This post outlines the available options for individuals looking to purchase a MacBook with a keyboard layout different from their home country, or for those who already have a MacBook and want to change to a different physical keyboard layout.
Buy a MacBook with a foreign keyboard
Apple offers different keyboard layouts for its computers depending on the country or region. However, not all keyboard layouts are available in all countries. Typically, we can purchase a MacBook with the keyboard layout of the country or region where it is sold. One option to get a MacBook with a foreign keyboard is to import it from another country that has the desired keyboard layout. By doing so, we can ensure that we get the specific keyboard layout we want.
If you prefer to use a different keyboard layout physically, your best option is to purchase an external keyboard and connect it to your MacBook. This way, you can use the layout you prefer while still using your MacBook.
The solutions that Apple proposes
Looking at the situation from another perspective, it becomes apparent that there is an interesting paradox. On one hand, it is not possible to purchase a MacBook model with a keyboard layout different from the one officially sold in the country of purchase. This is the case in Spain, for instance.
Magic Keyboards have a different situation compared to computers. Although they are sold in specific countries or regions, we have the option to buy different keyboard layouts associated with the language in which we want to use them. This means that we can find different keyboard layouts on the Apple Store in Spain website associated with specific languages:
- Arabic: ISO Layout
- British English: ISO Distribution
- Chinese (pinyin): ANSI layout
- Danish: ISO Layout
- Dutch: ISO Layout
- French: ISO Distribution
- German: ISO Layout
- International English: ISO Distribution
- Italian: ISO Layout
- Norwegian: ISO Layout
- Portuguese: ISO Distribution
- Russian: ISO distribution
- Spanish: ISO distribution
- Swiss: ISO Distribution
- Swedish: ISO Distribution
- Q Turkish: ISO distribution
- Ukrainian: ISO Layout
- American English: ANSI Layout
The Apple Magic Keyboards that are available in different languages and layouts include ISO and ANSI distributions, which may vary depending on how the language keys are represented. For instance, the sizes of the buttons and the location of special characters can differ.
- Magic Keyboard (no numeric keypad and no Touch ID): Compatible with all MacBook models.
- Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad (no Touch ID): Compatible with all MacBook models.
- Magic Keyboard with Touch ID (no numeric keypad): Only compatible with Macs with Apple Silicon processors.
- Magic Keyboard with numeric keypad and Touch ID: Only compatible with Macs with Apple Silicon processors.
