From afternoon news on 22^nd, Feb, a part of New MacBook Pro users said that their Books run into keyboard problems to varying degrees, including non-response keys, or abnormal knocking sound etc.

Apple introduces redesigned 2nd generation flat keyboard of butterfly structure to its new arrival MacBook Pro product line, which provides max key travel with guaranteed stability. The previous generation butterfly structure is adopted on ultra-thin MacBook, while the new generation is on latest MacBook Pro.

For a totally different keyboard structure on 2016 MacBook Pro than before, there are both positive and negative user views on it; lately, some views indicate that the newest butterfly structure seems less durable than the old structure.

A large amount of 2016 MacBook Pro users are encountering keyboard problems and the number is growing. Problems from users cover non-response key, abnormal knocking sound, and different key press experience etc. The most obvious problem users encountered is abnormal press sound of some keys, and some say this becomes particularly significant when book temperature increases, while some say they have this problem even when the book temperature is normal. We have got many views like this on foreign BBS such as MacRumors and Apple Support site.

Reason for the keyboard problems is not yet identified, and users have this kind of problems can get their Book exchanged or repaired through official Apple retail stores or authorized dealers. However, some users say this problem is completely resolved after repeated exchange.

Big Replacement of CPU? Code Name for Next Generation of MacBook Pro Appears

Although the latest Touch Bar version MacBook Pro has just been released four months earlier, but in the latest macOS Sierra 10.12.4 beta, there already exists code name for the next generation of the MacBook Pro. Pike’s Universum found that macOS Sierra 10.12.4 beta contains three mainboard identifiers not compatible with present MacBook Pro, but the CPU power management data are the same with 13 inch and 15 inch MacBook Pro released at the end of 2016. In addition, these plist files did not appear in previous macOS Sierra system.

Next generation MacBook Pro might carry faster Intel Kaby Lake processor, namely the next generation of Skylake processor that 2016 MacBook Pro carries. A few weeks ago, rumors said that MacBook Pro to be released in 2017 would only slightly improve configuration. Mainboard code names for the next generation of MacBook Pro appeared in the macOS Sierra 10.12.4 beta respectively are:

Mac-B4831CEBD52A0C4C could be two types of brand new 13 inch MacBook Pro (no Touch Bar), carrying Kaby Lake, with Turbo Boost to 3400 MHz and 4000 MHz.

Mac-CAD6701F7CEA0921 could be two types of brand new 13 inch MacBook Pro (Touch Bar), carrying Kaby Lake, with Turbo Boost to 3500/3700 MHz and 4000 MHz.

Mac-551B86E5744E2388 could be two types of brand new 15 inch MacBook Pro (Touch Bar), carrying Kaby Lake, with Turbo Boost to 3800/3900 MHz and 4100 MHz

Based on this information, and cross checked with present Kaby Lake processor model, we can determine that the processor that next generation MacBook Pro carries might escalate into:

13 inch MacBook Pro without Touch Bar: Intel Core i5-6360U 2.0 GHz (max Turbo Boost to 3.1 GHz) integrated Intel? Iris? Graphics, 540 (15 W)

Will be replaced by the following types:

Apple released the first developer beta of macOS Sierra 10.12.4 on January 24th. It’s impossible for Apple to launch a new MacBook Pro until official 10.12.4 is released, which means that we may have to wait until the end of February or early March.