Apple plans to bring a display on each key of the keyboard, hints at a gaming laptop

Although Apple has always been secretive about its upcoming products, its patents often gives us an idea of what the firm might be working on behind the scenes. This time, the iPhone maker has been granted a new patent by the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), stating a new way in which it can improve the typing experience in its range of MacBook devices.

The patent mentions of a ‘reconfigurable’ keyboard that includes a tiny display embedded on each key. This will allow users to change the latter or the glyph that is displayed on them based on their preferences. This can be really useful if someone wants to switch the layout of the MacBook keyboard when writing in a different language. 

This may also help Apple to make just one MacBook more relevant to more users around the world and in different regions. The patent adds that the keys can incorporate custom key labels such as media controls or programming shortcuts. Furthermore, using a display on each key may drastically improve the visibility of key characters in different lighting conditions and viewing angles.

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The most interesting part is here is that Apple is using gaming as one of the reasons to justify the ‘reconfigurable’ keyboard. Insert quote. “It may be desirable to reconfigure keyboards dynamically… to temporarily convert a standard keyboard into a gaming keyboard in which keys correspond to particular in-game actions.”

It's worth adding that Apple has already been rumoured to be working on gaming laptop or desktop. And with latest M1 processor in MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro, heavy gaming can actually be considered on Apple devices.

Besides this, the patent illustrations also show the customizable keyboard for both MacBooks and desktop Macs.

However, at the end of the day, this is nothing more than just a patent and only depicts Apple's intentions to be working in that area. It does not confirm in any way if Apple will actually launch such a device in future.

Apple and other tech giants file patents all the time. And this might just be one of the new ideas that the firm is currently exploring. In the past we have seen different patents granted to Apple stating some alternatives to the MacBook keyboard.