lambertjohn
macrumors 68000
In seven years, it won't matter. There will be something way better on the market. Throw your Air away and buy that. Isn't that what Apple wants you to do, anyway?
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Report 2018 MBA keyboard issues
- Thread starter Kraizelburg
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ascender
macrumors 603
Sorry, but this thread isn't going to give you any meaningful info for months, maybe years. Unless there's an inherent design failure with the new Airs, its a bit pointless to ask the question. And I'm sure the first person who has a keyboard problem won't be shy in coming forward!
roncron
macrumors 65816
I’ve been using the mba18 almost every day since launch day. I’m having a very good experience with the keyboard.
I’m someone who loved the previous keyboard and complained about Apple’s switch to the butterfly keyboard. Two years ago, my employer provided me with the first gen MBP with TB, which had a 2nd gen butterfly keyboard. That keyboard has had intermittent but frequent problems. Also, I used a friend’s 2015 12” MB with first gen butterfly keyboard and really didn’t like it.
So I was expecting the keyboard on the 2018 MBA to be tolerable at best. I liked everything else about the 18 MBA and I love the MBA form factor (I’ve had a 13” and an 11” over the years and loved them but for the crappy low res TN display). So I preordered a 18 MBA.
Now that I have it, I am finding the 3rd gen butterfly keyboard not merely tolerable—I actually like typing on it. I modified my typing style because of the lack of key travel, I type with a much lighter touch now. As a result, my typing is faster and quieter than on the much beloved chicklet keyboard of pre-2018 MBA and pre-2016 MBP. But just as accurate.
I’m someone who loved the previous keyboard and complained about Apple’s switch to the butterfly keyboard. Two years ago, my employer provided me with the first gen MBP with TB, which had a 2nd gen butterfly keyboard. That keyboard has had intermittent but frequent problems. Also, I used a friend’s 2015 12” MB with first gen butterfly keyboard and really didn’t like it.
So I was expecting the keyboard on the 2018 MBA to be tolerable at best. I liked everything else about the 18 MBA and I love the MBA form factor (I’ve had a 13” and an 11” over the years and loved them but for the crappy low res TN display). So I preordered a 18 MBA.
Now that I have it, I am finding the 3rd gen butterfly keyboard not merely tolerable—I actually like typing on it. I modified my typing style because of the lack of key travel, I type with a much lighter touch now. As a result, my typing is faster and quieter than on the much beloved chicklet keyboard of pre-2018 MBA and pre-2016 MBP. But just as accurate.
Talkingrock
macrumors newbie
I just bought the new 2018 Mac air worked for 1 week then keys 789uiojklm period.. AppleCare could not fix returned now the brand new one has same key problems. Will return this also. Apple has a big problem on their hands.
DDustiNN
macrumors 68030
.....what...? You didn’t even state your problem. If you had issues with two in a row, what exactly are you doing to your computers??
I have to agree. It will take some time before there is meaningful feed back on the 2018 MBA's keyboard reliability. Nevertheless, I appreciate the OP starting the thread. We can watch it over time and see how things develop. Clearly, the 2018 MBP has had some problems with the gen 3 keyboard, and there is a lengthy thread on MR with folks sharing their problems with the gen 3 keyboard.
One thing to be aware of: At this time, the 2018 MBP & MBA are not covered by the 4 year keyboard repair/replacement program. So, perhaps Apple thinks they solved the problem, but if you scan the gen 3 keyboard thread, then it seems a bit premature to celebrate.
One question for anyone in the know: the 2018 MBA has a lower power chip, so I am wondering if it runs cooler? If so, could the MBA be less suseptible to keyboard problems aggravated by thermal conditions? I noticed in other threads that some folks seemed to notice the keyboard problems when the machine was under load. Just wondering if anyone has any insight?
Ma2k5
macrumors 68030
Historically, Apple has extended it's repair programme to newer models - so it is not impossible for this to occur. Even Apple's official support forum has the keyboard issues on the new model (although it seems heavily more about double key presses rather than key's getting stuck for gen 3, which can be a good or bad thing - good in that you can use a software to fix it).
Just wanted to keep this alive: I took my MBA 2018 in to an authorized repair shop today, because my spacebar started doubling and inserting random periods. I disabled the "two spaces inserts period" in settings, but the double spaces starting driving me crazy. Sometimes other letters will repeat, but not regularly enough to identify. I bought Apple Care, still within the three months of purchase, because I'm concerned that this will turn in to an ordeal. I waited a long time for this new Air, and honestly never had a single problem, for 5 years, with my old one-- or any of my 4 family members' MacBooks, either. 🙁
Sorry to hear about your problems with the keyboard. I am in a similar position. We have several of the older MBAs in the family (me included), and they have been fantastic machines. I really want Apple to continue to make a highly reliable everyday MacBook for the masses. I am ok with the specs and price of the new MBA, but remain concerned about reliability of the butterfly keyboards. Like you, when I update my 2014 MBA, I will definitely be getting Apple Care.
Frankly, I would have been happy if Apple used the old MBA chassis and simply:
1. provided a routine energy efficient processor update
2. replaced the thunderbolt 2 port with thunderbolt 3
3. drop the entry price $899
This would give Apple a MacBook that is the equivalent of the affordable 2017/2018 iPads, which are extremely popular. It would have been so easy and would have offered a truly affordable reliable machine with amazing battery life. I know people complain about the old MBA display, but I have been using it for years without any problems for my old tired eyes. The only real issue is viewing angles, but it is a laptop so that is easily adjustable. Apple could have waited to release a new MBA design when they finally figure out how to solve this butterfly keyboard issue. As it stands now, it seems like this keyboard is going to ruin the MBA brand and Apple's reputation for making quality laptops.
bearinthetown
macrumors 6502
Who do they make their MacBooks for these days if not for the masses? These machines are not professional by any means. It's just the price that makes it "not for the masses". It turns out, modern MacBooks are for nobody.
ryan mark
macrumors newbie
Hello!
I started having issues with the keyboard (Macbook air 2018) It started with the 'e' key and moved to the 'a' and 'o' keys, and sometimes the spacebar. I downloaded the Unshaky App - and want to tell you this has worked. If you follow the instructions on the site (there's a youtube video) it should work! I was skeptical at first, but after a few days use I no longer have the key repeat issue! I'd recommend it to all users that are struggling with this problem,
I started having issues with the keyboard (Macbook air 2018) It started with the 'e' key and moved to the 'a' and 'o' keys, and sometimes the spacebar. I downloaded the Unshaky App - and want to tell you this has worked. If you follow the instructions on the site (there's a youtube video) it should work! I was skeptical at first, but after a few days use I no longer have the key repeat issue! I'd recommend it to all users that are struggling with this problem,
Good to see Apple get roasted for this by WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/graphics/apple-still-hasnt-fixed-its-macbook-keyboard-problem/
AustinIllini
macrumors G5
Who thinks MacBook Air is professional? The Pro is literally called the Pro!
And before you complain about the lack of I/O on the MBP, my office Dell has very little in terms of I/O and needs a docking station. Pro laptops just have less I/O now. Everything should be USB-C.
ATC
macrumors 65816
My wife’s employer approved her request for a new notebook and she liked the MBA the best so I was going to pick one up for her this weekend but reading that article I’m now wondering if I should dissuade her from getting one.
sracer
macrumors G4
It's not the device that determines if it is for "professional" use, it is the user.
It never ceases to amaze me how people continue to get hung up on marketing qualifiers like "Air" and "Pro" and use it as justification for what a device SHOULD be. Those qualifiers mean nothing beyond a means of distinguishing models.
Not all "Pro" laptops have less I/O now. There ARE models from various makers that still have plenty of ports, but many people don't consider anything other than consumer ultrabooks.
BuCkDoG
macrumors 6502a
I honestly think that the main reason why the keyboards fail is because of the heat. On my 2016 MBP and 2017 MBP, the main reasons why the keys were failing was because of the Heat from pushing the machine. The machines are too thin to handle the heat. The 2018 MBA isn't built for heavy use like that, so the keys most likely will last longer theoretically since there is less heat being exchanged on them.
AustinIllini
macrumors G5
That's an interesting hypothesis but it's still too early to draw any conclusions.
BuCkDoG
macrumors 6502a
I seriously think that though and many others have also claimed the same thing. I am actually returning my 2018 15" MBP tomorrow so save some money and also buy the 2018 MBA instead. Apple even came out today and apologized for people experiencing issues with their 3rd generation keyboard so clearly they did not fix it. I would rather not go down that road again with my new machine and instead will continue to use the desktop and just use the MBA for everything portable that I need.
MacModMachine
macrumors 68020
from experience i can tell you , you are definitely WRONG.
I bet the SSD would last 25 years or more , I have a 2017 Macbook pro 15" 512GB we used as a mobile Virtualization platform and over the course of 10 months wrote 700TB to it. (capturing 10g PCAP line rate with thunderbolt 3)
The SSD shows no issues at all , even full to the brim....450gb or so.
Endurance , this SSD will take a straight up beating.
keep dreamin', I repaired a lot MBA 2012-2013 where SSD died from overheating, in 2018 MBA the risk is even bigger because SSD is directly soldered into logicboard, your theory is total HS
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AustinIllini
macrumors G5
Insults
- Don't make you any less wrong
- Don't make you look clever
Nice try though. Congrats, you fubarred your SSD by not taking care of it. A well-maintained SSD should last a very long time.
insult it's your post, you added nothing to this discussion,
no I didn't, I don't use MBA, but I repair them, now tell me chair expert how to care of SSD and prevent from overheating MBA 2012-2013 ?
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lambertjohn
macrumors 68000
Two in a row with the same problem? I don't think so. Sounds like you're doing something to the computer, not the other way around.
WhackyNinja
macrumors 68000
I've been having problems with my left shift key sometimes not registering. It works 90% of the time but there is still that 10% that it doesn't. Now my "t" key seems to be acting a bit strange where it enters it twice like "tt" instead of just "t".
I got the MBA on January, and its a damn shame because this laptop is really great and I love it.
I got the MBA on January, and its a damn shame because this laptop is really great and I love it.