How hard can I press on keys without damaging the components underneath?

Man, you just asked a simple question. I don't get how people get so highly rated in here when they cant even answer a simple question. Good question though. Too bad it couldnt be answered. You stumped them.

The person who originally posted the question was just wondering if anyone could tell him how well the keys are made and if he should worry about breaking them. This community is filled with keyboard cowboys, hiding behind their keyboards, thinking they are better than everyone with fingers covered in cheeto cheese too fat to press a single key on the keyboard.

There's no way that can be answered without doing destructive testing, or highly technical non intrusive testing using strain gauges, crush pellets or some such other devices.

Normal everyday non angry pressing will most likely allow your KB to outlast the electronics inside.

There are no force limiters under the keys other than the yield strength of the material itself.

Why even participate in the conversation if it was such a silly question?

You press the keys hard enough to capture the press. How hard do you press a doorbell? How hard do you press an on/off switch? How hard do you turn a lock key? How hard do you press your turn signal switch? How hard do you press a Velcro strap?

Just press hard enough to cause the key to register the press.

There are millions of Apple keyboard users. If pressing too hard was an issue these communities would be lit up with complaints. Sorry you took my response as condescending. it was not intended as such. I was just pointing out that you press things likely hundreds of times every day. Do you also question the users of these other devices regarding how hard to press them?

goingape wrote:

Man, you just asked a simple question. I don't get how people get so highly rated in here when they cant even answer a simple question. Good question though. Too bad it couldnt be answered. You stumped them.

LOL,

Here is a question for you goingape. How hard can I press the on/off button on my TV? How hard can I press the keys on my TV remote?

goingape wrote:

The person who originally posted the question was just wondering if anyone could tell him how well the keys are made and if he should worry about breaking them. This community is filled with keyboard cowboys, hiding behind their keyboards, thinking they are better than everyone with fingers covered in cheeto cheese too fat to press a single key on the keyboard.

There are billions of Mac keys being pressed every day throughout the world. This is the first time I've seen a concern over pressing the keys too hard. If pressing keys too hard was an issue then these communities would be swamped with the question regarding how hard the keys can be pressed. For what it is worth, this is the first time I've seen this question even though billions of keys are pressed every day. So the answer provided which asked why the concern and that it is not an issue, was relevant.

The OP was answered. The keys are made well enough that they are pressed billions of times without damage. Typically the surface area of the keys may fade/wear before the key mechanism will be damaged.

Neither the question nor response had anything to do with cowboys, Cheetos, fat fingers, hiding, or anything else.

FWIW. iFixiT does a number of Mac "teardowns." They also provide a number of articles, one in 2019 that I recall, covers Apple's switch back to the current keys.