12" MacBook power port wear

[chrisbmnn]

I have been using a space gray MacBook for the past week or so and I just noticed that there is considerable wear (i.e. scratches, paint coming off) inside the power port already. I am not too worried regarding functionality, I am just a bit surprised that the port looks kind of rough after one week of normal use. Makes me wish Apple had covered it with a thin plastic layer like it did with the headphone port.

How are your ports holding up? Anyone who has noticed something similar with their space gray/gold/silver MacBook?

 

[kingofwale]

after your post, i checked out mine, i see some deep scratches too. Not sure if it's just normal use or the way power is run through.

regardless, i miss magsafe

 

[seong]

Can anyone come up with a picture? I've ordered mine couple of days ago, and I would like to know what's ahead before I start using it.
On topic, I see some wear and tear on my MagSafe port on my rMBP 15". I'm hoping that the wear and tear on rMB isn't as visible.

 

[Rotatores]

after your post, i checked out mine, i see some deep scratches too. Not sure if it's just normal use or the way power is run through.

regardless, i miss magsafe

Mine too. I also miss magsafe as I've already tripped over and dropped my rMB while it was charging.

 

[ProwlingTiger]

Definitely a couple scratches inside the port, but that's bound to happen as it's metal against metal.

 

[southerndoc]

I admire you guys for taking such great care of your MacBooks. Unfortunately, I don't take such great care of them. Mine already has a scratch on the lid from where I dropped it. My 2012 MacBook Air that this MacBook replaced was so worn that the lid hinge was coming undone. I'm abusive to my laptops from all the travel.

 

[kingofwale]

Can anyone come up with a picture? I've ordered mine couple of days ago, and I would like to know what's ahead before I start using it.
On topic, I see some wear and tear on my MagSafe port on my rMBP 15". I'm hoping that the wear and tear on rMB isn't as visible.

sadly, as there isn't a easy way for me to upload picture from my dSLR, i will let someone else do it

not a big deal for me honestly, but not something you want to see on your 2K machine

 

[mattopotamus]

This is one of the reasons I went silver. If it does scratch, it is a lot less noticeable.

 

[seong]

sadly, as there isn't a easy way for me to upload picture from my dSLR, i will let someone else do it

not a big deal for me honestly, but not something you want to see on your 2K machine

haha... don't tell me its because of the lack of ports!
jokes aside, yes, I would absolutely go crazy OCD on these. It's not so noticeable on my rMBP 15", however.

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This is one of the reasons I went silver. If it does scratch, it is a lot less noticeable.

Huh, really? This gets me a little worried about getting the space grey. I do not know if space grey models are produced with just coating (only had Apple Watch SG for a short amount of time, and the rest of my Apple Devices has always been silver.) Aren't the space grey colors created during the manufacturing process of the aluminum? Or are they just coated versions of the silver MacBooks?

 

[seong]

Attached an image I found online to illustrate my question. I would hate to find out that space grey color is achieved through coating of anodized aluminum.

 

[cmsj]

Attached an image I found online to illustrate my question. I would hate to find out that space grey color is achieved through coating of anodized aluminum.

You can be almost 100% sure that it's anodised aluminium. There isn't really any other way to make coloured aluminium!

I am dreading the first scratch/ding, but really looking forward to what it will look like in a couple of years when it's got loads of them. I think the worn/dinged/scratched iPhone 5 units you see around these days, look amazing.
It's like how leather looks better with age

 

[clyde2801]

You can be almost 100% sure that it's anodised aluminium. There isn't really any other way to make coloured aluminium!

I am dreading the first scratch/ding, but really looking forward to what it will look like in a couple of years when it's got loads of them. I think the worn/dinged/scratched iPhone 5 units you see around these days, look amazing.
It's like how leather looks better with age

Yes, there is...


Whoops, sorry; misread your post.

 

[jido]

What would be nice is a cable like that.

Sorry for the poor mouse drawing skills!

Maybe there should be an angle on the MacBook end, so that the cable can be plugged in permanently without damaging the connector when travelling.

 

[redheeler]

The same happens with MagSafe over time (as is the case with my 13" rMBP) but a week does seem a bit soon.

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Mine too. I also miss magsafe as I've already tripped over and dropped my rMB while it was charging.

That sounds absolutely awful.

 

[seong]

You can be almost 100% sure that it's anodised aluminium. There isn't really any other way to make coloured aluminium!

I am dreading the first scratch/ding, but really looking forward to what it will look like in a couple of years when it's got loads of them. I think the worn/dinged/scratched iPhone 5 units you see around these days, look amazing.
It's like how leather looks better with age

I think I'll stick a hardshell case on my Mac even though I absolutely think I shouldn't. I have that kind of OCD; If my devices aren't protected, I don't trust myself to not use it in good condition (seeing a ding on my iPhone makes me a sad person)
Anyways, yes, those tears look good, but I've yet to see one on a mac!

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What would be nice is a cable like that.

Sorry for the poor mouse drawing skills!

Maybe there should be an angle on the MacBook end, so that the cable can be plugged in permanently without damaging the connector when travelling.

I think you did quite well on the thinness of the rMB!

 

[Theophil1971]

Attached an image I found online to illustrate my question. I would hate to find out that space grey color is achieved through coating of anodized aluminum.

Yep, it's anodized for the color.

But they all are... The Airs and Pros are all anodized too, with with lighter silver color. Always have been. Nothing new or different here with the rMB

 

[hcole623]

I think I'll stick a hardshell case on my Mac even though I absolutely think I shouldn't. I have that kind of OCD; If my devices aren't protected, I don't trust myself to not use it in good condition (seeing a ding on my iPhone makes me a sad person)
Anyways, yes, those tears look good, but I've yet to see one on a mac!

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I think you did quite well on the thinness of the rMB!

I would caution against the hard shells. More times than not, when dirt/debris gets between the hard shell case and your MacBook chassis, it then acts like sandpaper. This would only be exaggerated on a Space Grey ano. chassis.

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You can be almost 100% sure that it's anodised aluminium. There isn't really any other way to make coloured aluminium!

I am dreading the first scratch/ding, but really looking forward to what it will look like in a couple of years when it's got loads of them. I think the worn/dinged/scratched iPhone 5 units you see around these days, look amazing.
It's like how leather looks better with age

+1 its definitely anodized aluminum.

I almost went with the regular silver rMB as scratches would be far less noticeable (due to the minor color difference between raw aluminum and silver ano, vs the larger contrast between raw alu and space grey ano)

 

[polee]

I suppose through time, with normal wear and tear, there will be at least minor scratches.

I am worried about the constant insertion and removal of the usb-c plug and was wondering if the port would eventually become too loose. Only time will tell, I suppose...

 

[newellj]

I think I'll stick a hardshell case on my Mac even though I absolutely think I shouldn't. I have that kind of OCD; If my devices aren't protected, I don't trust myself to not use it in good condition (seeing a ding on my iPhone makes me a sad person)
Anyways, yes, those tears look good, but I've yet to see one on a mac!

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I think you did quite well on the thinness of the rMB!

Not sure that's ideal - those could affect heat dissipation from the case, which is essentially a giant heat sink.

 

[mattopotamus]

Yep, it's anodized for the color.

But they all are... The Airs and Pros are all anodized too, with with lighter silver color. Always have been. Nothing new or different here with the rMB

indeed, but silver on silver is not that noticeable if at all.

 

[noi747]

I suppose through time, with normal wear and tear, there will be at least minor scratches.

I am worried about the constant insertion and removal of the usb-c plug and was wondering if the port would eventually become too loose. Only time will tell, I suppose...

that's my primary concern as well, constantly plug in and out on this sole port for charging, data transfer, or display out will definitely loosen it as the time goes by.

I don't really know it will survive 3 yrs warranty including pricey apple care protection.

but according to ifixit teardown. this port is not soldered to logic board. it is not user replaceable. I mean not quite easily by common users as it was buried under the display hinge.

Once the port is damaged, you have to transfer your wor ks stuffs to portable drive be for the battery drain out. no chance for recharging. and send it to mac clinic and wait and wait.

 

[Cvx5832]

I would caution against the hard shells. More times than not, when dirt/debris gets between the hard shell case and your MacBook chassis, it then acts like sandpaper. This would only be exaggerated on a Space Grey ano. chassis.

^ This. Like the poor chaps that put bras on their cars and end up with sandpaper on their paint, they mean well, but were better off leaving it alone.

Just leave it be. My MagSafe port is chewed up but functionally 100%.

 

[seong]

Not sure that's ideal - those could affect heat dissipation from the case, which is essentially a giant heat sink.

There is a heat dissipation area at the bottom of the case. I've ben using this type of cases for ages so I think it'll be fine. If it creates a giant heat sink, then I'll simply get a pouch like ones and carry it naked

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^ This. Like the poor chaps that put bras on their cars and end up with sandpaper on their paint, they mean well, but were better off leaving it alone.

Just leave it be. My MagSafe port is chewed up but functionally 100%.

I'm not getting the hardshell cases to protect my magsafe port, but rather the aluminum casing. I've had the hardshell cases on for years and never had a problem such as sandpaper issues. I'll gladly give this macbook a try.

 

[burgman]

I admire you guys for taking such great care of your MacBooks. Unfortunately, I don't take such great care of them. Mine already has a scratch on the lid from where I dropped it. My 2012 MacBook Air that this MacBook replaced was so worn that the lid hinge was coming undone. I'm abusive to my laptops from all the travel.

I agree, looking inside a port as small UBS-C and worrying about scratches, is not something I care about. Snap out of it people.

 

[mattopotamus]

I agree, looking inside a port as small UBS-C and worrying about scratches, is not something I care about. Snap out of it people.

pretty sure people are talking about the area around the port, not just inside the port. Anodizing in general and how well it will hold up on the SG.