Updated MacBook Pros Released with New CPUs, Butterfly Keyboard Repair Program Expanded
Apple quietly updated the MacBook Pro line today via press release, offering faster processors and improved speeds at up to a 40% increase in performance. Apple also told select members of the press that the updated MacBook Pros include improved keyboard materials that aim to reduce keyboard failures.
Additionally in regards to keyboards, Apple is expanding their keyboard service repair program for all butterfly design keyboard equipped MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and MacBook computers.
Updated MacBook Pro Hardware
The newly updated MacBook Pros look the same as prior models with the same enclosures, but the 13″ models received slightly faster CPU options while the 15″ MacBook Pro can now have up to eight cores on the CPU. The updated 15″ MacBook Pro CPU specs are as follows:
- 2.6 GHz 6-core i7 with 4.5 GHz Turbo Boost
- 2.3 GHz 8-core i9 with 4.8 GHz Turbo Boost
- 2.4 GHz 8-core i9 with 5 GHz Turbo Boost
The new processor options are available at a variety of price points and can be configured on Apple.com. You can read more about the new MacBook Pro updates at the Apple Newsroom press release here if interested.
New Butterfly Keyboard Iteration
Apparently the new MacBook Pro also includes another iteration of the butterfly keyboard design which aims to reduce the likelihood of keyboard failure, including double key presses and erroneous text entry, stuck keys, or failed text entry when the key press does not register at all.
According to The Verge:
“Apple has tweaked the design of its butterfly keyboard again. Apple says that it is using “new materials” in the switch mechanism that should significantly reduce the occurrence of double and missed key presses.”
The butterfly keyboards on the current generation MacBook Pro, MacBook, and MacBook Air are somewhat notorious and are considered to be unreliable and failure prone by some users (if you were wondering, my own 2018 MacBook Air experiences this keyboard problem too).
Keyboard Repair Program Expanded
Additionally, Apple has expanded the existing keyboard repair program for all Apple laptops containing the butterfly design keyboards (including even the brand new MacBook Pro models they just released today, which is interesting, but should be reassuring for those purchasing new Mac laptops).
Again, quoting The Verge:
Apple is announcing an update to its keyboard repair program today. All MacBooks with the so-called “butterfly mechanism” (that’s pretty much all modern MacBooks) will now be fully eligible for Apple’s Keyboard Service Program. The expansion means that a few newer models that weren’t previously covered will be able to get repairs. Unfortunately, Apple is not extending how long that program lasts — it’s still “4 years after the first retail sale of the unit.”
If you have an impacted Mac laptop model and your keyboard is failing to work as expected, not registering key presses, or producing double key input, you can refer to this support bulletin article here to contact Apple Support to get the keyboard serviced free of charge.
