The New MacBook Pro Keyboard Resists Dust Much Better Than Previous-Gen, Reports iFixit (9to5mac.com)

iFixit tore apart the new 2018 MacBook Pro keyboard to see how well the silicone membrane works to protect the butterfly mechanism from dust and debris. After showering a 2017 and 2018 MacBook Pro in dust particles, the repair site found the newer generation holds up surprisingly well. 9to5Mac reports: As shown in the photo, the blue paint particles coat the outside of the keycaps and the edges of the membrane, but the silicon covers stop most of the particles from getting into the key mechanism -- which is what causes the sticky key issues on the previous models. However, the silicon covers have to have holes in them to allow the keycap clips to attach. Naturally, dust can and will get through these holes over time. iFixit placed some sand particles into the "danger zones" of the keycaps, and confirmed the keys will break/become-unreliable when that happens, just like the second-generation butterfly keys. The non-cocooned 2017 keyboard was "almost immediately flooded" in the particles, unsurprisingly. Clearly, the 2018 model is greatly improved in regard to reliability, but it remains to be seen just how much better it is in real-world use. Over time, you only need a couple specks of dust to get in the keycaps and the keys will get stuck. It's just the chances of dust getting in are greatly reduced with the 2018 models.

Comments

"silicon covers"

[Anonymous Coward]

Wow, for a site run by nerds, it's pretty sad you don't know the difference between silicone and silicon.

Re: "silicon covers"

[Anonymous Coward]

Donald Trump is a silicone-based life form?

But what about *after* it gets in there?

[dgatwood]

Resisting dust may or may not be an improvement. After all, once the dust gets in there, those silicone membranes also almost certainly make it harder to get the dust back *out*.

Crumbs under keys cause problems. Nothing surprising there. There are only two possible design changes that could significantly improve things:

• Crumb tolerance, so that even if crumbs get in, the key can still depress enough to close the keyswitch (probably requires a thicker laptop).
• A removable keycap to make it easier to blow the dust out.

Any other change is likely to be largely meaningless in the grand scheme of things.

Doesn't matter.

[NoobixCube]

Doesn't matter if it "resists dust much better". Doesn't change the fact a multi-thousand dollar investment can be rendered useless by a dusty room. Apple may have their "keyboard replacement program" for out of warranty machines, but you know what it takes to remove that obligation? A sticker on the box, making sure buyers are aware of the flaky keyboards. Under most countries' consumer protection laws, you're only entitled to a remedy if you can claim the seller didn't make you reasonably aware of an issue. It's like when you buy the shelf model from a shop, if the salesman points out a cosmetic scratch, agreeing to buy it is agreeing you're fine with the scratch. At some point, Apple can successfully claim that agreeing to buy their defective product is agreeing you're fine with it.