MacBook Keyboard Mechanisms: Butterfly vs. Scissor Switch

Apple's modern laptop keyboards have undergone significant design changes over the past decade. The two primary mechanisms are the butterfly switch (2015–2019) and the scissor-switch Magic Keyboard (2020–present).

The Butterfly Keyboard (2015–2019)

Apple introduced the butterfly mechanism to achieve an ultra-thin laptop profile. Instead of crossing scissor legs, it utilized a single-assembly hinge shaped like a butterfly. While it provided stable keypresses and a wider key cap area, its key travel was extremely shallow (0.55mm).

The major flaw of the butterfly design was its vulnerability to debris. A single speck of dust underneath could jam the key mechanism, resulting in double-typing, skipped letters, or permanently stuck keys.

The Scissor-Switch Magic Keyboard (2020–Present)

In late 2019 (16" MacBook Pro) and early 2020 (MacBook Air & 13" MacBook Pro), Apple abandoned the butterfly switch and returned to a refined scissor-switch mechanism, branded as the "Magic Keyboard."

This design features standard crossed plastic legs that fold down when pressed. It provides a deeper 1.0mm key travel, a softer and quieter feel, and is significantly more resilient to dust. It is also much easier to clean and replace individual keycaps on scissor keyboards compared to butterfly models.

Mechanism Identification Reference