16 ms·

My MacBook keyboard is broken and it's insanely expensive to fix

382 points by TobiasBerg 6mo ago

lobito25 6mo ago
[flagged]
- bigyabai 6mo ago
  I think you might be right. According to Ebay, a complete OEM backlit keyboard + trackpoint costs $24.99 for my laptop. The iFixit is rated "easy" and supposedly takes 15 minutes.
hurricanepootis 6mo ago
This isn't an issue with macbook keyboards, a lot of windows laptops have their keyboards riveted to the C cover of a laptop.
- matt_heimer 6mo ago
  isn't an issue ONLY with macbook keyboards. It is absolutely an issue that shouldn't exist.
  - hurricanepootis 6mo ago
    Yes, my bad. I totally agree with that it does indeed suck. I've had to replace the C cover of my laptop before for reasons not related to the keyboard (a screw post broke because Dell had the bright of idea of attaching a metal screw post to the body with plastic). I ended up fixing that issue, but the keyboard that was installed in the C cover was noticeably shittier than my old one. I'm now on a Framework 13, and it's been pretty fun so far.
jwlake 6mo ago
ifixit sells just the keyboards, why doesn't that work? https://www.ifixit.com/products/macbook-pro-14-a2442-a2779-a2918-a2992-and-16-a2485-a2780-a2991-keyboard https://www.ifixit.com/products/macbook-pro-14-a2442-a2779-a...
- MrDOS 6mo ago
  The article is ten paragraphs (two of which are four words or shorter). The entire sixth paragraph is dedicated to answering that question.
  - mosselman 6mo ago
    Someone posted a video on how to slam out the rivets with a screwdriver.
- SkiFire13 6mo ago
  I don't see a replacement guide link on that page, but curiously there's this note: > The aluminum upper case and installation screws are not included. I would assume you likely need those too, as the article also mentions.
  - nerdsniper 6mo ago
    Wouldn’t the screws in your existing generally be reusable for this replacement?
    - mh- 6mo ago
      Yes, they're not highly torqued or anything. I would reuse them even if it did include new screws.
    - sleepybrett 6mo ago
      the keyboard in the current macbook pro is RIVETED.
k310 6mo ago
Go figure. MacBook Neo Is the Most Repairable MacBook in 14 Years [0] Much as a laptop would suit me, I opted for a mini and a large display. Come keyboard time, I was ready to spend $$$$$ for an Apple keyboard, but the only backlit ones come on laptops. I'm using a Logitech now, with the option of charging it all the time, else the lights dim themselves to conserve battery. Yes, I was 19 once. And three times after that. But there we go again, stuff designed for 19 year-olds. How about this? (image at imgbb.com) https://i.ibb.co/66RZd3b/mbp16-m3-max-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/66RZd3b/mbp16-m3-max-01.jpg (JK)
- k310 6mo ago
  Replying to myself because I forgot the reference [0] I'm happy with the downvotes if they're for the JK laptop keyboard mashup. Otherwise, pretty much as others have posted. Peripherals otta be peripheral, not welded in place. I worked around the dilemma. Twice. An iPad pro has a keyboard, trackpad and BT mouse. And I have a doorstop iMac because of a somehow dead display. (repair $$$$$ ) I very much favor separate everything. Peace. [0] https://www.ifixit.com/News/116152/macbook-neo-is-the-most-repairable-macbook-in-14-years https://www.ifixit.com/News/116152/macbook-neo-is-the-most-r...
BoredPositron 6mo ago
What MacBook is it? If you don't have the insane butterfly switches single keys are pretty repairable now.
- drdirk 6mo ago
  My MacBook Pro M1 keyboard repair costed >700€, this is not a butterfly keyboard. So also new models have an expensive keyboard replacement. My previous MacBook Pro keyboard was a butterfly keyboard and also broke, but got replaced for free. I don’t feel I am a heavy user as the MacBook Pro is mostly connected to an external keyboard and am pretty annoyed by apples keyboard quality (based on my sample size of 2).
- brailsafe 6mo ago
  I think those are just the keycaps, not the switches or the actual board underneath
  - mhjkl 6mo ago
    You can remove and replace the switches too
KnuthIsGod 6mo ago
My first computer was a Mac Plus. I got to experience Apple's customer hostile practices. Many years ago l decided never to buy an Apple product again.
- justinator 6mo ago
  AppleCare is honestly a great deal, especially for laptops. M1 Macbook Pros from 2020 are humming along just fine for regular people who see no reason to upgrade. The future is now, old man.
  - tim-tday 6mo ago
    Bought AppleCare for my AirPods. Never again.
    - bombcar 6mo ago
      AppleCare is only worth it for expensive things with big repair costs; the "repair fee" for AirPods is such a high percentage of the replacement price that it just is not worth it.
    - phil21 6mo ago
      AppleCare is leaps and bounds better than any other insurance you can buy for mobile or laptops. For accessories I don’t see the point, those are effectively disposable wear items. Ironically a large part of deciding to migrate to an iPhone from android was final frustrations with even Google purchased devices under warranty coupled with hardware quality requiring repairs. My wife’s experience with AppleCare won me over. If nothing else it’s first party insurance. I will never purchase device insurance offered via a third party ever again. Either its first party so I’m dealing with the place I bought it or nothing at all.
      - echoangle 6mo ago
        > AppleCare is leaps and bounds better than any other insurance you can buy for mobile or laptops. Which doesn’t tell you a lot because they are pretty bad, too. Being better doesn’t mean it’s a good offer.
mattbillenstein 6mo ago
Framework Laptop + some form of Linux - MacOS keeps getting worse and the hardware exceeding hard and expensive to repair.
- cyanydeez 6mo ago
  If they would have sprung for the AMD395+ in the latop @ 128GB, you'd have a fair comparison for AI compute.
  - 0xedd 6mo ago
    HP Zbook G1a 14. OEM Linux support.
- zapnuk 6mo ago
  Framework Laptop is more expensive than a Macbook Air with all around worse hardware. For a framework 13 I'd have to pay 1900€ with a 16GB setup. For 1450 I get a MBA with 24GB ram. Similar with a dell or lenovo who get smoked in performance comparisons. It might still be worth it for those who hugely value open source and repairability but as for value I think its save to say that Apple is currently in a league of their own. Even if the altest os update is a flop. Also, the Macbook has improved repairability. While its still not great its better than a few years ago.
  - ChuckMcM 6mo ago
    > Framework Laptop is more expensive than a Macbook Air with all around worse hardware. Is it though? I'd agree the hardware is less capable but if your Macbook anything is really just one 'top case' repair away from being more expensive. RAM failure is 'motherboard replace', the display? it is similarly expensive to replace. So I would agree that it is more expensive to purchase a Framework laptop than a Macbook laptop, but also feel it is more expensive to own a Macbook laptop than a Framework laptop. Also I just replaced the screen on my FW13 not because it was broken but because they have one with 4x the pixels on it now. That's not something I could have done with the Macbook.
chad_strategic 6mo ago
[flagged]
- throwaway27448 6mo ago
  Name me an american tech company that isn't complicit in the fascist project. I bet you they don't produce laptops
  - fsflover 6mo ago
    Purism
    - throwaway27448 6mo ago
      Normally I'd agree purity tests are largely counterproductive. But large tech companies are major players and deserve extraordinary scrutiny for their actions. Anyway, simply noting the impacts of their decisions doesn't seem deserving of an "ism"—surely there should be a normative component to make this a proper ideology—I haven't told you what to do.
      - fsflover 6mo ago
        It seems you misunderstood me. https://puri.sm https://puri.sm is the company you asked for.
  - burgerone 6mo ago
    "Made in america" is dead.
    - throwaway27448 6mo ago
      It's getting there. The exceptions are exceptional.
  - bigyabai 6mo ago
    System76
VladVladikoff 6mo ago
Looks like it’s possible to replace just the keyboard https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SeSQ0DpG1HA&t=907s&pp=2AGLB5ACAQ%3D%3D https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SeSQ0DpG1HA&t=907s&pp=2AGLB5AC...
- throwaway27448 6mo ago
  It is. It's simply expensive.
  - mosselman 6mo ago
    No, a new keyboard is between 12 and 50 euros depending on where you get it, the video is the missing piece.
mememememememo 6mo ago
> mapped capslock + J K L I you need to visit the confessional for that
ebbi 6mo ago
Cautiously optimistic, given the repairability of the MacBook Neo keyboard, that this design will make it to the rest of their laptops when the refreshed designs are released (next year?).
julienreszka 6mo ago
>Here’s hoping governments regulate laptop manufacturers to actually make repairable machines in the future. if you thing government regulation will help you you are lying to yourself that's not how the world works
- Fargren 6mo ago
  Government regulation has mandated USB-C in all devices, which helps me every day. Just to name something in the realm of what the article is about.
- bigyabai 6mo ago
  If you think Apple is incapable of designing repairable keyboards, then I'd like to know how Lenovo figured it out: https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Lenovo+ThinkPad+T480+Keyboard+Replacement/140096 https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Lenovo+ThinkPad+T480+Keyboard+R...
- DonHopkins 6mo ago
  Chewing on lead paint and reading Ayn Rand is not how to learn how the world works either.
0xedd 6mo ago
[dead]
tim-tday 6mo ago
I just had the most horrendous Apple repair experience. In standard warranty with Apple care. Would NOT authorize a mail in repair. Would only authorize walk in to my local shitty Apple authorized third party repair center who were unable / unwilling to reproduce. Fought with them for weeks. Escalated. They lied and said they were doing a no cost replacement. Had to fight the charge. Then they lost my return. So much so that I’ve started switching to Linux and de-googled phone. (Switching off of iPhone just to go to google seems like the greater of evils) The non Apple ecosystem is much more mature than last I checked but still irritating. De googling was my biggest challenge. Getting a viable replacement for Mac OS was the easy part.
- crazygringo 6mo ago
  What was the problem? If the local repair center couldn't reproduce it, what was going on? And what do you mean they lost your return? Like it got delivered and then it was lost? Surely they gave you a working unit at that point? I've had a bunch of experiences with Apple repair and always always been fast and great. I mean, they're definitely the best service of literally any corporation I've dealt with, by far. Sometimes you get unlucky I guess with a particular rep or something hard to reproduce, but it sounds like you got extremely unlucky? It definitely isn't representative in my experience, not even close.
relium 6mo ago
My MacBook Pro M1 keyboard broke too and Apple wanted $900 to replace it. I bought a $30 replacement on Amazon and started replacing it myself. Unfortunately the repair was a bit too complicated for me, but luckily one of my co-workers had more patience and replaced it for some beer. This video is a good overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGmMpEEP5ls https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGmMpEEP5ls
- Gigachad 6mo ago
  Thankfully the m1 was the last of the evil design era for Macs. Modern ones are significantly better. The neo being the best, able to be fully disassembled with a screw driver in a few minutes
- docmars 6mo ago
  I don't even understand the functional purpose of the rivets if the keyboard is already held in place with a million screws and the key slots cut into the aluminum frame. It makes no sense, seems like a waste.
  - brokenmachine 6mo ago
    Can you not see why they might be incentivized to make it unrepairable?
    - docmars 6mo ago
      Oh definitely, I'm no stranger to Apple's antics... but usually they're pretty particular about hardware decisions serving a functional purpose, and not just a way to protect their bottom line. They aren't exactly struggling to sell their stuff.
      - brokenmachine 6mo ago
        Their marketing is pretty particular, when it suits them. Their actions show something completely different. Everything is about protecting their jailed garden. It took the EU to force them to grudgingly use USB-C.
linsomniac 6mo ago
Does anyone know if this is covered under the Apple Care plans? My 16" M1 MBP keyboard has been no problem, I'm just curious. Not saying that negates the issue. Unfortunately, AFAICT, these repairability issues are largely due to the move to thinner and lighter laptops. Replacing my MILs Microsoft Surface tablet was a pain in the butt. Had to cut the case open and tape it back together. But that thing was insanely small and light. My MIL liked it because she has a lot of trouble carrying anything very heavy.
- mananaysiempre 6mo ago
  Keyboards on MacBook Pros have been riveted since at least 2014. That doesn’t necessarily disprove your argument, but it does move the “thin and light” bar farther back than one would expect from the phrasing.
  - linsomniac 6mo ago
    Apple has long made trade offs in pursuit of "thin and light". Apple announced the 2014 MBP as "People love their MacBook Pro because of the thin and light, aluminum unibody design". https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2014/07/29Apple-Updates-MacBook-Pro-with-Retina-Display/ https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2014/07/29Apple-Updates-MacBo...
  - radley 6mo ago
    Ah, that timeframe is helpful to know. I had to replace the keyboard in my 2012 MBP twice, and was able to do it myself both times. Since then, I always use keyboard skins.
  - FinnKuhn 6mo ago
    The new MacBook Neo's keyboard is not riveted and instead held with screws. As far as I could tell it is still just as thin and light as other MacBooks.
- vr46 6mo ago
  Yes it is, I had my M! Max keyboard replaced as repairing the individual keycaps didn't work, and then they replaced the entire logic board while they were testing due to finding an error. Total cost was around €1400, to me €0. New bottom case, new battery, new logic board.
carlosjobim 6mo ago
Swedes many times have a defeatist attitude towards companies and authorities, and expect that they will never get any help unless they have a right to it (from warranties or such). The author doesn't mention ever contacting Apple to get his keyboard fixed. Maybe he could have gotten pleasantly surprised? "Here’s hoping governments regulate laptop manufacturers to actually make repairable machines in the future." However, this quote is not a surprise at all, and goes perfectly in line with Swedish philosophy. And the philosophy of this message board as well.
- stkhlm 6mo ago
  The author isn't Swedish. I've known him for 18 years. Not sure where this comes from.
  - carlosjobim 6mo ago
    His name is Swedish or it could be Norwegian. Anyway, did he contact Apple to see if they could help him out? Because sometimes Apple fixes these things for free. I've had very good and very bad experiences with Apple support for hardware failures. It's worth trying to contact them, instead of calling for more government regulation.
    - stkhlm 6mo ago
      He went through the Apple Icon -> "About This Mac" -> "More Info" -> Coverage Expired Details Button -> Clicked the Get Support button and ended up in an infinite loop of questions on the Apple website if I recall correctly. Not great support on Apples side there.
      - carlosjobim 6mo ago
        That's not the point where you give up. That's the point where you call or e-mail the company to talk to a human. Hence my comment about defeatism. Sometimes you have to push a little bit before giving up and crying for the government to come help you. Big companies aren't unbending stone statues.
MostlyStable 6mo ago
>Here’s hoping governments regulate laptop manufacturers to actually make repairable machines in the future. No, this is a bad solution. If you want a repairable machine, buy one. They exist. Others have already mentioned Framework, but there are other options that aren't that far down the spectrum either. One of the things macbook users praise the most is "build quality", which often means the solidity of the device, lack of flex, etc. These quality features are, in part, achieved by the same choices that make it hard to repair. Ease of repair and "build quality", are to some degree (although not entirely) tradeoffs against each other. I say this as a framework owner who would never buy something as irreparable as a macbook. Regulation is not the answer here.
- wvenable 6mo ago
  > No, this is a bad solution. You didn't say why this is a bad solution. The government mandates that cars get safer every year and fatalities are down 78% from the 1960s. Whenever government regulates things to benefit people, people tend to benefit. > One of the things macbook users praise the most is "build quality", which often means the solidity of the device, lack of flex, etc. It seems like the Macbook Neo has a lot of those properties as well for a very inexpensive device that is extremely easy to repair.
  - internet2000 6mo ago
    > It seems like the Macbook Neo has a lot of those properties as well for a very inexpensive device that is extremely easy to repair. It's slightly worse, slightly more flex, thicker and heavier vs an Air in spite of having a smaller battery and more empty space. It's all trade offs. If you want repairable, please buy a Framework or Lenovo. Backseat industrial designing through legislation is not the answer.
    - wvenable 6mo ago
      > Backseat industrial designing through legislation is not the answer. Again, why not? It's not mandating design, just minimal standards for repairability that should be obvious. If Framework and Lenovo can do it and Apple can do it on a $600 laptop, why can't everyone do it?
bonyt 6mo ago
I replaced the keyboard MacBook Air M1 keyboard with a $20 model from Amazon and it's been going strong for a full year. I had spilled ginger ale on the original. The board is riveted in, but there are enough screws to hold the replacement in place. Removing the board is a shockingly violent process, but it worked for me. Keyboard: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQBVMM3X https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQBVMM3X (price has gone up). Video of rivets breaking: https://i.tonybox.net/9f2083b218d5.mp4 https://i.tonybox.net/9f2083b218d5.mp4 (you can see I missed a screw and slightly cut my hand here too).
- TobiasBerg 6mo ago
  Thanks for posting, I might attempt this if I feel brave enough one day! Mind if I link to this from the post? Could help someone in the future
  - bonyt 6mo ago
    Sure - of course! Hope it can be helpful.
- x0x0 6mo ago
  wow, you are not underplaying the force needed. You can hear the rivets going.
- deaux 6mo ago
  I wonder if anyone has hacked it (in the "Hacker News" sense of hack) so that the above keyboard can be used in an external casing, without inserting it into the Macbook body. I'd pay a lot of money for that. The Magic Keyboard is different.
  - throawayonthe 6mo ago
    i mean it's pretty nice for a laptop keyboard, but i've never thought of it as good enough to use externally tbh or do you mean integrating it into a different laptop a la framework? that could be cool, but would also have to think how much the chassey stiffness/specific construction contributes to the feel p.s. has anybody here tried (the external) magic trackpad? the macbook trackpad is infuriatingly good
sleepybrett 6mo ago
the macbook neo has gone back to a replaceable keyboard. The next line of macbookpros are appenrly getting a new case design. There is hope.
0xbadcafebee 6mo ago
This is like complaining that BMW maintenance is expensive.
- aurareturn 6mo ago
  No this isn't even like that. Frameworks are 2x the price of a Macbook without the performance, battery life, build quality, screen quality, touch pad, speakers, etc. If Apple is the BMW here, what is Framework? It's definitely not a Toyota.
contingencies 6mo ago
I strongly recommend not buying a Macbook and instead hacking a mini: https://github.com/vk2diy/hackbook-m4-mini https://github.com/vk2diy/hackbook-m4-mini ... cheaper and restores control of peripheral selection and replacement. That is to say "such a system will last ~forever instead of ~3 years [when the first major component dies and replacement costs ~70% of a new Apple product]". Particularly with Asahi Linux progressing so quickly. https://asahilinux.org/ https://asahilinux.org/ Without Asahi Linux I would not buy a Mac in 2026. I too looked at Framework and like the idea, unfortunately in my case the supply chain was too slow to be tolerable, before even considering the price-performance ratio. I strongly support the idea that the EU should force vendors to make consumer device repairs cost-effective and available or open source and expose their component interfaces in exchange for the right to sell in Europe. After all, the EU brought us USB-C, so we know regulatory pressure works. Thanks, EU!
coldsunrays 6mo ago
> order a replacement keyboard, take the laptop apart, replace the keyboard and good to go That’s all it took with my Framework laptop, and I’m very grateful for it. I was in a good place financially when I got it, but now I’m not. I feel a strong sense of relief that if an accident occurs and I need a repair, it won’t set me back too much.
hermitcrab 6mo ago
The trackpad on my 2.5 year old Macbook Air stopped working. Apple wanted over £400 to fix it. Thankfully I found a local guy who did it for a fraction of that. Screw Apple.
heelix 6mo ago
Had a similar experience with the XPS series. Was able to find a keyboard. When taken apart, realized they had used plastic bits, tape, and other things to connect the keyboard to the top lid. Seems they expected one to either be handy with epoxy or buy the combo.
bluedino 6mo ago
I thought the keys were replaceable now? (first video I found on a search) https://www.youtube.com/shorts/WYT7YIh00Xk https://www.youtube.com/shorts/WYT7YIh00Xk I know in the Butterfly days those keys would break when you removed them.
- Tade0 6mo ago
  Far more likely it's an electrical contact issue.
charcircuit 6mo ago
It would have been cheaper if the author would have bought AppleCare.
EteenSMASH 6mo ago
Buy a framework bro
Tade0 6mo ago
> I say “stopped working”, but technically it works too well now, it is being pressed constantly, which makes the laptop pretty unusable. I had this problem in my Framework. I fixed it by... holding the laptop upside down and mashing the offending key for several minutes. Didn't work immediately, but now you wouldn't tell that it was ever broken. I've managed to panic-order (~€80) another keyboard though, so now I have a spare. For context a laptop keyboard is build like this: https://www.iqsdirectory.com/articles/membrane-switch/membrane-keyboards/scissor-switch-keyboards.jpg https://www.iqsdirectory.com/articles/membrane-switch/membra... This problem is caused by the layers sticking together. In the case of the Framework 16 the "d" key sits on top of a foam pad which in turn is placed on top of a heat pipe, so this area gets particularly hot under load. The layers are often made from PET, which starts softening anywhere in the range of 65-87C - so easily within range of a laptop heat pipe. By mashing the key I was hoping to detach the layers and apparently it worked. That being said for gaming I use an external keyboard now, because the one built-in is made by an external supplier and I don't think they'll start using a more heat-resistant material anytime soon.
TacticalCoder 6mo ago
Apple is disgusting from that standpoint. I have my MacBook Air M1's screen break overnight (the "bendgate"), without any reason, after 13 months. I didn't buy the extended two years warranty. I was one-month off warranty. On a MacBook Air M1 I paid something like 1000 EUR VAT included (don't remember the exact price but in that ballpark), they were asking 700 EUR to fix the screen. I still just ordered a MacMini M4 (I know the M5 is coming but we've got something like 20 computers at home, including servers, NUCs, laptops, desktop, etc. so I may not mind buying a M5). Still... Apple, from the bottom of my heart: FUCK YOU.
koinedad 6mo ago
I use right command + HJKL with karabiner and use it way too much, typing on someone else’s keyboard really throws me off but it’s great for my daily usage
deleted 6mo ago
[deleted]
h4kunamata 6mo ago
No symphaty!!! Apple has been doing this since forever and people keep buying its hardware. You cannot replace a screen even if you buy a genuine one because Apple locks hardware ID via firmware, so only they can replace that! Apple own customer is the reason why Apple does what it does best: You rent your hardware, you don't and never will own an Apple hardware!!
- commandersaki 6mo ago
  Things may change. Macbook Neo keyboard is straight-forward to replace.
bitfilped 6mo ago
Sure it's a giant PITA, but it's not expensive to repair if you do the labor yourself. Parts for macbook are easy to comeby since Apple decentralizes repairs so heavily.
erelong 6mo ago
Sounds like another (common) Apple L and reason to avoid all Apple products
evolighting 6mo ago
Over a decade ago, my father would fix washing machine controllers, replacing mechanical timers, buttons, panels, or other parts; Now, for the same problem, we just need to replace a control circuit board; the circuit board itself is sealed with adhesive for waterproofing, which also means the circuit board is not repairable. Maintainability is actually not a mandatory standard, but a design trade-off; the biggest problem with the MacBook is not this, but rather that Apple does not allow other means of repairing the MacBook, such as various certification chips, etc.;
timvdalen 6mo ago
€780 is 1/5th of the price of a laptop?
- tln 6mo ago
  That jumped out at me as well. It is not hard to spec a Macbook Pro to $4000+ though I'm a little skeptical of the top case cost - iFixit has these ranging from $90 to $160 usually. The most expensive I found was $299. Maybe the author meant the entire repair would cost €780.
riffraff 6mo ago
I have a broken left key and went with karabiner too. I still plan to take the laptop to assistance at some point and try to get it a deep clean up and maybe that will help. Otherwise fuck apple I'm not paying 700+ to fix a key.
userbinator 6mo ago
They do this by riveting the entire keyboard assembly to the top case. Meaning you can’t just replace the keyboard, you have to replace the entire top case. As others have already alluded to, drills and self-tapping screws exist, as do replacement keyboards without the top case. In many other machines, it is common for the factory to use rivets on initial assembly, but to service you drill them out and replace with bolts or screws. This is the expected procedure and even described in the service manual. I actually did this a few weeks ago for an old fan. I'm advocating for right to repair as anyone else, and not fond of Apple's decisions in general, but this seems like a tempest in a teapot.
- kristianp 6mo ago
  > In many other machines, it is common for the factory to use rivets on initial assembly, but to service you drill them out and replace with bolts or screws That's surprising. I haven't had many brands of laptops, but I haven't seen rivets where screws should be. Not talking about Macs here.
  - userbinator 6mo ago
    Not talking about laptops but machinery in general.
    - kristianp 6mo ago
      Oh! I didn't pick up on that from context. Thanks for clarifying.
skyberrys 6mo ago
I'm glad to hear you are able to fix it with software for now. So many people can't just do that though and it is ridiculously expensive to have it repaired. Any purchase is a gamble, macs are one of those gambles that seems more risky with its difficulty to repair, however I guess the expectation is that it's less likely to need it.
elcapitan 6mo ago
I have a Framework that I love and bought for that exact reason, but recently Lenovo seems to have upped their repairability game again as well: https://de.ifixit.com/News/115827/new-thinkpads-score-perfect-10-repairability https://de.ifixit.com/News/115827/new-thinkpads-score-perfec...
zahma 6mo ago
Finally got my $45 payout from the last class action suit against Apple for the butterfly keyboard fiasco. Seems like Apple didn’t learn the overarching lesson here: keyboards have to be robust and replaceable because they frequently need replacement.
bengale 6mo ago
> I’ll remember this experience and choose to buy a more repairable laptop like a ThinkPad or a Framework laptop. > Here’s hoping governments regulate laptop manufacturers to actually make repairable machines in the future. So there is already a solution on the market but for some reason the immediate desire is for the government to get involved and start regulating laptop keyboards?
deleted 6mo ago
[deleted]
ahf8Aithaex7Nai 6mo ago
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zhanxw 6mo ago
I had the same issue and now I cannot use "F" and "Right arrow". It is a smart idea to disabled the right arrow key and mapped capslock + J K L I !
- zhanxw 6mo ago
  fyi. The keyboard in my last MacBook Pro also failed. Apple Store charged ~$500 to fix it.
- automatic6131 6mo ago
  > mapped capslock + J K L I This is such a good idea that it makes other peoples machines nearly useless for you All credit to https://tonsky.me/blog/cursor-keys/ https://tonsky.me/blog/cursor-keys/
omarqureshi 6mo ago
FWIW the Macbook Air is slightly more repairable and modern ones are decent enough to do work on without the display limitations of prior non-pro apple silicon. As a travel machine, I shy away from the Pro because of how poor it is to repair. Unfortunately a Macbook is a hard requirement for travel simply because of battery life, at my desk I use my Windows gaming rig for work.
internet_points 6mo ago
I remember being so disappointed with Apple back when I had a Macbook and the Apple store people were like "nah, if you spilled stuff on it you just buy a new macbook"
eviks 6mo ago
> After thinking about it for a bit I decided to remap all the arrow keys using Karabiner Elements . I disabled the right arrow key and mapped capslock + J K L I. And donated $10 to the project. A small price to pay to postpone a very expensive repair bill. Great idea! Though I'd suggest to use RightCmd instead of Capslock, it's more ergonomic - you use your right hand just like before. (and yes, it's both insane that the hardware is not repairable and that the OS software sucks so you have to use some other apps)
mmunj 6mo ago
Had an issue with a broken keycap hinge a couple of years ago. Went to local Apple store and they also told me it's a whole motherboard replacement. Got the keycap + hinge from Aliexpress for $2. :/
chakintosh 6mo ago
I was gonna suggest to the author to lobotomize the key, but Karabiner is a viable fix too.
wolvoleo 6mo ago
I'm sure this is failure by design. A lot of customers will think "Hey well, this one's got a few years on it, good reason to upgrade" It's worth mentioning that the Neo finally does away with the pairing of topcase and keyboard that has been present ever since the launch of the plastic and unibody macbooks! Probably to comply with upcoming EU regulations.
- 4fterd4rk 6mo ago
  The planned obsolescence conspiracy theories about the company whose products famously last longer and hold more value than their competitors ring a little hollow.
  - Night_Thastus 6mo ago
    I've never seen any evidence that either of those are true. However, it's not planned obsolescence either. It's just math. Building things to be repairable costs more money and time. There is very little incentive to do so, because most customers simply do not care. Thus, Apple does not bother. Nothing conspiratorial about it.
    - wolvoleo 6mo ago
      Most people do care even though they won't do any repairs themselves. This very article explains how it makes a few broken keys a 700$ repair. Customers do care about that.
      - Night_Thastus 6mo ago
        No, enthusiasts care about that. People who have a soldering iron and will try to fix things themselves. Most people do the following: * Take it to Apple * Apple says it will cost $X * Customer says 'yes' and gets it repaired OR customer says 'no' (and proceeds to buy a new one) That's what the vast, vast, vast majority of customers do.
        6mo ago
itsthecourier 6mo ago
so this happened to me some years ago. visited a local shop and they wanted to change the whole board. went to Los Angeles, visited an apple store, got an appointment. went back again to the appointment brought the MacBook, they said the same. went to ebay bought the key, replaced it with tweezers after removing it from above without disabling the keyboard (I know, a little brutish) and it worked again for years. give it a try
SpaghettiX 6mo ago
I had the same issue with a different key on 2 separate macs. A 1 and a 2 year old MacBook pro. 95% of the time I'm WFH using magic external keyboard, which also has the same problem so I bought a new one. Keyboards are a massive problem at apple.
Grisu_FTP 6mo ago
While i think the usecase of a Macbook and a Framework are really different i will always be thankfull to framework for how easy they make it. Broke my keyboard, a few days later i had a new one that didnt even take a minute to swap. Wanted to upgrade my GPU twice, didnt even take 10 minutes. Biggest difficulty was swapping the motherboard, but even that was easy. The ports i need change all the time, and i can just swap them all the time :D While a framework might be a bit expensive, overpriced even, i think the repairability and upgradeability is worth it for me
- hbn 6mo ago
  I'd be curious to see hardware failure rates of Framework vs MacBooks. Sure you can replace the keyboard on a Framework fairly easily but I'd bet MacBook users run into the need for it less (comparing modern models; we all know the butterfly keyboard era was a dark age for MacBooks)
  - foxyv 6mo ago
    Consumer reports seems to agree. Although I'll take mostly reliable and repairable over very reliable and not repairable. Stuff happens after all.
  - Grisu_FTP 6mo ago
    It seems to be definitly higher but their support always just send a replacement with no issues to me. My first GPU had an issue where the fans had a really annoying whirring sound and it got replaced. I had a (pre-)release motherboard (one of the last FW16 pre-order batches) which had an issue with uneven heat on the CPU, also got replaced. In both cases i could just use the Laptop like normal until the new parts arrived so i had no "downtime"
- port11 6mo ago
  A Framework running a sane version of macOS would be peak computing for me. Not that repairability isn’t great, but in 16 years of Apple devices my only needed repair was their atrocious butterfly-style keyboard, and Apple footed the bill thanks to the Class Action Lawsuit. We merely have to wait on Apple to continue debasing its OS, and then many other options will look preferable. Or perhaps Linux on Apple Silicon will eventually become stable.
dhbradshaw 6mo ago
Had a broken key on my m2 air that I couldn't easily fix. Took it to an Apple store and a tech worked on it for a bit and came back with it fixed. No charge. I was pretty grateful!
lightedman 6mo ago
This is what you get when you purchase Apple products. Nothing new here, I had to deal with this back in the G3/G4 days when the laptops were so stupidly-locked you couldn't even apply security updates. Overpriced COTS garbage.
sigio 6mo ago
That's why I only buy Thinkpads from the business/professional lines... Replaced the keyboard om my t480 for $24, and replacing it myself was a 2 minute job (2 screws, pop 2 connectors, replace, and put back together).
- amluto 6mo ago
  At least some Thinkpads also have an actual drain: if you spill a not-especially-corrosive liquid on it, you should be okay — the liquid will drain through a channel and out a drain hole on the bottom of the laptop.
TasteTheCrush 6mo ago
I am sure there's a video guide on how to do it on your own. But actually, your solution is also quite good.
DubOfWeek 6mo ago
[dead]
charles_f 6mo ago
My camera started malfunctioning lately (because tropicalized doesn't mean you can use it in tropical weather). It worked, but when I switched batteries I had to wait a minute for whatever capacitor was blown to discharge before it would boot again. I sent it back for repair to the manufacturer, they gave me an "estimate" that it wouldn't be repairable, and generously offered a replacement with a refurbished one, at $10 off the price of new (plus shipping, of course). I declined the "repair" and asked for the camera back. When it arrived, the stickers I had put around made it clear it hadn't even been open. Having seen enough Louis Rossmann, I brought it to a camera shop around which is doing microsoldering. They replaced a single capacitor (after making me sign papers that it would probably never work again, and charging me quite a bit - still better than wasting an otherwise perfectly functional camera). The unrepairable camera was repaired. It is so disappointing and unsurprising that a manufacturer wouldn't put even remotely any effort into actual repairs, that a street shop with actual expertise will happily do. I've come to expect no expertise from any service department I communicate with. Sending something for repair is almost a sure way that it will be broken even further. When even replacing the top case in the example of that mac seems overkill, when they could probably replace the faulty key with skill and will. I guess that's a matter of incentives, given that in mass market, repairability is not something people look into when shopping.
- gandreani 6mo ago
  I had the opposite happen to me. I made the same assumption when my GPU broke (it was 2-3 months old). I thought I'll save time and spend some more money to have it repaired in a local shop instead of sending it back to the manufacturer. Turns out it was a fatal irreparable failure. A capacitor overheated and left a small crater on the surface. Because I took it to the shop, the warranty sticker was void. Had to buy a whole new GPU :(
chrismorgan 6mo ago
An anecdote on third-party keyboard replacements. I have an ASUS Zephyrus G15 (2021), GA503QM. I’ve been using it extremely heavily for five years. After about three years the left arrow key gradually stopped working. I adapted. Some keys have become a little less reliable, too, most notably E, and it’s nowhere near as crisp as it was when new. But it’s still a decent keyboard, which definitely wasn’t the case for two of my three previous laptops after even three years. Anyway, a couple of weeks ago I tried getting a replacement keyboard on Amazon, not clearly identified as inauthentic (looks identical to the original; perhaps you should guess it, as a brand name is attached, WeFly in this case; but I know some of these things do claim to be genuine parts despite that). Worst new keyboard I have ever even heard of, barring those dumb roll-up keyboards. F2 a little sticky, have to press it straight. F and J requiring firm pressing to activate. Space not activating at the ends. And maybe worst of all, 2KRO (the original is NKRO!), with horrific ghosting. When you touch-type, you frequently have three keys active at once. Typing “you” would get a bonus F11 activation around half the time. “he ” a bonus N activation. Mashing the keyboard put the laptop to sleep, which doesn’t even make sense, and badly messed up key pressed state (though that’s possibly a software problem). Some combinations activated keys which don’t even exist, like Numpad 0. With difficulty I was able to return it and get my money back. (I also got a refund on a counterfeit battery purchased at the same time—branded Wistar but unquestionably labelled as a genuine ASUS part, it was labelled in depth as 90Wh, but reported a design capacity of 74Wh and behaved so. Not sure if you can even find that information under Windows—maybe in Device Manager? So alas, for now I’m back on my original battery which is down to 51Wh capacity.) I wrote detailed one- and two-star reviews on Amazon, which were approved, and then deleted (one same day, one after a few days) for no apparent reason. I’m trying to talk to ASUS to see if I can get a first-party replacement, but they don’t sell them independently at least, and can’t tell me a price, so I have to try talking to the local service centre. Hopefully it’ll be possible and not too expensive. Definitely not going to try third-party again for the keyboard, though maybe for the battery I’ll try one clearly marked as third-party. Since reinstalling the original keyboard last week, a few days ago both Control keys stopped working, and the right tweeter (which gradually died a year or two ago) has started producing white noise when powered up. I should try reseating cables and such. It’s definitely fairly invasive surgery to replace the keyboard. The keyboard, incidentally, is fastened to the case by about 70 tiny screws (mine had 71 holes but only 69 screws). For now, I mapped Right Shift to Right Control, and have since been discovering that I used Right Shift more often than I realised!
mezod 6mo ago
been there, done that unfortunately, the karabiner workaround will work for a little while, but the rest of the keys will start failing until it's impossible to remap the keys :/
gwbas1c 6mo ago
For me, for day-to-day usage, I sit at a desk and use an external keyboard. The ergonomics of working directly on a laptop aren't very good for extended periods of time. Case in point: I don't put a lot of stress on my laptop keyboards.
mhjkl 6mo ago
What exactly broke? I had this problem recently and thought the keyboard was done for, but turns out you can also replace the switches (not keycaps) and that solved the issue in my case. You have to be very careful though since it is very easy to break the switch or key cap if you remove it incorrectly (this happened to me while I was trying to clean the keyboard)
8bitsrule 6mo ago
I'm reminded of my surprise when my Mac's 'super' (their name) floppy drive quit working because the CPU fan was pulling air through it all day. Post 90-day warranty, the replacement cost at the time was 1/5 of what the machine cost. IMO, Apple hardware was never the company's strong point. And they refused to supply individual replacement parts.
steve-atx-7600 6mo ago
Suggest https://rossmanngroup.com/ https://rossmanngroup.com/ unless you know how to do the repair yourself. A trustworthy not-apple-certified shop can do a repair cheaper by replacing fewer parts. Rossman doesn’t charge unless they’re able to fix the device - even if it takes them some time to look at it.
kuzivaai 6mo ago
Been there with M1 Air. I needed to change my keyboard but the build made it unbelievably challenging.

382 points by TobiasBerg 6mo ago

lobito25 6mo ago

[flagged]

bigyabai 6mo ago
I think you might be right. According to Ebay, a complete OEM backlit keyboard + trackpoint costs $24.99 for my laptop. The iFixit is rated "easy" and supposedly takes 15 minutes.

hurricanepootis 6mo ago

This isn't an issue with macbook keyboards, a lot of windows laptops have their keyboards riveted to the C cover of a laptop.

matt_heimer 6mo ago
isn't an issue ONLY with macbook keyboards. It is absolutely an issue that shouldn't exist.
- hurricanepootis 6mo ago
  Yes, my bad. I totally agree with that it does indeed suck. I've had to replace the C cover of my laptop before for reasons not related to the keyboard (a screw post broke because Dell had the bright of idea of attaching a metal screw post to the body with plastic). I ended up fixing that issue, but the keyboard that was installed in the C cover was noticeably shittier than my old one. I'm now on a Framework 13, and it's been pretty fun so far.

jwlake 6mo ago

ifixit sells just the keyboards, why doesn't that work? https://www.ifixit.com/products/macbook-pro-14-a2442-a2779-a2918-a2992-and-16-a2485-a2780-a2991-keyboard https://www.ifixit.com/products/macbook-pro-14-a2442-a2779-a...

MrDOS 6mo ago
The article is ten paragraphs (two of which are four words or shorter). The entire sixth paragraph is dedicated to answering that question.
- mosselman 6mo ago
  Someone posted a video on how to slam out the rivets with a screwdriver.
SkiFire13 6mo ago
I don't see a replacement guide link on that page, but curiously there's this note: > The aluminum upper case and installation screws are not included. I would assume you likely need those too, as the article also mentions.
- nerdsniper 6mo ago
  Wouldn’t the screws in your existing generally be reusable for this replacement?
  - mh- 6mo ago
    Yes, they're not highly torqued or anything. I would reuse them even if it did include new screws.
  - sleepybrett 6mo ago
    the keyboard in the current macbook pro is RIVETED.

k310 6mo ago

Go figure. MacBook Neo Is the Most Repairable MacBook in 14 Years [0] Much as a laptop would suit me, I opted for a mini and a large display. Come keyboard time, I was ready to spend $$$$$ for an Apple keyboard, but the only backlit ones come on laptops. I'm using a Logitech now, with the option of charging it all the time, else the lights dim themselves to conserve battery. Yes, I was 19 once. And three times after that. But there we go again, stuff designed for 19 year-olds. How about this? (image at imgbb.com) https://i.ibb.co/66RZd3b/mbp16-m3-max-01.jpg https://i.ibb.co/66RZd3b/mbp16-m3-max-01.jpg (JK)

k310 6mo ago
Replying to myself because I forgot the reference [0] I'm happy with the downvotes if they're for the JK laptop keyboard mashup. Otherwise, pretty much as others have posted. Peripherals otta be peripheral, not welded in place. I worked around the dilemma. Twice. An iPad pro has a keyboard, trackpad and BT mouse. And I have a doorstop iMac because of a somehow dead display. (repair $$$$$ ) I very much favor separate everything. Peace. [0] https://www.ifixit.com/News/116152/macbook-neo-is-the-most-repairable-macbook-in-14-years https://www.ifixit.com/News/116152/macbook-neo-is-the-most-r...

BoredPositron 6mo ago

What MacBook is it? If you don't have the insane butterfly switches single keys are pretty repairable now.

drdirk 6mo ago
My MacBook Pro M1 keyboard repair costed >700€, this is not a butterfly keyboard. So also new models have an expensive keyboard replacement. My previous MacBook Pro keyboard was a butterfly keyboard and also broke, but got replaced for free. I don’t feel I am a heavy user as the MacBook Pro is mostly connected to an external keyboard and am pretty annoyed by apples keyboard quality (based on my sample size of 2).
brailsafe 6mo ago
I think those are just the keycaps, not the switches or the actual board underneath
- mhjkl 6mo ago
  You can remove and replace the switches too

KnuthIsGod 6mo ago

My first computer was a Mac Plus. I got to experience Apple's customer hostile practices. Many years ago l decided never to buy an Apple product again.

justinator 6mo ago
AppleCare is honestly a great deal, especially for laptops. M1 Macbook Pros from 2020 are humming along just fine for regular people who see no reason to upgrade. The future is now, old man.
- tim-tday 6mo ago
  Bought AppleCare for my AirPods. Never again.
  - bombcar 6mo ago
    AppleCare is only worth it for expensive things with big repair costs; the "repair fee" for AirPods is such a high percentage of the replacement price that it just is not worth it.
  - phil21 6mo ago
    AppleCare is leaps and bounds better than any other insurance you can buy for mobile or laptops. For accessories I don’t see the point, those are effectively disposable wear items. Ironically a large part of deciding to migrate to an iPhone from android was final frustrations with even Google purchased devices under warranty coupled with hardware quality requiring repairs. My wife’s experience with AppleCare won me over. If nothing else it’s first party insurance. I will never purchase device insurance offered via a third party ever again. Either its first party so I’m dealing with the place I bought it or nothing at all.
    - echoangle 6mo ago
      > AppleCare is leaps and bounds better than any other insurance you can buy for mobile or laptops. Which doesn’t tell you a lot because they are pretty bad, too. Being better doesn’t mean it’s a good offer.

mattbillenstein 6mo ago

Framework Laptop + some form of Linux - MacOS keeps getting worse and the hardware exceeding hard and expensive to repair.

cyanydeez 6mo ago
If they would have sprung for the AMD395+ in the latop @ 128GB, you'd have a fair comparison for AI compute.
- 0xedd 6mo ago
  HP Zbook G1a 14. OEM Linux support.
zapnuk 6mo ago
Framework Laptop is more expensive than a Macbook Air with all around worse hardware. For a framework 13 I'd have to pay 1900€ with a 16GB setup. For 1450 I get a MBA with 24GB ram. Similar with a dell or lenovo who get smoked in performance comparisons. It might still be worth it for those who hugely value open source and repairability but as for value I think its save to say that Apple is currently in a league of their own. Even if the altest os update is a flop. Also, the Macbook has improved repairability. While its still not great its better than a few years ago.
- ChuckMcM 6mo ago
  > Framework Laptop is more expensive than a Macbook Air with all around worse hardware. Is it though? I'd agree the hardware is less capable but if your Macbook anything is really just one 'top case' repair away from being more expensive. RAM failure is 'motherboard replace', the display? it is similarly expensive to replace. So I would agree that it is more expensive to purchase a Framework laptop than a Macbook laptop, but also feel it is more expensive to own a Macbook laptop than a Framework laptop. Also I just replaced the screen on my FW13 not because it was broken but because they have one with 4x the pixels on it now. That's not something I could have done with the Macbook.

chad_strategic 6mo ago

[flagged]

throwaway27448 6mo ago
Name me an american tech company that isn't complicit in the fascist project. I bet you they don't produce laptops
- fsflover 6mo ago
  Purism
  - throwaway27448 6mo ago
    Normally I'd agree purity tests are largely counterproductive. But large tech companies are major players and deserve extraordinary scrutiny for their actions. Anyway, simply noting the impacts of their decisions doesn't seem deserving of an "ism"—surely there should be a normative component to make this a proper ideology—I haven't told you what to do.
    - fsflover 6mo ago
      It seems you misunderstood me. https://puri.sm https://puri.sm is the company you asked for.
- burgerone 6mo ago
  "Made in america" is dead.
  - throwaway27448 6mo ago
    It's getting there. The exceptions are exceptional.
- bigyabai 6mo ago
  System76

VladVladikoff 6mo ago

Looks like it’s possible to replace just the keyboard https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SeSQ0DpG1HA&t=907s&pp=2AGLB5ACAQ%3D%3D https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SeSQ0DpG1HA&t=907s&pp=2AGLB5AC...

throwaway27448 6mo ago
It is. It's simply expensive.
- mosselman 6mo ago
  No, a new keyboard is between 12 and 50 euros depending on where you get it, the video is the missing piece.

mememememememo 6mo ago

> mapped capslock + J K L I you need to visit the confessional for that

ebbi 6mo ago

Cautiously optimistic, given the repairability of the MacBook Neo keyboard, that this design will make it to the rest of their laptops when the refreshed designs are released (next year?).

julienreszka 6mo ago

>Here’s hoping governments regulate laptop manufacturers to actually make repairable machines in the future. if you thing government regulation will help you you are lying to yourself that's not how the world works

Fargren 6mo ago
Government regulation has mandated USB-C in all devices, which helps me every day. Just to name something in the realm of what the article is about.
bigyabai 6mo ago
If you think Apple is incapable of designing repairable keyboards, then I'd like to know how Lenovo figured it out: https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Lenovo+ThinkPad+T480+Keyboard+Replacement/140096 https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Lenovo+ThinkPad+T480+Keyboard+R...
DonHopkins 6mo ago
Chewing on lead paint and reading Ayn Rand is not how to learn how the world works either.

0xedd 6mo ago

[dead]

tim-tday 6mo ago

I just had the most horrendous Apple repair experience. In standard warranty with Apple care. Would NOT authorize a mail in repair. Would only authorize walk in to my local shitty Apple authorized third party repair center who were unable / unwilling to reproduce. Fought with them for weeks. Escalated. They lied and said they were doing a no cost replacement. Had to fight the charge. Then they lost my return. So much so that I’ve started switching to Linux and de-googled phone. (Switching off of iPhone just to go to google seems like the greater of evils) The non Apple ecosystem is much more mature than last I checked but still irritating. De googling was my biggest challenge. Getting a viable replacement for Mac OS was the easy part.

crazygringo 6mo ago
What was the problem? If the local repair center couldn't reproduce it, what was going on? And what do you mean they lost your return? Like it got delivered and then it was lost? Surely they gave you a working unit at that point? I've had a bunch of experiences with Apple repair and always always been fast and great. I mean, they're definitely the best service of literally any corporation I've dealt with, by far. Sometimes you get unlucky I guess with a particular rep or something hard to reproduce, but it sounds like you got extremely unlucky? It definitely isn't representative in my experience, not even close.

relium 6mo ago

My MacBook Pro M1 keyboard broke too and Apple wanted $900 to replace it. I bought a $30 replacement on Amazon and started replacing it myself. Unfortunately the repair was a bit too complicated for me, but luckily one of my co-workers had more patience and replaced it for some beer. This video is a good overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGmMpEEP5ls https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGmMpEEP5ls

Gigachad 6mo ago
Thankfully the m1 was the last of the evil design era for Macs. Modern ones are significantly better. The neo being the best, able to be fully disassembled with a screw driver in a few minutes
docmars 6mo ago
I don't even understand the functional purpose of the rivets if the keyboard is already held in place with a million screws and the key slots cut into the aluminum frame. It makes no sense, seems like a waste.
- brokenmachine 6mo ago
  Can you not see why they might be incentivized to make it unrepairable?
  - docmars 6mo ago
    Oh definitely, I'm no stranger to Apple's antics... but usually they're pretty particular about hardware decisions serving a functional purpose, and not just a way to protect their bottom line. They aren't exactly struggling to sell their stuff.
    - brokenmachine 6mo ago
      Their marketing is pretty particular, when it suits them. Their actions show something completely different. Everything is about protecting their jailed garden. It took the EU to force them to grudgingly use USB-C.

linsomniac 6mo ago

Does anyone know if this is covered under the Apple Care plans? My 16" M1 MBP keyboard has been no problem, I'm just curious. Not saying that negates the issue. Unfortunately, AFAICT, these repairability issues are largely due to the move to thinner and lighter laptops. Replacing my MILs Microsoft Surface tablet was a pain in the butt. Had to cut the case open and tape it back together. But that thing was insanely small and light. My MIL liked it because she has a lot of trouble carrying anything very heavy.

mananaysiempre 6mo ago
Keyboards on MacBook Pros have been riveted since at least 2014. That doesn’t necessarily disprove your argument, but it does move the “thin and light” bar farther back than one would expect from the phrasing.
- linsomniac 6mo ago
  Apple has long made trade offs in pursuit of "thin and light". Apple announced the 2014 MBP as "People love their MacBook Pro because of the thin and light, aluminum unibody design". https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2014/07/29Apple-Updates-MacBook-Pro-with-Retina-Display/ https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2014/07/29Apple-Updates-MacBo...
- radley 6mo ago
  Ah, that timeframe is helpful to know. I had to replace the keyboard in my 2012 MBP twice, and was able to do it myself both times. Since then, I always use keyboard skins.
- FinnKuhn 6mo ago
  The new MacBook Neo's keyboard is not riveted and instead held with screws. As far as I could tell it is still just as thin and light as other MacBooks.
vr46 6mo ago
Yes it is, I had my M! Max keyboard replaced as repairing the individual keycaps didn't work, and then they replaced the entire logic board while they were testing due to finding an error. Total cost was around €1400, to me €0. New bottom case, new battery, new logic board.

carlosjobim 6mo ago

Swedes many times have a defeatist attitude towards companies and authorities, and expect that they will never get any help unless they have a right to it (from warranties or such). The author doesn't mention ever contacting Apple to get his keyboard fixed. Maybe he could have gotten pleasantly surprised? "Here’s hoping governments regulate laptop manufacturers to actually make repairable machines in the future." However, this quote is not a surprise at all, and goes perfectly in line with Swedish philosophy. And the philosophy of this message board as well.

stkhlm 6mo ago
The author isn't Swedish. I've known him for 18 years. Not sure where this comes from.
- carlosjobim 6mo ago
  His name is Swedish or it could be Norwegian. Anyway, did he contact Apple to see if they could help him out? Because sometimes Apple fixes these things for free. I've had very good and very bad experiences with Apple support for hardware failures. It's worth trying to contact them, instead of calling for more government regulation.
  - stkhlm 6mo ago
    He went through the Apple Icon -> "About This Mac" -> "More Info" -> Coverage Expired Details Button -> Clicked the Get Support button and ended up in an infinite loop of questions on the Apple website if I recall correctly. Not great support on Apples side there.
    - carlosjobim 6mo ago
      That's not the point where you give up. That's the point where you call or e-mail the company to talk to a human. Hence my comment about defeatism. Sometimes you have to push a little bit before giving up and crying for the government to come help you. Big companies aren't unbending stone statues.

MostlyStable 6mo ago

>Here’s hoping governments regulate laptop manufacturers to actually make repairable machines in the future. No, this is a bad solution. If you want a repairable machine, buy one. They exist. Others have already mentioned Framework, but there are other options that aren't that far down the spectrum either. One of the things macbook users praise the most is "build quality", which often means the solidity of the device, lack of flex, etc. These quality features are, in part, achieved by the same choices that make it hard to repair. Ease of repair and "build quality", are to some degree (although not entirely) tradeoffs against each other. I say this as a framework owner who would never buy something as irreparable as a macbook. Regulation is not the answer here.

wvenable 6mo ago
> No, this is a bad solution. You didn't say why this is a bad solution. The government mandates that cars get safer every year and fatalities are down 78% from the 1960s. Whenever government regulates things to benefit people, people tend to benefit. > One of the things macbook users praise the most is "build quality", which often means the solidity of the device, lack of flex, etc. It seems like the Macbook Neo has a lot of those properties as well for a very inexpensive device that is extremely easy to repair.
- internet2000 6mo ago
  > It seems like the Macbook Neo has a lot of those properties as well for a very inexpensive device that is extremely easy to repair. It's slightly worse, slightly more flex, thicker and heavier vs an Air in spite of having a smaller battery and more empty space. It's all trade offs. If you want repairable, please buy a Framework or Lenovo. Backseat industrial designing through legislation is not the answer.
  - wvenable 6mo ago
    > Backseat industrial designing through legislation is not the answer. Again, why not? It's not mandating design, just minimal standards for repairability that should be obvious. If Framework and Lenovo can do it and Apple can do it on a $600 laptop, why can't everyone do it?

bonyt 6mo ago

I replaced the keyboard MacBook Air M1 keyboard with a $20 model from Amazon and it's been going strong for a full year. I had spilled ginger ale on the original. The board is riveted in, but there are enough screws to hold the replacement in place. Removing the board is a shockingly violent process, but it worked for me. Keyboard: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQBVMM3X https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQBVMM3X (price has gone up). Video of rivets breaking: https://i.tonybox.net/9f2083b218d5.mp4 https://i.tonybox.net/9f2083b218d5.mp4 (you can see I missed a screw and slightly cut my hand here too).

TobiasBerg 6mo ago
Thanks for posting, I might attempt this if I feel brave enough one day! Mind if I link to this from the post? Could help someone in the future
- bonyt 6mo ago
  Sure - of course! Hope it can be helpful.
x0x0 6mo ago
wow, you are not underplaying the force needed. You can hear the rivets going.
deaux 6mo ago
I wonder if anyone has hacked it (in the "Hacker News" sense of hack) so that the above keyboard can be used in an external casing, without inserting it into the Macbook body. I'd pay a lot of money for that. The Magic Keyboard is different.
- throawayonthe 6mo ago
  i mean it's pretty nice for a laptop keyboard, but i've never thought of it as good enough to use externally tbh or do you mean integrating it into a different laptop a la framework? that could be cool, but would also have to think how much the chassey stiffness/specific construction contributes to the feel p.s. has anybody here tried (the external) magic trackpad? the macbook trackpad is infuriatingly good

sleepybrett 6mo ago

the macbook neo has gone back to a replaceable keyboard. The next line of macbookpros are appenrly getting a new case design. There is hope.

0xbadcafebee 6mo ago

This is like complaining that BMW maintenance is expensive.

aurareturn 6mo ago
No this isn't even like that. Frameworks are 2x the price of a Macbook without the performance, battery life, build quality, screen quality, touch pad, speakers, etc. If Apple is the BMW here, what is Framework? It's definitely not a Toyota.

contingencies 6mo ago

I strongly recommend not buying a Macbook and instead hacking a mini: https://github.com/vk2diy/hackbook-m4-mini https://github.com/vk2diy/hackbook-m4-mini ... cheaper and restores control of peripheral selection and replacement. That is to say "such a system will last ~forever instead of ~3 years [when the first major component dies and replacement costs ~70% of a new Apple product]". Particularly with Asahi Linux progressing so quickly. https://asahilinux.org/ https://asahilinux.org/ Without Asahi Linux I would not buy a Mac in 2026. I too looked at Framework and like the idea, unfortunately in my case the supply chain was too slow to be tolerable, before even considering the price-performance ratio. I strongly support the idea that the EU should force vendors to make consumer device repairs cost-effective and available or open source and expose their component interfaces in exchange for the right to sell in Europe. After all, the EU brought us USB-C, so we know regulatory pressure works. Thanks, EU!

coldsunrays 6mo ago

> order a replacement keyboard, take the laptop apart, replace the keyboard and good to go That’s all it took with my Framework laptop, and I’m very grateful for it. I was in a good place financially when I got it, but now I’m not. I feel a strong sense of relief that if an accident occurs and I need a repair, it won’t set me back too much.

hermitcrab 6mo ago

The trackpad on my 2.5 year old Macbook Air stopped working. Apple wanted over £400 to fix it. Thankfully I found a local guy who did it for a fraction of that. Screw Apple.

heelix 6mo ago

Had a similar experience with the XPS series. Was able to find a keyboard. When taken apart, realized they had used plastic bits, tape, and other things to connect the keyboard to the top lid. Seems they expected one to either be handy with epoxy or buy the combo.

bluedino 6mo ago

I thought the keys were replaceable now? (first video I found on a search) https://www.youtube.com/shorts/WYT7YIh00Xk https://www.youtube.com/shorts/WYT7YIh00Xk I know in the Butterfly days those keys would break when you removed them.

Tade0 6mo ago
Far more likely it's an electrical contact issue.

charcircuit 6mo ago

It would have been cheaper if the author would have bought AppleCare.

EteenSMASH 6mo ago

Buy a framework bro

Tade0 6mo ago

> I say “stopped working”, but technically it works too well now, it is being pressed constantly, which makes the laptop pretty unusable. I had this problem in my Framework. I fixed it by... holding the laptop upside down and mashing the offending key for several minutes. Didn't work immediately, but now you wouldn't tell that it was ever broken. I've managed to panic-order (~€80) another keyboard though, so now I have a spare. For context a laptop keyboard is build like this: https://www.iqsdirectory.com/articles/membrane-switch/membrane-keyboards/scissor-switch-keyboards.jpg https://www.iqsdirectory.com/articles/membrane-switch/membra... This problem is caused by the layers sticking together. In the case of the Framework 16 the "d" key sits on top of a foam pad which in turn is placed on top of a heat pipe, so this area gets particularly hot under load. The layers are often made from PET, which starts softening anywhere in the range of 65-87C - so easily within range of a laptop heat pipe. By mashing the key I was hoping to detach the layers and apparently it worked. That being said for gaming I use an external keyboard now, because the one built-in is made by an external supplier and I don't think they'll start using a more heat-resistant material anytime soon.

TacticalCoder 6mo ago

Apple is disgusting from that standpoint. I have my MacBook Air M1's screen break overnight (the "bendgate"), without any reason, after 13 months. I didn't buy the extended two years warranty. I was one-month off warranty. On a MacBook Air M1 I paid something like 1000 EUR VAT included (don't remember the exact price but in that ballpark), they were asking 700 EUR to fix the screen. I still just ordered a MacMini M4 (I know the M5 is coming but we've got something like 20 computers at home, including servers, NUCs, laptops, desktop, etc. so I may not mind buying a M5). Still... Apple, from the bottom of my heart: FUCK YOU.

koinedad 6mo ago

I use right command + HJKL with karabiner and use it way too much, typing on someone else’s keyboard really throws me off but it’s great for my daily usage

deleted 6mo ago

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h4kunamata 6mo ago

No symphaty!!! Apple has been doing this since forever and people keep buying its hardware. You cannot replace a screen even if you buy a genuine one because Apple locks hardware ID via firmware, so only they can replace that! Apple own customer is the reason why Apple does what it does best: You rent your hardware, you don't and never will own an Apple hardware!!

commandersaki 6mo ago
Things may change. Macbook Neo keyboard is straight-forward to replace.

bitfilped 6mo ago

Sure it's a giant PITA, but it's not expensive to repair if you do the labor yourself. Parts for macbook are easy to comeby since Apple decentralizes repairs so heavily.

erelong 6mo ago

Sounds like another (common) Apple L and reason to avoid all Apple products

evolighting 6mo ago

Over a decade ago, my father would fix washing machine controllers, replacing mechanical timers, buttons, panels, or other parts; Now, for the same problem, we just need to replace a control circuit board; the circuit board itself is sealed with adhesive for waterproofing, which also means the circuit board is not repairable. Maintainability is actually not a mandatory standard, but a design trade-off; the biggest problem with the MacBook is not this, but rather that Apple does not allow other means of repairing the MacBook, such as various certification chips, etc.;

timvdalen 6mo ago

€780 is 1/5th of the price of a laptop?

tln 6mo ago
That jumped out at me as well. It is not hard to spec a Macbook Pro to $4000+ though I'm a little skeptical of the top case cost - iFixit has these ranging from $90 to $160 usually. The most expensive I found was $299. Maybe the author meant the entire repair would cost €780.

riffraff 6mo ago

I have a broken left key and went with karabiner too. I still plan to take the laptop to assistance at some point and try to get it a deep clean up and maybe that will help. Otherwise fuck apple I'm not paying 700+ to fix a key.

userbinator 6mo ago

They do this by riveting the entire keyboard assembly to the top case. Meaning you can’t just replace the keyboard, you have to replace the entire top case. As others have already alluded to, drills and self-tapping screws exist, as do replacement keyboards without the top case. In many other machines, it is common for the factory to use rivets on initial assembly, but to service you drill them out and replace with bolts or screws. This is the expected procedure and even described in the service manual. I actually did this a few weeks ago for an old fan. I'm advocating for right to repair as anyone else, and not fond of Apple's decisions in general, but this seems like a tempest in a teapot.

kristianp 6mo ago
> In many other machines, it is common for the factory to use rivets on initial assembly, but to service you drill them out and replace with bolts or screws That's surprising. I haven't had many brands of laptops, but I haven't seen rivets where screws should be. Not talking about Macs here.
- userbinator 6mo ago
  Not talking about laptops but machinery in general.
  - kristianp 6mo ago
    Oh! I didn't pick up on that from context. Thanks for clarifying.

skyberrys 6mo ago

I'm glad to hear you are able to fix it with software for now. So many people can't just do that though and it is ridiculously expensive to have it repaired. Any purchase is a gamble, macs are one of those gambles that seems more risky with its difficulty to repair, however I guess the expectation is that it's less likely to need it.

elcapitan 6mo ago

I have a Framework that I love and bought for that exact reason, but recently Lenovo seems to have upped their repairability game again as well: https://de.ifixit.com/News/115827/new-thinkpads-score-perfect-10-repairability https://de.ifixit.com/News/115827/new-thinkpads-score-perfec...

zahma 6mo ago

Finally got my $45 payout from the last class action suit against Apple for the butterfly keyboard fiasco. Seems like Apple didn’t learn the overarching lesson here: keyboards have to be robust and replaceable because they frequently need replacement.

bengale 6mo ago

> I’ll remember this experience and choose to buy a more repairable laptop like a ThinkPad or a Framework laptop. > Here’s hoping governments regulate laptop manufacturers to actually make repairable machines in the future. So there is already a solution on the market but for some reason the immediate desire is for the government to get involved and start regulating laptop keyboards?

deleted 6mo ago

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ahf8Aithaex7Nai 6mo ago

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zhanxw 6mo ago

I had the same issue and now I cannot use "F" and "Right arrow". It is a smart idea to disabled the right arrow key and mapped capslock + J K L I !

zhanxw 6mo ago
fyi. The keyboard in my last MacBook Pro also failed. Apple Store charged ~$500 to fix it.
automatic6131 6mo ago
> mapped capslock + J K L I This is such a good idea that it makes other peoples machines nearly useless for you All credit to https://tonsky.me/blog/cursor-keys/ https://tonsky.me/blog/cursor-keys/

omarqureshi 6mo ago

FWIW the Macbook Air is slightly more repairable and modern ones are decent enough to do work on without the display limitations of prior non-pro apple silicon. As a travel machine, I shy away from the Pro because of how poor it is to repair. Unfortunately a Macbook is a hard requirement for travel simply because of battery life, at my desk I use my Windows gaming rig for work.

internet_points 6mo ago

I remember being so disappointed with Apple back when I had a Macbook and the Apple store people were like "nah, if you spilled stuff on it you just buy a new macbook"

eviks 6mo ago

> After thinking about it for a bit I decided to remap all the arrow keys using Karabiner Elements . I disabled the right arrow key and mapped capslock + J K L I. And donated $10 to the project. A small price to pay to postpone a very expensive repair bill. Great idea! Though I'd suggest to use RightCmd instead of Capslock, it's more ergonomic - you use your right hand just like before. (and yes, it's both insane that the hardware is not repairable and that the OS software sucks so you have to use some other apps)

mmunj 6mo ago

Had an issue with a broken keycap hinge a couple of years ago. Went to local Apple store and they also told me it's a whole motherboard replacement. Got the keycap + hinge from Aliexpress for $2. :/

chakintosh 6mo ago

I was gonna suggest to the author to lobotomize the key, but Karabiner is a viable fix too.

wolvoleo 6mo ago

I'm sure this is failure by design. A lot of customers will think "Hey well, this one's got a few years on it, good reason to upgrade" It's worth mentioning that the Neo finally does away with the pairing of topcase and keyboard that has been present ever since the launch of the plastic and unibody macbooks! Probably to comply with upcoming EU regulations.

4fterd4rk 6mo ago
The planned obsolescence conspiracy theories about the company whose products famously last longer and hold more value than their competitors ring a little hollow.
- Night_Thastus 6mo ago
  I've never seen any evidence that either of those are true. However, it's not planned obsolescence either. It's just math. Building things to be repairable costs more money and time. There is very little incentive to do so, because most customers simply do not care. Thus, Apple does not bother. Nothing conspiratorial about it.
  - wolvoleo 6mo ago
    Most people do care even though they won't do any repairs themselves. This very article explains how it makes a few broken keys a 700$ repair. Customers do care about that.
    - Night_Thastus 6mo ago
      No, enthusiasts care about that. People who have a soldering iron and will try to fix things themselves. Most people do the following: * Take it to Apple * Apple says it will cost $X * Customer says 'yes' and gets it repaired OR customer says 'no' (and proceeds to buy a new one) That's what the vast, vast, vast majority of customers do.
      - 6mo ago

itsthecourier 6mo ago

so this happened to me some years ago. visited a local shop and they wanted to change the whole board. went to Los Angeles, visited an apple store, got an appointment. went back again to the appointment brought the MacBook, they said the same. went to ebay bought the key, replaced it with tweezers after removing it from above without disabling the keyboard (I know, a little brutish) and it worked again for years. give it a try

SpaghettiX 6mo ago

I had the same issue with a different key on 2 separate macs. A 1 and a 2 year old MacBook pro. 95% of the time I'm WFH using magic external keyboard, which also has the same problem so I bought a new one. Keyboards are a massive problem at apple.

Grisu_FTP 6mo ago

While i think the usecase of a Macbook and a Framework are really different i will always be thankfull to framework for how easy they make it. Broke my keyboard, a few days later i had a new one that didnt even take a minute to swap. Wanted to upgrade my GPU twice, didnt even take 10 minutes. Biggest difficulty was swapping the motherboard, but even that was easy. The ports i need change all the time, and i can just swap them all the time :D While a framework might be a bit expensive, overpriced even, i think the repairability and upgradeability is worth it for me

hbn 6mo ago
I'd be curious to see hardware failure rates of Framework vs MacBooks. Sure you can replace the keyboard on a Framework fairly easily but I'd bet MacBook users run into the need for it less (comparing modern models; we all know the butterfly keyboard era was a dark age for MacBooks)
- foxyv 6mo ago
  Consumer reports seems to agree. Although I'll take mostly reliable and repairable over very reliable and not repairable. Stuff happens after all.
- Grisu_FTP 6mo ago
  It seems to be definitly higher but their support always just send a replacement with no issues to me. My first GPU had an issue where the fans had a really annoying whirring sound and it got replaced. I had a (pre-)release motherboard (one of the last FW16 pre-order batches) which had an issue with uneven heat on the CPU, also got replaced. In both cases i could just use the Laptop like normal until the new parts arrived so i had no "downtime"
port11 6mo ago
A Framework running a sane version of macOS would be peak computing for me. Not that repairability isn’t great, but in 16 years of Apple devices my only needed repair was their atrocious butterfly-style keyboard, and Apple footed the bill thanks to the Class Action Lawsuit. We merely have to wait on Apple to continue debasing its OS, and then many other options will look preferable. Or perhaps Linux on Apple Silicon will eventually become stable.

dhbradshaw 6mo ago

Had a broken key on my m2 air that I couldn't easily fix. Took it to an Apple store and a tech worked on it for a bit and came back with it fixed. No charge. I was pretty grateful!

lightedman 6mo ago

This is what you get when you purchase Apple products. Nothing new here, I had to deal with this back in the G3/G4 days when the laptops were so stupidly-locked you couldn't even apply security updates. Overpriced COTS garbage.

sigio 6mo ago

That's why I only buy Thinkpads from the business/professional lines... Replaced the keyboard om my t480 for $24, and replacing it myself was a 2 minute job (2 screws, pop 2 connectors, replace, and put back together).

amluto 6mo ago
At least some Thinkpads also have an actual drain: if you spill a not-especially-corrosive liquid on it, you should be okay — the liquid will drain through a channel and out a drain hole on the bottom of the laptop.

TasteTheCrush 6mo ago

I am sure there's a video guide on how to do it on your own. But actually, your solution is also quite good.

DubOfWeek 6mo ago

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charles_f 6mo ago

My camera started malfunctioning lately (because tropicalized doesn't mean you can use it in tropical weather). It worked, but when I switched batteries I had to wait a minute for whatever capacitor was blown to discharge before it would boot again. I sent it back for repair to the manufacturer, they gave me an "estimate" that it wouldn't be repairable, and generously offered a replacement with a refurbished one, at $10 off the price of new (plus shipping, of course). I declined the "repair" and asked for the camera back. When it arrived, the stickers I had put around made it clear it hadn't even been open. Having seen enough Louis Rossmann, I brought it to a camera shop around which is doing microsoldering. They replaced a single capacitor (after making me sign papers that it would probably never work again, and charging me quite a bit - still better than wasting an otherwise perfectly functional camera). The unrepairable camera was repaired. It is so disappointing and unsurprising that a manufacturer wouldn't put even remotely any effort into actual repairs, that a street shop with actual expertise will happily do. I've come to expect no expertise from any service department I communicate with. Sending something for repair is almost a sure way that it will be broken even further. When even replacing the top case in the example of that mac seems overkill, when they could probably replace the faulty key with skill and will. I guess that's a matter of incentives, given that in mass market, repairability is not something people look into when shopping.

gandreani 6mo ago
I had the opposite happen to me. I made the same assumption when my GPU broke (it was 2-3 months old). I thought I'll save time and spend some more money to have it repaired in a local shop instead of sending it back to the manufacturer. Turns out it was a fatal irreparable failure. A capacitor overheated and left a small crater on the surface. Because I took it to the shop, the warranty sticker was void. Had to buy a whole new GPU :(

chrismorgan 6mo ago

An anecdote on third-party keyboard replacements. I have an ASUS Zephyrus G15 (2021), GA503QM. I’ve been using it extremely heavily for five years. After about three years the left arrow key gradually stopped working. I adapted. Some keys have become a little less reliable, too, most notably E, and it’s nowhere near as crisp as it was when new. But it’s still a decent keyboard, which definitely wasn’t the case for two of my three previous laptops after even three years. Anyway, a couple of weeks ago I tried getting a replacement keyboard on Amazon, not clearly identified as inauthentic (looks identical to the original; perhaps you should guess it, as a brand name is attached, WeFly in this case; but I know some of these things do claim to be genuine parts despite that). Worst new keyboard I have ever even heard of, barring those dumb roll-up keyboards. F2 a little sticky, have to press it straight. F and J requiring firm pressing to activate. Space not activating at the ends. And maybe worst of all, 2KRO (the original is NKRO!), with horrific ghosting. When you touch-type, you frequently have three keys active at once. Typing “you” would get a bonus F11 activation around half the time. “he ” a bonus N activation. Mashing the keyboard put the laptop to sleep, which doesn’t even make sense, and badly messed up key pressed state (though that’s possibly a software problem). Some combinations activated keys which don’t even exist, like Numpad 0. With difficulty I was able to return it and get my money back. (I also got a refund on a counterfeit battery purchased at the same time—branded Wistar but unquestionably labelled as a genuine ASUS part, it was labelled in depth as 90Wh, but reported a design capacity of 74Wh and behaved so. Not sure if you can even find that information under Windows—maybe in Device Manager? So alas, for now I’m back on my original battery which is down to 51Wh capacity.) I wrote detailed one- and two-star reviews on Amazon, which were approved, and then deleted (one same day, one after a few days) for no apparent reason. I’m trying to talk to ASUS to see if I can get a first-party replacement, but they don’t sell them independently at least, and can’t tell me a price, so I have to try talking to the local service centre. Hopefully it’ll be possible and not too expensive. Definitely not going to try third-party again for the keyboard, though maybe for the battery I’ll try one clearly marked as third-party. Since reinstalling the original keyboard last week, a few days ago both Control keys stopped working, and the right tweeter (which gradually died a year or two ago) has started producing white noise when powered up. I should try reseating cables and such. It’s definitely fairly invasive surgery to replace the keyboard. The keyboard, incidentally, is fastened to the case by about 70 tiny screws (mine had 71 holes but only 69 screws). For now, I mapped Right Shift to Right Control, and have since been discovering that I used Right Shift more often than I realised!

mezod 6mo ago

been there, done that unfortunately, the karabiner workaround will work for a little while, but the rest of the keys will start failing until it's impossible to remap the keys :/

gwbas1c 6mo ago

For me, for day-to-day usage, I sit at a desk and use an external keyboard. The ergonomics of working directly on a laptop aren't very good for extended periods of time. Case in point: I don't put a lot of stress on my laptop keyboards.

mhjkl 6mo ago

What exactly broke? I had this problem recently and thought the keyboard was done for, but turns out you can also replace the switches (not keycaps) and that solved the issue in my case. You have to be very careful though since it is very easy to break the switch or key cap if you remove it incorrectly (this happened to me while I was trying to clean the keyboard)

8bitsrule 6mo ago

I'm reminded of my surprise when my Mac's 'super' (their name) floppy drive quit working because the CPU fan was pulling air through it all day. Post 90-day warranty, the replacement cost at the time was 1/5 of what the machine cost. IMO, Apple hardware was never the company's strong point. And they refused to supply individual replacement parts.

steve-atx-7600 6mo ago

Suggest https://rossmanngroup.com/ https://rossmanngroup.com/ unless you know how to do the repair yourself. A trustworthy not-apple-certified shop can do a repair cheaper by replacing fewer parts. Rossman doesn’t charge unless they’re able to fix the device - even if it takes them some time to look at it.

kuzivaai 6mo ago

Been there with M1 Air. I needed to change my keyboard but the build made it unbelievably challenging.