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Touch ID Sensor Loose on MacBook Pro 15"

R

rmg007

macrumors member
Original poster
Aug 28, 2009
96
17
Hi all -

I have two MacBook Pro 13" with Touch Bars and the Touch ID Sensors are solid. I just purchased a 15" at the Apple Store yesterday and there is some play in the Touch ID Sensor. Makes an annoying click and slides around just a bit when touched. I am also concerned it may wear/fall out eventually.

Anybody else have this experience?
 
macintoshmac

macintoshmac

Suspended
May 13, 2010
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But his concern is the behaviour is apparently different between 13 and 15, like he said. Solid feel buttons on 13 versus wriggly on 15.
 
Apple_Robert

Apple_Robert

Contributor
Sep 21, 2012
35,670
52,498
In a van down by the river
Some users here have reported a firm Touch ID button on the 13," while others have noted a very slight wiggle as you reported with your 15." If it is working correctly, you can keep monitoring its usage or take to the Apple Store, so that a genius can advise.
 
New_Mac_Smell

New_Mac_Smell

macrumors 68000
Oct 17, 2016
1,931
1,552
Shanghai
rmg007 said:
Hi all -

I have two MacBook Pro 13" with Touch Bars and the Touch ID Sensors are solid. I just purchased a 15" at the Apple Store yesterday and there is some play in the Touch ID Sensor. Makes an annoying click and slides around just a bit when touched. I am also concerned it may wear/fall out eventually.

Anybody else have this experience?
Click to expand...

Whilst you were at the store purchasing the 15", did you play with the 15" at all? I'd go play with them in the Apple shop, then play with yours a little, then stop giggling, and see if they're the same. If they are it might put you at ease.
 
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S

sprockett

macrumors member
May 19, 2008
59
3
was slightly loose on my 15 TB. Checked the store, there was a 13 that was tight, and a 15 that was loose. no biggie actually.
 
powerocool

powerocool

macrumors 6502
Jun 5, 2007
437
408
Mine and my friend's 15" both has pretty loose touchID buttons. It doesn't really bother me.

I had another 15" with tight TouchID key, but on that machine some keys on the keyboard were also tight. I'd rather have a good keyboard over a loose TouchID.
 
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C

chromafile

macrumors member
Jul 18, 2009
51
10
I got a replacement 15" yesterday because the first one's speaker was blown by Bootcamo drivers.
First one had tight Touch ID and new one has loose Touch ID. It doesn't really bother me but MacBook Pro itself is wobbling on flat surface.
Talked to Apple Online Store and Apple is sending me a new one. Another few weeks of waiting has just begun:(
 
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B

brokken

macrumors newbie
Dec 16, 2016
1
1
San Jose, CA
rmg007 said:
Hi all -

I have two MacBook Pro 13" with Touch Bars and the Touch ID Sensors are solid. I just purchased a 15" at the Apple Store yesterday and there is some play in the Touch ID Sensor. Makes an annoying click and slides around just a bit when touched. I am also concerned it may wear/fall out eventually.

Anybody else have this experience?
Click to expand...

Mine makes the same kind of noise almost like it's floating loose in it's designated spot. When I touch it it makes a significant noise which I don't think it's normal. To verify that I wasn't imagining things, I went to two different stores: One in Stoneridge and the other at Oakridge. The demo units at Stoneridge felt solid and made no significant noise while the ones at the second location were about 50-50. Some made noise while others felt solidly in place. I could not discern any noise coming from any of the 13" models. I opened a case with Apple and took the call on my Mac 15". The person at the other end could hear what I was talking about and suggested that I make an appointment with a 'genius' at one of the stores - which I did. When I arrived I was told that if the button functionally performed that they would not initiate a case and suggested that I get in touch with Apple via my existing case number. They refused to even review the case or add their own notes insisting that I could have a refund if I so desired and then would have to re-purchase my Mac. I will be contacting their phone support tomorrow to see about getting a replacement though. This was not a trivial nor frivolous purchase and I expect better quality control from such an expensive piece of equipment
 
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A

Anoi

macrumors member
May 18, 2006
90
8
I have two 13inch MBPs here now. One with a solid touchid button, and the other with a slightly loose one. The solid button one is going back as I ordered one with more storage. Now I don't know whether to accept this new one or not. I can't be without a laptop, so not really sure whether to just stick with it or not.
 
SoyCapitanSoyCapitan

SoyCapitanSoyCapitan

Suspended
Jul 4, 2015
4,487
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Paris
It's a key. It's not loose and it won't fall out. It feels loose when you compare it to the new very solid butterfly keyboard. If the old keyboard was still being used then it would be less apparent.

Future generations will probably copy the iPhone 7 sensor exactly. At the moment that sensor won't fit next to the Touch Bar.
 
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Fireball Dragon

Fireball Dragon

macrumors 6502a
Nov 26, 2012
880
256
Chigwell, England
SoyCapitanSoyCapitan said:
It's a key. It's not loose and it won't fall out. It feels loose when you compare it to the new very solid butterfly keyboard. If the old keyboard was still being used then it would be less apparent.

Future generations will probably copy the iPhone 7 sensor exactly. At the moment that sensor won't fit next to the Touch Bar.
Click to expand...

I think there definitely is a loose button issue circulating. I had a 2016 MacBook in November that had a loose Touch ID button. It went back.

The one I have now is solid, and there is a difference to both the feel and noise when pressed. The loose one clearly stuck to my finger and had a rattle.
 
K

kis

Suspended
Aug 10, 2007
1,702
767
Switzerland
rmg007 said:
Hi all -

I have two MacBook Pro 13" with Touch Bars and the Touch ID Sensors are solid. I just purchased a 15" at the Apple Store yesterday and there is some play in the Touch ID Sensor. Makes an annoying click and slides around just a bit when touched. I am also concerned it may wear/fall out eventually.

Anybody else have this experience?
Click to expand...

I've had both the 13" and the 15" and both have / had wobbly Touch ID sensors.
 
SoyCapitanSoyCapitan

SoyCapitanSoyCapitan

Suspended
Jul 4, 2015
4,487
2,551
Paris
Fireball Dragon said:
I think there definitely is a loose button issue circulating. I had a 2016 MacBook in November that had a loose Touch ID button. It went back.

The one I have now is solid, and there is a difference to both the feel and noise when pressed. The loose one clearly stuck to my finger and had a rattle.
Click to expand...

Of course, skin has oil and anytime you press a glossy button it will temporarily stick and move with your skin. It will happen to all Touch ID buttons, if not at first then later. The only solution isn't ready yet.
 
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