MBA M1 power cable stinks!

[reyalP]

I opened my MBA M1 box yesterday and was blown away by the smell when I opened the box. Upon further investigation I found that the smell was coming from the the USB C cable. I also noticed that the cable is rather stiff and feels like it has a tacky residue on it. Anyone else receive an stinky, stiff cable with a weird feel to it?

 

[KPOM]

No.

 

[theorist9]

Chemical engineering is a tricky business, and unless the plant has sophisticated quality control, it's not hard to end up with smelly plastics. This is often a problem with plastics manufactured overseas, where the US company hasn't both chosen a highly sophisticated plant, and exerted sufficient QA/QC oversight. I once ordered a Dell desktop that I had to return because it stunk up my entire apartment. Apple, however, is usually good at this, so the smelly/tacky Apple cable is a surprise.

 

[reyalP]

Its not like strong enough to stink up a room but it definitely stinks. Has a mildew or mold like smell to it. I may see if Apple will swap it out without having to return the whole computer if the smell does not subside in a few days.

 

[theorist9]

The smell from the Dell was from the entire computer case, so it had a lot more surface area to produce odor than your cable. Fortunately it wasn't a mildew smell, just an overwhelming plastic smell. I'm sure Apple would be happy to swap out the cable -- it's an inexpensive fix for them to keep a customer happy. Hopefully you just got one from a bad run.

 

[MK500]

I definitely noticed a smell when I first unboxed my Air. I tend to leave all the peripherals in the box when I open a new MacBook, as I already have chargers and cables. I just went back and opened the box to smell the cable. It definitely doesn't smell good.

The smell didn't seem to stay with the Air for very long. It smells fine now (two days later).

My honest guess is if I just leave the cable alone for a while it will stop smelling. Not sure if that is days, weeks, or months.

I'm happy my laptop doesn't smell anymore.

 

[LJ143]

I definitely noticed a smell when I first unboxed my Air. I tend to leave all the peripherals in the box when I open a new MacBook, as I already have chargers and cables. I just went back and opened the box to smell the cable. It definitely doesn't smell good.

The smell didn't seem to stay with the Air for very long. It smells fine now (two days later).

My honest guess is if I just leave the cable alone for a while it will stop smelling. Not sure if that is days, weeks, or months.

I'm happy my laptop doesn't smell anymore.

I’m glad the smell left your computer and cable. What color computer do you have? Mine is gold and smells. It seems to be worse at the keyboard area. Is your laptop the gold also?

I have a 2010 grey MacBook Pro and if never had any weird smells.

 

[LJ143]

I opened my MBA M1 box yesterday and was blown away by the smell when I opened the box. Upon further investigation I found that the smell was coming from the the USB C cable. I also noticed that the cable is rather stiff and feels like it has a tacky residue on it. Anyone else receive an stinky, stiff cable with a weird feel to it?

Yes my laptop smells weird. I have the gold MacBook Air. What color is yours? I just opened mine yesterday so hopefully it goes away. If not I will try and swap for a different color and if it still smells, I guess no more new macs for me. ?

 

[MK500]

What color computer do you have? Mine is gold and smells. It seems to be worse at the keyboard area. Is your laptop the gold also?

My Air is Space Grey. No smell at all currently (after 11 days).

 

[LJ143]

Its not like strong enough to stink up a room but it definitely stinks. Has a mildew or mold like smell to it. I may see if Apple will swap it out without having to return the whole computer if the smell does not subside in a few days.

What color is your MacBook Air? Mine is gold and has that mildew like smell you’re talking about. I just opened mine yesterday.

 

[thebigf80]

Yes it stinks,... same here. It‘s the USB-C cable from my MBA and I did not expect that heavy bad smell from an apple product. I first noticed it when charging my new MBA M1 for the first time.

 

[ght56]

My 16-inch was like this. The smell dissipates pretty quickly and the sticky-tacky feel goes away rapidly with use. Just firmly running your fingers over it a few times starts to get rid of it. It might be a bit stronger in a standard spec system as mine was a BTO and only in its box for a few days during shipping. One sitting in the box for weeks or months might smell a bit stronger.

 

[byron_hinson]

Noticed this myself opening up the box. It stunk or mould. Thankfully didn’t last long at all.

 

[0906742]

I opened my MBA M1 box yesterday and was blown away by the smell when I opened the box. Upon further investigation I found that the smell was coming from the the USB C cable. I also noticed that the cable is rather stiff and feels like it has a tacky residue on it. Anyone else receive an stinky, stiff cable with a weird feel to it?

I haven't received my M1 Air yet but both Air 2018 and Pro 2019 I had came with the power cable that had sticky powdery like feel. They even left sticky residue in my fingers every time I touched the cable, so I tried to hold it only by connectors not to stain my fingers and keyboard after that (actually I had to wash my hands always if I accidently touched it). Cables were so bad that when I first got my Air 2018 I put the power cable on my Air when I was unpacking it and it left that residue on aluminum and it was very hard to clean.
I had my Pro 2019 for over a year and the cable did not change during that, it was still sticky and powdery. So I guess what you describe sounds the same.

 

[acidfast7_redux]

No.

I got my MBA and everything was perfect with the package/overall quality.

However, mine was a base-spec air and likely manufactured just for the initial rollout so that were probably sitting around for a while.

I would expect a greater level of defect with the machines just being sold now and they're being manufacturer JIT and that can lead to more problems.

 

[acidfast7_redux]

When was your machine manufactured:


Nice Name: MacBook Air (M1, 2020)
Family name:
Group1: MacBookAir
Group2: M1
Generation:
EMC number: Please tell us the EMC number of this product if you know it.
Screen size: 13.3 inch
Screen resolution: 2560x1600 pixels
Production year : 2020
Production week : 45 (November)
Model introduced: 2020
Memory - flavour: Soldered
Factory: C0 (Quanta Computer (Subsidiary = Tech Com) China)

 

[Bea220]

Haha I had no idea the cord smelled until that prompted me to sniff the cord. Yeah it’s a little musty but not really noticeable.

 

[michelg1970]

I opened my MBA M1 box yesterday and was blown away by the smell when I opened the box. Upon further investigation I found that the smell was coming from the the USB C cable. I also noticed that the cable is rather stiff and feels like it has a tacky residue on it. Anyone else receive an stinky, stiff cable with a weird feel to it?

Now you mention it, mine does stink...

 

[CMMChris]

Mine has the moldy smell as well. But it's nothing unusual. I've had a couple of phones going across my review table that had USB cables smelling the same way.

 

[macnmac]

fresh from china factory smell

 

[eobet]

I think the entire box and everything in it smells of mold (and disinfectant).

Anyone else remember the days of "new car smell" when you bought Apple laptops? The bean counter in charge probably got rid of that excess quickly...

 

[cheezypuffs]

Just got my MacBook Pro delivered today and the cable smells like hot sick ass. I put it in a sealed zip lock and plan to ask Apple to exchange it. It’s also sticky.
I bought one of these a couple years ago from target and had the same issue. Returned, bought another. Same thing. Gave up.

 

[0906742]

Just got my MacBook Pro delivered today and the cable smells like hot sick ass. I put it in a sealed zip lock and plan to ask Apple to exchange it. It’s also sticky.
I bought one of these a couple years ago from target and had the same issue. Returned, bought another. Same thing. Gave up.

It was the same for me with my MBA 2018, MBP 2019 and now MBA M1. The power cable stinks and it is sticky and actually leaves residue. But it gets a bit better when you use it, it kinda dries out eventually and is less smelly but it has this powdery residue still. I guess they are like that. If you put it in a sealed zip lock it probably stays smelly and sticky. Let it dry out in open air.

 

[mi7chy]

Ikea carries quality chargers and cables. Hopefully their $5.99 USB-C braided cable doesn't smell like ass. I'll swing by and pick one up today to try.

https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/lillhult-usb-type-c-to-usb-c-cord-dark-gray-50491543/

 

[Beancamel]

One day Apple will make smelly trees with this smell.