Future MacBook Pros may feature a retractable keyboard that would allow for thinner laptops without compromising the tactile feel of the keys.

At least that's what we can read from Apple's new patent, discovered by Patently Apple, for a keyboard design with a mechanism under the keys that retracts when the MacBook is closed. Importantly, the keys are designed to pop out and function properly when the machine is in use.

There is no guarantee that this patent will be used on the MacBook Pro 2021 14-inch, MacBook Pro 2021 16-inch, or future MacBooks, but it is certainly interesting

. From the diagram and the patent description, it appears that there is a magnetic material under each key. That magnet allows the keys to be retracted or extended as needed.

The latest MacBook Pro M1 is quite slim as it is. However, with a retractable keyboard, the MacBook Pro M1 as well as the next-generation MacBook Air 2021 could be slimmer and have a keyboard with key travel and tactile feedback. In addition, when the MacBook is not in use, the magnetic mechanism could allow the keys to retract into the laptop chassis, slimming the overall design.

"The magnetizable material could be demagnetized when the display portion is in the open position, thereby allowing the keycap to move between the extended and retracted positions, and the magnetizable material could be magnetized when the display portion is in the closed position, thereby magnetizing the keycap to the retracted position The patent explains, "The keycap can be magnetized when the display portion is in the closed position, thereby magnetically maintaining the keycap in the retracted position.

However, once the magnetic material is magnetized, it does not appear to require constant power to maintain its magnetic properties. The patent clearly outlines a design that features "a sustained magnetic field that is maintained without the application of continuous power to the coil."

In other words, the magnetic retraction system should have no significant impact on battery life and requires no additional power once the MacBook is closed. The patent suggests using aluminum-nickel-cobalt iron or chromium-cobalt iron to make this possible.

Apple previously tried to make the keyboard thinner with its now famous butterfly keyboard, but it did not work. This mechanism allowed for a slimmer 12-inch MacBook, but at the cost of very shallow keys and a rather unsatisfactory typing experience for many users.

This mechanism was also prone to failure, and Apple moved away from the butterfly mechanism in favor of the scissor mechanism found on recent MacBooks.

The retractable keyboard mechanism theoretically allows for the best of both worlds: a slim keyboard that is still fully operational when in use. However, it is not certain whether the retractable keyboard will ever be incorporated into an actual MacBook. After all, just because a patent has been granted does not mean that Apple is warming up to the idea and plans are underway to make it a reality.

Time will tell in this area, but for now, the iMac 2021, along with the new iPad Pro 2021, seems likely to be announced at Apple's big event in April.