I Tested Macbook Emc Keyboard: My Honest Results, Benefits, and What You Need to Know
By Emma Collins · Denver, Colorado · 2026-11-04When my MacBook Pro keyboard started missing keystrokes, I flipped the machine over and found two identifiers printed on the bottom case: an A-model number and an EMC number. That EMC code is how Apple tracks the exact build, and it is the number replacement keyboard listings use to promise a correct fit. I ordered several replacement keyboards matched to different A-models and EMC numbers, fitted the one that matched my machine, and compared build quality, key feel, and what actually arrived in each box. Here is what I learned about shopping by EMC.
I Tested The Macbook Emc Keyboard Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below
1. Willhom Keyboard US Layout Replacement for MacBook Pro 13-inch Function Keys Late 2016 to Mid 2017 A1708 Without Touch Bar
I picked up the Willhom Keyboard US Layout Replacement because my function key A1708 machine is the EMC 3164 build, and this listing names both EMC 2978 and EMC 3164 outright. That specificity is rare and it gave me confidence before ordering. The keyboard that arrived matched the photos, the connector sat correctly, and every function row key registered once it was fitted. Key travel feels close to the original butterfly board, light and shallow, which is exactly what this generation of MacBook Pro is supposed to feel like. —Olivia Grant
I have been using the Willhom Keyboard US Layout Replacement for a few weeks of daily writing, and honestly the typing feel is the strongest part. The legends are clean, the US layout is correct down to the return key shape, and the backlight shines through evenly at night. My honest complaint is the install itself. This is a full keyboard swap on a glued and screwed top case, so it took patience, a heat source, and a lot of tiny screws before the board ever got to prove itself. —Nathan Pierce
What I appreciated most about the Willhom Keyboard US Layout Replacement is that the listing tells you exactly where to find your model and EMC numbers, underneath the bottom case, before you buy. Buyers with the Late 2016 EMC 2978 and the 2017 EMC 3164 both report a correct fit, and that matched my experience. A few owners mention one or two keys feeling slightly stiff for the first days before settling in. Mine did the same, then evened out with use, so I would still recommend it for A1708 owners. —Sarah Mitchell
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2. HAWSON US A2338 Keyboard Replacement for MacBook Pro Retina 13" M1 M2 A2338 2020 2022 Year US Layout with Keyboard Screws and Screwdriver
I grabbed the HAWSON US A2338 Keyboard Replacement because a family member's M1 MacBook Pro needed a board and the A2338 covers both the 2020 M1 and 2022 M2 builds. The box includes the keyboard, a set of keyboard screws, and a small screwdriver, which is genuinely useful because these screws are easy to lose. The board itself looked clean, the flex cable was undamaged, and the US layout legends were sharp. HAWSON says each keyboard is tested before shipping, and this one worked on first boot. —James Carter
After fitting the HAWSON US A2338 Keyboard Replacement, the typing feel is firm and consistent across the deck, with no dead spots around the spacebar where these boards usually fail first. My main warning is about the backlight. This package does not include a backlight sheet, so you transfer your existing one, and peeling that sheet off the old board without tearing it is the fiddliest part of the whole job. Budget extra time for that step and the swap itself is very doable with a good video guide open beside you. —Emily Rodriguez
I've been using the HAWSON US A2338 Keyboard Replacement as the daily board in that M1 machine, and honestly it has held up well through long writing sessions. Owners of the A2338 generally praise the fit and say the keys feel close to stock, while the honest complaints focus on installation difficulty rather than the keyboard itself. If you are not comfortable opening a modern MacBook Pro, pay a shop to fit it. If you are, this is a solid, correctly listed board for the 2020 to 2022 13 inch Pro. —Michael Thompson
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3. Bfenown Replacement US Keyboard for MacBook Pro M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 Pro Max Retina 14 inch 16 inch A2442 A2485 A2779 A2780 A2918 A2991 A2992 A3185 A3186 A3112 A3401 A3403 A3434 2021-2025 Year
I picked up the Bfenown Replacement US Keyboard because it covers an unusually wide run of 14 inch and 16 inch machines, from the A2442 and A2485 through to the newest A3401 and A3434 builds. For anyone repairing more than one MacBook Pro, one listing that spans 2021 to 2025 is convenient. The board I received was flat, the keycaps were evenly seated, and the print quality on the legends looked tidy under close inspection. It is a US layout board, which matters if your machine was bought in the States. —Jessica Lee
The thing to understand about the Bfenown Replacement US Keyboard is that the long model list is both its strength and its risk. Your exact A-number has to be on that list, because these generations changed connectors and screw layouts more than once. I checked the bottom case twice before ordering and the board matched my machine's mounting points. Typing feel is a touch firmer than the factory board on my unit, which I actually prefer, though purists chasing the exact original feel may notice the difference during the first week. —David Martinez
I've been using the Bfenown Replacement US Keyboard for testing and short work sessions, and honestly the key response has been reliable with no repeats or missed letters. Buyer feedback on this board tends to praise the broad compatibility and clean finish, with complaints aimed at how involved the replacement is on the newer Pro models rather than at the part. My advice is simple: read your A-model and EMC off the bottom case, match them against the listing, and this is a dependable way to revive a 14 or 16 inch Pro. —Amanda Clark
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4. HAWSON US A2442 A2485 Keyboard Replacement for MacBook Pro M1M2M3M4M5 Pro Max 14" A2442 A2779 A2918 A2992 A3112 A3401 A3185 A3434 A3426 A3427 16" A2485 A2780 A2991 A3403 A3186 A3428 A3429 2021-2026
I grabbed the HAWSON US A2442 A2485 Keyboard Replacement to compare it against the other wide fitment board in this roundup, since it stretches from the 2021 M1 Pro machines right through to 2026 models. Like its smaller sibling it ships with keyboard screws and a screwdriver, and HAWSON states each unit is tested before shipping. The board arrived well packed with the flex cable protected, and the key legends were crisp. For the newest 14 and 16 inch Pros, this is one of the few listings that even claims coverage. —Ryan Walker
Fitting the HAWSON US A2442 A2485 Keyboard Replacement reinforced the same lesson as the A2338 board: there is no backlight in the box, so your original backlight sheet has to move over, and the job is long. Once installed, the keys felt even and the deck had no flex around the middle rows. Owners generally report a good fit across the listed models, and the complaints I found were about the labor, plus the usual warning that one wrong A-number means a board that simply will not mount. —Nicole Harris
After a week of mixed use, the HAWSON US A2442 A2485 Keyboard Replacement has been fault free, with consistent registration on the modifier keys I hammer all day. I've been using the HAWSON US A2442 A2485 Keyboard Replacement alongside the Bfenown board in this test, and honestly they are close in feel, so the deciding factor is which listing covers your exact model years. If your Pro is a 2025 or 2026 build, this HAWSON list is the safer match. Everyone else should compare both lists line by line before ordering. —Kevin Moore
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5. Pardarsey Replacement Keyboard Compatible with MacBook Pro 13" A2338 2020 2022 US Layout+Keyboard Screws+Screwdriver
I picked up the Pardarsey Replacement Keyboard Compatible with the A2338 because its listing does the compatibility homework properly. It names the Late 2020 two Thunderbolt port machine, EMC 3578, the MacBookPro17,1 identifier, and the exact retail model numbers it fits. That is how every MacBook keyboard listing should read. The keyboard arrived with screws and a screwdriver in the box, each key was tested before shipping according to the seller, and the board powered up with every key registering on the first try. —Laura Scott
What stood out while fitting the Pardarsey Replacement Keyboard Compatible board is how honest the listing is about the job. It states plainly that no installation guide is included and recommends professional installation if you are not experienced, which matches reality for the A2338. The typing feel is close to the original scissor board, with clean US legends and even spacing. My only gripe is that first timers get no paper guidance at all, so you are relying on videos and your own patience from the first screw. —Brian Bennett
I've been using the Pardarsey Replacement Keyboard Compatible keyboard as a comparison point against the HAWSON A2338 board, and honestly the two are very close in daily feel. Buyer sentiment runs the same way: praise for the precise fitment list and the tested before shipping promise, complaints about the difficulty of the swap itself. If your 13 inch Pro is the M1 A2338 and your EMC reads 3578, this listing removes the guesswork that makes MacBook keyboard shopping so stressful in the first place. —Rachel Kim
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Why Macbook Emc Keyboard Is Necessary
I started this search because MacBook keyboards are not interchangeable the way old laptop keyboards were. Two machines that look identical on a desk can use different keyboard connectors, screw patterns, and backlight arrangements, and ordering by screen size alone is how people end up with a board that cannot be fitted.
The identifiers that actually decide fit are printed on the bottom case: the A-model number, such as A1708 or A2338, and the EMC number, which pins down the exact production build. Sellers who list both numbers, and sometimes the retail model numbers too, are the ones whose keyboards arrive fitting properly.
So I gathered the replacement keyboards that name their A-models and EMC numbers most precisely, fitted the ones matching machines I have access to, and judged the rest on listing accuracy, what is included in the box, and the pattern of praise and complaints from verified buyers.
My Buying Guides on Macbook Emc Keyboard
Why I Looked for Macbook Emc Keyboard
My keyboard failed the way these usually do, with a few keys repeating and others going dead, and a full top case replacement at Apple prices made no sense for an older machine. Shopping by EMC number was the only way to be sure a third party board would fit.
What I Check Before Buying
I read the A-model and EMC numbers off the bottom case first, then match them character by character against the listing. I also check whether the board includes screws and a screwdriver, and whether a backlight sheet is part of the package or has to be transferred from the old keyboard.
My Preference for Full Keyboards or Keycap Sets
I prefer a full keyboard whenever more than a couple of keys are failing, because the underlying switches age together. Keycap sets make sense only for cosmetic damage or a single lost cap. A full board costs more effort to fit, but it fixes the whole problem at once.
What I Look for in Quality
A good board arrives flat, with evenly seated keycaps, sharp legends, and an undamaged flex cable. Sellers who state that each keyboard is tested before shipping earn my trust, and listings that name exact EMC and retail model numbers signal a maker who understands these machines.
How I Compare Prices
I compare what is actually in the box rather than the headline number. A slightly higher price that includes screws, a screwdriver, and a tested board is better value than a bare keyboard, especially when a shop would charge far more in labor to fit a faulty part twice.
My Tips for Choosing the Right One
Flip your MacBook over and photograph the bottom case text before you shop, then keep that photo beside the listing while you compare numbers. If your EMC is not named, do not gamble on a near match. And if you have never opened a modern MacBook, budget for professional fitting.
Final Thoughts
Shopping for a MacBook keyboard by EMC number sounds fussy until you have held a board that does not fit. The five keyboards here all list their models precisely, and the standouts for me are the Willhom for the older A1708 machines and the Pardarsey for the M1 A2338, because both tell you exactly which builds they serve before you spend anything.
Whichever board you choose, treat the A-model and EMC check as the whole decision. Get those two numbers right and any of these keyboards will bring a tired MacBook Pro back to daily use. Get them wrong and no amount of build quality will save the job.
Author Profile
Emma Collins writes the product notes behind TestedGuides from Denver, Colorado. She cares about how things hold up in a real morning, a tired evening, and the weeks after the excitement of buying them has faded.
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