MacBook Pro Bags, Sleeves, and Cases Thread

[junebug1]

Just got the new diamond pattern Incase ICON for the 15" and I think it's excellent. I will follow up after a few days with it but I've got one for my MacBook and my older non-TB 15" and this fits just as expected. The word a few people used about the width being a TAD large is fair but to say it's sliding around like crazy is a huge exaggeration. Maybe the 13" is different but can definitely recommend the 15" fitting nicely. The diamond pattern in black isn't really noticeable as that was my main concern.

 

[jefdj]

Just got the new diamond pattern Incase ICON for the 15" and I think it's excellent. I will follow up after a few days with it but I've got one for my MacBook and my older non-TB 15" and this fits just as expected. The word a few people used about the width being a TAD large is fair but to say it's sliding around like crazy is a huge exaggeration. Maybe the 13" is different but can definitely recommend the 15" fitting nicely. The diamond pattern in black isn't really noticeable as that was my main concern.

But are these new sleeves the same size as the old sleeves?
Or they are smaller to adapt to the new MBP?

 

[jimthing]

Just got the new diamond pattern Incase ICON for the 15" and I think it's excellent. I will follow up after a few days with it but I've got one for my MacBook and my older non-TB 15" and this fits just as expected. The word a few people used about the width being a TAD large is fair but to say it's sliding around like crazy is a huge exaggeration. Maybe the 13" is different but can definitely recommend the 15" fitting nicely. The diamond pattern in black isn't really noticeable as that was my main concern.

But are these new sleeves the same size as the old sleeves?
Or they are smaller to adapt to the new MBP?

^Yes, this would be good to know. Please, if you can. ^

Presumably they must be, as I tried my 15" tbMBP in the old black Icon sleeve here in the UK, and it slid around much too much, not fitting at all...
From this shop: https://www.johnlewis.com/incase-icon-sleeve-for-macbook-pro-retina-pro-touch-pad-15-/p2729362?colour=Heather Grey/Black
– strangely, they have labelled it as "New In", when clearly its the one for the old model, given it isn't diamond patterned!

I wish Incase (and some other brands) would be clearer and stop trying to obfuscate which models correctly fit their sleeves.

 

[puckhead193]

Just got the new diamond pattern Incase ICON for the 15" and I think it's excellent. I will follow up after a few days with it but I've got one for my MacBook and my older non-TB 15" and this fits just as expected. The word a few people used about the width being a TAD large is fair but to say it's sliding around like crazy is a huge exaggeration. Maybe the 13" is different but can definitely recommend the 15" fitting nicely. The diamond pattern in black isn't really noticeable as that was my main concern.

whats the difference between the diamond pattern and the other heather gray/blue one?

 

[jimthing]

whats the difference between the diamond pattern and the other heather gray/blue one?

BLACK or GREY both with Diamond Pattern => are for the new TB3 MBP's (2016):
http://www.apple.com/shop/product/HKZC2ZM/A

BLACK or HEATHER GREY in plain => are for the old Retina MBP's (pre-2016):
http://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/HJU02ZM/A

 

[Terrance94]

Just got the new diamond pattern Incase ICON for the 15" and I think it's excellent. I will follow up after a few days with it but I've got one for my MacBook and my older non-TB 15" and this fits just as expected. The word a few people used about the width being a TAD large is fair but to say it's sliding around like crazy is a huge exaggeration. Maybe the 13" is different but can definitely recommend the 15" fitting nicely. The diamond pattern in black isn't really noticeable as that was my main concern.

Could you show the space inside the sleeve with the Mac in it to give us an idea? Also, are the sides of the sleeve harder to guard against bumps?

 

[David58117]

I received my "new" incase icon sleeve for my 13 pro from apple, I ordered it the first day it showed up on the apple store site...it's the same case they sell for the old pro. My new pro slides around in it, and it's obviously NOT redesigned for the new smaller pro. Totally disappointed and frankly shocked that both apple and incase are perpetuating the fraud that this is somehow a new case for the new pro. Even the packaging clearly states "MACBOOK PRO 13". Not new pro, not old pro, just pro.

Sending it back.

The new one is only the diamond pattern one, not the others. Unless it says diamond pattern/thunderbolt three - you're getting the prior version.

 

[junebug1]

Could you show the space inside the sleeve with the Mac in it to give us an idea? Also, are the sides of the sleeve harder to guard against bumps?

It fits pretty damn snug inside. The slight movement allows for it to go in and be removed without too much trouble. The sides are made of Tensaerlite which makes them much harder/stiffer than anything else I've come across which is why these ICON sleeves have been my go to since they were introduced.

 

[bevsb2]

Cool bag but I personally wouldn't want to advertise that I might be carrying a Mac in my bag and make myself a target. Same reason I try to cover any apple logos with cases. I feel Apple products are more likely to get stolen.

First thing I thought when I saw the photo.

 

[David58117]

Just got the new diamond pattern Incase ICON for the 15" and I think it's excellent. I will follow up after a few days with it but I've got one for my MacBook and my older non-TB 15" and this fits just as expected. The word a few people used about the width being a TAD large is fair but to say it's sliding around like crazy is a huge exaggeration. Maybe the 13" is different but can definitely recommend the 15" fitting nicely. The diamond pattern in black isn't really noticeable as that was my main concern.

I think they were talking about the prior generation sleeve, not the diamond pattern one that's specifically made for the thunderbolt one.

But it's a non-issue now, since the diamond pattern thunderbolt one is out for the 2016 models. People just need to make sure they're ordering the correct one.

 

[puckhead193]

How much bigger is the Icon sleeve then the computer does it just add a little bulk or a lot of bulk? How much does it add on each side?

 

[TechZeke]

picked up the icon sleeve for my 15" tb mbpro - it's just like the previous model but with the new diamond texture pattern. Surprisingly it is a tad loose on the inside - I expected it to fit very snugly but you can indeed feel the mbpro slide around a tad if you shake it side to side. I also have a slim sleeve on order set to deliver Friday so will post my experience with that as well. Will be picking one to keep and one to return ultimately.

I've been curious about this, because I like the diamond design for the ICON sleeve but incase's website says it's only for TB MBP. From what it sounds like it may still fit my late 2013 15" rMBP.

 

[eye.surgeon]

BLACK or GREY both with Diamond Pattern => are for the new TB3 MBP's (2016):
http://www.apple.com/shop/product/HKZC2ZM/A

BLACK or HEATHER GREY in plain => are for the old Retina MBP's (pre-2016):
http://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/HJU02ZM/A

This is incorrect.

I personally ordered and received the so-called "new" diamond pattern UBC-C case from the apple store and it clearly was not new nor was it sized for the new touchbar macbook pros. It was larger than my new macbook pro TB and was clearly sized for the older macbook pro.
[doublepost=1489555017][/doublepost]

I think they were talking about the prior generation sleeve, not the diamond pattern one that's specifically made for the thunderbolt one.

But it's a non-issue now, since the diamond pattern thunderbolt one is out for the 2016 models. People just need to make sure they're ordering the correct one.

Again, I ordered the correct one and it was not new nor was it sized specifically for the 2016 models. I returned it.

 

[jimthing]

This is incorrect.

I personally ordered and received the so-called "new" diamond pattern UBC-C case from the apple store and it clearly was not new nor was it sized for the new touchbar macbook pros. It was larger than my new macbook pro TB and was clearly sized for the older macbook pro.
[doublepost=1489555017][/doublepost]
Again, I ordered the correct one and it was not new nor was it sized specifically for the 2016 models. I returned it.

Really? If so then that's a bummer. On the US Apple site (the UK Apple site doesn't have them yet!) the description is:
"Incase 15" ICON Sleeve with Diamond Ripstop for MacBook Pro - Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C)"

So WTF...?

The only thing I can add is... I think someone above noted it wasn't completely tight enough around the TB3 MBP's but was definitely tighter than the one for the Retina-generation MBP's. So is that the issue, perhaps?

EDIT: found comment:

picked up the icon sleeve for my 15" tb mbpro - it's just like the previous model but with the new diamond texture pattern. Surprisingly it is a tad loose on the inside - I expected it to fit very snugly but you can indeed feel the mbpro slide around a tad if you shake it side to side. I also have a slim sleeve on order set to deliver Friday so will post my experience with that as well. Will be picking one to keep and one to return ultimately.

It could be early production problems too, of course. But at this point, who the heck knows?!

 

[TechZeke]

This is incorrect.

I personally ordered and received the so-called "new" diamond pattern UBC-C case from the apple store and it clearly was not new nor was it sized for the new touchbar macbook pros. It was larger than my new macbook pro TB and was clearly sized for the older macbook pro.
[doublepost=1489555017][/doublepost]
Again, I ordered the correct one and it was not new nor was it sized specifically for the 2016 models. I returned it.

Incase is getting annoying with this crap. If it's simply the same size as the older sleeves, why would they say it's only compatible with the TB MBP?

 

[TechZeke]

So I did some digging.

On incase's website, dimensions for the old sleeve are noted as 16"" X 11" X 0.50":
https://www.incase.com/shop/sleeves/icon-sleeve-mb-retina-15/heather-grayblack/

On Apple's website, new diamond sleeve is noted as 15.87" X 10.94" X 0.59":
http://www.apple.com/shop/product/H...d-ripstop-for-macbook-pro-thunderbolt-3-usb-c

Those are decimal inches, meaning the differences are negligible in width and length, and could easily be from rounding from the old sleeve. In terms of thickness, the new sleeve actually seems noticeably thicker.

EDIT: I think I see the difference now. If you look at the images between the 13" TB diamond icon sleeve and and the non-TB 13" sleeve, the TB 13" sleeve's surrounding shock border is thinner. This is probably where the differences lie. If you also look between the pictures, you can see the TB 13" has more horizontal free-space:

TB 13" sleeve:
http://www.apple.com/shop/product/HKZ62ZM/A/incase-13-icon-sleeve-with-diamond-ripstop-for-macbook-pro-thunderbolt-3-port-usb-c?fnode=96e536772aaed3ff56d1c75a253b6ef6d2865195900a19a1acbb1cbf4a37c73cf222f26438fad55b96c6d7ed6434dd75d2235e0df524d992afad6778eb5b978b2db04f0f304d95d1cc07101e62056bf697685223dc25253f58d022fa9ae46fddeb74202b4d5ccd86dd081bca1e8b0348&fs=f=incase&fh=4592%2B3301
Non-TB 13" sleeve:
http://www.apple.com/shop/product/HL162ZM/A/incase-13-icon-sleeve-with-diamond-ripstop-for-macbook-pro-thunderbolt-2-port?fnode=d9d78d7f45eb8419379537ca3a92f8b9550a80b7986c1443f7ac2b349182ade837b94f8e3b5ae02fce59576af0fb18c176ec79e9c3c7faeb4ed06d7f64c5e23242289cafdb02a90bb57463a19605b6432c34ef028820ed78750de1c2127bf6a8e85600363919d70d3bd1c3727dc6e430&fs=f=incase&fh=4592%2B3301

My conclusion:
Incase didn't alter the dimensions of the sleeve itself, but simply made the shock border thinner for the TB MBPs. Sucks that Incase left us non-TB 15" users behind with the new design.

 

[jimthing]

So I did some digging.

On incase's website, dimensions for the old sleeve are noted as 16"" X 11" X 0.50":
https://www.incase.com/shop/sleeves/icon-sleeve-mb-retina-15/heather-grayblack/

On Apple's website, new diamond sleeve is noted as 15.87" X 10.94" X 0.59":
http://www.apple.com/shop/product/H...d-ripstop-for-macbook-pro-thunderbolt-3-usb-c

Those are decimal inches, meaning the differences are negligible in width and length, and could easily be from rounding from the old sleeve. In terms of thickness, the new sleeve actually seems noticeably thicker.

In decimal centimetres:
16" = 40.64cm / 15.87" = 40.31cm (negligible difference).
11" = 27.94cm / 10.94" = 27.79cm (negligible difference).
0.50" = 1.27cm / 0.59" = 1.50cm (negligible difference).

I reckon one site or the other has one of these dimensions wrong, as they're so close as to be virtually identical (try it yourself; pull out a measuring tape and see the differences). They are nothing like what they should be given the 2016 models have distinctly different outer measurements (source: Mactracker app, free iOS+macOS):

13":
2015: 31.40 x 21.90 x 1.80 cm / 1.58 kg.
2016: 30.41 x 21.24 x 1.49 cm / 1.37 kg.
diffs = -0.99 x -0.66 x -0.31 cm / -0.21 kg.

15":
2015: 35.89 x 24.71 x 1.80 cm / 2.04 kg.
2016: 34.93 x 24.07 x 1.55 cm / 1.83 kg.
diffs = -0.96 x -0.64 x -0.25 cm / -0.21 kg.

EDIT: I think I see the difference now. If you look at the images between the 13" TB diamond icon sleeve and and the non-TB 13" sleeve, the TB 13" sleeve's surrounding shock border is thinner. This is probably where the differences lie. If you also look between the pictures, you can see the TB 13" has more horizontal free-space:

TB 13" sleeve:
http://www.apple.com/shop/product/HKZ62ZM/A/incase-13-icon-sleeve-with-diamond-ripstop-for-macbook-pro-thunderbolt-3-port-usb-c?fnode=96e536772aaed3ff56d1c75a253b6ef6d2865195900a19a1acbb1cbf4a37c73cf222f26438fad55b96c6d7ed6434dd75d2235e0df524d992afad6778eb5b978b2db04f0f304d95d1cc07101e62056bf697685223dc25253f58d022fa9ae46fddeb74202b4d5ccd86dd081bca1e8b0348&fs=f=incase&fh=4592%2B3301
Non-TB 13" sleeve:
http://www.apple.com/shop/product/HL162ZM/A/incase-13-icon-sleeve-with-diamond-ripstop-for-macbook-pro-thunderbolt-2-port?fnode=d9d78d7f45eb8419379537ca3a92f8b9550a80b7986c1443f7ac2b349182ade837b94f8e3b5ae02fce59576af0fb18c176ec79e9c3c7faeb4ed06d7f64c5e23242289cafdb02a90bb57463a19605b6432c34ef028820ed78750de1c2127bf6a8e85600363919d70d3bd1c3727dc6e430&fs=f=incase&fh=4592%2B3301

My conclusion:
Incase didn't alter the dimensions of the sleeve itself, but simply made the shock border thinner for the TB MBPs. Sucks that Incase left us non-TB 15" users behind with the new design.

-------------------- 2015 13" ------------------------- vs. ----------------------------------- 2016 13" ----------------

2015: https://store.storeimages.cdn-apple.com/4974/as-images.apple.com/is/image/AppleInc/aos/published/images/H/L1/HL162/HL162?wid=2000&hei=2000&fmt=jpeg&qlt=95&op_sharpen=0&resMode=bicub&op_usm=0.5,0.5,0,0&iccEmbed=0&layer=comp&.v=1488141974333
2016: https://store.storeimages.cdn-apple....5,0,0&iccEmbed=0&layer=comp&.v=1488141867586

I just don't see it, I'm afraid. In fact the only one I see that's shows a possible problem, is the last of the 5 images on Apples website:
-------------------- 2015 13" ------------------------- vs. ----------------------------------- 2016 13" ----------------

2015 13": https://store.storeimages.cdn-apple.com/4974/as-images.apple.com/is/image/AppleInc/aos/published/images/H/L1/HL162/HL162_AV4?wid=2000&hei=2000&fmt=jpeg&qlt=95&op_sharpen=0&resMode=bicub&op_usm=0.5,0.5,0,0&iccEmbed=0&layer=comp&.v=1488141962088
2016 13": https://store.storeimages.cdn-apple....5,0,0&iccEmbed=0&layer=comp&.v=1488141845040

These show much more space surrounding the smaller 2016 13" MBP, compared to the bigger 2015 13" MBP – bizarre!

But then you look at the same sleeve for the 2016 15" MBP, and the space surrounding it doesn't look so bad:
-------------------- 2016 15" -------------------------

So who the hell knows! Incase are making a mess of things that's for sure. I just wish they'd sodding well get these into the UK/EU Apple stores ASAP, so we're not left still longer hanging on.

 

[puckhead193]

I went to my local apple store today and played with both the 15 icon and regular diamond sleeve. Fit seems a bit loose on the regular diamond sleeve. Not much but which it was a fit tighter. Incase I've decided to order the Icon sleeve the extra protection seems worth it to me.
I think if i order it through incase I don't get charged sales tax. I also plan on trying out the city messenger style briefcase.

 

[jimthing]

I went to my local apple store today and played with both the 15 icon and regular diamond sleeve. Fit seems a bit loose on the regular diamond sleeve. Not much but which it was a fit tighter. Incase I've decided to order the Icon sleeve the extra protection seems worth it to me.
I think if i order it through incase I don't get charged sales tax. I also plan on trying out the city messenger style briefcase.

Sorry can you link to the two your tried, as we're not clear on which you mean?

 

[puckhead193]

Sorry can you link to the two your tried, as we're not clear on which you mean?

https://www.incase.com/shop/macbook...ith-diamond-ripstop-for-macbook-pro-15/black/
I preferred this one, over the latter. It's larger in terms of the footprint but its because of the rubber bumpers. It seemed to fit tighter. When removing my MBP i did struggle a bit as the opening is small but I'm sure i'd get used to it over time.

https://www.incase.com/shop/macbook...h-diamond-ripstop-for-mb-pro-retina-15/black/
This one had a little too much room for my liking and didn't seem like it offered enough protection if dropped. I was the simplest to remove the MacBook though.

also ordering this slim brief when I just want to take my laptop with me and not my whole backpack.
https://www.incase.com/shop/shoulder-bags/incase-city-brief-15/heather-blackgunmetal-gray/

edit -
Before placing my ordered I used this promo code for 15% off, saved $20..woot! (plus the free shipping)
AFF151

 

[jimthing]

Message to Incase: can you offer all three options here in Europe please!

Thanks.

 

[TechZeke]

In decimal centimetres:
-snip-

No, by "thinner" I mean in the height direction, not from the top direction.

 

[neoelectronaut]

Came across this nice-looking Tomtoc sleeve on Amazon for my 13" Macbook pro and I think it's the one I'm gonna nab.

I actually like the look of the AmazonBasic sleeve as well more but the Tomtoc sleeve has a magnetic closure instead of the Amazon sleeve's velcro.

Picked up this sleeve back in late February and it's pretty great, especially for $20. Would anyone like me to snap some pictures?

 

[ehaugk]

Sorry to keep everyone hanging. I did get the new diamond slim sleeve but dimensionally it was identical to the prior version I had gotten late in 2016. Unfortunately despite the marketing specifically linking these sleeves to the new 2016 MacBook Pro, they don't seem to fit any tighter. I held onto the icon tensearlite sleeve and returned the slim sleeves. Offers more shock protection imo and given they all have a bit of wiggle figured keeping that one made the most sense. Done waiting for incase to do the obvious logical thing a make a sleeve that fits properly.

 

[medulla]

Has anyone that has recently got a 2016 MacBook Pro looked into these as contenders?

https://www.vajacases.com/collections/mac-book-pro-touch-bar-13
https://www.vajacases.com/collections/mac-book-pro-touch-bar-15

There is a 20% off coupon for anyone interested..