'Flexgate': 2016 and Newer MacBook Pro Users Report Display Issues Due to Fragile Flex Cables

[dukebound85]

The people don't know what they want until Apple gives it to them. Once you've used a current generation MacBook Pro, you can never go back to the thicker and bulkier older models.

Never huh?

 

[joss.b]

I'm getting that same problem.

Whether I'm on Zoom calls or if I have a tab opened playing video (or ads), it flickers every so often as well specifically to the tab or window.

I had the same with Zoom calls, I just had my screen and cable replaced, see my earlier post.

All is working well so far !

Are/were you also getting media playback artifacts at the edges of the Firefox window? In my case it's a couple of red flickering pixels, mostly at the top edge. Not all the time, but more often than the big full-window-width flicker. The red pixels vanish as soon as I move the window, or if I bring another window or app to the foreground, i.e. you can't screen-record it. But this all seems like a Firefox programming bug, because otherwise my display is just fine, no glitches or bugs in any other app. I've just updated to v65.0, and if it doesn't stop, I'll file a bug report with Mozilla.

 

[curtvaughan]

In this case I believe it to be true.
People opening and closing the lid too often and with too much force will eventually cause the problem. It's nothing to do with Apple cutting corners, it is people using the product improperly.

Are you being "tongue in cheek" with the "you're using it wrong" slant? I hope so.
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Apple's external cables were always fragile - designed to last about a year - especially the 30-pin and Lightning cables. And, overpriced.

Now, they have taken it inside the device.

From the time they soldered the SSD and memory onto the bother board, these laptops have not much second life, or repairability. Now they fuse the connector to the display! That is a loss for them when they repair under warranty - a loss to the shareholders. Add this to the keyboard-topcase mess.

I agree about the fragile Apple cables - that was also the case with the magsafe Mac cables, which frayed at the connector interface with regularity. With the loss of magsafe, that problem might be compounded. As to the lack of upgradability, repairability issues - with soldered components, weird screws requiring non-standard toolsets, etc. - you are spot on. It is hard for me to believe that Apple wasn't aware of these possible issues when designing these products. It is a classic example of planned obsolescence. That they are complaining that iPhone sales are down due to people holding onto their old phones is illustrative. The irony is that Apple's stellar reputation for longevity and great resale value is absolutely based upon the products having a reputation for lasting a long time.

 

[dumastudetto]

Are you being "tongue in cheek" with the "you're using it wrong" slant? I hope so.

No, I'm not. I'm serious. I regard it as accidental damage and would treat is as such if I was Apple. People do need to learn to treat these products with care.

 

[AndyMacAndMic]

No, I'm not. I'm serious. I regard it as accidental damage and would treat is as such if I was Apple. People do need to learn to treat these products with care.

Maybe you should look at this. iFixit states that this is a design flaw and will present itself after 1-2 years of normal use:

It is not a matter of if but a matter of when.
It might bring you back to reality. Or is iFixit's straight technical explanation to biased for you?

 

[Premal212]

No, I'm not. I'm serious. I regard it as accidental damage and would treat is as such if I was Apple. People do need to learn to treat these products with care.

I agree to some degree, yeah sure, when folks come on here with cracked screens or broken hinges, yeah you've clearly treated your equipment like **** and regardless of the aluminium body and $4000 price tag, it's still a delicate machine.

A lot of folks come on and say they dropped it from their sofa onto the floor, yeah a tiled ****ing floor. Of course that's going to cause some damage. But that's different to what Flexgate is, or what the butterfly keyboard was, or any other issue that Apple have had.

This on the other hand, this has nothing to do with damage, this is purely piss poor design, or an oversight by Apple. Either way, there's enough traction on this one for them to start replacing screens, probably will expect a replacement/repair program in the next month or so. You can see from the video yourself, you take the screen all the way to the end and it hits the hinge - that's not on.

 

[KPandian1]

People opening and closing the lid too often and with too much force will eventually cause the problem. It's nothing to do with Apple cutting corners, it is people using the product improperly.

Wonder who will get the blame when so-called flexible screens of the proposed smartphones crack after x number of "opening and closing?"

Apple has to own this design fault - they went thin on the chassis, used a flimsy connector and fused the said flimsy "hinge" connector to the screen, all unnecessary steps.

The current generation of Macs all have throwaway motherboards because of this innovating company's decision to solder all parts.

 

[MusikkNils]

No Issues for me. I own a MacBook Pro 13" 2016, MacBookPro 13" 2017 and MacBookPro 15" 2018. All with touch bar. As an engineer it is always of great importance to analyze the user picture, or how people handle their Mac, to pick up any similarities among people getting troubles. If the user handling may influence the issue. Those having problems should explain their user picture, in order to help us without problems and to prevent us getting troubles: My answers are in red.

1. Open and close the display lid a lot of times daily? 10 times each Day
2. Open and close a few times daily? No
3. Open and close a few times a week? No
4. Open and close very fast, medium or slow? Medium to slow, not very fast
5. Are you closing and opening the display lid really hard and fast resulting in a clap and hard end stop? No, are you crazy. I do it soft and gentle, and slow down the last millimeters.
   
6. Always closed display lid due to connected to docking station and external display? No
7. Open and Close by holding in 1 point, top/middle screen? Yes
8. Open and Close by holding in 1 point, top/right or top/left screen? No
   
9. Open and Close by holding in 2 points, top/right and top/left screen? No
10. The display is always in open position? No, but have consider changing to this situation
11. Open to maximum, medium or minimum angle most of the time? Medium
12. Using the Mac in very hot surroundings or hard use causing overheating? No
13. Using the Mac in cold surroundings? No
14. Using the Mac in normal, wet or dry moisture conditions? Normal Nordic Interior climate
15. No damages due to falling down or hitting hard surfaces? Not at all
16. Use the Mac mainly at home or at office, no moving around that much? Yes

 

[chilly willy]

This whole user to blame for being too rough on the laptop reminds me of 70s luggage ads.

That said, I think we’re on to something. If I don’t drive my car on the highway, and only at 10mph - on roads I have verified beforehand to be pothole-free and otherwise. My riding mower? That sucker is not taking another climb up any elevated part of my yard. Transmission will last 20 years.

Just think of the numerous products that would last so much longer longer, if only people did not use them as a reasonable person would anticipate, or in real world conditions!

 

[pharmdy]

oh my freaking god. We are in 2019. Can we just make a laptop that works without all these damn gates and issues

I've been waiting since my 2012 retina had burn in and I returned it after 1 month. Have literally been ready to buy since then but don't want to pull the trigger because there is always something failing each year. Just bought a used spec'd out 2015 and hoping for reliability until one day Apple gets it right.

 

[curtvaughan]

That’s fair, but only with one aspect of my position. I concede on that side. You’re right. If someone or something forces albeit lawsuits or petition then it wasn’t their decision.

But my opinion about warranties and businesses didn’t change. Companies do not need to action faulty equipment outside of warranties unless “forced” like you stated.

I also agree with you saying that it’s up to the buyers to make the manufacturer take action. If consumers let companies get away with it then it’s their fault. In this case sounds like the people have spoken and several other cases in history but it also goes the other way. Companies get away with faulty equipment and make consumers pay.

A reputable company should stand behind their products under normal use. Normal use for a laptop is to open and close the lid on a regular basis without fear of excessive wear and hardware failure. If Apple isn't willing to concede to this, then they should, at point of sale, make a disclaimer that the laptop is known to have display failure within a few years of opening/closing, and that the only solution is to replace the display for $600. If one is forewarned of the laptop flaw, and buys it anyway, then you're correct. In that case, the customer is to blame for making a foolish and wasteful decision to buy a product of flawed design.

 

[Tom R]

Currently "limping" along with mid-2010 MBP 17". Turbo tax informed me 2018 Turbo Tax will not work with my MBP as it requires more current version of operating software. After looking at choices...MBP 15"/Mac Air 13"/MBP 13" and even the new Mac Mini I was prepared to get a 15" MBP due primarily to screen size. Most uses are attached to a separate monitor with screen closed when at one of two working locations. It often does not move for 4-6 weeks at a time. I have been delaying hoping they deleted the extra row of "keys" added at the top...of little/no interest to me.

Not sure what to turn to now?

MBP 13"...Probably the same hinge issue as the 15"?

MB Air...would work but probably prefer the size and features of the MBP...especially the screen size when not "docked" at one of my permanent locations. Might make sense to try one as I think it would have other uses between my wife and I if I decided I "needed" something more capable?

Mac Mini would work but would not solve the portable protable use part at all...and would need to set up a third monitor/docking set-up for winter use (in warm climate

BTW...would love an I Mac if I only used at one location.

Since I changed from Microsoft platform in 2009 I have niot looked back and stronly prefer to not even consider going back.

Maybe the Mac Air would serve my purpose for a period of time until I either determine I "really" need something with larger screen when not docked...or maybe find I don't really need the 15" or the other features of the MBP 15"?

I assume no comment yet from Apple on the hinge issue? I am guessing/hoping that they will both have a fix going forward and a repair program for 2016-2018...maybe?

Thanks...Tom R

 

[MobiusStrip]

This is why I ALWAYS buy AppleCare. Some people cheap out on it

What a pathetic attitude. Nice victim-blaming there. You're berating people with self-respect, who aren't going to shell out an extortionate extra fee on top of a $4000+ laptop in order to get a TEMPORARY reprieve from despicably shoddy engineering. Remember when all the circa-2010 GPUs failed and Apple quietly replaced them ONCE... with the same defective design? Yeah, that's what your Apple Care rip-off will get you.

Stand up for yourself. Stand up for better.

 

[jblongz]

This is why I ALWAYS buy AppleCare. Some people cheap out on it and then this happens and what would have been free is now $600.

ALWAYS buy the extended warranty.

But even with the warranty, you'll likely have to replace the display repeatedly? Has there been a manufacturing change in the new replacement parts?

 

[cmaier]

This kind of nonsense - literally the same issue - is what drove me to macs in the first place back in the Leopard days. I had a string of laptops from Compaq, HP, etc., and they’d die in stupid ways after a year. The last one had the display go wonky because the wiring through the hinge was subpar, and you’d have to carefully adjust the screen to exactly the right angle just to get any image at all.

Apple oughta do better.

 

[Carl Ren]

Here is a little story of how Apple avoided giving me my display repair refund, even though I clearly experienced the exact issue as stated by the “Display backlight service program”.

I experienced this exact issue last year with my MacBook Pro 2016 13” Touchbar. I was forced to have the entire display repaired for over $700. Now that Apple has the “Backlight service program”, I decided to contact Apple support and requested for a refund on my repair. After spending hours calling Apple, their conclusion was that my device was “not eligible for the refund” without giving a reason. Apple told me to go speak to the Apple store where I got my repair done for more information. At my Apple store appointment, I was able to meet with a manager, however they claim that “my serial number does not qualify for the refund”, although they even confirmed that I did experience the same exact issue as described on the service program. Then, I called Apple customer relations and escalated the issue to the highest ranked senior advisor. This time, they claimed that “due to specific parts numbers used in the device”, I am not eligible for the refund. The advisor was able to send out a form to the Apple engineering team to attempt to gain more information. However, the engineering team claimed that my device does not qualify, and gave absolutely zero reason to why.

Apple is making up excuses after excuses to avoid giving my rightful refund. They had excuses about the serial number, parts numbers, or by transferring the issue to someone else, or not giving a reason at all. I have proof of the stage light effect and backlight shutdown taken before I got the repair done. However, nobody cared to look at the facts and evidence. Some 2016 MacBook Pro model users may have gotten their free repair or refund, but there are numerous same model users who reported that they got denied by Apple due to all sorts of excuses.

This is outrageous that Apple is avoiding to provide me with my repair refund, even though my 2016 model clearly qualifies for the service program.