Grey smudges on the body of my new macbook pro

[kakaoskisilk]

Hey there everybody. I Just get my New macbook pro around 1.5 months ago.

Today i noticed there are little grey smudges appeared left side of the trackpad. These smudges wont come off when i try with my finger or soft fabric.

I always used my macbook indoors. Never cleaned it with any kind of solution, even not with a wet fabric.

I searched on web for same scenario but come off with nothing same like this. Some people were saying some stains appear because of your wreist get wet and sweat oxcides with the aluminium of the macbook.

So if it will make smudges like this when i use my mac in normal conditions and even very meticulous, Just from a sweat from my wreist(no im not sweating like crazy, im Just a normal person) (and im usually using my bluetooth keyboard, just few times i used mac without my keyboard) i paid 3000$ for a laptop for this easy to get oxcides from my wreist? I mean this is the quality i get for 3000$?

Anybody Faced this issue before? Or you have any suggestion? These smudges not coming off....... and its a brand New macbook only 1.5 months old.


If you zoom in the photo you will see them

 

[usagora]

Those don't look like "smudges" to me; they look like some kind of coating that's flaking off. But if no one else (or at least hardly anyone else) is experiencing this issue, I'd hold off judgement on Apple.

Hopefully someone else will chime in with an idea. Are you left-handed? I'm trying to also figure out why it's on only one side of the trackpad. I'm right-handed, but I often have both palms on the laptop when I'm using it.

Here's a zoomed in pic for others to see without having to open attachment:

 

[kakaoskisilk]

Those don't look like "smudges" to me; they look like some kind of coating that's flaking off. But if no one else (or at least hardly anyone else) is experiencing this issue, I'd hold of judgement on Apple.

Hopefully someone else will chime in with an idea.

These stains has appeared Just on the left side of the trackpad. Right side is clear. Im a New mac User and i called apple tech service today and they told me to bring the macbook and if its not because of me they Said they will change the case for free. They said there is no replacement on macbooks and they can only change the case. I dont want my brand New macbook to get opened by service staff and put in a new body. Is there really no replacement with a New mac? They only change the parts?

Sorry its a beginner question but its my first time buying an apple product and i dont know most things... thanks...

 

[russell_314]

they will change the case for free. They said there is no replacement on macbooks and they can only change the case. I dont want my brand New macbook to get opened by service staff and put in a new body. Is there really no replacement with a New mac? They only change the parts?

Why would they give you a whole new MacBook for a smudge or a mark on the case? That’s the equivalent of taking your iPhone in for a cracked screen and asking for a new phone.

I can see some concern people have on phones because of water resistance but that doesn’t apply on a MacBook. They’re going to replace the offending part so if it bothers you that much just get it done. I think it’s pretty awesome that they’re offering to do this because it’s just cosmetic.

 

[kakaoskisilk]

Hopefully someone else will chime in with an idea. Are you left-handed? I'm trying to also figure out why it's on only one side of the trackpad. I'm right-handed, but I often have both palms on the laptop when I'm using it.

Im right handed, but it doesn't really matter because after my Mac delivered, I used it without my bluetooth keyboard only for 5-6 times. It's always on my desk, Im using bluetooth keyboard, not even touching the Mac itself. I use it in clean environment.

The only thing I can think of is,
I live near the ocean and my window is almost always open. So the wind coming into my room and maybe it's carrying salt. I mean that shouldn't be the problem but maybe the salty wind oxides the aluminum? But in this case, why its only on left side.... I dont know its just very annoying

 

[russell_314]

Im right handed, but it doesn't really matter because after my Mac delivered, I used it without my bluetooth keyboard only for 5-6 times. It's always on my desk, Im using bluetooth keyboard, not even touching the Mac itself. I use it in clean environment.

The only thing I can think of is,
I live near the ocean and my window is almost always open. So the wind coming into my room and maybe it's carrying salt. I mean that shouldn't be the problem but maybe the salty wind oxides the aluminum? But in this case, why its only on left side.... I dont know its just very annoying

Looking closely at the photos it does look like droplets. Maybe salt water will corrode the casing but I don’t know. That’s kind of scary though because if it got on the case, then what if it gets inside.

 

[kakaoskisilk]

Looking closely at the photos it does look like droplets. Maybe salt water will corrode the casing but I don’t know. That’s kind of scary though because if it got on the case, then what if it gets inside.

No, im not that close. it's almost half mile away to my home. There are absolutely nothing splashed on my MacBook. I was just trying hard to think if the salty wind comes from half mile away can do this... lol...

 

[russell_314]

No, im not that close. it's almost half mile away to my home. There are absolutely nothing splashed on my MacBook. I was just trying hard to think if the salty wind comes from half mile away can do this... lol...

Do you feel mist in the wind? I’ve never lived near the ocean, but that sounds wonderful! Salt water is very destructive for metals. It looks like droplets to me, but I would be careful because cosmetic damage is one thing but if somehow whatever got on that area gets on the circuitboard, it would not be good.

I wouldn’t be too worried about Apple messing it up because the repair guys know what they’re doing. If it was some third-party shop or Best Buy, I would say no don’t do that. I can only speak for the few times I’ve had repairs done and absolutely no issues.

 

[kakaoskisilk]

Im not sure... But if this would be the reason, there most be millions living near the ocean in all round the world and there should be hundreds of complains like mine.. I will take my Mac to the service and I'll post here what they said. Thanks for your comments!

 

[usagora]

When you run your finger over those spots, can you feel anything?

 

[kakaoskisilk]

When you run your finger over those spots, can you feel anything?

No, nothing at all. It's completely flat. Its like the paint just changed color.. It's 100% flat.

 

[xraydoc]

Hey there everybody. I Just get my New macbook pro around 1.5 months ago.

Today i noticed there are little grey smudges appeared left side of the trackpad. These smudges wont come off when i try with my finger or soft fabric.

I always used my macbook indoors. Never cleaned it with any kind of solution, even not with a wet fabric.

I searched on web for same scenario but come off with nothing same like this. Some people were saying some stains appear because of your wreist get wet and sweat oxcides with the aluminium of the macbook.

So if it will make smudges like this when i use my mac in normal conditions and even very meticulous, Just from a sweat from my wreist(no im not sweating like crazy, im Just a normal person) (and im usually using my bluetooth keyboard, just few times i used mac without my keyboard) i paid 3000$ for a laptop for this easy to get oxcides from my wreist? I mean this is the quality i get for 3000$?

Anybody Faced this issue before? Or you have any suggestion? These smudges not coming off....... and its a brand New macbook only 1.5 months old.


If you zoom in the photo you will see them

Definitely not a normal situation, and I've never seen anyone post a picture with defects like that. If they don't come off with some kind of gentile cleanser, then I would have the case replaced if Apple is offering.

After nearly two months, Apple won't take the machine back for a refund (14 day refund/exchange), so your only course is service. The machine does have a warranty, so if it's not fixed correctly, they will have to make it right. That said, things like that are usually considered cosmetic damage and not covered under standard warranty unless they're acknowledging it's a manufacturing defect of some kind.

 

[headlessmike]

It looks like when my son sneezes on one of my devices (one of the joys of having kids). You don't have a cold? In my case they only go away with a damp cloth.

 

[kakaoskisilk]

It looks like when my son sneezes on one of my devices (one of the joys of having kids). You don't have a cold? In my case they only go away with a damp cloth.

😂 lol unfortunately its not because of me sneezing on my Mac 😅

 

[antiprotest]

Not normal. If it's from your wrist it would not be specks all over the place like that. And you don't even have your wrist there as you said.

 

[HackMacDaddy]

My bet: Acid from a lemon (or something else). It reacts with aluminium.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Hey there everybody. I Just get my New macbook pro around 1.5 months ago.

Today i noticed there are little grey smudges appeared left side of the trackpad. These smudges wont come off when i try with my finger or soft fabric.

I always used my macbook indoors. Never cleaned it with any kind of solution, even not with a wet fabric.

I searched on web for same scenario but come off with nothing same like this. Some people were saying some stains appear because of your wreist get wet and sweat oxcides with the aluminium of the macbook.

So if it will make smudges like this when i use my mac in normal conditions and even very meticulous, Just from a sweat from my wreist(no im not sweating like crazy, im Just a normal person) (and im usually using my bluetooth keyboard, just few times i used mac without my keyboard) i paid 3000$ for a laptop for this easy to get oxcides from my wreist? I mean this is the quality i get for 3000$?

Anybody Faced this issue before? Or you have any suggestion? These smudges not coming off....... and its a brand New macbook only 1.5 months old.


If you zoom in the photo you will see them

Something from your environment came into contact with your Mac and caused a chemical reaction. You alluded to the problem being bad quality from Apple. That is not the case here. It is unfortunate that a fairly new Mac has spots like that but, those spots are permanent.

It looks like the Mac accidentally got misted with air spray, cologne, or the like and you didn't know it.

 

[kakaoskisilk]

Something from your environment came into contact with your Mac and caused a chemical reaction. You alluded to the problem being bad quality from Apple. That is not the case here. It is unfortunate that a fairly new Mac has spots like that but, those spots are permanent.

It looks like the Mac accidentally got misted with air spray, cologne, or the like and you didn't know it.

What I wanted to say is, I read some topics like this one and people were saying it happens because of the sweat coming from your wrest or your skin... That's why I talk about the quality. If this happens when my skin touches the aluminum that is not normal.


But you recommend about something from the environment causes this may be true, I will try to find what it can be.. Thank you!

 

[Apple_Robert]

What I wanted to say is, I read some topics like this one and people were saying it happens because of the sweat coming from your wrest or your skin... That's why I talk about the quality. If this happens when my skin touches the aluminum that is not normal.


But you recommend about something from the environment causes this may be true, I will try to find what it can be.. Thank you!

The spotting in the pic doesn't look like sweat from your wrist / hand. Usually, if it is due to body sweat / natural body oil, there is a smudging pattern. And a lot of times, that happens after repeated incidents.

 

[kakaoskisilk]

The spotting in the pic doesn't look like sweat from your wrist / hand. Usually, if it is due to body sweat / natural body oil, there is a smudging pattern. And a lot of times, that happens after repeated incidents.

I really can't think of anything.. I barely use my Mac directly. Anyhow, you think is it possible to clean that marks? Do you suggest something to try?

 

[Apple_Robert]

I really can't think of anything.. I barely use my Mac directly. Anyhow, you think is it possible to clean that marks? Do you suggest something to try?

I believe those spots are permanent. Whatever came into contact with the Mac produced a chemical reaction with the Mac coating. Introducing a cleaning agent to the Mac may make things worse. Consider putting a skin on your Mac. At least it will cover up the spotting.

 

[kakaoskisilk]

I believe those spots are permanent. Whatever came into contact with the Mac produced a chemical reaction with the Mac coating. Introducing a cleaning agent to the Mac may make things worse. Consider putting a skin on your Mac. At least it will cover up the spotting.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Xand&Roby]

It also happened to me with a 2018 gold 12” MB purchased in 2020: the second screen (the first changed because it had yellow spots) at one point manifested a perfectly round spot, perfectly flat, like a drop, next to the apple.
There was no way to restore it: having AppleCare I waited for something to happen (a 6S Plus fell right on the edge damping the screen), and I had the whole screen changed under warranty.
Apple is used to such problems: they are called poor quality.

 

[usagora]

Apple is used to such problems: they are called poor quality.

No, it's called every company deals with these problems because technology isn't perfect. The vast majority of users of Apple products, however, don't experience any major quality issues on a consistent basis. Just be glad they take care of you if these issues do arise.

I've owned several dozen Apple products (various Mac desktops, laptops, iPhones, iPads, iPods, AirPods, Apple Watches, Apple TVs, AirPort Extreme, etc.) since 2005 and the ONLY defects I experienced were my Thunderbolt ports didn't work on my 2012 iMac (after many years of use) and my Series 4 Apple Watch stopped charging (Apple replaced the watch without issue under warranty). If Apple had such poor quality in their products as a rule, surely I would've had more issue than those two out of dozens of products.