Big news to me is that replacements of older butterfly keyboards (program extended again) will receive new 4th-generation keyboards. Previously if you brought a 1st-gen in, you'd get a new 1st-gen keyboard.
The articles make clear that only 3rd-gen replacements (the ones with last year's new membrane) will get today’s new keyboards. 1st and 2nd-gen customers are still stuck (no pun intended) with their original problem designs.
I just had the keyboard (really the entire top assembly) replaced on my 13" 2016 mbp, and I'm pretty sure it got the 4th gen keyboard. The keys feel and sound significantly different, and the Apple employee who did the replacement (or I think that's who I talked to) said that they were putting redesigned keyboards in for the replacements. I was pretty unhappy that I had to get this done and I'm still not in love with the machine, but I will say that with less than 24-hour turnaround and the new key feel, the replacement process left me with a good impression.
I just had the top case replaced in my 2016 MacBook Pro 15, and they used a top case from a 2017. The tech confirmed that they use the 2017 top case for 2016 models, but the 2018 top case isn’t compatible.
The 2017 does have changes vs the 2016 to make it quieter and less clicky.
That's really interesting. Where are you located? I had my 2017 done a few months ago (back when they were shipping them all out), and I definitely got the old mechanism. Would love to get the new version!
This was at the Apple store in Walnut Creek. I think they’re shooting for 24-ish hour turnaround at all of their stores now. I was putting the repair off until I was sure that I could get it done quickly. They told me that they’re not yet quoting 24 hours, but they do do them in store now, and they typically quote 3 days or so.
My 2018 13" mbp has been in repair (for the keyboard ofcourse) for weeks now and they told me it won't be finished until somewhere in june, so this might explain why it's taking so long, perhaps it was on hold for a 4th gen keyboard replacement. I sure hope this 4th gen keyboard fixes the problems.
