Does Apple Make Mechanical Keyboards? Things You Should Know!

This post aims to answer the question “Does Apple Make Mechanical Keyboards?”. And we will explain about what keyboard products have been made by Apple.

Apple as a technology brand is known for their extraordinary products such as iPhone, MacBook, iPad, iMac, and various other great gadget products that are in a very solid Apple ecosystem. But does Apple make a mechanical keyboard product?

Apple does make keyboard products that can support their devices such as the iMac, iPad, MacBook, and iPhone. But Apple does not produce mechanical keyboard products. Apple makes keyboard products that have cool designs such as the Apple Magic Keyboard that are dedicated more to mobility and to support the typing needs of Apple device users. The keyboard product made by Apple is a type of butterfly keyboard and Scissor Switches keyboard which has a different mechanism from the mechanical keyboard.

Apple Butterfly Keyboards

The keyboard on one of Apple’s line of computers can provide a quieter typing experience thanks to the extra layer under each key. Citing info from the well-known gadget dismantling site iFixIt, this third generation Butterfly Keyboard uses a rubber membrane.

The membrane or rubber membrane that is used under each key aims to protect the keyboard components from dust buildup that has accumulated over time.

Butterfly Keyboard technology was introduced in early 2015. The Butterfly Keyboard refers to the keyboard’s key mechanism with a “spring” system that resembles a butterfly, instead of using the scissor-shaped keyboard mechanism used on most chiclet laptop keyboards.

Butterfly Keyboard has a travel distance or depth of press of only 2mm. The main difference in terms of typing experience between the chiclet keyboard and the Butterfly Keyboard is the precision. Even if the user presses the keys on the edge, the Butterfly keys will sink in a balanced manner, not swaying to one side like on other laptop keyboards that use chiclet keys.

Apple Scissor Switch Keyboard

Scissor Switch Keyboard to replace Apple Butterfly Keyboard

This scissor-switch keyboard is a new technology that Apple has used as a step to replace the butterfly keyboard which is considered a failure for some Macbook users. This is done by Apple as a solution to the complaints of Macbook users. With this technology, the keyboard on this Macbook will be more stable when pressed and will ensure the characters pressed on the keyboard will appear on the monitor.

Previously, the butterfly keyboard on the first generation often complained of being stuck because of dust. The keys are also like pressing repeatedly and making the users annoyed. Even though Apple made improvements to the 2017 MacBook Pro with a second-generation butterfly keyboard, complaints still persist.

Despite its problems, the butterfly keyboard has the advantage of being very thin. Even so, the new design made by Taiwan-based manufacturer Sunrex comes with a thicker look, he believes most users won’t be able to tell the difference.

According to MacRumors analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, 13-inch MacBook Pro will be replaced by a 14-inch model using a scissor-switch keyboard. However, it is also possible that the scissor-switch keyboard will be present on the 13-inch model first, then it will be significantly improved in the next series.

Answers to previous Butterfly Keyboard problems

Apple has received criticism from the public using the 2015 to 2017 editions of MacBook Pro, which uses the early and second generation Butterfly Keyboard. This criticism is due in no small part to the damage encountered on many MacBook Pros due to accumulated dust and a damaged key mechanism, rendering the keys useless and, over time, the MacBook Pro’s fully usable.

In fact, the petition site change.org recorded a petition signed by as many as 32 thousand people, related to the issue of the problematic Butterfly Keyboard.

History and Development Apple Magic Keyboard

For those of you who often follow Apple and its various gadgets, you must be familiar with one of their advanced accessories, the Apple Magic Keyboard.

Apple’s wireless keyboard that has an elegant design, and compatibility with various devices and gadgets made by Apple.

Apple Magic Keyboard

This Magic Keyboard can be used for various Apple Devices and Gadgets that already support connectivity via Bluetooth.

Starting from the iPhone, iPad, Macbook and iMac can already use this Apple Magic Keyboard.

Well, do you think you already know about the history and development from time to time.

If not, here’s the discussion.

History of Apple Magic Keyboard Wireless

Apple Magic Keyboard is an advanced keyboard made by Apple that already uses Wireless technology and was first released in
October 2015.

This moment coincides with the release of Magic Mouse 2 and Magic Trackpad 2.

But this isn’t the first time Apple has introduced wireless keyboard technology.

Because, basically Magic Keyboard is a development of the previous model, namely the Apple Wireless Keyboard which has been released since 2003.

Since then this keyboard model has continued to develop until finally in 2020 itself, a version made especially for the iPad Pro was introduced.

So, how about the complete development of this Apple gadget?

Development and Types of Apple Magic Keyboard

The following is a discussion about the development of Magic Keyboard over time and its types, from the old to the newest versions.

1. Apple Wireless Keyboard

The first is the earliest version before using the name Magic Keyboard, namely the Apple Wireless Keyboard.

For the first time they introduced Wireless technology based on Bluetooth connection on the Keyboard.

First released on September 16, 2003, the design of the Wireless Keyboard made by Apple is still typical of a computer keyboard in general, with Qwerty keys, numeric keys and several other function keys.

However, since the release of the second generation, the design of this Wireless keyboard is thinner and more elegant, and the layout of the keyboard used is more towards a laptop keyboard than a computer.

There are no numeric keys and other keys like on a general keyboard.

2. Apple Magic Keyboard

October 13, 2015, along with the release of Magic Mouse 2 and Magic Trackpad 2, Apple introduced a new version of their wireless keyboard called Magic Keyboard.

Unlike the Apple Wireless Keyboard, which still has a little touch of “Computer Keyboard” in its style and layout, especially in terms of the placement and size of the arrow keys (Direction Keys / Up Down), there is little space that separates one key from another.

For this Magic Keyboard, it really has the same look and layout as the Keyboard on a Laptop, especially a Macbook.

On the arrow keys there is also no space like before, it really has a design that makes this keyboard look like a separate MacBook keyboard.

3. Apple Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad

After the success of the Magic Keyboard, which was first released in 2015, finally on June 5, 2017, Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad was released which has a design like a conventional computer keyboard.

Of course, this is not just a design or function upgrade, but is deliberately presented as another version of the Magic Keyboard that has more complete keys.

Because the release of the Apple Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad is also a step from Apple to replace the existence of the Wired Apple Keyboard which is no longer released.

Where in the past this version of the Wired Keyboard was the most common Apple-made keyboard found and used in almost all Apple computer devices, from MacPro, Mac Mini to iMac.

4. Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro

In the midst of a pandemic that attacks almost all over the world and causes many companies to suffer financially and sales.

Apple actually announced their latest product, a new development of the Magic Keyboard.

Namely Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro, different from previous versions.

This is a Magic Keyboard that was made specifically for the iPad Pro.

Not just an ordinary keyboard, this latest version is packaged in a Leather Case which not only makes your iPad Pro look more elegant, but also protects your favorite iPad from scratches.

In addition, the Leather Case that is used can also be conditioned as a stand, so you can position the iPad to stand without the help of an additional stand when you want to type using the Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro.

And also what distinguishes it from other versions of the Magic Keyboard is the presence of a Trackpad that is already included in it.

So you don’t need to use Magic Trackpad or Magic Mouse if you want to display and use the cursor feature.

By using the Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro, you can quickly change the function of the iPad to be like a laptop.

Does the macbook pro have a mechanical keyboard?

No, the Macbook Pro does not have or does not use a mechanical keyboard. As I explained earlier that all keyboard products made by Apple such as the Apple Magic Keyboard and the Keyboard used in their Macbook products use the Scissor Switch Keyboard.

So, Does Apple Make Mechanical Keyboards?

Apple does not manufacture mechanical keyboards but they develop their own type of keyboard product. Starting from the Butterfly Keyboard which has now been replaced with the Apple Scissor Switch Keyboard because of the type of Butterfly keyboard that has received so many complaints from users. Currently, Apple only produces the Scissor Switch Keyboard which is used in all Apple Magic Keyboard products.