Uneven trackpad on new 16" MBP

[Nacho98]

Checked out some display models, and looked for this issue thanks to this thread (...). I noticed some were better than others, but the ones that weren't great, the lower left corner was nearly flush, but then running a finger around it, it seemed like the whole left side was higher than the right side.

Would this be a deal breaker on an otherwise flawless QC computer? Doubt it, if it didn't rise up above that.

 

[0906742]

Interesting you even saw demo models with this problem because my experience has been that those usually have very well positioned trackpads. So far I have seen only one 15" model that had a little uneven trackpad but just very little. Would make sense they would select only the best one for demo models.

 

[Macdude2010]

I seem to be having a similar issue with mine, but not at the edges. It seems like in the middle of the top edge of the trackpad is slightly lower than the corners. It's not really visible but I can feel it with my fingers. Anyone else have this? It would be pretty dumb to return because of this, especially because mine is a BTO model.

 

[Donnation]

Man, I cannot imagine living my life the way some of you live obsessing over things like this.

 

[sat24]

Really? That's beyond a joke. Everyone in your local Apple Store must know you by your first name by now!!

It is starting to sound like the story of my life too - I am likely going to exchange my 16" MBP for the 2nd time... just waiting for them to get new stock as I expect the newer machines to have higher tolerances. If that doesnt work still, then I will refund. And then wait for the next iteration - I sincerely hope it doesnt come to that.
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Man, I cannot imagine living my life the way some of you live obsessing over things like this.

Yeah, I know. It's called being OCD - we cant help it!

 

[Donnation]

It is starting to sound like the story of my life too - I am likely going to exchange my 16" MBP for the 2nd time... just waiting for them to get new stock as I expect the newer machines to have higher tolerances. If that doesnt work still, then I will refund. And then wait for the next iteration - I sincerely hope it doesnt come to that.
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Yeah, I know. It's called being OCD - we cant help it!

Call it whatever you want, but its ridiculous.

 

[Sanpete]

Call it whatever you want, but its ridiculous.

It's the kind of thing Jobs was concerned about, a big part of what Apple built its reputation on. It's not unreasonable for people to appreciate excellent fit and finish when it's there or miss it when it isn't. Doesn't mean you have to, of course.

 

[0906742]

It's the kind of thing Jobs was concerned about, a big part of what Apple built its reputation on. It's not unreasonable for people to appreciate excellent fit and finish when it's there or miss it when it isn't. Doesn't mean you have to, of course.

Exactly my point. When I pay ridiculous prices for their machines, I expect them to be higher quality than cheap machines sold at "grocery stores"! Sure I like my gear to have that magical fruit logo too but honestly once the quality is the same as in the cheap machines I find it hard to justify any longer. Is it just me or does anyone else notice that the devices today are not quite the same quality as the ones build during Jobs era?

 

[zaxxle]

So just wondering if this is something I should fuss about or just normal variation that all models have. On the corners of my trackpad, the left upper corner is basically flush with the rest of the case, while the right upper corner is slightly recessed (like probably less than a mm but a noticeable difference). Are you guys seeing any similar variation or are your trackpads perfectly symmetric on all corners in relation to the case?

Thanks for helping to alleviate some anxiety

I just posted the same thing.

 

[mikethebigo]

I just posted the same thing.

I'd say if the glass doesn't swell above the case, don't worry about it. Mine did, I exchanged it, and the replacement doesn't, which is just fine by me. It's still not totally perfect but it's good enough.

 

[Sanpete]

Is it just me or does anyone else notice that the devices today are not quite the same quality as the ones build during Jobs era?

I haven't noticed a difference. There were plenty of complaints about fit and finish back then too. Apple's better than others that way, as a rule, but far from perfect.

 

[iJustines]

Obviously, the trackpad is too big that your finger no longer able to put off without touching the trackpad. Just Fired the mac design team for God sake..

 

[macos2008]

I seem to be having a similar issue with mine, but not at the edges. It seems like in the middle of the top edge of the trackpad is slightly lower than the corners. It's not really visible but I can feel it with my fingers. Anyone else have this? It would be pretty dumb to return because of this, especially because mine is a BTO model.

I have the same issue too

 

[psingh01]

So just wondering if this is something I should fuss about or just normal variation that all models have. On the corners of my trackpad, the left upper corner is basically flush with the rest of the case, while the right upper corner is slightly recessed (like probably less than a mm but a noticeable difference). Are you guys seeing any similar variation or are your trackpads perfectly symmetric on all corners in relation to the case?

Thanks for helping to alleviate some anxiety

it could be the battery that is pressing it from underneath on one side. When my older MBP had battery swelling those were the symptoms. I’d have it checked out or at least go to a store and visually compare yourself with others. If it is the battery it will probably get worse over time.

 

[phas3]

So just wondering if this is something I should fuss about or just normal variation that all models have. On the corners of my trackpad, the left upper corner is basically flush with the rest of the case, while the right upper corner is slightly recessed (like probably less than a mm but a noticeable difference). Are you guys seeing any similar variation or are your trackpads perfectly symmetric on all corners in relation to the case?

Thanks for helping to alleviate some anxiety

track pack should be evenly recessed

 

[0906742]

it could be the battery that is pressing it from underneath on one side. When my older MBP had battery swelling those were the symptoms. I’d have it checked out or at least go to a store and visually compare yourself with others. If it is the battery it will probably get worse over time.

But isn't battery swelling symptom also that the bottom plate is bulging too? I mean mine has uneven trackpad (MBP 13" 2019) and it was like that right out of the box and it does go up by about 0.05 mm when machine is hot but it has not gotten worse in nearly 5 months. Mine has no bulging on the bottom plate and I can even hear it sounds hollow when I tap it with my fingers, so it is hard to believe that abnormal battery swelling could cause just trackpad issue. I have a hunch that in my case, it is just that the battery is firmly glued to the top case and slight changes in size and shape due to temp and charge level just slightly changes the shape of the trackpad (which I believe is normal for li-po battery).

Sure I agree I'd prefer it to be evenly recessed and I'm wondering how it is even possible to install uneven. Isn't it simple tighten the screws type of installation or does it involve some fine tuning adjustments they do during assembly?

 

[baryon]

My 16 inch also has this, the top right corner of the trackpad is flush with the case, while the other 3 corners are a bit lower. The top right corner does seem to vary a tiny bit after some use (it rises a tiny bit higher after some usage, just enough that I can tell a difference if I catch my nail on the edge of it).

This is not enough of an issue for me to fuss about it, but I do hope this is not an indication that the battery is faulty and will end up swelling. Though I'd rather wait for that to happen to get it repaired within the warranty period, instead of sending it back now for something that may not even become a problem later. Time is money, and time spent without my computer is a lot of money lost.

 

[0906742]

My 16 inch also has this, the top right corner of the trackpad is flush with the case, while the other 3 corners are a bit lower. The top right corner does seem to vary a tiny bit after some use (it rises a tiny bit higher after some usage, just enough that I can tell a difference if I catch my nail on the edge of it).

My MBP 13 2019 2TB has had the same feature right out of the box, just different corner in my case. I was worried at first but it has not gotten worse in 5 months of use, so it seems harmless. I think the whole trackpad actually rises a tiny bit but it is easiest to notice on the highest corner that sits about flush with the case. Mine starts just below the chassis level and rises just tiny bit above when warm.
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[mikethebigo]

My MBP 13 2019 2TB has had the same feature right out of the box, just different corner in my case. I was worried at first but it has not gotten worse in 5 months of use, so it seems harmless. I think the whole trackpad actually rises a tiny bit but it is easiest to notice on the highest corner that sits about flush with the case. Mine starts just below the chassis level and rises just tiny bit above when warm.
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Saw the trackpad rise on 4 out of 4 16” MBPs, and 3 out of 4 were uneven. Seems to just be just the nature of how they’re manufactured right now. I would just expect lower tolerances for such a user facing thing.

 

[0906742]

Saw the trackpad rise on 4 out of 4 16” MBPs, and 3 out of 4 were uneven. Seems to just be just the nature of how they’re manufactured right now. I would just expect lower tolerances for such a user facing thing.

Thanks for mentioning that. At the time I got my MBP I was really worried about trackpad rise and there was no one else mentioning the same issue but I checked my unit carefully and saw no other signs that would worry me and I did not want to take a part in the display lottery again as my current unit happened to have very decent display which is rather rare with my usual luck.

I'm glad I decided to keep it and I can say now after 5 months of use that it has not gotten any worse or different at all, so probably the trackpad is not just adjusted evenly during manufacturing and I think they all might rise a bit when heating up but it is so minor it is nearly impossible to notice unless the trackpad is even with the chassis in one corner line in my machine. I could not notice it with my fingers on other 3 corners but I have used some other methods to estimate height and it rises evenly on every corner. Just that highest corner can be noticed normally as it starts just below the chassis level and gets just a tiny bit higher when warm, so I can feel it with my nails. Anyway, rise is so tiny that it does not seem to touch the display when the lid is closed, so it is harmless. Also since the trackpad surface is glass, it is nearly impossible to notice visually.

However, I have noticed that you rarely see demo units with uneven trackpads. They are perfectly recessed usually in all corners.

 

[ville.k]

Got my 16 inch macbook pro 10 days ago and my trackpad is also uneven and raised from lower left corner. Moreover, I'm getting constant tiny electric shocks from touching the trackpad. First I thought it was dust particles or something else on the trackpad, but it persists constantly and then I read about somebody else experiencing the same thing. Clearly they either crammed a too large of a battery in there or there is some mistake in the assembly process.

 

[bluesteel]

The trackpad on my new 16" is uneven too. Its lower in the top-left corner. Its not bad enough to bother me, though.

 

[Sanpete]

I'm getting constant tiny electric shocks from touching the trackpad.

That would be an entirely different issue. Since it's painted glass on top, the ways it could shock you are limited.

 

[baryon]

I'm getting constant tiny electric shocks from touching the trackpad.

Does this only happen when plugged into the charger, or also on battery power? Mac chargers aren't grounded for some reason, causing a bit of electricity to flow through your body instead. This is by design unfortunately but apparently it's not that bad for your health.

 

[Devendra Chandnani]

Thanks for mentioning that. At the time I got my MBP I was really worried about trackpad rise and there was no one else mentioning the same issue but I checked my unit carefully and saw no other signs that would worry me and I did not want to take a part in the display lottery again as my current unit happened to have very decent display which is rather rare with my usual luck.

I'm glad I decided to keep it and I can say now after 5 months of use that it has not gotten any worse or different at all, so probably the trackpad is not just adjusted evenly during manufacturing and I think they all might rise a bit when heating up but it is so minor it is nearly impossible to notice unless the trackpad is even with the chassis in one corner line in my machine. I could not notice it with my fingers on other 3 corners but I have used some other methods to estimate height and it rises evenly on every corner. Just that highest corner can be noticed normally as it starts just below the chassis level and gets just a tiny bit higher when warm, so I can feel it with my nails. Anyway, rise is so tiny that it does not seem to touch the display when the lid is closed, so it is harmless. Also since the trackpad surface is glass, it is nearly impossible to notice visually.

However, I have noticed that you rarely see demo units with uneven trackpads. They are perfectly recessed usually in all corners.

Hello, I have a 13" 2019 macbook pro with touchbar and I saw my trackpad is uneven a month back. The left side is almost on level with the flesh.
Today it suddenly seems to have risen or something and come exactly at par with the flesh. Maybe I am just overthinking and being anxious or maybe it has been this way since the start. Could you please tell me how uneven is the trackpad on your macbook, in whichever way possible.

Thanks
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The trackpad on my new 16" is uneven too. Its lower in the top-left corner. Its not bad enough to bother me, though.

Hello,
has it worsened with time or anything like that?

Thanks
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Huh, so this really kind of does sound like normal variance. I wonder what components cause the unevenness? Also it is a little concerning that one person mentioned it changes based on how warm the battery is... I'll definitely be looking for that today, that's one thing that would make me want to exchange.

Hello,
could you please update me on how your laptop is now?
mine has the left side of the trackpad right at level with the flesh of the laptop
is this something to worry about or is it probably just a defect and not a battery issue?

Thanks