also quieter.
 
Populus said:
Is your MBA from Vietnam? Mine I’m is, and I found that the key-travel is longer than in used to. Feels mushy. But also quieter.
Click to expand...

No idea where it was assembled, but I bought it from Amazon Spain.
 
I went from M1 Air to M4 Air and noticed the keyboard was different and perhaps a little noisier. Can't say for sure. And to be fair I was comparing a "well used" keyboard on the M1 to a "brand new" keyboard on the M4. Has my M4 keyboard sound and feel changed a little since it's now broken in? Possibly.

Anyway:
* did I notice a change? Yes.
* does it affect me in any way at all? No.
 
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osplo said:
I just bought a new MacBook Air M5, though I loved my old MBA M1. Bad move. The new one has a terrible keyboard. While the M1 was practically silent and the keys had very short travel this one is like playing a (terrible) musical instrument when I type fast (or not that fast).

Is it just my unit? Do you guys experience anything like that? Taking it to the Apple Store for revision would be of any help? I cannot return it now.
Click to expand...
From my experience what I have tested many MBA M2-M5 is that chassis is kind of hollow sounding when hitting keys and makes it quite different (worse) from the MBA M1. This is not an issue with the older MBA M1 style chassis or any MBP 14" and 16" models or older MBP for that matter. (I have the MBP 14" M1 Pro myself and upgraded from the MBA M1 to it instead of going with the new MBA model).
 
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WalsallSaddler said:
I can't really help with the keyboard, but I wanted to ask: have you noticed any difference in smoothness and speed on the M5 compared to the M1 in basic tasks like browsing, messangers, Word, and Excel? Or is the difference unnoticeable in these tasks?
Click to expand...
In basic tasks difference is rather small. I briefly had a MBP 14" M5 Pro but I returned it since I could not really see any meaningful difference to my old MBP 14" M1 Pro, so I rather wait for upgraded model with new chassis. I suppose it is very similar thing with the MBA M1 vs M5, but 8GB RAM in many MBA M1's might be something that shows these days and makes it feel slow.
 
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erikkfi said:
Very few people want to admit that the notch is an absolute design crime, especially on a Mac but also on the iPhone.
Click to expand...
Get TopNotch, free app to make menubar solid black.

it is nice, but with Tahoe, its kinda cool that you can see the wallpaper unblurred so sort of a toss up.
 
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