WSJ: problems with Apple’s ‘butterfly’ keyboards on Mac laptops remain

According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple still hasn’t fixed its buggy “butterfly” keyboard on MacBooks, MacBook Airs, and MacBook Pros.

Apple debuted its “butterfly” keyswitch design in the 12-inch MacBook before incorporating an improved second-generation version, then a third-third-get version. 

However, per the WSJ, the improved version isn’t improved enough. The third-generation butterfly keyboard was supposed to fix all the previous defects but buyers are still having problems, the article says.

While complaints over the keyboard circulated for months, they reached a “critical mass” the week of May 12, 2018, according to VentureBeat. According to the complaints, “thousands” of MacBook and MacBook Pro owners have experienced some type of failure with Apple’s butterfly keyboard, thus rendering the machine useless. 

A class action lawsuit against Apple claims the design is such that small amounts of dust or debris impede normal switch behavior, causing keystrokes to go unregistered. The suit, filed in May 2018, seeks damages, legal fees and demands Apple not only publicly disclose the keyboard design flaw, but pay to remedy or replace defective units.

An unnamed Apple spokesperson had this to say to the WSJ: “We are aware that a small number of users are having issues with their third-generation butterfly keyboard and for that we are sorry. The vast majority of Mac notebook customers are having a positive experience with the new keyboard.”