MacBook Keyboard Replacement: Standard vs Premium. Which One Should You Choose?
Two keyboards fit your MacBook. One gets you typing again. The other is meant to last.
When a MacBook keyboard needs replacing, our listings show two grades at different prices: Standard and Premium. Both fit, and both type. This page explains how we describe each grade, what each costs, when Apple’s own free repair no longer applies, and what we have not yet tested.
The short answer
- Keeping the MacBook for years? Choose Premium. On most models it is either the original keyboard or about 99% of original quality, as we describe it.
- Selling soon, or on a tight budget? Standard is the regular aftermarket keyboard, at the lowest cost.
- A1706, A1707, A1989 or A1990? On these Touch Bar MacBook Pros, our Premium is an original keyboard.
- Apple’s free keyboard repair has ended. The butterfly keyboard service program closed in November 2024, so a paid repair is now the usual route.
- The honest gap: we have not yet run a typing or ageing test of Standard against Premium, so we describe the grades and do not claim measured results.
How we put this page together
Grades, prices, stock and warranty come from our own keyboard listings, read on 30 October 2026. The status of Apple’s program comes from Apple’s support page and press coverage. Owner experience comes from a public Apple Community thread, paraphrased.
What we have not done yet: photographed the two grades side by side on our own bench. The pictures below are our listing photos. We also found no first-hand forum thread about aftermarket MacBook keyboards, so there is one owner case below, about original replacements, not three.
Standard or Premium: what you are choosing
- The regular aftermarket keyboard that most repair shops sell
- Lowest cost for the same model
- At Sparesonly it passes our own quality check, and we source from the best aftermarket suppliers we can find
- Best when you plan to sell the Mac, or want the cheapest fix that works
- Compared with the original keyboard: most models are original or about 99% of original quality
- On A1706, A1707, A1989 and A1990, Premium is original only
- The grade we suggest when you want to replace the keyboard once and keep using the Mac
- Costs more than Standard, by the amounts in the table below
Side by side: our own listing photos
These two photos come from our A2338 MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1) keyboard listing. From the front, the two grades can look alike. What a photo cannot show is the quality of the keyboard underneath, which is what the grade describes.
The models where Premium is original only
On four Touch Bar MacBook Pro models, our Premium keyboard is an original keyboard: A1706 (13-inch) and A1707 (15-inch) from 2016 to 2017, and A1989 (13-inch) and A1990 (15-inch) from 2018 to 2019. If you own one of these and plan to keep it, Premium is the straightforward choice.
Does Apple still repair it for free?
For the butterfly-keyboard Macs, Apple ran a free Keyboard Service Program, which covered repairs for up to four years after the first retail sale. MacRumors reported on 19 November 2024 that the program had ended, and Apple’s support page now says the same. The covered models included the 2016 to 2019 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro and the 2018 and 2019 MacBook Air. After the end date, a free repair is no longer guaranteed, though exceptions may be made. Ask Apple or an authorised provider before you order a part, and check which fee they quote.
Ask yourself one question: “Will this MacBook still be on my desk in two years?” If yes, replace the keyboard once with Premium and stop thinking about it. If the Mac is going to be sold or handed on soon, a Standard keyboard from a supplier that checks its parts is enough to make it a working, sellable Mac.
Which one fits your situation
Before you buy: US layout or UK layout?
Each listing offers US and UK layouts, and the difference is easy to spot. On a US keyboard the Return key is a plain rectangle. On a UK keyboard the Enter key is tall and 7-shaped, with an extra key beside the left Shift. Order the layout that matches the keys printed on your MacBook now. UK costs more on several models, and UK stock is often lower, so check the page.
A simple buying checklist
- Find your model number. It is printed on the bottom case, for example A1706 or A2338.
- Match the layout. Check the Enter key, as above.
- Check the compatibility list. Each listing names the MacBook models and years it fits.
- Pick the grade using the table and the question above.
- Have it fitted carefully. A MacBook keyboard is delicate to replace, so we suggest an experienced technician. Our keyboard listings show a 90-day replacement warranty from Sparesonly.in, so check the listing for the terms.
When a keyboard fails after a liquid spill, the liquid may have reached other parts too. Have the MacBook checked before you order a keyboard, so you are not replacing only part of the problem.
Mistakes people make
- Ordering by screen size. Match the model number and layout to your Mac.
- Ordering the wrong layout. Check the Enter key before you buy.
- Replacing the keyboard after a spill without a check. The damage may be wider.
- Expecting a replacement to fix a design fault. On butterfly Macs, one owner was told a replacement top case is the same part, with no promise of how long it lasts.
- Skipping the invoice. Keep it for the warranty.
- Pressing keys hard to test. Test every key gently on a flat surface before closing the Mac.
What owners say
This is paraphrased from a public Apple Community thread. Read it for the exact words.
The owner of a second-hand 2018 MacBook Pro had keys that detached, stuck and repeated. They asked whether to accept a keyboard replacement from the vendor, or whether the new one would fail the same way. The one reply said the replacement is a full top case, including keyboard, trackpad and battery, that butterfly keyboards had known problems, and that the 90-day guarantee covers parts and labour only. The replier added that they avoid 2016 to 2018 models and had no problems with a 2019 16-inch Pro, which has the later scissor keyboard.
What to take from it: on a butterfly-keyboard Mac, a replacement can be a short-term fix. Weigh the cost against how long you will keep it. Read the thread.
Prices for popular models
Standard and Premium prices from our listings on 30 October 2026, for the US layout. The same idea applies to batteries, which we explain in our Standard vs Premium battery guide.
| MacBook | Standard | Premium | Premium costs | Keyboard page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MacBook Pro 13" A1706 and 15" A1707 (2016–2017) | ₹3,990 | ₹4,990 | ₹1,000 more | A1706, A1707 keyboard |
| MacBook Pro 13" A1989 and 15" A1990 (2018–2019) | ₹3,990 | ₹5,990 | ₹2,000 more | A1989, A1990 keyboard |
| MacBook Air 13" A2179 (2020) | ₹2,990 | ₹4,490 | ₹1,500 more | A2179 keyboard |
| MacBook Pro 13" A2289 (2020) | ₹3,490 | ₹5,490 | ₹2,000 more | A2289 keyboard |
| MacBook Pro 13" A2338 M1 (2020) | ₹4,490 | ₹6,490 | ₹2,000 more | A2338 keyboard |
| MacBook Air M2 A2681 (2022) | ₹3,450 | ₹4,650 | ₹1,200 more | A2681 keyboard |
| MacBook Pro 14" and 16" A2442, A2485, A2779, A2780 | ₹3,450 | ₹4,690 | ₹1,240 more | A2442, A2779 keyboard |
Stock and prices change daily. Each keyboard page shows today’s stock and price for each grade and layout. The A1708 and A2251 keyboards are not in this table because we did not re-check their prices today.
Questions we get asked
Is a Standard keyboard bad?
No. It is the regular aftermarket keyboard, and it works. It is simply a lower grade than Premium, so it suits a Mac you will sell soon or a budget fix. Keyboards of this grade are sold everywhere, so the supplier and the checking behind them are what make the difference.
What does Premium mean?
We compare Premium with the original keyboard. On most models, Premium is either the original or about 99% of original quality. On A1706, A1707, A1989 and A1990, Premium is original only.
Which keyboard should I buy for an A1706, A1707, A1989 or A1990?
Premium, if you plan to keep using the MacBook. On these models it is an original keyboard.
Is Apple’s free keyboard repair still available?
No. Apple’s Keyboard Service Program for butterfly-keyboard Macs has ended, as Apple’s support page and MacRumors in November 2024 report. Ask Apple or an authorised provider what they would charge today.
Why not buy the cheapest one from a local shop?
You can, and the price may be lower. The risk is in the supplier, because a Standard keyboard is only as good as where it was bought and how it was checked. That is why we run our own quality check and buy from the best aftermarket suppliers we can find.
How do I know which layout I have?
Look at your Enter key. A plain rectangular Return key is the US layout, and a tall, 7-shaped Enter key is the UK layout. Order the one that matches your MacBook.
Can I replace the keyboard myself?
It is delicate work, so we suggest an experienced technician. Message Aparna about fitting options in your city.
Not sure which keyboard your Mac needs?
Send Aparna your MacBook’s model number (on the bottom case) and a photo of your keyboard. We will confirm the right keyboard and layout, and tell you honestly whether Standard or Premium suits how long you will keep the Mac.
Prices and specifications are from our product listings, checked on 30 October 2026, and can change. Photos are from the listings. We have not run our own typing or ageing test on the two grades.
- Keyboard Service Program for Mac notebooks (Apple Support)
- Apple ends butterfly keyboard repair program for MacBooks (MacRumors, November 2024)
- 2018 Macbook Pro - Faulty butterfly keyboard (Apple Community, February 2024)
- A2338 keyboard listing (Sparesonly.in)
- A1989, A1990 keyboard listing (Sparesonly.in)
