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How common are logic board failures with Apple Silicon Macbooks?

Did your M1/M2 macbook experience a logic board failure?

  • Total voters
    70
  • Poll closed .
A

arnolds1

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 28, 2016
24
10
I am careful with my Macbook and it rarely leaves my home. So the only thing reason I find value in Applecare might be to repair any logic board failures that I might come across. I am curious - how many of you folks with M1/M2 Macbooks (Airs or Pros) have encountered logic board failures that were not caused by a user/accident.

P.S. I noticed a concerning trend around logic board failures while using a thunderbolt dock to both charge and display to external monitor - this is exactly how I use mine - so that is even more worrisome.
 
K

KaliYoni

macrumors 68000
Feb 19, 2016
1,794
3,945
arnolds1 said:
So the only thing reason I find value in Applecare might be to repair any logic board failures that I might come across
Click to expand...
maerz001 said:
don’t buy a insurance and instead a lottery ticket
Click to expand...

Or even better, stick the money you would have spent on AppleCare in a savings account or similar. Use the money if you lose or damage your Mac. If nothing happens to your Mac during its lifespan, you can roll over the money plus whatever earnings have accumulated to self-insure a new machine. Or put the funds towards the purchase of a new computer.
 
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rovostrov

rovostrov

macrumors regular
Oct 3, 2020
180
132
arnolds1 said:
I am careful with my Macbook and it rarely leaves my home. So the only thing reason I find value in Applecare might be to repair any logic board failures that I might come across. I am curious - how many of you folks with M1/M2 Macbooks (Airs or Pros) have encountered logic board failures that were not caused by a user/accident.

P.S. I noticed a concerning trend around logic board failures while using a thunderbolt dock to both charge and display to external monitor - this is exactly how I use mine - so that is even more worrisome.
Click to expand...
I used to be against buying AppleCare but a few months ago I bought a system that had an expiring AC policy.
I decided to renew it on the last day it was to expire. Exactly 1 week later, my Mac completely died. I shipped it to Apple and within 1 week, Apple returned a brand new MacBook Pro! Considering the increased unreliability, there is no way I would buy a modern Mac without AppleCare. It is actually cheap considering what they cost to repair since everything is glued and soldered together now
 
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C

chabig

macrumors G4
Sep 6, 2002
11,450
9,321
arnolds1 said:
P.S. I noticed a concerning trend around logic board failures...
Click to expand...
Where did you find this data? I'd be very suspicious, as I am not aware of any public facing data that tracks logic board failures in any manner, let alone based on specific use cases.
 
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Mlrollin91

Mlrollin91

macrumors G5
Nov 20, 2008
14,172
10,187
I've had about a dozen Macs over the years. I had a 2011 iMac and 2015 iMac suffer logic board failures. On the other hand both M1 devices my household has have been flawless.
 
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A

arnolds1

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 28, 2016
24
10
chrfr

chrfr

macrumors G5
Jul 11, 2009
13,709
7,280
arnolds1 said:
See https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/m1-macbooks-and-power-delivery-usb-c-hubs.2276776/ and https://bartechtv.com/m1-macbook-pro-and-macbook-air-being-killed-by-usb-c-hubs-with-power-delivery/
Click to expand...
This was fixed with an update some time shortly after those posts were made. It's not an ongoing problem. It was addressed in macOS 11.2.2, released in February 2021:
"macOS Big Sur 11.2.2 prevents MacBook Pro (2019 or later) and MacBook Air (2020 or later) models from incurring damage when they are connected to certain third-party, non-compliant powered USB-C hubs and docks."
 
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headlessmike

headlessmike

macrumors 65816
May 16, 2017
1,439
2,843
My only Mac to ever suffer a logic board failure was a 2020 Intel MacBook Pro (13”, 4TB). It was out of warranty of course. The silver lining was that I got to replace it with a 14” M1 Pro MacBook Pro, which is hands down the best computer I’ve ever owned.
 
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ovbacon

ovbacon

Suspended
Feb 13, 2010
1,596
11,508
Tahoe, CA
I paid $84 for 3 years of AC+ on my mini M2. Chances are, and I hope so, I will not ever need it. But for $28 a year I do not have to worry for 3 years. I like insurance and it has served me very well throughout my life. I've had MBP's, iPhone and iMac's replaced or fixed... Damn I've had many other instances in life where having insurance was a godsend. It's all about if you think it is worth it and/or if you have no problem paying for things out of pocket. Something can always fail even when it is just sitting on a desk 24/7.

But don't buy a lottery ticket as that really is a scammy money making machine o_O.
 
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T

The1Biz

macrumors regular
Dec 7, 2018
178
252
Check if the credit card you bought it on has any warranty protection. That may be a way around AppleCare and still have some protection.

I don't know about Macs but people I've known who have had iPhone replacements have had issues after replacement where the products aren't 100% new, but refurbished. My 6s was replaced with a "new" model and the screen died less than a year later. I wonder if they are doing the same thing with Macs too.

I'd rather just buy the latest version after a few years if something died. Most products have an infant mortality so if it gets past the 1 year you should be good to go.
 
minik

minik

macrumors demi-god
Jun 25, 2007
2,212
1,744
somewhere
From what I have seen first hand, there were a couple cases of stuck/unresponsive keycaps on the M1 MacBook Air that got sent in for repair (not really a hardware failure). However one time we had a M1 iMac that made loud static noise when changing volume after the first 6-7 months of usage. At the end, Apple just took that iMac away and replaced with a brand new machine. For my own devices, I generally opt-in for AppleCare+ (monthly or yearly).
 
T

TechnoMonk

macrumors 68030
Oct 15, 2022
2,614
4,125
My last MBP to suffer logic board failure was 2012 retina. I buy AC+ for accidental damage during traveling or moving around. Last time I used Ac+ was on my 2019 MBP. Some lady running to catch her flight was messing up with bins at the security. My MBP fell, Apple replaced the screen, case, and keyboard. AC+ is like insurance, use once or twice, you recover the money spent over years. I have used AC+ on iPhone, AirPods Pro and iPad Pro screen.
 
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W

weeener

macrumors newbie
Jun 2, 2023
23
35
I almost bought apple care until i saw that apple still charges hundreds of dollars per repair incident with apple care anyway.
 
Last edited:
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F

FNH15

macrumors 6502a
Apr 19, 2011
822
867
AppleCare has more than paid for itself with my previous Intel machines - bought it on my original 15” rMBP, the AppleCare supplied replacement Late ’13 rMBP, and the replacement for that machine, also provided under AppleCare, a 18” 15 tbMBP. Saved me a bucketload over the years.

When I traded in the 15” tbMBP, I bought it on my 16” AS MBP. No brainer, especially since it now covers accidental damage too.

With everything being soldered, it’s good piece of mind. I do think the AS machines have fewer issues owing to the lower heat generated from the new chipset, though.
Heat is definitely what killed my previous Intel machines.
 
A

Allen_Wentz

macrumors 68040
Dec 3, 2016
3,346
3,798
USA
rovostrov said:
Good luck! It makes no difference to me if you buy AC or not.
Click to expand...
I made no comment about AppleCare, which I sometimes do purchase. The statement "Personal experience. I've had many issues with modern macs vs the older ones" is what I consider to be anecdotal and unscientific.

Just the existence of this poll offends my common sense. Silly polls like this one drive me kinda crazy because statistically they mean nothing, yet some folks (even some educated well enough to know better) treat them as meaningful. MR of course does not care because they are here to entertain, not to be scientific.
 
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