2019 MacBook Pro - high failure rate ?

[myuserid08]

Hello
I manage around 200 MacBooks for a company (50 or so are 2019 Pro’s). Over the past 6 months I have sent 9 back to Apple. They have all had the logic board replaced along with the Touch Bar (wouldn’t power on).
The 2017 Pro’s have been rock solid and so far no issue with the 2020’s (although it’s probably too early to tell).

Just wondering if this is a known issue with the 2019’s - it’s not filling me with confidence and I’m tempted to suggest we replace this particular model.....or have I been unlucky ?

 

[VineRider]

Well, I'm only one person, but I've had experience with 3 2019 MacBook Pro's, and all have been solid as a rock. No issues whatsoever. Two of the 13" models have butterfly keyboards, no issues with either, and one 16" with magic keyboard and its been solid too. So, that's a small sample size, but for me, no hardware or software issues of any kind.

I'd say usage is moderate - running VM's, MS Office software and using to manage a small business network.

 

[TraptedMind]

I have a 2019 13 inch Macbook Pro. Mine died twice so far. Logic board and touch id replaced each time. Support assured me they would look into the cause during the second repair but instead they only made the same repair as the first. Just a few days after repair, my macbook made a pop sound and started crackling for 10 seconds. I immediately shut the MacBook down and contacted Apple support.

 

[nquinn]

Are they the 16" models failing or the 13"?

 

[che003894]

The 2019 15.4" Macbook Pro I purchased in March of 2019 died last month - would not power on. Quote from nearest authorized service center 100 miles away (since my local Apple store is closed due to Covid-19) is $779.99 to replace logic board. +149.00 labor. Oh, and I almost forgot - $79.00 diagnosis fee. Nuts!

 

[ultrakyo]

My 2019 MBP 16” dead on arrivala and the replacement unit has problem out of the box with one USB-C port unable to lock when something is plugged in, had to replace the top case, and of course it comes with the GPU power raw issue as well.

 

[Zalo10]

I have a similar issue with my 16 inches MacBook Pro not turning on. Apple told me it needs a logic board replacement so at the moment I am just trying to retrieve my data with another company so I can later send it for repairment with Apple.

 

[Macdctr]

After hearing about all these issues plaguing newer Macs, I think I will stay with the older, more reliable laptops....mine are still relatively responsive, runs Big Sur with no issues and does everything I need them to do... I'm sorry to hear you guys having issues with your newer machines though...

 

[4sallypat]

My workplace we purchased over 700 2020 Macbook Pros (i5 and i7) and have had about 12 go bad - they would overheat and drain the battery in minutes.

AppleCare replaced the logic boards and now they are working fine.

Never seen that many go bad almost out of the box.

 

[nquinn]

My workplace we purchased over 700 2020 Macbook Pros (i5 and i7) and have had about 12 go bad - they would overheat and drain the battery in minutes.

AppleCare replaced the logic boards and now they are working fine.

Never seen that many go bad almost out of the box.

M1 or intel models?

 

[chrfr]

M1 or intel models?

The i5 and i7 referenced in the post means they have Intel CPUs.

 

[Jotronic]

My workplace we purchased over 700 2020 Macbook Pros (i5 and i7) and have had about 12 go bad - they would overheat and drain the battery in minutes.

AppleCare replaced the logic boards and now they are working fine.

Never seen that many go bad almost out of the box.

"That many"? Thats a 1.7% failure rate. Sounds pretty good, to me.

 

[4sallypat]

"That many"? Thats a 1.7% failure rate. Sounds pretty good, to me.

So 1.7% is considered good ??

 

[nquinn]

So 1.7% is considered good ??

1.7% sounds quite high to me, especially when repairs cost $800+

Really torn if I want to get applecare on my next macbook 16" purchase since that will be approaching $3000

 

[blueflower]

1.7% sounds quite high to me, especially when repairs cost $800+

Really torn if I want to get applecare on my next macbook 16" purchase since that will be approaching $3000

Or maybe avoid the 16" all-together?

 

[Okta]

If you can be patient you might get a new release this fall

 

[4sallypat]

If you can be patient you might get a new release this fall

Yes, but I will cry since I sunk $2500 + AppleCare into the 16" MBP and it runs hot, sucks the battery out and fans spin up like crazy. My battery is at 82% and when it goes under 80%, it's going back to Apple for replacement.

If the Mx 16" MBP comes out, I will consider getting that but I wonder if the price point will be more palatable ??

 

[Okta]

Yes, but I will cry since I sunk $2500 + AppleCare into the 16" MBP and it runs hot, sucks the battery out and fans spin up like crazy. My battery is at 82% and when it goes under 80%, it's going back to Apple for replacement.

If the Mx 16" MBP comes out, I will consider getting that but I wonder if the price point will be more palatable ??

Yup . We all kinda got hit by surprise by the M1.

That's a good question, it would be unquestionably cheaper for Apple to make but would they pass that savings off to us? the Mac Pro just seems double to triple the price for no reason.

 

[nquinn]

Or maybe avoid the 16" all-together?

This will be a primary machine for me, and I just find 13-14" way too small. If it was a travel laptop/etc I'd def go 14".

 

[Okta]

This will be a primary machine for me, and I just find 13-14" way too small. If it was a travel laptop/etc I'd def go 14".

Would you consider getting a Mac Mini with a monitor? Would be cheaper and more performant

 

[Yebubbleman]

Hello
I manage around 200 MacBooks for a company (50 or so are 2019 Pro’s). Over the past 6 months I have sent 9 back to Apple. They have all had the logic board replaced along with the Touch Bar (wouldn’t power on).
The 2017 Pro’s have been rock solid and so far no issue with the 2020’s (although it’s probably too early to tell).

Just wondering if this is a known issue with the 2019’s - it’s not filling me with confidence and I’m tempted to suggest we replace this particular model.....or have I been unlucky ?

There were four different MacBook Pro models released in 2019. You had the four port 13" MacBook Pros and the 15" MacBook Pros in the earlier half of the year, a two port 13" MacBook Pro in the middle of the year, and then the 16" MacBook Pro toward the end of the year. Which are you referring to?

I've heard tons about issues that the 2019 two-port 13" MacBook Pro had, but I also remember hearing that much of that got resolved with later OS/firmware updates.

 

[nquinn]

Would you consider getting a Mac Mini with a monitor? Would be cheaper and more performant

Definitely considering if I want to do something like this, but I like being able to use my laptop on the couch, in bed, etc. I could consider a mac mini + 14", but then I'm really adding up costs. Wish I had unlimited money just to make a sweet desk setup (maxed out mac mini with M2, apple monitor, or iMac pro and then a 14"), but that would prob run $5k or more. (2k+ imac, 2k+ 14", 1.5k monitor)

 

[anoobis]

My 2019 MBP stopped powering on 11.5 months after purchase (Jan 2021). Logic board and Touch ID board replaced. Would have been $678.

Purchased AppleCare on pickup. Cut off while on almost full battery less than 2 months later. Logic board and Touch ID board replaced.

 

[IceStormNG]

My brother's 16 inch failed with a broken AMD GPU 2 days after warrenty ends.

I needed 6 replacements just to get one that wasn't microfreezing all the time. Now it has regular TCON Timeouts (causes split seconds of black screen every now and then) that Apple doesn't want to fix because they cannot reproduce it... I'm not surprised if it also dies right after the warranty ends.

My 2013 Late on the other hand is still working flawlessly after 7 years of use... Sometimes I ask myself why I actually wanted a new MacBook....

 

[Macdctr]

My brother's 16 inch failed with a broken AMD GPU 2 days after warrenty ends.

I needed 6 replacements just to get one that wasn't microfreezing all the time. Now it has regular TCON Timeouts (causes split seconds of black screen every now and then) that Apple doesn't want to fix because they cannot reproduce it... I'm not surprised if it also dies right after the warranty ends.

My 2013 Late on the other hand is still working flawlessly after 7 years of use... Sometimes I ask myself why I actually wanted a new MacBook....

Seeing comments like these is the reason I am sticking to my older 2013/2015 laptops. Luckily, what I use my laptops for is not taxing by any means as I don't require any of my Macs for work so I have the luxury of being able to remain with the older, more reliable, machines for my every day tasking