Case Chipping on MacBook Pro M1 – Anyone Else?

[Cobbler82]

Hi all,

Owner of a MacBook Pro M1 here. I’ve had the machine for about three years now and I’m still loving it — it works like a charm and has plenty of RAM. I usually buy a MacBook to keep for around six years (my last one actually lasted eight).

I tend to take good care of my devices — not because I treat them like precious jewels or anything, but because I like them to last and stay in good condition. I keep mine in a cushioned sleeve that protects the whole machine, and I’m careful not to drop or bump it around.

However, I’ve noticed that on the bottom right corner of the case, the aluminum has started to chip a little. You can’t really see it from a distance, but you can definitely feel it if you run your finger over it. It’s kind of irritating.

The same thing happened with my previous MacBook too — small chips that just appeared over time and gradually got a bit worse.

I’m attaching some photos.

Has anyone else noticed this on their machines?
Does it bother you, or is it just me? 😅

 

[smirking]

Nope. Never happened to me. I traded in an M1 MBP 6 months ago and aside from some micro-abrasions that were really really hard to see, the only noticeable blemish was the keyboard looking shiny and I took absolutely zero extra precautions.

I've also got a 2009 15", a 2011 15", and a 2018 15" and they all look pretty sharp still. Do you have a watch or a abrasive coat that might be rubbing up against that edge?

 

[chabig]

I've never seen anything like that. Because you report that it's happened on two machines, all I can think of is that it's something in your environment. Try to think of all the things that the two machines have in common: cases, users (jewelry, lotions), etc.

 

[Cobbler82]

Thank you both for your feedback.
I do wonder if my old sleeve had some issues. It served me well for many years, though. I suspect the two zippers may have pushed inward and created the dent.

I used that sleeve with my old device for a long time, and the dents only appeared in the last couple of years. I just assumed it was because I hadn’t been careful enough.

Then I kept using the same sleeve with the new one… and after just a couple of months, to my horror, I noticed the dents again.

I’ve now bought a new sleeve — it seems different, more protective. Fingers crossed!
I do regret not getting AppleCare at this point — I probably would have exchanged the case by now.

 

[smirking]

I do wonder if my old sleeve had some issues. It served me well for many years, though. I suspect the two zippers may have pushed inward and created the dent.

OK. That's a very likely culprit. The MBP you bought that sleeve for was a different shape than this one. If you bought that sleeve for a Unibody, it probably had no room to slide around. Put in a slimmer and more narrow body and the zippered surfaces are more likely to catch something when the laptop slides around in it.

I’ve now bought a new sleeve — it seems different, more protective. Fingers crossed!
I do regret not getting AppleCare at this point — I probably would have exchanged the case by now.

How are you carrying that sleeve anyway? Is it in a backpack? I've never put a case or a sleeve on any of my laptops, but I do always have a messenger bag or a backpack that has a padded laptop compartment. That's never failed me.

As for AppleCare, it wouldn't have helped. AppleCare doesn't cover neglect... well they do give you a discounted service price on things like screen repair, but I have no idea how they would handle issues like a few nicks on a case that have no impact on function.