Apple MacBook Pro A1398 US Keyboard is now in stock at Mascom International for KSh 4,000. It is an original Apple replacement keyboard in US English layout for the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display, sold from Mid 2012 to Mid 2015. Each unit is brand new and sealed, never fitted to another machine. The Apple MacBook Pro A1398 US Keyboard replaces worn, sticky or liquid-damaged keys and restores full typing on a laptop with years of work left in it. Find it at Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD, where our technicians also handle fitting.
Built for video editors, software developers and architects who still run a 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro as their main work machine. These professionals lean on shortcuts all day: J, K and L to scrub a Final Cut Pro timeline, Command chords in VS Code, typed commands in AutoCAD. One dead key breaks that rhythm, and the Apple MacBook Pro A1398 US Keyboard restores it. The repair fixes the fault without forcing a laptop purchase. A developer in Kilimani or an architect in Upper Hill keeps the same machine, licences and project files, set up exactly the way they like them.
Unlike other electronics retailers in Kenya that sell the part over the counter and leave you to find a technician, Mascom International supplies the Apple MacBook Pro A1398 US Keyboard and fits it in our own shop. That matters when fitting the Apple MacBook Pro A1398 US Keyboard. Apple riveted the keyboard to the aluminium top case, so swapping it is skilled bench work rather than a quick screwdriver job. Customers across Nairobi tell us a freshly fitted keyboard makes an old MacBook feel like the day they bought it. Bring your laptop in, or order countrywide with pay-on-arrival delivery.
Common Questions About the MacBook Pro A1398 US Keyboard
Will the MacBook Pro A1398 US Keyboard fit my MacBook?
The MacBook Pro A1398 US Keyboard fits the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display sold from Mid 2012 to Mid 2015. To check, turn the laptop over and read the small print near the hinge, which should say Model A1398. Then open the Apple menu, choose About This Mac, and note the year shown, such as Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014. Send both details to Mascom International on WhatsApp. The Mid 2015 board differs slightly from the 2012 to 2014 version, and a mismatch can leave the Caps Lock light dark.
How do I tell whether my current MacBook keyboard is US layout?
A US layout MacBook keyboard has a wide, single-row Enter key and a dollar sign above the 4. A UK or international layout has a tall, inverted-L Enter key, a pound sign above the 3, and an extra key beside a shorter left Shift. The MacBook Pro A1398 US Keyboard follows the US pattern, with the backtick and tilde key at the top left beside the 1. Many developers in Kenya prefer US layout because the hash, backtick and tilde keys sit where most coding guides expect them.
Can I replace the MacBook Pro A1398 US Keyboard myself at home?
Fitting this keyboard is technician work, not a home repair. Apple riveted the original keyboard to the aluminium top case on the A1398, so the old board comes free only after many small rivets are carefully drilled out. Before that, the technician removes the bottom case, disconnects the battery, and lifts out the logic board, fans and other internal parts. The new keyboard is then secured with screws. Our Kimathi Street technicians handle the full job, which protects the ribbon cables and the glued batteries sitting underneath.
Is a keyboard-only repair better than buying a full top case for the MacBook Pro A1398?
For most owners, the keyboard-only repair is the sensible choice when the aluminium shell, battery and trackpad are still sound. A complete top case assembly comes with keyboard, battery and trackpad already fitted. It suits a laptop that also has a swollen battery or a bent palm rest, but it costs far more. At KSh 4,000, the MacBook Pro A1398 US Keyboard targets the actual fault. Our technician inspects the top case during fitting and tells you honestly if a bigger repair makes more sense.
Will dust and spills damage the MacBook Pro A1398 US Keyboard again?
This keyboard uses the scissor-switch design Apple shipped on this generation, which copes with everyday dust better than the thin butterfly keys used from 2016. Fine dust from Thika Road or a construction site still creeps under keys, so a soft brush and compressed air once a month help. Liquid is the bigger threat. A spilled cup of chai can short the keys within seconds. If a spill happens, shut the MacBook down at once and bring it to Mascom International before switching it back on.
Who should buy the MacBook Pro A1398 US Keyboard, and who should skip it?
Buy it if your 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro runs well but has dead, sticky or worn keys. Skip it if you own a 13-inch Retina model, a non-Retina MacBook Pro, or any 2016 or later model, because those use different keyboards. Skip it too if the logic board, screen and battery are all failing at once. In that case, a used HP EliteBook from Mascom International, backed by its own warranty, may serve you better than paying for several repairs on an ageing machine.
Is the MacBook Pro A1398 US Keyboard worth KSh 4,000 on a 2012 to 2015 MacBook?
Yes, as long as the rest of the machine is healthy. Every 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro in this range carries a quad-core Intel Core i7, which still handles 1080p editing, web development and 2D drafting. Spending KSh 4,000 on the keyboard keeps that working tool productive instead of forcing you into a new laptop. Spread across one year of daily use, the part costs about KSh 11 a day, before fitting. Few upgrades return that much usable time for so little money.
Does the replacement keep the keyboard backlight on my MacBook Pro A1398?
On this model, the backlight is a separate thin panel that sits beneath the keyboard inside the top case. This listing covers the MacBook Pro A1398 US Keyboard itself, not a new backlight panel. During fitting, our technician checks your existing backlight and tells you before closing up the laptop if it needs attention. If glowing keys matter for late-night editing sessions, ask on WhatsApp before you order, and we will confirm what your specific unit needs.
Can I buy the MacBook Pro A1398 US Keyboard from outside Nairobi?
Yes. Mascom International delivers the MacBook Pro A1398 US Keyboard countrywide with pay-on-arrival, so a buyer in Kisumu or Eldoret pays only when the part arrives. Because fitting involves the rivet removal described above, hand it to an experienced Apple technician near you. Alternatively, courier the laptop to our Kimathi Street shop and let our team fit it. M-Pesa works for paying the courier and for settling any fitting charge, which we confirm with you before work begins.
Technical Specifications
Core Function and Key Layout
- Original Apple replacement keyboard for the 15-inch MacBook Pro A1398, restoring every letter, number and function key.
- US English layout with a wide single-row Enter key, matching American shortcut guides and coding tutorials.
- Dollar sign sits above the 4 key, so prices and shell variables type without hunting for symbols.
- Backtick and tilde key sits beside the 1, the position developers expect for Terminal and Markdown work.
- Top-row function keys control screen brightness, volume and media playback without opening any menu.
- Command, Option and Control keys keep the standard Mac order, so Final Cut Pro and Xcode shortcuts feel familiar.
Compatibility and Model Check
- Built for 15-inch MacBook Pro Retina models carrying model number A1398, sold from Mid 2012 to Mid 2015.
- The model number appears in small print on the bottom case, close to the display hinge.
- About This Mac in the Apple menu names the exact year, such as Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013.
- Mid 2015 machines use a slightly revised board, so state your year to keep Caps Lock lighting working.
- Does not fit the 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro, which uses a smaller keyboard and a different model number.
- Not suitable for 2016 and later MacBook Pro models, which use butterfly or Magic Keyboard mechanisms instead.
Switch Mechanism and Typing Feel
- Scissor-switch keys give a steady, even press, the same typing feel this MacBook generation shipped with.
- Fresh switches remove the sticky, uneven keys that years of heavy daily typing leave behind on older boards.
- Keycaps arrive unworn, so no shiny, rubbed-off letters on the busiest keys like E, A and Space.
- Consistent key travel helps touch typists hold their speed through long coding, scripting or report sessions.
- Black keycaps match the original look of the silver aluminium body, so the repair stays invisible to clients.
Build and Installation
- The keyboard connects through a slim ribbon cable to the internal connector, exactly as the factory part did.
- Apple riveted the original keyboard to the aluminium top case, so removal requires careful drilling of each rivet.
- Once the rivets are out, the replacement keyboard is secured to the top case with small screws.
- Full fitting means removing the bottom case, disconnecting the battery, and lifting out the logic board and fans.
- Glued battery cells sit right under the keyboard area, so trained hands prevent punctures during the repair.
- Our Kimathi Street technicians test every single key and the trackpad before returning your MacBook to you.
Workflow Benefits for Professionals
- Video editors regain reliable J, K and L keys for scrubbing timelines in Final Cut Pro and Premiere Pro.
- Developers get dependable bracket, semicolon and Escape keys for long sessions in VS Code, Xcode or Terminal.
- Architects keep fast command entry in AutoCAD for Mac and shortcut-heavy modelling work in SketchUp.
- Replacing only the keyboard keeps installed software, licences, project files and settings exactly where they were.
- A working built-in keyboard removes the need to carry an external USB keyboard to site visits and meetings.
Care and Running Cost
- At KSh 4,000, the part works out to about KSh 11 per day across one year of use.
- A soft brush and compressed air once a month clear fine grit before it jams the scissor switches.
- A thin silicone cover adds a barrier against spilled tea and dust between regular cleanings.
- Power the laptop down immediately after any spill, since quick action often saves the logic board underneath.
- Keeping your current MacBook avoids buying a whole new laptop for the same editing, coding or drafting workload.
Package Contents
The MacBook Pro A1398 US Keyboard arrives as a bare replacement part, packed to protect the ribbon cable and keycaps in transit.
- MacBook Pro A1398 US Keyboard in US English layout
- Protective packaging
- Mascom International warranty documentation
The keyboard does not include the aluminium top case, battery or trackpad. When you book fitting at Kimathi Street, our technicians supply the mounting screws, so you never hunt for fasteners separately.
Warranty
The MacBook Pro A1398 US Keyboard carries a 6-month Mascom International warranty against manufacturing defects. Bring the laptop and your receipt to our Kimathi Street shop, where our technicians assess the keyboard and arrange a replacement if a manufacturing fault is confirmed. Damage from spills or drops is not a manufacturing defect, so it falls outside this cover.
Buying the MacBook Pro A1398 US Keyboard from Mascom International
Mascom International stocks the MacBook Pro A1398 US Keyboard with black keycaps at our Nairobi CBD location: Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street. Walk in Monday through Saturday between 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM, and our technicians can confirm your model year, inspect the old keyboard, and book the fitting while you wait for a quote.
Three ways to order:
- Call/WhatsApp +254 708 852 521
- Email info@mascomintl.com
- Order through www.mascomintl.com
Pay-on-arrival delivery reaches every Kenyan county. Nairobi and its environs receive the MacBook Pro A1398 US Keyboard the same day. Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, and all other major towns receive it within 1 business day. Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit, Lamu, Tana River, and Turkana receive delivery within 2-3 business days. You inspect the part and pay only when it arrives.
The MacBook Pro A1398 US Keyboard comes with the 6-month Mascom warranty detailed above.
Editors, coders and designers across Kenya rely on Mascom International for honest part matching, current pricing, and repair support from a real shop they can walk into on Kimathi Street.
