The keyboard

[Faize]

Coming from a Thinkpad, the keyboard feels just ok. The layout is excellent (full height F1-F12 keys! full width right Shift!), but on the other hand the low key travel makes the overall typing experience straddle the line between comfortable and uncomfortable.

I hear a lot of people gushing about the wonderful keyboard in the Apple Silicon MBPs, which I don't get at all. Is it because those people are coming from glorified type covers I mean, the infamous butterfly switch keyboards and are thus comparing from a frame of reference where basically anything better is excellent?

 

[Alpha Centauri]

I've been typing on my MBP for 13 years and always thought it's a wonderful KB. Well it is actually as it's almost the only component that hasn't been replaced on this 5,3 machine, no sheen to the keys after all this time either.

I'm a quick 2 finger typist and do find the KB on the M2 just so much better with so much less travel. Obviously I'm no point of reference just comparing two machines. I certainly don't find it uncomfortable and actually prefer the much closer spacing compared to the old MBP.

 

[decypher44]

This is my first new MBP since 2013. I’ve also used a few Windows NBs over the years. This 2023 MBP M3 Pro keyboard is by FAR my favorite! It almost feels like silk. Love, love typing on it.

 

[iMacDragon]

Have to agree that I prefer the feel of the keyboard on my work thinkpad, but everything else is better on the mac, and the keyboard is 'ok'.

 

[curnalpanic]

It depends on what you are used to. Personally, I think the short travel is a big plus. Actually prefer this to an external mechanical keyboard.

Never had a Thinkpad, so I cannot comment on that.

 

[AlexJaye]

My first Mac was the Late 2009 White unibody MacBook. I enjoyed that keyboard more than my current M1 MacBook Pro keyboard. I've also had to replace this keyboard once already, under warranty, due to failure. Never had issues with my 2009 keyboard.

 

[Anthony_DBoss]

I usually type a lot because of my job, and one thing I noticed is that my fingers get really tired when I type on the built in keyboard of my MBP M1. The travel distance of the keys and the pressure just makes it so that my fingers just get tired. On the other hand, the external Magic Keyboard is just fine for me.

 

[Sarah_Baker]

I agree, the keyboard does not feel right. Usually I have my MBP connected to 2 external monitors and I have bought a nice but simple Logitech mx mechanical keyboard. It does produce a ton of sounds but it feels sooo smooth and nice on the fingers.

 

[Neodym]

When I owned the 12“ MacBook with the butterfly keyboard, it took me a couple of days to adjust to the keyboard, to not press with the same force and travel expectation I was used to from other keyboards.

After that process was done, I could type very quickly and was merely touching a key to have the keypress registered. I would expect the keyboard of the rMBP to be similar and therefore could imagine that people complaining about the rMBP keyboard have not yet finished the adaptation to the different way of typing (less force and less travel expectation). No offense intended!