Terrible Quality Control - MacBook Pro 14”

[Semio]

I ordered the 14-inch MacBook Pro (M1 Pro) on launch day. Out of the box, one spot on the screen was really bright and Apple took it back. After a few weeks I received a replacement and there was already 7 battery charged cycles. Since I have AppleCare+, I decided to keep this unit and opened another work ticket.

At work, we deploy the 14-inch MacBook Pro as standard and I haven't heard any complaint at all. I should receive the M2 Pro as my work upgrade in a few weeks.

I don't think people care as much if their work machine has a flaw/is not perfect, at the end of the day they hand it back and don't own it. If it's a personal machine and you paid serious $$ for, you want perfection, and rightly so.

 

[jlc1978]

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.

Apple’s return policy is pretty liberal compared to most company’s. Getting back defective products and then analyzing why they were defective is a good way to identify issues that may have been missed by QC. Repeated similar problems can be investigated and resolved. Plus, it’s better than having a customer keep a device that isn’t up to standards and showing it to people to point out defects.

 

[Semio]

My 14" MacBook Pro came with a small, rough scratch where the removable bottom cover plate meets the upper enclosure. I think it's actually a rough scratch on the inside edge of the upper chassis.

I can feel it slightly if I run my finger over it - as if something rough was taken out of the case during assembly, scratched the edge, and is slightly higher than the removable bottom cover because the edge of the metal is rough.

Think of running a cheese grater over the edge of a piece of metal, but on a much smaller, finer scale. Again, I can feel it slightly if I run my finger over it.

I didn't notice it until after the 14 day return policy. I did inspect the computer before I used it, but I missed the damage. I bought it from a big box retailer - an Apple authorized reseller. I don't want to say which because the machine was factory sealed, and I don't want to disparage them online. I am very picky, and I am convinced this was not a repackaged return - it was new from Apple.

The computer arrived like this - from outside in:
1) Retailer's brown shipping box to me.
2) Apple's brown shipping box with perforated "rip cord" intact.
3) Apple retail packaging factory sealed - rip strips intact.

Since it was past the return period, and the computer was functioning properly, I decided to live with it. I might have been able to convince the retailer to exchange it, but I decided to try and accept it. Am I concerned that components inside the computer may be damaged? Yes. Unfortunately, since I was past my return period, albeit by less than a week, I decided to keep it.

Is this damage acceptable? No. Do I regret missing it on initial inspection? Yes. Should Apple's QA be held to task? Yes.

Unfortunately, in the past, I have received an iPhone 5S with a dead speaker, an iPhone 11 Pro with a scratch on the stainless steel band (Apple gave me a refund, and I bought a new one), and I also purchased TWO iPhone 14 Pros. One of them had a small cosmetic imperfection in the stainless steel (the anodizing process missing a small part of the band?). I exchanged it, and the replacement came with a similar imperfection. It was very small, and I use a case so I decided to live with it instead of the headache involved with exchanging again. Additionally, I had three Apple leather cases where the lightning and speaker cutouts were misaligned - the cable hit against the side of the cutout, and put pressure on the plug.

My 5S and 11 Pro I chalked up to being unlucky. My latest purchases, in a short period of time, I chalk up to dwindling quality control.

Click and zoom on attachments to see the scratch. It was hard to capture on camera, but it gives you an idea of what's going on.

I think part of this comes down to Apple cost cutting, and they shouldn't be doing that on high end machines. It's clear that the aluminium base plate on these machines is thinner than on the 2015 era 15 inch Retina MacBook Pros, the only reason for this can be for them to save money. I suspect it is thinner in other areas too, they have a great design that hides this, but the 2015 was such a solid aluminium beast and these just feel fragile in comparison.

 

[6749974]

It’s not cost cutting, per se.

Apple used to contract one assembler to put together MacBooks. Now Apple has diversified to many assemblers. Quality control is hard when that happens.

 

[Semio]

It’s not cost cutting, per se.

Apple used to contract one assembler to put together MacBooks. Now Apple has diversified to many assemblers. Quality control is hard when that happens.

The assemblers are not using different schematics, a MacBook Pro is a MacBook Pro, built to the exact specifications Apple prescribe down to the micron in measurements. Apple specifically chose to reduce the thickness of the material, why would they do this if not to make even more money and save $$? That saving adds up over millions of devices. It's even more evident on the 16inch pro since it has a much larger surface are.

 

[okkibs]

Apple specifically chose to reduce the thickness of the material, why would they do this if not to make even more money and save $$?

Apple had to decide on a balance between size/weight and reliability. The 2015 MBP for example certainly has a better protected display but way bigger bezels and with the same footprint as the 14" it only fits a 13" display.

I had a 2015 model as well and I cannot agree that the 14" feels fragile compared to that. I do see why you said it since the 2015 model has a very thick unibody housing that seems like it can be used to put nails in a wall. But when I am carrying the 14" around every single day in a backpack there is not a hint of it being fragile. It's extremely sturdy and much more so than the typical carbon housings of windows laptops. I've had a bunch of those highend Latitudes and Thinkpads as well and the carbon shells can actually crack after a few years, which happend to one of my 7xxx highend Latitudes on the left palm rest side.

My 14" has the best housing quality of any laptop I've owned including literally a dozen Macbooks. Not once have I come across an issue with the bottom plate. There is no creaking either, so when these devices are built to Apple's specs as you said, down to the micron, there is absolutely no issue with this design. Why should the material be thicker for no reason?

Personally I believe you will not find a single laptop that has a better quality housing than the 14" and 16" MBPs. The X1 Thinkpads are decent but not as good.

 

[6749974]

The assemblers are not using different schematics, a MacBook Pro is a MacBook Pro, built to the exact specifications Apple prescribe down to the micron in measurements. Apple specifically chose to reduce the thickness of the material, why would they do this if not to make even more money and save $$? That saving adds up over millions of devices. It's even more evident on the 16inch pro since it has a much larger surface are.

Because putting all eggs in one basket is the lesson American corporations learned post-pandemic. Remember how delayed products were after ordering and how many billions Apple reported lost in sales due to supply chain issues. Apple actually began diversification plans pre-pandemic but 2020-2021 made diversification that much more urgent.

 

[jha]

100% there is something going on with the quality control on these machines. I'm on my third 14 inch Pro, and returns were painful since I bought through a retail (non Apple) store. The first one I opened literally had a dent on the bottom case straight out of the box, a pretty decent dent too, I kid you not. I went straight back the store within the hour, and thankfully they replaced it. I feel bad for them, because they just have to take my word since it was a ding, but there is was, straight out of the box, didn't even turn it on, just straight back to the store. The replacement had a terrible screen, I took this to Apple, they wrote a note confirming this so I could take it back to the store. The 3rd one came out of the box with black marks on the back corner and hinge area. This did eventually come off, not sure what it was. This machine is pretty decent although the Space Grey finish is a different shade on the top case vs the bottom case. All in all, insanity that this is going on with products of this price. It's sketchy and not a good feeling playing the MBP lottery with 3-5k machines. How they are getting through QA is a mystery to me, and Apple they must be taking a lot of returns too so I bet it's costing them.

Shoot an email over to Tim Cook, I did awhile back and they called me to let me know they are looking into these issues. It would be very helpful for them to hear from others. Would be nice to just be able to grab a MBP from the store and trust that it will be good. Hoping the next iteration won't have the same issues, but that depends on customer feedback.

 

[Semio]

Shoot an email over to Tim Cook, I did awhile back and they called me to let me know they are looking into these issues. It would be very helpful for them to hear from others. Would be nice to just be able to grab a MBP from the store and trust that it will be good. Hoping the next iteration won't have the same issues, but that depends on customer feedback.

I would be happy to, if I had his email address. I know he won't read it, and someone will presumably filter his emails but can't hurt to try. I agree it would be nice to buy one and be confident they are good to go. Something that is an impulse buy or more affordable you can understand, even a plastic PC laptop "whatever, it's a mass produced item and I can live with flaws". But rolling the dice on these expensive machines is not acceptable and the time it takes to resolve can really add up.

 

[jha]

I would be happy to, if I had his email address. I know he won't read it, and someone will presumably filter his emails but can't hurt to try. I agree it would be nice to buy one and be confident they are good to go. Something that is an impulse buy or more affordable you can understand, even a plastic PC laptop "whatever, it's a mass produced item and I can live with flaws". But rolling the dice on these expensive machines is not acceptable and the time it takes to resolve can really add up.

Google his email address - everything gets read. You will get a response. I have every time I have sent an email

 

[jha]

More QC issues:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/macbook-pro-m2-max-lower-bezel-slightly-warped.2400773/

 

[Kung]

The assemblers are not using different schematics, a MacBook Pro is a MacBook Pro, built to the exact specifications Apple prescribe down to the micron in measurements. Apple specifically chose to reduce the thickness of the material, why would they do this if not to make even more money and save $$? That saving adds up over millions of devices. It's even more evident on the 16inch pro since it has a much larger surface are.

First two words may be the issue - 'the assemblers.' I've built hundreds of laptops, and I personally have gotten most of them right....and f***ed some of them up. LOL Couple that with the fact that as someone else pointed out, they have more than a few suppliers now, and there's the reason for QC issues.

With that said, I don't think they're exactly endemic. For every person with QC issues there are 10 with none. I'm not at all downplaying your experience - I have indeed had QC issues before. I'm just saying that they seem to be the exception and not the rule.

 

[minik]

I don't think people care as much if their work machine has a flaw/is not perfect, at the end of the day they hand it back and don't own it. If it's a personal machine and you paid serious $$ for, you want perfection, and rightly so.

Not exactly. Some believe it's a hassle to deal with support and just keep using the flawy computers until EOL. We had internal users rather used a 1080p monitor instead of getting the iMac built-in display fixed or carried a keyboard because the MacBook Pro had broken keys.

 

[jha]

Anyone having any QC/defect issues with M3 Pro?

 

[decypher44]

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?

Seriously, are you buying these out of a trunk in a dark alley???

I have a MBP M3 Pro. Space Black. Flawless. Gorgeous. Zero issues. You need help. Seriously. If I were Apple, I’d ban you from even stepping foot in a store.

 

[Adam Henry]

Anyone having any QC/defect issues with M3 Pro?

my first m3pro 14 made clicking noises when moving it around on my lap. something was loose somewhere. i returned it and the replacement is solid. the replacement keyboard also feels much more crisp as well.

 

[EPOS]

Just returned a M3 Max with scratches on one part of the screen. They were deep, no excuse on how something that bad passes "QC".

 

[jha]

my first m3pro 14 made clicking noises when moving it around on my lap. something was loose somewhere. i returned it and the replacement is solid. the replacement keyboard also feels much more crisp as well.

Just returned a M3 Max with scratches on one part of the screen. They were deep, no excuse on how something that bad passes "QC".

So same issues as M1 and M2... nice.

 

[kappabruce]

Seriously, are you buying these out of a trunk in a dark alley???

I have a MBP M3 Pro. Space Black. Flawless. Gorgeous. Zero issues. You need help. Seriously. If I were Apple, I’d ban you from even stepping foot in a store.

"I don't have an issue therefore no one else has any issues"

🤡 What's up with people like you sucking up trillion dollar companies instead of holding them liable for QC issues.

 

[decypher44]

"I don't have an issue therefore no one else has any issues"

🤡 What's up with people like you sucking up trillion dollar companies instead of holding them liable for QC issues.

Dude’s got issues. But go ahead and ignore his mental illness.

Trillion dollar companies tend to get that way by NOT having QC issues… 🤡

 

[jlc1978]

"I don't have an issue therefore no one else has any issues"

🤡 What's up with people like you sucking up trillion dollar companies instead of holding them liable for QC issues.

No one is suggesting letting Apple off the hook for a QC issue; all companies have them when they mass produce a product as some bad ones slip through. Apple, IMHO, is great at taking returns when one does arise.

However, getting a dozen bad ones in a row is a statistical anomaly and casts doubt on what is the actual situation and the OP's definition of bad.

 

[mdhaus72]

No one is suggesting letting Apple off the hook for a QC issue; all companies have them when they mass produce a product as some bad ones slip through. Apple, IMHO, is great at taking returns when one does arise.

However, getting a dozen bad ones in a row is a statistical anomaly and casts doubt on what is the actual situation and the OP's definition of bad.

I agree. There is a huge difference between a significant problem that is clearly an error or damage (like a scratched screen when you open it) and simple paranoia.

 

[Abazigal]

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?

Let me know the next time you visit the casino or the races. I will be sure to bet on the opposite.

 

[t0rqx]

Just returned a M3 Max with scratches on one part of the screen. They were deep, no excuse on how something that bad passes "QC".

Returned 10 units all had some micro scratches on the screen.

 

[Makisupa Policeman]

I haven’t had any issues with the 14” specifically. Even got it from the Refurb store and it was pristine—and I’m very OCD so I notice the slightest imperfection.

Other times I have not been so lucky with the refurb store—my 2020 iMac for example had some slight scuffing on the back of the display. But I’ve not had any issues when buying new.