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How is the hinge on the current models?

Gibson88

Gibson88

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Sep 25, 2006
959
147
United Kingdom
I know when the very the very first Air came out the hinge was shocking on it, I read threads and saw pictures of it breaking all the time.

I'm thinking about going out today and picking up an Air but I want to know what the hinges are like on the new models, do they still have the same issues or has Apple sorted them?
 
Caris said:
I know when the very the very first Air came out the hinge was shocking on it, I read threads and saw pictures of it breaking all the time.

I'm thinking about going out today and picking up an Air but I want to know what the hinges are like on the new models, do they still have the same issues or has Apple sorted them?
Click to expand...

The latest models might not be old enough to really test out the longevity of the hinges. Having said that I can't see the hinge ever breaking, it just feels so solid and secure.
 
Mine is fine

The hinges on my medio 2011 MBA seem just as robust as ever, even though I don't always treat it as mildly as I maybe should. When in a hurry, I more than once flipped the screen open with more force than necessary, so that the screen went back as far as it could. Even so, the hinges show no sign of wear. AFAIK, the hinges are not an issue on newer MBAs.
 
The hinge on my 13" air is good and strong, has no problem holding in what ever position I put it in, and that is with an Incipio feather case on it.
 
Caris said:
I know when the very the very first Air came out the hinge was shocking on it, I read threads and saw pictures of it breaking all the time.

I'm thinking about going out today and picking up an Air but I want to know what the hinges are like on the new models, do they still have the same issues or has Apple sorted them?
Click to expand...

mine is lovely, thanks.
 
With the 2010 revision, the hinges were redesigned completely and have been rock solid. I bought my 2011 on Day 1 and it is just as good now as it was 6 months ago.
 
I have a 2010 11" ultimate and a pair of 2011 Airs...the 13" i5 and 11" i7. They go with my wife and I everywhere! Our 2010 is now relegated to our son...he's 7 years old and treats it very well...we hooked it up to a monitor in his room. We've owned it since the week of launch (as well as the two 2011s). No Problem. He opens and shuts his everyday (again, in his room...it goes Nowhere!). I didn't own one of the originals...but I can speak for the longevity of the "new" design. It's excellent!

Jer
 
2010 13" MBA, one year old, no problem at all, even with the added weight of the Speck case (upper half only, bottom Speck case broke).
 
2010 13" MBA. Hinge is just like new.

I had the first gen Air as well, and there is none of the wobble or looseness in the 2010. They seemed to have fixed it.
 
slapguts said:
2010 13" MBA. Hinge is just like new.

I had the first gen Air as well, and there is none of the wobble or looseness in the 2010. They seemed to have fixed it.
Click to expand...

+1

it is surprisingly stiff given its ability to open with a finger!

Even with the speck satin case on it. I do notice that gravity does pull it down more with the case on. whether i pick it up from the bottom and the screen almost falls all the way open or when i close it and it closes itself the last few inches. Regardless, it is super stiff and the best hinge I have ever had on my laptop.
 
The hinge on my 11" 2010 was slightly loose. I brought it to the apple store to compare with the display models. All the 13" were tight and 2 of six 11" were loose.

What I mean by loose is that, if I picked up my MBA with the display open, the acceleration would cause the display to close shut into the clamshell mode. Apple replaced the display and I had the same problem so I got a replacement.
 
cfedu said:
The hinge on my 11" 2010 was slightly loose. I brought it to the apple store to compare with the display models. All the 13" were tight and 2 of six 11" were loose.

What I mean by loose is that, if I picked up my MBA with the display open, the acceleration would cause the display to close shut into the clamshell mode. Apple replaced the display and I had the same problem so I got a replacement.
Click to expand...

That's not too bad, then. What I meant by loose on the first gen. was that I couldn't use it outside, because the slightest breeze would make the lid sway back and forth almost 2 inches.
 
I have a 2011 Macbook Air. The hinge doesn't seem like it will pose the problem of coming loose. However, the black piece of plastic has bent out of place slightly. Not exactly a functional issue but is a bit annoying and seems to be have happened to a few people I know. It's an incredibly minor issue and probably only seen with particular attention to detail.

The hinges are sturdy, the black plastic in the middle, not particularly.
 
Caris said:
I know when the very the very first Air came out the hinge was shocking on it, I read threads and saw pictures of it breaking all the time.

I'm thinking about going out today and picking up an Air but I want to know what the hinges are like on the new models, do they still have the same issues or has Apple sorted them?
Click to expand...

Had it about a year and it's rock solid. I wasn't aware that there were ever any issues, so I don't baby it or anything.
 
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