Apple May Have Quietly Addressed 'Flexgate' in 2018 MacBook Pros

[MacRumors]

iFixit reports that Apple may have already taken steps to reduce the likelihood of 2018 MacBook Pro users experiencing display lighting issues dubbed Flexgate. Affected machines could see uneven lighting that looks like a "stage light" effect with the display potentially failing completely over time.

iFixit was tipped off by MacRumors forum user Olivia88 posting in our Flexgate megathread that their 2018 13" MacBook Pro appeared to have a longer cable than previous models. iFixit confirmed this finding:

Since we were just wrapping up writing the repair manual for the 2018 model anyway, we checked inside our 2018 15" MacBook Pro again to measure its cable against its 2016 predecessor--and found the 2018 cable was, in fact, a full 2mm longer. Since this change appears in both our 15" model and Olivia88's 13" model, it's plausible this change is present in multiple, if not all, 2018 MacBook Pros.

iFixit speculates that this could prevent some of the wear and tear that had previously caused the failure though they weren't able to say for certain.

Apple has yet to publicly acknowledge the issue, and our Flexgate guide covers what your options are if you are affected by this issue.

Article Link: Apple May Have Quietly Addressed 'Flexgate' in 2018 MacBook Pros

 

[fokmik]

so only 2018 models are different and address the issue? 2016/2017 are due to break sometime?

 

[arn]

so only 2018 models are different and address the issue? 2016/2017 are due to break sometime?

Possibly. At least based on what is known. Apple hasn't really acknowledged it. But that's what iFixit speculates.

 

[snowboarder]

let's see... Broken keyboards, flexgate, graphics glitches, T2 chip fiasco.
Anything is working properly in their Macbook "Pro"?

 

[keysofanxiety]

so only 2018 models are different and address the issue? 2016/2017 are due to break sometime?

Yes. Historically Apple keep the same “shell” for ~3-5 years but improve the internal design with each iteration to address common points of failure.

 

[Reason077]

My question is, do replacement displays also have the “fixed” longer cable?

I had my 2017 MBP 13” screen replaced in Sept 2018. It didn’t have the backlight problem, but rather lines/static on the screen suggesting a problem with the display data cable.

Would be good for peace of mind to know if it’s less likely to have issues again!

 

[Northgrove]

Another show of the fantastic communication skills of Apple. I love having to guess whether a potential MBP 2018 buy would belong to fixed or unfixed laptops, and not knowing whether this will even help.

 

[iHack13]

Coming up next. An official meme/guide similar to the keyboard "fix" with the spray can and holding the macbook upside down.

Its probably gonna be a guy pulling at the display unit and another guy pulling at the bottom case. "Flexing" the flex cable boys. After all its also called a ribbon cable isnt it

/s

Always look on the bright side of life.

 

[iObama]

One of my favorite things to do when I read this forum is remember all the millions of happy customers with working-ass 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pros. Perspective.

 

[zulkiflim]

let's see... Broken keyboards, flexgate, graphics glitches, T2 chip fiasco.
Anything is working properly in their Macbook "Pro"?

In the market for a new laptop....

This makes me reconsider.

Especially Macrumours warning that due to no Apple recognition , consumers can expect to pay full price for this known issue.

https://www.macrumors.com/guide/flexgate-macbook-pro-display-issue/

 

[Nozuka]

let's see... Broken keyboards, flexgate, graphics glitches, T2 chip fiasco.
Anything is working properly in their Macbook "Pro"?

Everything is working in mine.
People with problems are obviously more vocal about it.

 

[zulkiflim]

One of my favorite things to do when I read this forum is remember all the millions of happy customers with working-ass 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pros. Perspective.

True but the problem comes when it hits you.
As the article say it is wear and tear issue, might be related to climate too since the cable is so short.

So if the warranty is over for your laptop and this comes up, Apple will charge you full price for the repairs.

If Apple was honorable , it would do a recall and change the laptops cable for free.
And I am sure some people would say , Apple is a business, it does not need to acknowledge a design defect since the warranty is over.

 

[nexusrule]

let's see... Broken keyboards, flexgate, graphics glitches, T2 chip fiasco.
Anything is working properly in their Macbook "Pro"?

Let's see...all these "problems" were only mentioned by a few people here and there online, and never gained any traction, sign that are probably issues that occur very very rarely, nothing systemic. So I would venture to say that 99% of MacBook "Pro" are probably working properly? Mine is, and the ten of thousands my company provides to its employees are at least, we all use Touch Bar MBP at this point and I never saw people suffering these issues, aside from a couple of colleagues having issue with a key on the keyboard. I am sure someone suffered these issues, like it happens with all man made items, but pretending these are serious widespread issues...sign of the times I guess.

 

[citysnaps]

let's see... Broken keyboards, flexgate, graphics glitches, T2 chip fiasco.
Anything is working properly in their Macbook "Pro"?

No issues here. Outstanding laptop.

 

[Ries]

let's see... Broken keyboards, flexgate, graphics glitches, T2 chip fiasco.
Anything is working properly in their Macbook "Pro"?

Speaker blowouts, loose and malfunctioning USB-C connectors, but I think the air fans are fine, maybe...

 

[Keniutek]

Price hike incoming, time to cover the loss on this crazy +2mm cable extension...

 

[eroslws]

Let's see...all these "problems" were only mentioned by a few people here and there online, and never gained any traction, sign that are probably issues that occur very very rarely, nothing systemic. So I would venture to say that 99% of MacBook "Pro" are probably working properly? Mine is, and the ten of thousands my company provides to its employees are at least, we all use Touch Bar MBP at this point and I never saw people suffering these issues, aside from a couple of colleagues having issue with a key on the keyboard. I am sure someone suffered these issues, like it happens with all man made items, but pretending these are serious widespread issues...sign of the times I guess.

Nah bro, the keyboard issues were acknowledged and fixed by Apple. They were widespread, regardless of your anecdotes. Given that there’s a petition for this problem, I’m more likely to believe it’s also widespread. Apple is much more proactive than other tech companies so I’ll give them that, but they are nowhere near the level of car manufacturers, for instance.

 

[trifid]

Let's see...all these "problems" were only mentioned by a few people here and there online, and never gained any traction, sign that are probably issues that occur very very rarely, nothing systemic. So I would venture to say that 99% of MacBook "Pro" are probably working properly? Mine is, and the ten of thousands my company provides to its employees are at least, we all use Touch Bar MBP at this point and I never saw people suffering these issues, aside from a couple of colleagues having issue with a key on the keyboard. I am sure someone suffered these issues, like it happens with all man made items, but pretending these are serious widespread issues...sign of the times I guess.

Read the flexgate thread, this user lokitech posted the following:

“...I work for a company that uses only Apple product and in the year 2016, we brought 160 laptops MacBook Pro 15 top model then out of 160 laptops so far 20 laptops are affected with this display flex cable issue not sure how many would be further and 56 laptops are affected with the keyboard issue...”

By his report alone, it would be around 12% failure rate for flexgate, but it can only get worse with time, the more you open/close the more wear and tear. The issue is significant, Apple needs to issue a repair program.

 

[mdnz]

so only 2018 models are different and address the issue? 2016/2017 are due to break sometime?

Yep.

 

[ThisIsARealityCheck]

My 2018 15 inch mbp works beautifully.
Just like with the iPhone issues, it’s usually a very small percentage of owners that experience issues - typically far below 1%.

let's see... Broken keyboards, flexgate, graphics glitches, T2 chip fiasco.
Anything is working properly in their Macbook "Pro"?

 

[nexusrule]

Nah bro, the keyboard issues were acknowledged and fixed by Apple. They were widespread, regardless of your anecdotes. Given that there’s a petition for this problem, I’m more likely to believe it’s also widespread. Apple is much more proactive than other tech companies so I’ll give them that, but they are nowhere near the level of car manufacturers, for instance.

Sure, in fact it's the only one I could witness directly. It's bound to happen that on millions of samples a 0.0001% will be affected by this or that, it happens to every pc manufacturer...and nobody issues a repair program for 0.0001%. Apple problem is magnified by two factors: they have one main model where people can see the issues and not dozens of slightly different ones, and people are obsessed by them for some reason, and talking about Apple defects ensure online magazines they will get many views. Still, all the alarmism and sarcasm on this forum are totally unwarranted.
[doublepost=1551777848][/doublepost]

Read the flexgate thread, this user lokitech posted the following:

“...I work for a company that uses only Apple product and in the year 2016, we brought 160 laptops MacBook Pro 15 top model then out of 160 laptops so far 20 laptops are affected with this display flex cable issue not sure how many would be further and 56 laptops are affected with the keyboard issue...”

By his report alone, it would be around 12% failure rate for flexgate, but it can only get worse with time, the more you open/close the more wear and tear. The issue is significant, Apple needs to issue a repair program.

I am sorry but until everything you can point to is one thread on this forum you are just making my point.

 

[ksec]

so only 2018 models are different and address the issue? 2016/2017 are due to break sometime?

The 2018 model didn't "address" the issue. It merely delay it to happen. More like a "hack", not a fix. We just don't know how long, it could be 2 - 3 years, it could 4 or 5. Or in worst case it would be 6 months extension. We will know in 2020 , or 2021 how the 2018 model flair.

But it becomes very clear they don't take reliability in to their design and testing process. If you have a robot doing opening and closing Screen for a 1000 times a day, and typing keys all day, all these flaw should have been easily spotted.

 

[StellarVixen]

My 2018 15 inch mbp works beautifully.
Just like with the iPhone issues, it’s usually a very small percentage of owners that experience issues - typically far below 1%.

Yes, but they are very vocal (as they should be, no manufacturing defect shall be taken as the fault of the owner), but they make issue seems far more common than it is.

 

[c0ppo]

Everything is working in mine.
People with problems are obviously more vocal about it.

Yup. Those pesky unsatisfied owners should keep their mouths shut. They are hurting dear, old and poor Apple!

/s

 

[Romeo_Nightfall]

One of my favorite things to do when I read this forum is remember all the millions of happy customers with working-ass 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pros. Perspective.

Yes, I wonder if they really exist?!
I have to admit I had 3 macbooks

- the white one - graphic card ko and harddisk
- 2011 macbook pro full spec - graphic card
- 2014 macbook pro full spec - trackpad click

I still have the 2014 - but am I a happy customer now - tell me!

iphone 4 - button replaced
iphone 5s - battery replaced
iphone 7 glass replaced, whole phone replaced

thats just my story AND I am usally a guy who has flawless things - very long and handle with care, seldom something breaks ...