Apple in a surprise launch ahead of WWDC19, releases new 2019 MacBook Pros with a new revised keyboard design. Apple also expanded the Keyboard Service Program to add the 2018 MacBook Pro & Air.
In a move, most did not see coming a new 2019 MacBook Pros were released today. The big news is how the MacBook Pro is getting an 8-Core CPU for the first time. The real news you want to know about probably involves the keyboard. Was it redesigned? Has the mechanism changed? We know one answer was confirmed by Apple though TheLoop.
Another change in the newest MacBook Pro computers is with the keyboard. While Apple says the vast majority of its customers are happy with the keyboard, they do take customer complaints seriously, and work to fix any issues.
To address the problem, Apple said they changed the material in the keyboard’s butterfly mechanism that should substantially reduce issues that some users have seen.Apple also told me that any problems with the butterfly keyboard on any of its MacBook Pros would be covered at no cost to the customer. The company has also taken steps to improve the repair process, shortening the time it takes to make repairs to the keyboards.
TheLoop: Jim Dalrymple
“Updated” 3rd Generation Keyboard?
John Gruber @daringfireball.net dug in further when he spoke with Apple.
First, these new MacBook Pros still have the third-generation butterfly-switch keyboard that debuted with last July’s updated MacBook Pros. But Apple has changed the mechanism under the hood, using a new material for at least one of the components in these switches. The purpose of this change is specifically to increase the reliability of the keyboards. Apple emphasized to me their usual line that the “vast majority” of users have no problem with these keyboards, but they acknowledge that some users do and they take it very seriously.
daringfireball.net: John Gruber
New Specs
The New MacBook Pro is updated in the 13″ and the 15″ only. The “ESC-book Pro” as MacAdmins call it was again left out in the cold.
Standard 13″ includes
- 2.4GHz quad-core 8th-generation Intel Core i5 processor
- Turbo Boost up to 4.1GHz
- Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655
- 8GB 2133MHz LPDDR3 memory
- 256GB SSD storage
Standard 15″ includes
- 2.6GHz 6-core 9th-generation Intel Core i7 processor
- Turbo Boost up to 4.5GHz
- Radeon Pro 555X with 4GB of GDDR5 memory
- 16GB 2400MHz DDR4 memory
- 256GB SSD storage
Upgraded 15″ Includes
- 2.3GHz 8-core 9th-generation Intel Core i9 processor
- Turbo Boost up to 4.8GHz
- Radeon Pro 560X with 4GB of GDDR5 memory
- 16GB 2400MHz DDR4 memory
- 512GB SSD storage
Expanded Keyboard Service Program
Apple also updated the Keyboard Service Program to include 2018 MacBook Pros with 3rd Generation Keyboards.
https://www.apple.com/support/keyboard-service-program-for-mac-notebooks/
2017 MacBook Pros with 3rd Gen Keyboard can get new revised replacement.
From the Verge
According to The Verge, some existing MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models that experience keyboard failures will have their keyboards replaced with the new 2019 keyboard that Apple has developed. Unfortunately, only MacBooks with the third-generation butterfly keyboard can get the updated 2019 keyboard, which includes the 2018 MacBook Pro and the 2018 MacBook Air.
Testing the new 2019 MacBook Pro.
I will try to get my hands on one of these new 2019 MacBook Pros as soon as possible. Looks like the earliest they can be had is Thursday May 23rd.
Forked version of macOS Mojave 10.14 ?
You can almost bet 100% that the new 2019 MacBook Pros will have a forked build of 10.14 on it. Checking Apple’s catalog nothing has shown up yet. I will update when I have more info.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to Contact Me.
