Apple Launches SSD Service Program for 13-Inch Non-Touch Bar MacBook Pro Sold Between June 2017 and June 2018

[_Kiki_]

I'm not sure why so many are using this recall as a backdrop to criticise Apple - this is a good move by Apple in all regards.

SSD controllers have a difficult task with the smaller flash lithography but Apple targeted the better OEM controllers available on the commercial market. This forum is not full of SSD failure cases but either Apple or the OEM has noted an increased failure rate that is not attributed to the Apple design or the SSD design but just to an identifiable serial number range. The first thing we know about it is a recall programme - this is a good thing.

As for Apple's view on the reliability of OEM SSD controllers especially with NAND die-shrink - well, they didn't like what they saw. So much so that they spent an eye-watering sum purchasing and developing the technology to overcome the inherent weakness. With major flash-only products such as the iPhone and iPads and an all-flash future for the Mac range Apple did not stick their heads in the sand and continue to buy OEM SSDs favoured by the wider PC market and hope for the best.

So this limited recall is with the last generation of Apple products to use OEM flash controllers and the last to depend on firmware provided by an external company. The iOS family made the switch to an Apple controller a while back and the same is now happening with the Mac. This started with the iMac Pro last year and has expanded to include the 2018 MBPs, MacBook Air and now the Mac mini. All current Apple designs only make use of raw NAND packages rather than a traditional SSD design.

Apple has invested serious money in an attempt to keep ahead of these issues and have achieved the fastest, most reliable and hard-wearing SSDs on the market. Perhaps we should limit our criticisms to the areas where they have genuinely made poor design decisions (Mac Pro, keyboard issues et al).

I prefer replaceable SSD even if it's slightly slower than soldered, also prices of SSD is currently plummeting down, for example price $1199 for new MacBook Air 128GB is atrocious, I had MacBook 15 2014 256GB SSD and after about a year I upgraded to 1TB SSD, you can't do this in new ones, it's a total absurd, also soldered SSD is cheaper to manufacturer so Apple is saving a lot of money, but charging customers for hefty SSD prices ($200 for SSD upgrade during purchase in new MacBook Air from 128GB to 256GB, when 500GB SSD Samsung 970 EVO costs alone about $120, so where is the logic? doesn't sound like daylight robbery?)

 

[DeepIn2U]

And remember kids, always backup your data!

I’m curious how Apple is going to “repair” soldered-on SSD? Moreover will this affect your AppleCare returns or service in the future?

 

[magicschoolbus]

The current mbp design is so over engineered.

 

[johnparjr]

Hi John. Could you please describe how the process was and how much time did they take? Thanks in advance.

Went in they ran diagnostics no errors where found at that point the ran the firmware updater and re installed high Sierra per the instructions after I got home we updated to Mohave and everything is working better as the computer was having issues when waking from sleep

 

[Xowi]

Apple’s QC has really taken a dive the past couple years, whats up with that?

 

[Tech198]

Apple’s QC has really taken a dive the past couple years, whats up with that?

They get better media coverage because of it at least I'm just glad I got an iPhone 6S Plus when i did.

 

[pat500000]

Apple could have saved time and money if people were able to upgrade...
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No no no.

We need a refresh, not this.

2018 was the refresh...
[doublepost=1541988435][/doublepost]Next issue: apple-gate.

 

[hiroi]

Went in they ran diagnostics no errors where found at that point the ran the firmware updater and re installed high Sierra per the instructions after I got home we updated to Mohave and everything is working better as the computer was having issues when waking from sleep

How long did the process of running diagnostics and firmware update take?

 

[johnparjr]

How long did the process of running diagnostics and firmware update take?

I was out in 30 minutes

 

[Macbookprodude]

No no no.

We need a refresh, not this.

And this is why I stopped buying anything after 2012.. its built like crap and Apple is now cutting corners and any one with a brain can see this. The era of Steve Jobs is gone. Cook is a business person, and not an innovator.
[doublepost=1541997291][/doublepost]

I new Apple was trying to boost its TV offering but I have to tell them this is the wrong kind of program
Seems to be every week a new program, screen here, ssd there, keyboard here,batteries there...

Must be a bitch for Apple to have to replace the whole motherboard just to change an SSD. What a waste. Apple touts its green credentials yet look at this debacle.

The Apple we once knew is long gone now. They cut corners with everything.

 

[Peperino]

And for all those Apple users that say that Apple quality is worth the Premium price... Really?

Apple quality has declined through years. Not only with the Macbook but also with the iPhones...

https://www.sciencealert.com/apple-...ues-with-its-iphone-x-and-13-inch-macbook-pro

 

[Textime]

Ok thank you guys for telling us that your MacBook is not affected. Now I can sleep better

 

[mac_in_tosh]

My serial number is not on the list of affected units, but Jesus why the hell are there so many recalls?

Because it's not thin enough.

 

[hypertoast]

Well, considering the SSD is soldered, I would highly recommend literally nuking (i.e., 7-pass security erase) your SSD before handing it over to Apple. Unless, of course, you don't mind the Geniuses or something else making a backup of your SSD beforehand.... (Sorry, I just don't trust "repair" services, whether from Apple or anyone else.)

O boy. I have heard stories where people give up their phones without wiping the private photos and geniuses take an extra backup and view them later.

 

[smithy12]

I thought they would be replacing logic boards since the SSDs are soldered onto them. Simple firmware update it seems.

 

[can$rules]

We took ours yesterday to the Apple store, as the s/n check showed it was affected. The rep ran some diagnostics which showed that nothing was wrong, but didn't mention a firmware update. Instead they told us to leave it and they would "send it" for repair and we would get it back in a week. It seemed he wasn't very knowledgeable about it, which perhaps is not surprising given how recently they uncovered the issue.

 

[GuruZac]

I wonder if I can pay Apple to upgrade my SSD to 512GB and my RAM up to 16GB while it's there

 

[mi7chy]

Apple’s QC has really taken a dive the past couple years, whats up with that?

That is what happens when you put a supply chain person in charge. He's actually successful at raising profit margin at the expense of quality. Compare to Steve Jobs who was a visionary product person.

 

[m00min]

Urgh! Looks like my work laptop has this possible issue. Just great. That'll be n days without my laptop because no way am I taking it into a store where I'll possibly be leaving it without wiping it first. I'll have to waste time setting up another machine (it'll be Windows so not an easy transfer), then take a day out of work to travel to the nearest store. FFS Apple, get your **** together.

 

[KrisseFI]

I just contacted repaircentre here in Finland and was told that in some cases, whole SSD-drive has to be replaced and it will take about one week to repair. So there’s definetly something more going on than just a firmware problem

 

[lec0rsaire]

The simultaneous existence of Time Capsule and iCloud are contrary to Apple's revenue stream. The one time Apple Tax revenue from a TC is apparently not enough vs the iCloud riches.

In 2007 or so, Steve Jobs walked around talking about wireless service and WiFi access to his products as if everyone of Apple's customers had access to them at the same level as he did. If that was the target customer, Apple will be worth what now? Apple will have about 1 million customers in the USA mostly from the college campuses, and multiples more in Europe and Korea.

Most Americans don't setup a wireless backup network system, even if they have all the ingredients in place - they'd rather have Alexa.

My backup drive is still an excellent 1TB 2.5 HDD; I don't know if the SSDs have caught up in price range and longevity yet.

I know that their strategy changed. I don’t think it’s only about revenue, although Apple has always cared about their bottom line.

I think the tech community overall saw cloud storage as a paradigm shift and in many ways it was. It has allowed us to have access to all of our documents wherever we are in the world. I still remember the days of forgetting a floppy disk, thumb drive especially when I needed to print something important. The cloud is like the shift from pay phones to everyone having a mobile phone.
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More reason to offer a replaceable M.2 SSD in a slot versus permanently soldering so the laptop isn't dead weight if it fails outside of warranty.

I have to say I agree with you. If there was anything that I wish I could change on my first gen 15” TB, it is the ability to upgrade my internal storage. RAM would be nice but in my case storage is more important. Even though I could afford it, I simply did not want to pay over $1000 to have a huge drive when I knew that I would never recoup the premium the day I sell it to someone else.

Hopefully in 2020 when I upgrade 2TB will be the same price as 512 or 1TB. For me 2TB internal would be just right.

 

[AmazingRobie]

DELETED

 

[hiroi]

Just had my genius appointment and they took my MacBook in for SSD replacement! I thought it would just be an update....

The guy seemed kinda clueless...

 

[sdwaltz]

Phew! I was worried about my Mac as I bought it in June only to find out about possible issues after the event.

View attachment 802862

Same! I was nervous, glad to see that there appear to be no issues w/mine.

 

[spyguy10709]

Imagine if you had the cure for aids or some other disease on your computer and it was gone. Bye bye Nobel prize.

I'd hope the party responsible for the cute for AIDS would have the sense to run a time machine backup at least once in a while.


Otoh apple ditched the time capsule so...