Keyboard keys the same between Helios 500 and 700?

ChevyCam94

I play a lot of COD, and my left shift key has finally broken on the right side.  It no longer stays clipped onto the metal spring arm underneath.

So my question is, are the Helios 500 keys the same as the Helios 700 keys?  I know the 700 has the sliding keyboard and RGB backlighting, but the key cap itself looks to be exactly the same.  And since the cap doesn't determine the color, and the shape looks identical, are they interchangeable?

https://www.replacementlaptopkeys.com/predator-helios-500-keyboard-key-replacement/

ChevyCam94

So I ordered a key, and low and behold, they are NOT the same.  The Helios 500 keys are about 0.5mm thinner, just a hair narrower left to right, and don't share the same mechanism underneath.  The 500 has two opposing metal bars, the 700 has a single (larger and thicker) metal bar.

Damn, now I'm back to seeing if Acer will even give me one.  I doubt it, and since nobody else sells Helios 700 keys, I'm probably stuck with a half broken shift key.  I'm not paying hundreds of dollars for a replacement keyboard assembly, just for one stupid key.  This is where it's a good idea to make sure, when buying a laptop, that you can get replacement parts for minute thing like keys, individually.

So unless someone on here is willing to part ways with one, or knows where I can get one, I'm going to have to live with it.

AnhEZ28

@ChevyCam94 yes, they share the same keyboard design so you can switch the keycap.

Easwar

Hi @ChevyCam94,

Yes both are same.

ChevyCam94

So I ordered a key, and low and behold, they are NOT the same.  The Helios 500 keys are about 0.5mm thinner, just a hair narrower left to right, and don't share the same mechanism underneath.  The 500 has two opposing metal bars, the 700 has a single (larger and thicker) metal bar.

*****, now I'm back to seeing if Acer will even give me one.  I doubt it, and since nobody else sells Helios 700 keys, I'm probably stuck with a half broken shift key.  I'm not paying hundreds of dollars for a replacement keyboard assembly, just for one stupid key.  This is where it's a good idea to make sure, when buying a laptop, that you can get replacement parts for minute thing like keys, individually.

So unless someone on here is willing to part ways with one, or knows where I can get one, I'm going to have to live with it.

ChevyCam94

So yeah, Acer says I need to send in the whole laptop, pay for shipping AND repair costs, and have it back in 10 days.  Oh, and this'll tickle ya, they want to wipe all the drives in it before sending it back to me.  Don't ask why, even they don't know why.  That's a huge red flag.  I think it's time to sell this guy and buy one from a manufacturer that actually makes replacement parts available.

It's too bad, this is a beast of a laptop, I love it.  But as far as repairability, it's a solid ZERO.