One handed pick up of the 2021 Macbook Pros (14/16)

[dliu]

The blocky design of the new M1 Macbook Pros makes it near impossible to pick them up with a single hand off of any flat surface.

With the lid closed, it's possible (not easy) to grab from the hinge part to lift and pick up with a single hand.
With the lid open, using the hinge-screen corner makes it a little easier but feels quite unnatural and perhaps a bit unsafe.

This is obviously a minor nuisance in the grand scheme of things, but I can't be the only one out here struggling to adapt, can I?

 

[DieselFiend1989]

I personally always hated picking up my mbp with one hand. Didn’t like the insecurity of only one hand on the device and hated thinking about the possibility(however unlikely) of bending the device by supporting it on only one corner

 

[beach bum]

At the weight of the new 14/16, I wouldn’t chance trying to pick up one-handed. Prior to this new series, I never picked up my MBPs/MBAs one-handed. Once lifted off the table, it’s easy enough to then carry one-handed. To me, it’s not anything I would leave to chance.

 

[Vermifuge]

The blocky design of the new M1 Macbook Pros makes it near impossible to pick them up with a single hand off of any flat surface.

With the lid closed, it's possible (not easy) to grab from the hinge part to lift and pick up with a single hand.
With the lid open, using the hinge-screen corner makes it a little easier but feels quite unnatural and perhaps a bit unsafe.

This is obviously a minor nuisance in the grand scheme of things, but I can't be the only one out here struggling to adapt, can I?

Funny, I created a similar post a few days go.

MacBook Pro 16" 2021... hard to pick up?

I have been hanging onto my 15" 2015 MBP waiting for AS MacBook Pros to drop. And this year... they finally support dual displays. It was time to buy! The chonky looks don't bother me. However, one thing I did notice is... the new Macbook Pro is difficult (for me) to pick up. The weight isn't...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[darngooddesign]

The blocky design of the new M1 Macbook Pros makes it near impossible to pick them up with a single hand off of any flat surface.

Lift the edge of the case with your finger-tips and slide your hand underneath.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Either slide it just off the edge of the surface so you can get a better grip, or use two hands? Problem solved.

 

[Vermifuge]

Either slide it just off the edge of the surface so you can get a better grip, or use two hands? Problem solved.

So, you have a motor disability and can confirm this solves all our problems?

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

So, you have a motor disability and can confirm this solves all our problems?

Did the OP tell us they have a motor disability?

 

[pi=e=3]

Does everyone not just pick them up this way? This is a 16”.

 

[dliu]

I personally always hated picking up my mbp with one hand. Didn’t like the insecurity of only one hand on the device and hated thinking about the possibility(however unlikely) of bending the device by supporting it on only one corner

Perhaps I'm overestimating the average Macbook owner's strength and confidence in holding 3.5 pounds (4.7 for the 16"). I never pick mine up by the corner, but by the center of an edges, usually the front/back (longer) edges.

At the weight of the new 14/16, I wouldn’t chance trying to pick up one-handed. Prior to this new series, I never picked up my MBPs/MBAs one-handed. Once lifted off the table, it’s easy enough to then carry one-handed. To me, it’s not anything I would leave to chance.

My previous Macbook (2015, 13") is only 0.02 pounds lighter at 3.48 pounds. I picked up and carried that machine around one-handed all the time with no problem.

Lift the edge of the case with your finger-tips and slide your hand underneath.

This is what I am trying to do. However, as I mentioned, with the new blocky design of the new 14"/16" there's not enough room for fingertips to even begin lifting the Macbook to perform this maneuver, which was dead simple on the previous design.

Either slide it just off the edge of the surface so you can get a better grip, or use two hands? Problem solved.

Sliding it towards the edge of the table or surface is just asking for an accidental drop to happen, but yes, it is a possible workaround. The new "feet" are definitely more slide-y and do allow for this; time will tell if sliding it around will cause them to fall off like previous models.

I have begun using two hands since that's the only consistent way to pick these up, it seems.

View attachment 1934257

Does everyone not just pick them up this way? This is a 16”.

I might be missing what you're showing here, but yes, that's how I would normally hold my Macbook one-handed, although a bit more towards the center of the edges.

The issue I'm describing is the actual picking up part, using one hand, off of any typical flat surface, i.e. a table.

 

[Vermifuge]

Did the OP tell us they have a motor disability?

you said problem solved as if you speak for everyone.

 

[darngooddesign]

you said problem solved as if you speak for everyone.

I mean...obviously they don't so why act like they do.

 

[BreakYurAnkles]

I like to keep my SD card in my MacBook and "lift" up my laptop from that as a lever to get a grip of the side of my MacBook with one hand....

Apple support suggested this idea......

 

[dliu]

Quick update after a couple of weeks:

I've found that grabbing from the corners or the back (utilizing the hinge) does provide just enough leverage (most of the time) to be able to pick up the laptop with a single hand.

Not quite as easy as it was with the previous rounded Macbook design, but with enough practice this has become sufficient for my needs.

 

[Tagbert]

I'd just slide it toward the edge of the desk with my leg at the edge. Once you have your leg to brace against you should be able to lift the case up with your hand.

 

[ric22]

This was a thought I had in the first minute of using the new "thinner but looks thicker" MacBook Air today. I tried to pick it up off the table with one hand and it just slid all over the place. I have fairly large hands and was forced to use both to pick the thing up. Never had that issue with MacBook Airs or Pros before last year's M1 Pro MacBooks heralded the design change.

 

[ric22]

Quick update after a couple of weeks:

I've found that grabbing from the corners or the back (utilizing the hinge) does provide just enough leverage (most of the time) to be able to pick up the laptop with a single hand.

My friend was picking it up from the hinge/screen, which seems like a bad idea in the long run. If I was very careful, I was able to pick it up one handed from the front corner.

 

[BotchQue]

Fortunately I only use my MBP as a laptop, in my recliner. I set it down on its right edge, leaning against my sofa. I can pick it up using its stupid long "feet", using only my thumb and pointer finger, securely. The benefit here is, since I'm only pressing the shell together at the lower-left corner, the greasy keys no longer leave a mark on my screen; win-win.