What is your experience with Apple's product quality lately?

[don1765]

Hey guys,
I'll start off by saying that I'm a long time Apple fan, I'm a guy who appreciates high quality products and always considered Apple to be one of the best brands when it comes to the thought that's put into each and every product and their incredible build quality.

However, my personal experience with Apple products seems to be going downhill lately as the products that I bought simply seem to fail in different ways that I have no apparent control over.

A few examples would be that my AirPods decided to constantly disconnect from my iPhone after ~3 minutes each time and requires me to go through the pairing process over and over (yes I made sure that they are well charged)

My pretty new 2019 15" i9 Macbook Pro just started making these squeaking noises from inside every time it calculates pretty much anything.

My iPhone X that all of a sudden has dead pixels on it's screen and has had a huge list of software issues since I bought it that I won't bother to list here.

The list goes on, but frankly my personal experience makes me wonder if it's really a smart move to stay in the Apple ecosystem or if I should gradually find my way out.
It's a tough decision however, because generally I still love how Apple devices are working so well together and sadly I don't think that there's any other brand out there that could compete with such an experience.
But with such price tags I would expect their products to last longer than they do.

Anyhow I wanted to hear what you guys think and if I'm just one of few people who's had that kind of an experience.
Do you own a wide range of Apple products? how's your experience with them?

 

[compwiz1202]

I've never had issues with the hardware except for a refurb I got once, but they fixed it free and quickly. The one annoying thing with my 11PM is it keeps freaking asking for PIN even without turning it off or the week thing. It did it like three times yesterday.

 

[Huntn]

My experience to date, starting long ago with my 1983 Apple IIe to my 2016 MBP, iPhoneXR, recent iPad and iPod has been exceptional along with excellent customer service when problems have infrequently risen. I’ve had motherboards replaced and recently had the speaker on my wife’s iPhoneXR replaced (which is a motherboard replacement) under warranty, but in the past, I’ve had fixes performed by Apple when items were out of warranty for free.

This is not to imply that everyone’s experience has or will be the same. My grandson purchased his own iPhone, then proceeded to trash it in the way some teens do. 👀

 

[960design]

However, my personal experience with Apple products seems to be going downhill lately as the products that I bought simply seem to fail in different ways that I have no apparent control over.

I recommend jumping the fence sooner than later. Get it out of your system. We will be here when you come back.

I have personally setup and ran config tests on over 2000 Apple devices in the last week and only one had one issue ( NO SIM - actually had a SIM inserted, just defective. Seeing how the SIM is loaded by Verizon in this case, I would tend to blame Verizon for their SIM failure and not Apple ).

I play with the latest and greatest tech everyday ( part of my job ). Currently playing with three Asus ZenBook Pro Duos maxed out and they are amazing. Guess what I'm typing on for this forum, yep the 2019 i9 MacBook Pro 15.

I'm all about OpenSource and using the best available tech for the right reasons. I also do not mind paying when a product is done right, software or hardware. Right now, Apple seems to just get it. Devices are not perfect, but closer to my perfection than any other device. I no longer enjoy 'fiddling' with my work machines. I just need them to work, always. I play with ZenBook Pros, Raspberry Pi's, converting chromebooks into Ubuntu machines, OBSBOT Tail, ect.

 

[cambookpro]

I’ve had a few hardware issues - in recent years, my left AirPod needed replacing, my iPad Pro 10.5” had a device replacement for a screen flicker and my MacBook Pro has had the keyboard replaced. I don’t feel like it’s getting any worse, technology just inherently is not 100% reliable. My iPhone 5 was replaced once with a dodgy power switch, my Thunderbolt Display had to be replaced, and I had a 2006 Core Duo MacBook Pro replaced after three failed fan repairs. The worst device was my iPhone 6 Plus which was replaced 5 or 6 times, very nearly switched to Android after that. One of my first Macs, a Performa 5400, needed a repair but I can’t remember for what! I’ve never paid for any of these repairs.

That sounds like a lot, but people on here probably have more tech/upgrade more often than the average Joe. Many other devices have never had a problem. I’m glad that when a problem does arise with Apple products, 90% of the time it’s a painless solution.

Software quality, on the other hand, seems to been trending downwards.

 

[kazmac]

To be honest, iDevices experiences haven’t been great since 2016 (Save for my 7+); but here I am with a 2019 iPad, 2020 cellular iPad Pro (which I bought as a back up for work), and incoming SE 2nd gen. I love the Pencil for art.

Software quality is on a serious decline too.

Really debating if I want to even bother with another Mac, given the Bridge OS / T2 bricking issues and how poor Catalina is. Windows 10 has its own can of worms, so IDK what to do. Ironically, my aging iMac is doing a better job as a work from home machine, than the Lenovo Yoga I bought in early March.

 

[H. Flower]

I feel like the quality has dropped, especially in the little things.

For instance, I've been on hold for an hour with tech support just to ask why my album artwork isn't loading in music app in catalina (yes, ive checked online for solutions and nothings worked).

8 years ago, wasting an hour of my time (and counting) for a stupid problem that shouldn't be there wasn't a part of the Apple equation, and was reserved for poorer companies.

But in 2020, here we are.

 

[Abazigal]

Not perfect, but their warranty makes up for it.

To date, here are the products I have had replaced so far.

2013 - my 27" iMac had a faulty display, which Apple replaced for free
2016 - replaced an iPhone 6s+ due to a dead motherboard
2017 - replaced an Apple Watch series 2 due to chipping issues
2019 - brought my 8+ to the apple store to have the battery replaced, they ended up replacing the entire 8+ when the battery replacement attempt failed. Also had my Magic keyboard due to it developing sticky keys
2020 - replaced a dead AirPods shortly before the apple store would close

 

[satchmo]

Software quality is on a serious decline too.

Frankly I wonder if Apple is spreading itself too thin and should take on less.

Even though they’re one of the most fricken wealthiest companies in the world, they seem to have their hands full. Perhaps it’s a shortage of engineers who prefer to work elsewhere.

Software no longer no longer just works nor intuitive to use.
And when products are left languishing for years without an update, maybe they’re not as ‘laser-focused’ as Tim makes them out to be.
Either kill them off or keep them updated.

 

[Expos of 1969]

Either kill them off or keep them updated.

Well stated.

 

[edubfromktown]

Stellar quality in my opinion.

I have a 2020 MacBook Air now which is the only one I purchased new. Most others came from the Apple refurb site (plus a few from eBay).

Their software release process and overall quality had plusses and minuses but overall hasn’t sucked up nearly as much time as Windows OS, driver issues and registry garbage.

I also have a 2012 quad core i7 15” MBP, two older mini’s and an old school white 24” iMac. The iMac screen died and was replaced under warranty. Other than that, no Apple hardware I’ve owned (or purchased for places where I’ve worked ~30 systems total I’d guess) has had an issue and they all retained quite a bit of value when I sold them.

 

[MacGizmo]

The level of "magic" certainly has gone down. Too many artificially added limitations to software, too many shortcuts being taken with apps (Podcasts, News, etc.) for the sake of shipping. It's just not like it used to be when you got a major OS upgrade and went "WOW."

As far as the quality of their stuff goes, I must admit I'm not impressed. I've returned 3 products in the last two years and had numerous smaller issues with the replacements. Prior to that, I've had exactly one issue in 30 years of using Apple products.

That being said, Apple still makes the best tech for the average person, creatives and content producers, in my opinion.

 

[Nütztjanix]

As for hardware, I can say that it has been the most reliable stuff I've had over the years. Things have hold up better than my car, various other consumer electronics stuff etc.
Software though seems to have more rough edges lately than I experienced 5-10 years ago. It might just be that there are now so many more products to care for, but not an equally increased amount of people working on it.

Overall though, I personally still think that there is no alternative (for me!). The integration between devices, the user experience and especially the privacy efforts are extremely important to me, and I just don't see anything out there that's even remotely comparable, all these considered.

 

[Tech198]

If you treat it right, then i guess, you'll be alright..

I think my Macbook Air may is on it's replacement date because one of my USB ports are kinda stuffed up (the one next to Megasafe port).. Cable goes half way in...

At first i thought i was the cable, but it works on other usb port, (but some of my flash drives go flush with the case and work no problem, while others do not.. on the affected port.) SInce my MBA is out of warrenty, i may just decide o get brand new...

 

[levander]

I recommend jumping the fence sooner than later. Get it out of your system. We will be here when you come back.

I have personally setup and ran config tests on over 2000 Apple devices in the last week and only one had one issue ( NO SIM - actually had a SIM inserted, just defective. Seeing how the SIM is loaded by Verizon in this case, I would tend to blame Verizon for their SIM failure and not Apple ).

I play with the latest and greatest tech everyday ( part of my job ). Currently playing with three Asus ZenBook Pro Duos maxed out and they are amazing. Guess what I'm typing on for this forum, yep the 2019 i9 MacBook Pro 15.

I'm all about OpenSource and using the best available tech for the right reasons. I also do not mind paying when a product is done right, software or hardware. Right now, Apple seems to just get it. Devices are not perfect, but closer to my perfection than any other device. I no longer enjoy 'fiddling' with my work machines. I just need them to work, always. I play with ZenBook Pros, Raspberry Pi's, converting chromebooks into Ubuntu machines, OBSBOT Tail, ect.

it sounds like you’re spread too thin to really know how well something works day in day out. It is good to know that Apple’s set up processes are working more smoothly than the competition’s.

my experience is much like most people’s In this thread thus far.. Software quality has gone down hill. The reason I originally switched from Android to Apple years ago is there always seemed to be some lingering bug that was annoying on my Android phone. I switched to Apple and even though it had a more boring interface, it worked flawlessly. Now with my Apple products there always seems to be some lingering bug.

Apple has no competion in the consistent cross device UI niche though. And since part of what I do is support family members who are older and don’t understand computers very well, a consistent cross device UI is what I need. I’m just praying Apple picks it up on software quality so I get fewer calls. These days every time I go visit someone I haven’t seen in a while, the first hour or two is playing with their Apple devices To see why they’re having some problem.

Does anyone else remember the days when connecting to the internet via a DSL modem was kind of a weird process? And people would post on the Internet how amazed they were because their grandma got on the Internet by herself because she had a Mac? I miss those days.

 

[planteater]

Since returning to Apple products in 2015, I’ve had zero hardware issues and no software issues that I recall. 2 iPhones, 1 iPad, 1 Mac Pro, 1 MacBook Pro.

I suspect I’m not an outlier.

 

[boswald]

I have absolutely no issues with any of the products I own. In fact, I wish I would've made the switch a long time ago.

 

[vault]

I certainly had a new experience lately when I started listening to podcasts (I never did before for some reason). I use three devices for it: an iPhone, a Macbook with the new podcasts app and a Windows desktop with iTunes.

And it's a total mess. They just can't stay in sync. Sometimes random episodes show up as started on one of the devices, sometimes the progress doesn't sync at all, sometimes iTunes insists on playing them in reverse order to what is set.

So I started using Spotify for podcasts and it "just works".

 

[Tech198]

Update: it was just dust in the port.... Why do i never try the simplest things first.


That still doesn't change my habbits on Apple products and lack of.

 

[kaielement]

no issues yet on any of my current apple devices knock on wood.

 

[kazmac]

The iPad issues have not changed > Just sold the iPad Pro.

 

[Lucas284]

Purchased the iPhone XR in September 2019 and it still looks as new. I have had 0 issues, that is because I actually TAKE CARE of a phone unlike others.

I don’t use any protection at all. Just a Spigen case for when I’m in a foreign country. Other than that I use it without the case all the freaking time.

 

[Expos of 1969]

Purchased the iPhone XR in September 2019 and it still looks as new. I have had 0 issues, that is because I actually TAKE CARE of a phone unlike others.

I don’t use any protection at all. Just a Spigen case for when I’m in a foreign country. Other than that I use it without the case all the freaking time.

Are you more clumsy when in a foreign country?

 

[Shanghaichica]

No issues at all. I have older products like my 5 year old MacBook air and I have a 6 year old Apple TV 3 and a 4 year old Apple TV 4. They all work really well. I have a 3 year old iPad Pro and that is still working well.

 

[0128672]

I haven't had any quality issues with Apple products in 34 years that include many desktops, laptops, peripherals and mobile devices. I like to stay fairly current, so buy new products usually every 2-3 years, and haven't returned anything due to a quality issue. I've only had one repair done after I dropped my phone. Oh wait, there is one quality issue and that is fraying lightning cables, but yep, that's it.