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hiro_hamada

macrumors member
Original poster
Jan 25, 2017
87
6
While waiting my new MBP 16" to arrive, I'd like to think of the way protecting the screen. Literally my every MBP I ever had, had marks on the screen made by the keyboard. I guess it's because of the pressure in the backpack, but that's inevitable - I cannot protect it from the pressure, but any ideas how to protect it with some covers or any accessories? I tried that ultra thin silicone keyboard cover, and it's protecting the keyboard from the dust and dirt, but it's even worse for the screen.
 
Has anyone with a 16" reported the dreaded keyboard marks?

Is it a problem on the 2018 and 2019 15" models?

I've had a 2018 MBP for about one year now with no protection and I don't have any marks on my screen nor am I getting oil transfer from my keyboard to the screen. I previously had a 2016 MBP and it had both of these issues in a big way. It was bad enough that AppleCare replaced my screen. I've carried around my 2018 MBP considerably as well so it's not a case of it being treated more gingerly.
 
Purchase a hard case to put your laptop in before it goes into the backpack.

Hmm, I don't think it will prevent pressure. Imagine a bag with the laptop in the aircraft overhead pressed with another carryon suitcase.

I previously had a 2016 MBP and it had both of these issues in a big way. It was bad enough that AppleCare replaced my screen. I've carried around my 2018 MBP considerably as well so it's not a case of it being treated more gingerly.

That'a s great news. My current laptop is 2016 and it has marks, and I didn't know it has been resolved in the later models. Also, I had at least 5 MacBook Pros before that and as far as I can remember, I always had a problem with marks on display caused by the keyboard.
 
Hmm, I don't think it will prevent pressure. Imagine a bag with the laptop in the aircraft overhead pressed with another carryon suitcase.

Yeah, I would assume that to be the case as well unless you were able to get some super rigid Otterbox Defender-like case, but by then you might as well just carry your laptop in its own suitcase. I thought about getting a case when I got my 2018 MBP, but decided against it because the extra thickness would probably just make it more likely the keyboard and screen would get pushed together.

That'a s great news. My current laptop is 2016 and it has marks, and I didn't know it has been resolved in the later models. Also, I had at least 5 MacBook Pros before that and as far as I can remember, I always had a problem with marks on display caused by the keyboard.

Well, I don't know for sure that it has. I just know it doesn't seem to be an issue with my 2018 MBP. Even if they did fix it on the 15" MBPs, who knows what the state of things are on the 16" MBPs. It could be that the cost of the extra travel in the laptop is that they're more likely to make contact with the screen again.
 
One thing I changed in my behaviour was to remember whenever I put my rucksack down somewhere, to put it down back-to-front so the laptop didn't have any pressure on it.

I've never seen the issue on the 16 which isn't surprising given its size & weight - I suspect you'd have to put an awful lot of pressure on it (relatively speaking) to see this happen.
 
OP wrote:
"I guess it's because of the pressure in the backpack, but that's inevitable - I cannot protect it from the pressure"

The solution is simple:
Either DON'T pack it in the backpack (where it will be subjected to pressure)
or
Remove enough junk from the backpack so that there is little or no pressure on the laptop.

Also... try to clean the display surface AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE.
The best way to achieve this is to do your best to prevent it from getting dirty in the first place.

If there's anything on it, just "dust" across the surface WITHOUT pressure.
The display surface has a sprayed-on anti-glare coating which can be fragile -- hence, it can be "marked" easily and the coating can begin to wear off.

If there's something that "needs more" to get it off, dampen a soft cloth, and use as little pressure as possible to dislodge it -- then... dust dry.
 
Has anyone with a 16" reported the dreaded keyboard marks?

Is it a problem on the 2018 and 2019 15" models?

I've had a 2018 MBP for about one year now with no protection and I don't have any marks on my screen nor am I getting oil transfer from my keyboard to the screen. I previously had a 2016 MBP and it had both of these issues in a big way. It was bad enough that AppleCare replaced my screen. I've carried around my 2018 MBP considerably as well so it's not a case of it being treated more gingerly.
I get keyboard marks, I'm afraid, but not bad. I'm a pretty big stickler for cleaning my computer because computers are inherently gross before too long.
 
With the soft plastic keyboard cover and perfect fitting hard plastic lid and base cover my mid 2012 MBP hasn’t got a scratch or a dent on the body or display since the day I bought it. Took it apart to upgrade the RAM & install a SSD and it’s perfect like brand new inside & out.
 
I don't know how hard plastic lid can help in the situations when you put the pressure on it, in the middle of the screen area. I can't think of such hard and thin plastic that can prevent micro bending, enough to cause keyboard and screen contact. It might reduce the chances though.
 
This is a problem that exists for all Apple laptops and many Windows-based laptops who've gone the "thinner design" route, as well as iPads that use keyboard cases.

One of the problems is the oils on your fingers that end up on the keys, which then get transferred to the screen when you close the lid. It has nothing to do with pressure or any case that you can buy. The ONLY way to avoid this particular problem is the thin microfiber cloth keyboard covers.

For many people, this solves the problem almost entirely. For others, the physical touching of the keyboard to the screen is leaving a physical indention on the screen. I'm not sure there is a real fix for this, as it is clearly a design/engineering problem.
 
Judging by the laptops I've seen some people must use them as soccer balls or to pound nails.
Even my 8 year old nephew is careful when he moves his laptop from place to place.
 
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