Apple Keyboard A1048 Repair

Author: Andrew Optimus Goldheart (and 3 other contributors)

Create a Guide

I Have This

Guides

Disassembly Guides

Apple Keyboard disassembly to clean PCB Membrane

Tools

These are some common tools used to work on this device. You might not need every tool for every procedure.

In May 2003, Apple released the model A1048 keyboard as a major design change from the previous Apple Pro Keyboard. The new model dropped the “Pro” moniker in favor of the simpler name “Apple Keyboard.” The A1048 keyboard features 109 white keys in a transparent plastic case. Unlike the previous version, the case on the A1048 fits tightly around the edge of all the keys and does not feature an adjustable foot on the bottom.

The keyboard has 16 function keys (F1 through F16), volume keys, and an eject key in the top row. It has a full-sized number pad and movement keys like page up/down and home/end. The arrow keys are clustered in an upside down T shape on the right side of the letter keys. The keyboard connects to your computer via a USB cable that is attached to the back of the keyboard. On either side of this cable there are USB ports which you can use with more devices like a mouse. These ports were rated at USB 1.1 speeds (12 Mbit/s) until Apple updated the model in 2005 to support USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/s).

You can identify this keyboard by looking for the model number “A1048.” It is written in small gray print on the bottom of the device. The keyboard is not too difficult to disassemble for cleaning and repair. Follow the guides on this page or this repair video from the iBook Guy on YouTube. There is also a useful repair guide on Instructables.

Apple released a Bluetooth wireless version of this keyboard (model number A1016) later the same year. In 2007, they released a newer keyboard with low-profile keys and an aluminum chassis. At this point, the A1048 keyboard was discontinued.

Keys