Apple has been attempting to replace its widely panned butterfly-mechanism keyboard, which was originally introduced in 2018, in all of its laptops. It is the final goal achieved with the new Apple Scissor Keyboard for the 13-inch MacBook Pro. The scissor-mechanism keyboard is standard on the new 13-inch MacBook Pro.

History

Since 2012, Apple has created two types of keyboards for its MacBook Pro and MacBook Air computers: one with butterfly switches and one with scissor switches. Many people are aware of the issues with butterfly keyboards, which resulted in a massive recall effort and many dissatisfied consumers.

You may still be perplexed as to what a butterfly keyboard is, how it differs from a scissor-switch keyboard, and why Apple chose to abandon the butterfly key mechanism in favor of the attempted scissor-switch mechanism.

Impression of Scissor Switch Keyboard

The keys on a scissor-switch keyboard are linked to the keyboard by two plastic parts that interlock in an X form like a pair of scissors, thus the name. Butterfly keyboards, on the other hand, employ a system with components that, rather than overlapping, operate together like the wings of a butterfly.

When you press down, the two parts come together like scissors, snapping to the keyboard and the key. Scissor switch keys do not have as much travel as other key types, but they do have more travel than a butterfly keyboard since the scissor mechanism compresses more area.

Apple debuted a new “Magic Keyboard” with the 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro, 2020 13-inch MacBook Pro, and 2020 13-inch MacBook Air, which utilizes a scissor switch mechanism rather than a butterfly mechanism.

Unlike the 16-inch MacBook Pro and the most recent MacBook Air, the 13-inch MacBook Pro has no substantial design differences from its predecessors (apart from the keyboard layout).

The new Magic Keyboard, according to Apple, provides the “greatest typing experience ever on a Mac notebook,” with 1mm of key travel and a solid key feel. The keys were built using an Apple-crafted rubber dome that stores more potential energy for a more responsive keypress, according to Apple.

According to a recent supply chain rumor, Apple will employ its innovative scissor switch keyboard in the iPad Pro Smart Keyboard in addition to the MacBook Pro.

Conclusion

So far, evaluations for the new keyboard have been positive, with the keys being typically quieter than their butterfly counterpart in the 15-inch MacBook Pro. There is also more actuation, with the new model providing a millimeter of travel as opposed to the 0.6mm to 0.7mm on the 2016-style keyboard.

A first disassembly of the keys revealed a lot of excess space inside the switch mechanism. Because of the increased space, it is less likely to be impacted by debris and has more strength in the clips that hold the thicker keycaps in place.