I spoke to our IT guy responsible for corporate Macs asking about butterfly keyboard issues and he said that he had no reports of the problem. The only problem that he had reported that was likely a QC problem was a unit that wouldn't charge. He had a bulging battery but that's not really QC or a defect. It was quite a contrast to MacRumors where the keyboard was strongly vilified. I would guess that the keyboard issue was the most vocal problem on MacBook Pros and have no doubt that there were lots of failures (I recall the Forbes article on it). But it's not something that everyone or even a majority sees. Apple doesn't share their failure rate data so we won't know.
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MacBook screen quality seems to be going down
- Thread starter trodriguez
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I spoke to our IT guy responsible for corporate Macs asking about butterfly keyboard issues and he said that he had no reports of the problem. The only problem that he had reported that was likely a QC problem was a unit that wouldn't charge. He had a bulging battery but that's not really QC or a defect. It was quite a contrast to MacRumors where the keyboard was strongly vilified. I would guess that the keyboard issue was the most vocal problem on MacBook Pros and have no doubt that there were lots of failures (I recall the Forbes article on it). But it's not something that everyone or even a majority sees. Apple doesn't share their failure rate data so we won't know.
I routinely pick it up from the side with my thumb on the top and my fingers on the bottom and it feels super-rigid to me. I just now noticed the oils from my thumb on the top lid. This is on the 16. This thing actually feels sturdier than my 2014 and 2015 MacBook Pros. I know that the 2021 only weighs a bit more than the 2014 and 2015 models but it definitely feels a lot heavier than the actual difference. I suspect this is due to the thicker case which requires more hand leverage than the old models.
My approach is to delete all of the text and then leave the word "deleted".
I’m pretty sure there used to be a way to delete accidental posts but maybe I’m remembering wrong.
Yes, they are. Apple purposefully made a design choice in their laptops that will crack the screens when subjected to usage the general public and the industry standard considers normal use. I cracked my screen with crumbs from toast, my colleague cracked his by having his m1 air in a backpack and leaning back in a chair. My Thinkpad laughs at that.
Get applecare or don't by a modern macbook. We customers wanted thin, Apple made thin, time for us to accept the consequences.
Get applecare or don't by a modern macbook. We customers wanted thin, Apple made thin, time for us to accept the consequences.
I agree with the "get applecare" but not the thin. My M1 is thicker than my 2020 MBP. I can accept that the screen to keyboard spacing is very very minimal though.
Don't think closing your lid on hard crumbs is considered recommended usage for any brand.
But yes, Apple does weigh form against function when it comes to weight and dimensions, and most customers are glad they do. Otherwise it would look like a ThinkPad and have a 15" screen.
I don't personally know anyone that this has happened to but was aware of it being a wider problems a year or two ago. We have an M1 Air and an M1 Pro 16 and they have both been flawless. Absolutely the best laptops from Apple that I've seen in our many years of using them. It reminds me of my 2014 MacBook Pro for fit, finish, functionality and usability. The industrial look is a throwback to my 2008 MacBook Pro 17 which is okay - I prefer the overall look of the 2014; but a lot of the stuff that goes into the 2021 makes up for it.
Perhaps it's a good idea not to eat around laptops. I do eat stuff using my laptop though the laptop is usually 30 inches away when I do that.
Perhaps it's a good idea not to eat around laptops. I do eat stuff using my laptop though the laptop is usually 30 inches away when I do that.
Actually, I didn't comment on those reddit threads. Not sure what you mean about replacing the lid other than paying to repair the screen assembly. Again, my point of this thread was to make people aware of what I just experienced which coincided with purchasing multiple current generation MacBooks recently and having the older generations around to still compare to. Even with my frustrating experience, I have not recommended anyone not to purchase one - just to consider this additional information and maybe purchase AppleCare+ or maybe cover it under your credit card if you can so that you don't encourage Apple to not look into this to see if it's a possible manufacturing issue.
Anyway, I know I use these forums whenever I'm researching an Apple purchase so just trying to give some hopefully helpful information for users who are doing the same.
There were a bunch of articles on this last Fall. Here's an example from Forbes:
Apple Confirms MacBook Pro Design Flaws
Apple has confirmed that the design of the Apple Silicon MacBooks is contributing to display problems reported by the community.
www.forbes.com
I'm not aware that this is a known problem with the 14 and 16 inch MacBook Pros.
This is exactly the kind of carelessness that damages computers. They are not intended to be sat on, no matter what. Also, don't eat at your computer if you're going to spray crumbs all over it, that's kind of gross
swingerofbirch
macrumors 68040
Is it glass? If it is, it's a very thin film of glass.
I preferred the 2012 and earlier models that had real glass (or at least much thicker glass). What they have now is such a thin film, I didn't even think it was glass.
I also had a MBP of this newer variety have the display crack—internally somehow. There was no damage to the outside of the display, but Apple claimed it cracked internally and must have been damaged. I had to pay a lot to replace it, and it has delaminated badly. Have not been impressed.
I preferred the 2012 and earlier models that had real glass (or at least much thicker glass). What they have now is such a thin film, I didn't even think it was glass.
I also had a MBP of this newer variety have the display crack—internally somehow. There was no damage to the outside of the display, but Apple claimed it cracked internally and must have been damaged. I had to pay a lot to replace it, and it has delaminated badly. Have not been impressed.
Not sat, leaned back with a backpack. Not the same thing.
Also, clearly you've never had a lunch meeting.
There’s a lot of people on here saying a lot of things. Here’s a simple interpretation:
If you, like me, have had multiple MacBooks, MacBook Airs, and MacBook Pros for the last 2 decades, and then you get a new one and it is prone to getting these dents/dings/impressions/imprints on the screen under the same use case as the last 2 decades, that would be something I considered a big problem, a decrease in quality, and would be very disappointed with. I have never, once, ever, experienced this issue across multiple machines, and I would be disappointed to experience it now.
If you, like me, have had multiple MacBooks, MacBook Airs, and MacBook Pros for the last 2 decades, and then you get a new one and it is prone to getting these dents/dings/impressions/imprints on the screen under the same use case as the last 2 decades, that would be something I considered a big problem, a decrease in quality, and would be very disappointed with. I have never, once, ever, experienced this issue across multiple machines, and I would be disappointed to experience it now.
I have the same issue, it's dust particles that scratch what ever top layer apple using on the new MBP 14/16. If I look at it from an angle, you can see that it's like a small debt in the screen top layer. Very poor quality and disappointing, never happen with my 2016 and 2018 MBP 13 and I have used the same cleaning process and microfiber cloth
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Other laptops are like this as well.
This happens on every glass Macbook model, regardless of year. Just put a matte screen protector if your that worried. Also like I said the 2016-2020 were no different than 2021 models.
Are the M2 AIR laptops stronger? That's really what I want to know if anyone knows. 2 weeks back ordered maybe 3. But when it is, is the M2 AIR stronger? The CHASIS looks different so I am hopeful. I had 3 cracked m1air screens through normal use. This fragility is untenable.
Thank you everyone for your posts, sorry about the backlash you've experienced and I should have posted after my first cracked screen. Who's on the side of weak screens here? How is this a controversial topic? I'm upset about the last break, the unavailability of the M2, and quite frankly the backlash experienced by people posting about their broken screens. My goodness.
####LAST NIGHT:
I am on eggshells with these machines and it's not optimal. My work demands a laptop that can stand up to normal usage. Nothing rough. Like setting the laptop down on a table or a lab bench. I'm a scientist, not a cowboy. Little bumps of NORMAL USAGE. Something actually touching the screen. Like my finger or a pencil, or maybe god forbid my glasses or the corner of a book. My phone might tap it ever so gently while taking a picture. Etc. In addition, the screens aren't very bright on the M1 airs, so I have to get close to the screen when outside, but that's a separate issue, are they brighter on the M2 airs? I am allowed to bring them outside right? Weather permitting. I mean these are too FRAGILE. There's a line and APPLE crossed it. Too fragile. That line. Cheap screens or flawed screens I don't know if it was primarily cost cutting or design flaw, or they just weren't rigorously tested, which is a sort of design flaw, in that it could have been redesigned if the screens were found to be too fragile during testing. These are internal screen cracks you can't see them until the computer is turned on, but then you can't see the screen because internally it's cracked, and well we know what that looks like right?
Normal wear and tear in a science lab. And in the car handled with care getting to and from the science lab. They both have padded foam cases and then they go in a backpack. After the first $500 repair I thought it was a fluke. 2nd break I got hard shell cases and planned to upgrade early. Now I need to upgrade my 2nd machine today after last night's break, and the M2 isn't in stock in my store. 2 weeks back ordered maybe 3. But when it is, is the M2 AIR stronger? The CHASIS looks different so I am hopeful. I think it's a combo of a weak chassis and a weak internal screen with the M1 airs. It's outrageous how easily these broke. New tech is fun and I'm happy to get the mag safe cable back, and the darker color for the chassis. But are they stronger?
I didn't have time to read ALL the back and forth. But wow, I have to say if someone complains about a fragile screen on the M1 airs, it's a pretty rude and insensitive response to say the screens don't crack on their own. Try and give a little support to your fellow apple product users or just your fellow human with a cracked screen. Stop bragging about the fact that yours hasn't broken (yet) and ya know, don't shoot the messenger. I get it. You want it to be their fault so you can feel like it won't happen to you. The posts about the crumbs and the kids and the screens are helping mac users like me. Please let people talk without shutting them down. And calling someone gross for talking about crumbs, is uncalled for, absolutely uncalled for. So in support of the person with the crumbs, I want you to know I will eat wherever I want. I don't know how you eat, but I don't eat "gross". And crumbs are a part of life. A consumer computer that can not deal with crumbs has a design flaw. How are we to describe ourselves to your liking? While sitting at a major research university in the "clean room" my screen cracked. This actually happened to me, but there was a hard surface I was putting it down on with normal force involved.
After 5 decades of life, I have had many apple laptops. This was my first Powerbook
the 170. I loved it! I love all my tech. No way you could crack that screen without trying really hard. Or none would have paid for it. But they were expensive. That was 1991. Thirty years later I have gotten new APPLE mac laptops every one or two years and usually more than one at a time. I work in science and I use them for my work. I also have a windows laptop at all times and more recently a Chromebook. These I replace less frequently and they do get less usage. I trickle down my old tech to friends and family. But I keep the previous generation until I'm ready for a third generation so that I know all the software will run and I have backup systems if there are kinks. I have never had a cracked screen on any of my technology until these M1 airs.
I love the two M1 airs I got last year. I love and adore as I do all my technology. These M1 airs are incredibly fast. So fast! I have so many tabs open all the time. They are both awesome. I have no dogs, there are no kids in the house at all during these last two years. All I have is a few spiders. I take them to the lab. I take them to restaurants occasionally. I take them home. The laptops, not the spiders.
So, are the M2 laptops stronger? That's my question. If they are not will I have to get a gaming laptop or something running UNIX for my work? Because this fragility is untenable.
Anyway, Thankyou!
Thank you everyone for your posts, sorry about the backlash you've experienced and I should have posted after my first cracked screen. Who's on the side of weak screens here? How is this a controversial topic? I'm upset about the last break, the unavailability of the M2, and quite frankly the backlash experienced by people posting about their broken screens. My goodness.
####LAST NIGHT:
I am on eggshells with these machines and it's not optimal. My work demands a laptop that can stand up to normal usage. Nothing rough. Like setting the laptop down on a table or a lab bench. I'm a scientist, not a cowboy. Little bumps of NORMAL USAGE. Something actually touching the screen. Like my finger or a pencil, or maybe god forbid my glasses or the corner of a book. My phone might tap it ever so gently while taking a picture. Etc. In addition, the screens aren't very bright on the M1 airs, so I have to get close to the screen when outside, but that's a separate issue, are they brighter on the M2 airs? I am allowed to bring them outside right? Weather permitting. I mean these are too FRAGILE. There's a line and APPLE crossed it. Too fragile. That line. Cheap screens or flawed screens I don't know if it was primarily cost cutting or design flaw, or they just weren't rigorously tested, which is a sort of design flaw, in that it could have been redesigned if the screens were found to be too fragile during testing. These are internal screen cracks you can't see them until the computer is turned on, but then you can't see the screen because internally it's cracked, and well we know what that looks like right?
Normal wear and tear in a science lab. And in the car handled with care getting to and from the science lab. They both have padded foam cases and then they go in a backpack. After the first $500 repair I thought it was a fluke. 2nd break I got hard shell cases and planned to upgrade early. Now I need to upgrade my 2nd machine today after last night's break, and the M2 isn't in stock in my store. 2 weeks back ordered maybe 3. But when it is, is the M2 AIR stronger? The CHASIS looks different so I am hopeful. I think it's a combo of a weak chassis and a weak internal screen with the M1 airs. It's outrageous how easily these broke. New tech is fun and I'm happy to get the mag safe cable back, and the darker color for the chassis. But are they stronger?
I didn't have time to read ALL the back and forth. But wow, I have to say if someone complains about a fragile screen on the M1 airs, it's a pretty rude and insensitive response to say the screens don't crack on their own. Try and give a little support to your fellow apple product users or just your fellow human with a cracked screen. Stop bragging about the fact that yours hasn't broken (yet) and ya know, don't shoot the messenger. I get it. You want it to be their fault so you can feel like it won't happen to you. The posts about the crumbs and the kids and the screens are helping mac users like me. Please let people talk without shutting them down. And calling someone gross for talking about crumbs, is uncalled for, absolutely uncalled for. So in support of the person with the crumbs, I want you to know I will eat wherever I want. I don't know how you eat, but I don't eat "gross". And crumbs are a part of life. A consumer computer that can not deal with crumbs has a design flaw. How are we to describe ourselves to your liking? While sitting at a major research university in the "clean room" my screen cracked. This actually happened to me, but there was a hard surface I was putting it down on with normal force involved.
After 5 decades of life, I have had many apple laptops. This was my first Powerbook
I love the two M1 airs I got last year. I love and adore as I do all my technology. These M1 airs are incredibly fast. So fast! I have so many tabs open all the time. They are both awesome. I have no dogs, there are no kids in the house at all during these last two years. All I have is a few spiders. I take them to the lab. I take them to restaurants occasionally. I take them home. The laptops, not the spiders.
So, are the M2 laptops stronger? That's my question. If they are not will I have to get a gaming laptop or something running UNIX for my work? Because this fragility is untenable.
Anyway, Thankyou!
I have never broken a screen on any device and I've been using computers since the early 1970s. That includes a lot of phones and a lot of MacBooks. I currently use the 2021 MacBook Pro 16 with the 2014 and 2015 MacBook Pro 15s as backups. My second laptop was a Dell Inspiron 4100 (circa 2000) and it still works just fine.
Very sad and true! I got my MacBook Pro 14(2021) in november 2022 and in july 2023, despite of taking excesive care of it, cleaning it with Apple Polishing Cloth, I discovered a couple of small pits/dents on the display an one of them was deeper and there some debries got stuck rendering the pixel as appearing dead. Fortunately, Apple replace it under the warrany but I read that many people had the issue and many of them having the problem reoccuring on the replacement pannels too. Despite what Apple claims, I consider putting a film protector on it.
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Considering the premium price we invest in these high-end devices, it's reasonable to expect impeccable screens. Nonetheless, as I mentioned in a different post, I encountered dents as well. I'm presently in the process of seeking help from Apple, but it's proving to be a rather demanding undertaking.
I understand that some individuals have been suggesting it's one's own responsibility and advising acceptance of the situation. However, it doesn't require rocket science to deduce that the numerous reports about the M1 MBP 2021+ can't merely be coincidental.
If my screen isn't rectified, I'm prepared to fully commit and draw as much attention as possible to this problem. I've owned devices five times older than this one (which were significantly less expensive), and their screens remain nearly flawless despite enduring some rough treatment over the years.
I understand that some individuals have been suggesting it's one's own responsibility and advising acceptance of the situation. However, it doesn't require rocket science to deduce that the numerous reports about the M1 MBP 2021+ can't merely be coincidental.
If my screen isn't rectified, I'm prepared to fully commit and draw as much attention as possible to this problem. I've owned devices five times older than this one (which were significantly less expensive), and their screens remain nearly flawless despite enduring some rough treatment over the years.