12" Macbook owners, do you have the rattle problem?

[ColdShadow]

This issue has been discussed numerous times with no real solution:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/something-rattles-inside-when-i-tilt-the-macbook.2052987/

So does your MacBook makes rattling/clicking noise (as if something is loose inside the screen) when you tilt it?

Mine does that,I've taken it to Apple,at first they said it's normal and due to mechanism of Taptic trackpad, when I showed them other MacBooks that were not making this noise they agreed there is a problem and replaced the screen TWICE.
they even replaced the whole LogicBoard with SSD attached,but the rattling is still there.

So I want to find out how widespread this problem is? and why such an expensive and premium device should suffer from such primitive problems that no one can sort out?

 

[Brookzy]

Well that was two screens and a logic board totally wasted: it's the batteries! Very common. It isn't a fault other than being annoying if it bothers you. Can be fixed by re-adhering the batteries to the top-case however this may require a full battery replacement.

 

[ColdShadow]

Well that was two screens and a logic board totally wasted: it's the batteries! Very common. It isn't a fault other than being annoying if it bothers you. Can be fixed by re-adhering the batteries to the top-case however this may require a full battery replacement.

it's not the batteries because when I "hold" the screen with my fingers there is no rattle.
so definitely something loose inside the display panel.
some people say it's the so called "light guide" plastic sheet that is attached using small piece of adhesive, it gets detached and hangs loose causing the noise.it's happening with 2016 upward MacBooks and Macbook Pros apparently.
but not all of them.
so frustrating that they can't fix it.

 

[Graham Perks]

I never had a problem until I just swayed it side-to-side to see if I could hear anything. Now it knocks with each little tilt.

Thanks

To me it sounds like it's coming from between the keyboard and screen.

 

[ColdShadow]

I never had a problem until I just swayed it side-to-side to see if I could hear anything. Now it knocks with each little tilt.

Thanks

To me it sounds like it's coming from between the keyboard and screen.

try holding the screen between your fingers and see if the noise stops.
mine does, hence why I believe it's from the screen.

 

[SidBoggle]

Yes I have this problem on my 2017 macbook. It is very annoying and I just hope nothing is getting damaged when I am moving it around.

My 2015 Macbook did not do this.

 

[ColdShadow]

brought it to Apple Store again and this time Apple technician told me it's within the specs and normal.
it's unacceptable,since it doesn't happen with all of MacBooks.
and why they replaced my display and logic board if the noise is normal?

since there is no way to find out which Macbook does have this problem and which not,I've decided to sell the Macbook and buy a nice Windows machine instead.
Apple simply does not have a high quality and problem-free laptop at the moment.S
Matebook X,Surface Pro,Galaxy Book or XPS 13 are being considered.

 

[maerz001]

I have this too. But think it's a magnet coming loose.

But to hear it I have to turn it upside down. So it doesn't really matter cos this is an unusual movement for using the Mb.
When do u hear it?

 

[effineji]

Last time I shook it, it did not rattle. However, I tried again when I saw the new posts on this thread and noticed mine rattles too! I understand to want your new things to be perfect, but when would you be shaking the laptop vigorously from side to side? I just won't let it get to me, and really, there's no downside for it to rattle if I shake it like that.

 

[ColdShadow]

Last time I shook it, it did not rattle. However, I tried again when I saw the new posts on this thread and noticed mine rattles too! I understand to want your new things to be perfect, but when would you be shaking the laptop vigorously from side to side? I just won't let it get to me, and really, there's no downside for it to rattle if I shake it like that.

doesn't need to be shaken vigorously..
simply tilting it from left to right causes the plastic sheet in display to move and rattle and make the knocking noise. Just adjusting how I sit on my couch would cause this, and I'd feel the plastic thud with my hands + the hear the noise.
if this was a cheap budget laptop I'd probably accept this design flaw but it's simply not acceptable for a premium and very expensive laptop.

 

[Koudspeel]

This is my second 2017 rMB and both my MacBooks don't have this behavior. I tried tilting left, right and up down, etc. Pretty much all angles both vigorously and slow..

 

[ColdShadow]

as I said earlier,I took the 12" MacBook to Apple Store,they replaced the screen and logic board but that didn't fix the problem.
the rattle is still there and it's quite loud and noticeable.
you can even feel the vibration on your hand.

now the Apple tech says this is within specs! and normal as some other MacBooks do that.and they cannot resolve the issue.

that's just ridiculous.

watch this new video after display and logic board replacement ,no vigorous shaking is needed just everyday handling :

 

[SidBoggle]

as I said earlier,I took the 12" MacBook to Apple Store,they replaced the screen and logic board but that didn't fix the problem.
the rattle is still there and it's quite loud and noticeable.
you can even feel the vibration on your hand.

now the Apple tech says this is within specs! and normal as some other MacBooks do that.and they cannot resolve the issue.

that's just ridiculous.

watch this new video after display and logic board replacement ,no vigorous shaking is needed just everyday handling :

Yes mine does the same. Bloody annoying.

 

[James.K.Polk]

as I said earlier,I took the 12" MacBook to Apple Store,they replaced the screen and logic board but that didn't fix the problem.
the rattle is still there and it's quite loud and noticeable.
you can even feel the vibration on your hand.

now the Apple tech says this is within specs! and normal as some other MacBooks do that.and they cannot resolve the issue.

that's just ridiculous.

watch this new video after display and logic board replacement ,no vigorous shaking is needed just everyday handling :

That is a lot louder than I expected. I'm with you on the iPhone 7 to SE switch and am thinking of picking up the 12" MB to replace a 15" Pro but... hmm

 

[domsodidavid]

Why not Macrumors write about this? widespread problem

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

Why not Macrumors write about this? widespread problem

Because its a non-issue short of people who are paranoid about their machines?

 

[domsodidavid]

Because its a non-issue short of people who are paranoid about their machines?

Have you ever watched a single video of this issue? When a gently tilted MacBook says „knock” ... „knock” ... it's a bad joke...

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

Have you ever watched a single video of this issue? When a gently tilted MacBook says „knock” ... „knock” ... it's a bad joke...

Yes I have. The computer is clearly working perfectly fine? You could stop moving your machine 180° up and down and use it instead, so it won't make a sound?

 

[domsodidavid]

Yes I have. The computer is clearly working perfectly fine? You could stop moving your machine 180° up and down and use it instead, so it won't make a sound?

Yes, it works, but do you think that this behavior is in line with Apple's values? Yes / No?

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

Yes, it works, but do you think that this behavior is in line with Apple's values? Yes / No?

Yes I pretty much do. It is such a minor issue that the vast majority that have it won't even notice it, or care much. If you are paranoid about it, you can of course just go and get it exchanged. Loose parts that doesn't affect the machine, but make a noise when moving a computer/phone/whatever around has been around forever, just search the forums.

 

[ColdShadow]

Yes I have. The computer is clearly working perfectly fine? You could stop moving your machine 180° up and down and use it instead, so it won't make a sound?

as others have mentioned,IF your machine is affected by this flaw, you will notice it every time you pick it up, move it, tilt it.basically during everyday normal handling.
if you don't care about a loud rattle noise and the sensation of something moving loose inside your $$$ premium laptop that was supposed to be near perfect, I have nothing more to say to you.
it's not about "working fine" I mean it's not a $200 budget netbook we are talking about.
so if you bought a Ferrari,and the engine clanks and bangs every time you turn left or right but the car still drives fine, you find that ok?

 

[Koudspeel]

as others have mentioned,IF your machine is affected by this flaw, you will notice it every time you pick it up, move it, tilt it.basically during everyday normal handling.
if you don't care about a loud rattle noise and the sensation of something moving loose inside your $$$ premium laptop that was supposed to be near perfect, I have nothing more to say to you.
it's not about "working fine" I mean it's not a $200 budget netbook we are talking about.
so if you bought a Ferrari,and the engine clanks and bangs every time you turn left or right but the car still drives fine, you find that ok?

Please stop feeding him. He's obviously trolling. Luckily my MacBook doesn't do this, but I feel for you OP. Good call on selling the thing and looking elsewhere.

 

[ColdShadow]

another video from another 12" Macbook owner with same problem :

 

[Koudspeel]

another video from another 12" Macbook owner with same problem :

Actually.. now that I tried again I can feel something moving inside. When I listen really closely I can hear something ticking real softly.

EDIT: You know what, I will return my MacBook since I'm still in my 14 day return period. I don't want to risk this thing getting damaged over time by this issue. Will probably get a MacBook Pro instead.

 

[mrgossett]

Mine (first-generation 2015) does not do that. That would be annoying.