Terrible Quality Control - MacBook Pro 14”

[6749974]

Is this actually true?

Apple’s refurb store inspects the product and supposedly replaces anything that is worn or damaged.

Years ago Apple had a policy to always replace the case, keyboard, and battery—guaranteed. Tim Cook made sure to get rid of that so now they replace parts only as-needed. At first quality control was bad and I saw complaints, but for the last many years I have only seen positive testimonials from refurb buyers. Chances are that if you purchased from the refurb store, your shipment will look like new. Actually chances are you’ll likely just receive one of your own previous 12 returns (joking).

 

[6749974]

Apple has 3 companies assembling their MacBook Pros:

“The publications sources estimate that Apple ultimately intends to have Quanta making 55% of all MacBooks, Foxconn 35%, and Wingtech 10%.”

To further complicate it, each company has multiple factories, some outside of China, although I think currently MacBook Pros are assembled all in China, albeit in different regions.

China is having a whole bunch of supplier issues (Eg power cuts, lockdowns, threats of tariffs). Apple is scrambling to get things done outside of China in the coming decade because having all your eggs in one basket is considered unwise. Growing pains means there’s going to be QC issues and bad batches due to poor labor training and so on.

 

[Bananasaurus]

12 returns. This story is totally true, guys.

 

[profcutter]

Many years ago, I went through something similar: I bought a PowerBook g4 and each one developed these annoying white spots on the display within a week of me receiving it. Back they went to the store, they gave me a new one, process started all over again. Eventually, apple admitted it was a bad batch, all of the G4s of that first run were affected. It was a total PITA until it was solved, though.

More PowerBook G4 15" "white spot" repair experiences

More PowerBook G4 15" "white spot" repair experiences

www.cnet.com

 

[mushy peas]

This story is totally true, guys.

Funny thing is, we see these threads all the time. Apple's QC has been failing for decades now based on the odd person that claims they had to go through some extraordinary number of items to get one that wasn't flawed.

Personally, I think it's just some exaggeration to fit some kind of argument that Apple is worse than it used to be. It's just the hardware version of 'Steve wouldn't have allowed this'.

My graphic design, videography, and social teams all have 14" and 16" Apple Silicon MBPs and there hasn't been a problem among them. Great machines.

Also, we've seen what happens when Apple's QC really does to ****. As butterfly keyboards failed the internet exploded, and was full of complaints. If QC were really as bad as the OP is arguing, why isn't anyone complaining about it?

Because there's plenty of clicks in it for YouTubers and websites if Apple has a widespread QC issue.

 

[doolar]

My M1 14” MBP seems to be very well built indeed, no complaints at all. Same goes for my M1 Air.

 

[anshuvorty]

Also, we've seen what happens when Apple's QC really does to ****. As butterfly keyboards failed the internet exploded, and was full of complaints. If QC were really as bad as the OP is arguing, why isn't anyone complaining about it?

Good point...and I totally agree with you. Compared to PCs, Apple consistently strives for high quality and delivers on that promise....the butterfly keyboard and TrashCan Mac Pro being the only recent notable exceptions. Once Apple re-emphasized that they would be re-focusing on computers, they have been releasing great products in that area of the business. The MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac Studio have been great products.

 

[mxrider88]

No issue with hardware here. I wish I could say the same about the software but I can't. It sucks. Absolute garbage. One glitch after the other.

 

[Reggaenald]

Personally I have yet to get a single Apple product without quality issues. From iPhones, to MacBook Pros, to my Apple Watch.

 

[UMHurricanes34]

I had my first 14” replaced due to a warped bottom plate. Second one has been flawless.

We did just purchase 3x of the 15” M2 MBA for work and one of them came out of the box with a 1.5” scratch in the aluminum on the top lid. Everything else was fine, so we just gave that one to an employee known for being a little rougher with their devices 🤠

 

[TracerAnalog]

I didn't ask for help. Apple has taken good care of me. I am I business customer that everybody at the retail location is familiar with. I was asking if anyone has experienced similar quality issues. If not - maybe it is just the batch. I have already escalated this with Apple so future devices hopefully don't experience the same QC issues.

3 Macbooks here, all flawless.

 

[TracerAnalog]

Your situation is not normal. Even after 4 exchanges you are venturing into the realm of statistical impossibilities.

12? Yeah... an exaggeration for sure. Speaking from experience I know after 2-3 exchanges they need extra authorization to approve it. In my case it was for an iPhone 6s:

- First didn't start up due to a bad battery
- The second would screech, badly. They didn't believe me until the genius tried calling his own phone from it an experienced the loudest screeching noise he has ever had. Took about an hour for them to get the authorization needed for the third (and thankfully flawless) exchange.

Ah the iPhone 6s… the only iPhone I had to exchange 4 times. Furthermore I had a faulty motherboard in my first Mac Pro (20 years ago?), which was repaired by Apple on site (!). A family member had a faulty Apple Watch, exchanged by Apple. In my personal experience Apple's quality control is top notch, and I have bought a lot of Apple gear over 20+ years!

 

[rpe33]

no issues with mine. in fact I've never had any QC issues with any of my Apple products.

 

[Star-fire]

I bought a 14" Macbook pro M2 refurb a week ago and besides that it had 7 cycles on the battery I would never had known it was not new, it's perfect.

 

[hch720]

A dozen returns? they are going to flag that and eventually lock your Apple ID or something

 

[jha]

Apple has 3 companies assembling their MacBook Pros:

To further complicate it, each company has multiple factories, some outside of China, although I think currently MacBook Pros are assembled all in China, albeit in different regions.

China is having a whole bunch of supplier issues (Eg power cuts, lockdowns, threats of tariffs). Apple is scrambling to get things done outside of China in the coming decade because having all your eggs in one basket is considered unwise. Growing pains means there’s going to be QC issues and bad batches due to poor labor training and so on.

This is the most insightful response here. Seems like I am really the problem here and my expectations are too high for what is going on in the world – my expectations has been based on all my past experiences with Apple and had zero issues like this in the past. Makes sense that I have been through so many defective devices. I'm sure this will improve over time.

 

[Rodney Williams]

Anyone else notice quality control is horrible for the 14” Pro since M1 days?

I bought and exchanged a few M2 Pros, and I’ve probably been through a dozen so far and never got one without issues.

Some creak loudly when handled, hinge makes loud clicking noises when moved, scratches on the screen fresh out of the box on several. Last one I exchanged what making a loud whirring/whistling noise from the right fan.

Last one I just opened has deep scratches on the screen. No other issues so will likely just live with it. Am I the only one noticing this?

My wife's M1 Pro 14' MBP is perfect. My 14' M2 Pro MBP is perfect.

A dozen returns? Going off of everything you said, the fact that they let you return a dozen+ devices means they agree with you about the devices being defective or Apple's return policies are a lot more generous than I thought they were lol.

That's exactly what I was thinking myself.

 

[Rodney Williams]

I'm not sure where folks are buying their MBP M1 or M2 models. But I know I wouldn't be going back if I had to take it back more than twice. It's pointless to me. Everybody's different though.

 

[Unggoy Murderer]

Got an M2 14" and it's easily the best built MacBook I've owned, rock solid.

 

[Webster's Mac]

This dude is gonna boost the supply of really nice refurbs LOL. I’m picky but I’ve never returned a device more than 2 or 3 times. I had QC control issues with a device a long time ago and I think I did a fair amount of warranty replacements on it. But never new devices. Plus I honestly don’t care as much anymore as I used to. But then again, I get mine used so they come pre-scratched. Nice and broken in LOL

 

[jeremysteele]

Ah the iPhone 6s… the only iPhone I had to exchange 4 times.

The 6s was truly a cursed phone. It's one of the few devices where I know more people who had to exchange it at least once, than those who got lucky on the first try 😆

 

[Timpetus]

No issues with my M1 Max 14" MBP. Loving it so far, got the deal from B&H a few weeks ago on a 64GB RAM, 2TB SSD model for $2600 with Applecare!

 

[Allen_Wentz]

The cumulative probability of a dozen repeatedly flawed MBPs to one buyer would seem to essentially be statistically impossible. Not that flaws do not get past QC, but rather that repeated QC issues to a single buyer almost guarantee that something other than poor factory QC is going on. Because like others noted, poor Apple factory QC would already have set the internet on fire.

If I was the Apple QA/QC manager involved I would be investigating details of the distribution channel to that specific buyer; perhaps criminals swapping (stolen) QC rejects for new items or whatever scam such miscreants dream up. One would think Apple's apparent tight attention to serial numbers would limit such scams, but who knows?

 

[jezbd1997]

I have never received a flawed apple product or met anyone who received a flawed Apple Product, except on Macrumors.



Any pictures or videos for evidence?

you are lucky then or don’t have an eye for detail. i had the iphone 5 with the faulty lock button that got recalled, multiple iphone 7’s with faulty touch id and then another lock button, 11 pro overheating and my current 13 pro with a scuff on the steel frame

 

[jezbd1997]

yeah the quality control isn’t as good as it used to be.
got my mid-high range spec 14” in dec 2021, it took almost a month to get to me.
there was an imperfection in the edge of the glass i could see under light.
i considered getting it swapped but i knew they were in short spare still at that time (especially my spec) and i’d probably be without one for weeks again.
after that my 13 pro i got in january also had a scuff on the edge of the steel frame, i did get that swapped!
frustrating none the less but this macbook is by far the best computer i’ve owned