MacBook Pro 2018: How the new keyboard works

Last week Apple released the MacBook Pros for 2018 introduced. With them, a new and quieter butterfly keyboard was introduced. But how does it work? And what's up with the silicone layer that iFixit discovered?

The silicone layer solves all problems

In fact, according to the first testers, the new keyboard should be quieter than its predecessor. iFixit has now found out that this is due to the silicone layer between the butterfly mechanism and the button.

But this small skin is responsible for something else. In the past, Apple has often had to deal with faulty keyboards in MacBooks that have been introduced since 2016. The problem is caused by dust that builds up under the keys. Apple has so far offered free repairs for this.

From now on this is no longer necessary. According to iFixit, this silicone skin also protects against the ingress of dust. Typing quieter is actually just a positive side effect.

Patent secured at the beginning of the year

In March 2018 it became known that Apple had secured a patent for a protection for the keyboard. But you never found out how and where the company could ever do it. It is also interesting that Apple did not say a word about this silicone skin when introducing the new MacBooks.