Apple's reliability issues with its MacBook keyboards resurfaced again today, with the company acknowledging and apologizing for the ongoing problems.
In a statement made to the Wall Street Journal, published in an article lambasting the reliability of Apple's butterfly-style keyboards, an Apple spokesperson is quoted as saying "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 rep attempted to assuage fears by saying "The vast majority of Mac notebook customers are having a positive experience with the new keyboard."
This quote follows Apple's announcement of a MacBook keyboard return and service program announced last summer, which covered laptops from 2015, 2016 and 2017, but not the 2018 models with third-generation keyboards Apple mentioned in its statement. The issue at the literal root of the failing keys is their butterfly-style switches, which are notoriously regarded as being prone to failure if small particles get inside the keyboard.
Class action lawsuits have targeted Apple for knowingly releasing these failure-prone keyboards, which have been dogged by many including YouTuber Lewis Hilsenteger at Unbox Therapy. A new, more reliable keyboard tops our list of demands for the next MacBook Pros.
Apple also told the Journal that users experiencing keyboard issues should reach out to Apple's customer service.