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Apple's New MacBooks Have a Keyboard Change You Might Have Missed

The new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models feature a keyboard change that was easy to miss during Apple's announcements last week.

2026 MacBook Pro Keyboard GlyphsThe new U.S. English keyboard layout

On the U.S. English version of the new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro keyboards, the tab, caps lock, shift, return, and delete keycaps now have glyphs on them. On previous-generation models, these keys are labeled with text instead.

This change was spotted by "Mr. Macintosh" last week, and it extends to the MacBook Neo.

2024 MacBook Keyboard Text LabelsThe previous U.S. English keyboard layout

Given the U.S. English keyboard layout is the default option for MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Neo models sold in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore, this change effectively extends to those countries and a few others.

If you live in Europe, this will look familiar to you. Apple has long showed glyphs on the tab, caps lock, shift, return, and delete keycaps on its keyboard layouts for British English and other European languages, so this is nothing new there.

The new MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Neo models launch this Wednesday.

Related Roundups: MacBook Neo, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air

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Top Rated Comments

naoul Avatar
16 weeks ago
I applaude, next step for the US consumers: use Meter, Kilogram and Celsius :)
Score: 55 Votes (Like | Disagree)
16 weeks ago
I like the old keyboard better.
Score: 30 Votes (Like | Disagree)
16 weeks ago
THIS IS TERRIBLE! UNUSABLE.

Just kidding, just trying to Macrumors correctly.
Score: 30 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Apple MessagePad Avatar
16 weeks ago
This changes everything. Just cancelled my pre-order.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Aka757 Avatar
16 weeks ago
Well, I was on the fence about upgrading but now I’ll pull the trigger. Fully loaded 16” M5 Max to be sure.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
16 weeks ago
You’d think for the thousands of dollars these cost, they could fit a few measly little letters on these keys 🙄

I actually like the words, even though I rarely look at the keyboard. It has a more balanced aesthetic. Very disappointed.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)