What does it cost to replace a 2012 MBP Retina keyboard & how long?

[Robert Peirce]

The q-p row on my MBP is getting flakey. Unless I press really hard, he
e, r, t & i keys, in paticular, may not work. I took a key out to se if
it could be cleaned, but the sensor sems to be sealed.

I am hesiant to go to the Apple store without som background information.

[Jolly Roger]

Post by Robert Peirce
The q-p row on my MBP is getting flakey. Unless I press really hard, he
e, r, t & i keys, in paticular, may not work. I took a key out to se if
it could be cleaned, but the sensor sems to be sealed.
I am hesiant to go to the Apple store without som background information.

You probably need to replace the entire upper case, which is rather
expensive and will incur labor charges as well since it's pretty
involved:

<https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Pro+15-Inch+Retina+Display+Mid+2012+Upper+Case+Assembly+Replacement/9736>

You might consider the economics of replacing the computer instead.

[David Empson]

Post by Jolly Roger

Post by Robert Peirce
The q-p row on my MBP is getting flakey. Unless I press really hard, he
e, r, t & i keys, in paticular, may not work. I took a key out to se if
it could be cleaned, but the sensor sems to be sealed.
I am hesiant to go to the Apple store without som background information.

You probably need to replace the entire upper case, which is rather
expensive and will incur labor charges as well since it's pretty
<https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Pro+15-Inch+Retina+Display+Mid+2012+Upper+Case+Assembly+Replacement/9736>
You might consider the economics of replacing the computer instead.

Also keep in mind the timing: the 15-inch Mid 2012 rMBP was discontinued
more than five years ago (February 2013) so is on the verge of being
classified as "vintage" by Apple. It is not on the list yet.

Once it makes it to "vintage" status, Apple and authorised service
providers will no longer offer hardware servicing, unless you bought it
and are getting it serviced in California (or Turkey). See this Apple
support document for more details.

https://support.apple.com/HT201624

[Ant]

David Empson <***@actrix.gen.nz> wrote:
...

Post by David Empson
https://support.apple.com/HT201624

Wow, iPhone 4S is not obsolete to Apple? I am surprised by that since
Apple stopped updating its iOS for years.

[David Empson]

Post by Ant
...

Post by David Empson
https://support.apple.com/HT201624

Wow, iPhone 4S is not obsolete to Apple? I am surprised by that since
Apple stopped updating its iOS for years.

The question is not when software updates ceased. Software support is
usually based on timing from when a model (or its processor generation)
was introduced. Hardware support is based on a time limit after Apple
discontinued the product.

For iOS devices, if you bought a device late in its life cycle (shortly
before it was discontinued) it has always been the case that you stopped
getting software updates well before hardware servicing ceased.

The margin has got somewhat better in recent years, as early iPhones
only had software updates for three years after introduction, while the
iPhone 4S and 5 have had software updates for five years after
introduction.


Products are classified "vintage" five years after being discontinued.
As noted in that document, vintage products are not able to get hardware
servicing or support in most of the world, with exceptions for items
originally sold and being serviced in California or Turkey.

Products are classified "obsolete" seven years after being discontinued.
Obsolete products are not able to get hardware servicing or support
anywhere in the world.

The five/seven year cutoff is sometimes not exact - Apple may take a
little while to update the official list, so you may get a month or two
grace period.

The last variant of iPhone 4S was discontinued in September 2014 (8 GB)
so it won't be going "vintage" until September 2019.

Earlier variants of the iPhone 4S were were discontinued in September
2012 (32 GB or 64 GB) and September 2013 (16 GB) so in theory the first
two should already be "vintage" but since the only difference was the
storage capacity, Apple is probably lumping the 16, 32 and 64 GB
capacities together and all will be declared "vintage" in September
2018, with the 8 GB model getting an extra year. That was the pattern
they used with the iPhone 3GS and appears to be the pattern being used
with the iPhone 4.

iPhone 3GS (original release): discontinued June 2010, obsolete
iPhone 3GS (8 GB): discontinued September 2012, vintage
iPhone 4 (original release): discontinued October 2011, vintage
iPhone 4 (8 GB): discontinued September 2013, not yet vintage

[Robert Peirce]

Post by David Empson

Post by Jolly Roger
You might consider the economics of replacing the computer instead.

Also keep in mind the timing: the 15-inch Mid 2012 rMBP was discontinued
more than five years ago (February 2013) so is on the verge of being
classified as "vintage" by Apple. It is not on the list yet.

I did not know that, which makes JR's advice all the more relevant!

I can muddle on for now, but I will have to keep watch for the next release.

[Davoud]

Post by Robert Peirce
The q-p row on my MBP is getting flakey. Unless I press really hard, he
e, r, t & i keys, in paticular, may not work. I took a key out to se if
it could be cleaned, but the sensor sems to be sealed.

When I hard keyboard trouble (much older MBP) it was caused by a
swollen battery.

Post by Robert Peirce
I am hesiant to go to the Apple store without som background information.

It's still free to go and ask! If you live in the Mid-Atlantic, try
MacMedics. Superb authorized service. Or give them a call for mail-in.