Apple is reportedly planning to abandon the problematic butterfly keyboard on its MacBooks according to a recent report from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a report released by 9to5Mac, it states that the Cupertino-based tech titan will introduce a new scissor switch design that will utilize glass fiber to have a reinforced set of keys. The report further reveals that the analyst predicts that the new hardware to have this new keyboard will be the upcoming MacBook Air model scheduled to be released in 2019.
After the MacBook Air this year, the MacBook Pro will also have the same keyboard, which will be available in 2020. Ming-Chi Kuo further predicts that the problematic butterfly keyboard will disappear in the long run. It can be recalled that the Cupertino-based tech titan has been tweaking the design of its keyboards with every MacBook model.
But, Apple has really struggled to solve the keyboard problem of its MacBook devices. There were countless complaints of the keys acting erratically or all the keys completely not functioning as dust, and foreign particles found their way into the keyboard. Apple has already issued an apology for the performance of its erratic keyboard earlier this year and admitted that a small number of users were struggling with their keyboards.
The company also launched extended repairs for earlier versions of the butterfly keyboards. The analyst also cites two various reasons why the Cupertino-based tech giant is changing its keyboard design. In addition to the fact that the glass fiber reinforcement makes it more durable, he says that the latest scissors switch design will give users an enhanced typing experience because of longer key travel.
Ming-Chi Kuo also notes that the old version of the keyboard is more expensive to manufacture because of its low yields. The new scissors switch design will be much cheaper compared to the butterfly design but not as affordable as the keyboard used in average laptops. Despite its many issues, the butterfly keyboard has several advantages like being extra thin, which is crucial when space is luxury for modern laptops.
The analyst also reveals that the new keyboard design will be handled by Sunrex, a Taiwan-based manufacturer. He also admits that it could be much thicker compared to the old design. But, he also explains that most of the users could not tell the difference when it comes to the thickness of the two designs.
