Is Apple using the updated 2018 MacBook Pro keyboard when replacing older keyboards under the new keyboard service program?

Apple revealed an updated 2018 MacBook Pro with an updated butterfly keyboard. I recently had my 2016 MacBook Pro keyboard replaced under the keyboard service program that was recently opened. Is Apple replacing older keyboards with the new keyboards under the keyboard service program?


Nope, sadly not.

From here:

Apple has been servicing affected keyboards free of charge, with the process involving the replacement of one or more keys, or the whole keyboard. For the MacBook Pro, the replacements are second-generation keyboards -- often the 2017 variant with slightly different markings on the Control and Option keys.

When asked if Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers will be permitted to replace second-generation keyboards on 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pro models with the new third-generation keyboards, if necessary, Apple said, no, the third-generation keyboards are exclusive to the 2018 MacBook Pro.


This tangentially answers the question but not directly. @JBis's answer is a better answer to the question, my answer provides supporting info.


Teardowns on the new 2018 MBPs have started. iFixIt has posted their analysis and an image of the keyboard.

Apple is calling this "the new 3rd-generation keyboard". It appears to be the same as the 2nd-gen keyboard with the addition of a thin, rubberized membrane under the keycap.

enter image description here

In an interview with The Verge, Apple also stated "this new third-generation keyboard wasn’t designed to solve those [dust] issues.”

iFixIt will continue its teardown of the new MBPs and will post more info in the coming weeks. This membrane will help make the keyboard quieter, at least, and hopefully address some of the failure issues.