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

[mi7chy]

How much are they profiting from switching to lower quality flex cable? Can't be from the flex cable itself since it's probably a few bucks at most to manufacture so it must be to force early and frequent $600+ repairs.
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I had a very subtle effect like this with a few of my iPhones. I think it was around the iPhone 6 era. I always thought it was just how the LEDs were spaced out along the edges.

Out of box or after some time? Sounds like LCD edge lit LED emitters wearing or burning out.

 

[Westside guy]

Precisely why I had sold off my 2016 MBP 13 with TB in 2018 and got myself a second-hand Air 2017 instead since I was not able to get a 2015 Pro. A working keyboard is important to me, and a keyboard that I can trust is even more so.

Yeah, last year I actually used one of those refurb-tracker sites (refurb-tracker.com, I think) to monitor the Apple store. You don't see many 2015 models anymore, so when a 2015 MacBook Pro showed up - I jumped on it. Thing is, they were getting snapped up so quickly that it took me 3 or 4 tries to get one - one would show up, I'd try to buy it but it'd be gone!

 

[iShater]

I just turned down a 2018 15" MBP at work to keep my 2015 model. While I am sure the extra RAM would make a difference for my work, the rest of the compromises out weigh that benefit. This is another reminder why it was the right decision.

 

[mistasopz]

Pretty sad to see some people defend design flaws and rationalize it because "that's what Apple Care+ is for"...

 

[MacGekko]

I agree. Not sure I can warrant the continual rising prices and limited repairability options without AC+
I'll stick with my 2014 until it dies and then may consider a Windows laptop.

2015 Macbook Pro, before I had a 2008 Pro that lasted 7 years before it finally was killed by a hard drive failure that was a known issue.

So far so good with this one, I don't like many of the changes with the post 2015 Pro's and of course the reported issues are troubling but the problem is I don't want to return to Windows.

But for what I use the notebook for, over $2k for a Pro 15in. is overkill, if the Chromebooks could run more apps I would try one of those.

Audio Hijack, Calibre, those are a few of the apps I need, hopefully in the future we will have more options.

 

[amaze1499]

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.

Sounds like a good idea. But then again, if you knew upfront the quality is so low, why spending money on a product that can't deliver because its broken by design?

 

[jsalda]

Better yet: never buy products that always require extended warranty.

I've bought AppleCare for every iPhone, Mac & iPad I have purchased for the past 20 years and it has been used on every device except for my iPad 9.7 Pro. Even in the Steve Jobs era, my Macs would have some hardware issue. However, they were usually random issues and not due to poor engineering.

All that being said, I love my MBP 2017. I love the weight, the speed, the looks. But I think Apple can still make these machines without sacrificing quality. Ive runs rampant with his design visions and there is no one to reign him in OR push the engineers to build a quality product off those designs.

 

[MacsRuleOthersDrool]

Printer heads typically only move sideways and that movement can be predicted by using a cable that does not need to bend anywhere near as much as one built into a display hinge. The printer cable is usually also thicker to begin with.

The 2016 MBP design is just **** in so many ways. It's deliberately designed to not be easy to repair and for no benefit whatsoever. I am very interested to see how the proposed EU "right to repair" laws will effect design of machines like these.

Those flex-strips actually looked pretty high-quality. That's why I am leaning toward a defective batch of parts, or possibly less-than-stellar assembly skills by the contract manufacturer.

Oh, and the flex-strips in the MBP's lid only have to flex in one major direction, too, and their maximum range-of-movement can also be predicted.

 

[KPandian1]

Oh, and the flex-strips in the MBP's lid only have to flex in one major direction, too, and their maximum range-of-movement can also be predicted.

The flex strips do not cross 180 degrees to qualify for the "flex in both directions" perception, but they still flex both ways every time the laptop is opened and closed. The major stress point will be at the joint/junction; which is why they attachment to the display should not be permanent.

 

[kaufchri]

Mac user since 1994. Working on a MBP 17 nine year old now. The best laptop I have owned so far. Apple once decided to limit RAM upgrade for this computer up to 8 GB (firmware limit). Anyway, I'm hesitant about buying a new one (thinness/stability, ridiculous interfaces (ports) and working memory as well as hard disk space pricing, glossy display, repairability, keyboard). Note, I'm willing to pay more for a very good product. But sometimes I think of old ideas once formulated by Dieter Rams. His ten principles of good design might still be noteworthy for our beloved iPhone company:

Good design is innovative.
Good design makes a product useful.
Good design is aesthetic.
Good design makes a product understandable.
Good design is unobtrusive.
Good design is honest.
Good design is long-lasting.
Good design is thorough down to the last detail.
Good design is environmentally friendly.
Good design is as little design as possible.

 

[Awesom-0]

But with most Dells now you get a three year warranty as standard. Not so much with Apple, they'd rather the extra income stream that is Applecare, than they would stand by the quality of their products. And they're still much cheaper than the equivalent Mac. Dell XPS laptops really are quite good nowadays.

Yup, my broadwell xps 13 is like new and no problem opening it up to clean out the fan Solid updates even though they are delayed a few days compared to everyone else

Also open and close the lid 4-6 times daily. My last mbp didn't last nearly as long. Actually the gpu burnt out one month after apples warranty ended

$900 VS $2700 you be the judge.

 

[atikalz]

Better yet: never buy products that always require extended warranty.

never bought it, never needed it. i wont pay extra. if something like this happens, i will go to store and get it fixed. for free. this is clearly a construction fault.

 

[ani4ani]

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.

....in the UK it would be a waste of money, since this would be classified as a latent defect and could still be claimed for outside the warranty.

A sign of the (Apple) times when you feel compelled to buy an extended warranty from the company that is supposed to have (and charge for) the highest quality of them all.

 

[bernuli]

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.

Both models fit in my back pack perfectly. 2015 model has ports that I use and a keyboard that doesn't freak out for no reason.

Yes, the thin models look really cool, and I am always impressed by the design and what Apple can pull off.

However we are left with a more expensive and less durable product that I am totally not into.

 

[mdatwood]

Even in the Jobs era Apple has plenty of issues. These things happen. Remember the Nvidia MBPs? Full logic board replacement required. iPhone 4 antenna issues. Free bumper cases for all.

It does not make it acceptable, but lets not pretend this is some new issue.

 

[atikalz]

And I don't see this as a good sign. One thing is to look forward (s**t happens). Needing a further insurance while you pay a premium price for a product that may show up as badly designed...too.much

you must not reward apple for shipping quality failing products.

 

[341328]

cool display lighting now looks like a kindle.

 

[frankiee]

ALWAYS buy the extended warranty.

... so you need this now, because Apple HW has gotten so bad that it is now very likely your $7000 Laptop breaks within the first three years of it's life?

Yeah, sure.

I never bought Apple Care and I never needed it. If it is mandatory now because of bad product quality, Apple can kiss my backside.

 

[curtvaughan]

wish Apple would swallow their pride and redesign this machine. keyboard issues and now this.. im staying away until it gets a major redesign.. even if that means another 5 years.

... or just roll back to pre-2016, which had older keyboard design, magsafe, SD card slot, and USB 2 ports, and the lit Apple logo. Just update the cpu and SSD and leave the rest alone.

 

[BigBoy2018]

Even in the Jobs era Apple has plenty of issues. These things happen. Remember the Nvidia MBPs? Full logic board replacement required. iPhone 4 antenna issues. Free bumper cases for all.

It does not make it acceptable, but lets not pretend this is some new issue.

But these are unecessary 'unforced' errors caused by an obsession with thinness. The keyboard being the star problem child example.
Yes, in the past there would be flaws with a capacitor (old g-4 iMacs), or the material with which the video card was soldered to the board (2011 MacBook pros) but those were unforeseen flaws with specific materials/parts and not the result of unnecessarily designing your laptop (or iPad) to be so thin and fragile that you design yourself into a corner - thermal or otherwise.
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... or just roll back to pre-2016, which had older keyboard design, magsafe, SD card slot, and USB 2 ports, and the lit Apple logo. Just update the cpu and SSD and leave the rest alone.

HERE HERE!!!!

 

[frankiee]

... or just roll back to pre-2016, which had older keyboard design, magsafe, SD card slot, and USB 2 ports, and the lit Apple logo. Just update the cpu and SSD and leave the rest alone.

And while you are at it, please do the same for the MacPro, Apple.

 

[BigBoy2018]

... so you need this now, because Apple HW has gotten so bad that it is now very likely your $7000 Laptop breaks within the first three years of it's life?

Yeah, sure.

I never bought Apple Care and I never needed it. If it is mandatory now because of bad product quality, Apple can kiss my backside.

This is why I recently bought a 27-inch 2017 iMac and maxed out the ssd and ram myself. I came to the thinking that this may be the last great consumer level desktop apple makes before they go and **** that up as well.

 

[theOmega]

Another gate... I've bought and buy so many Apple products yet I keep missing the fun gates that bring so many views and clicks...

And other than geeks and nerds, everybody loves the new MacBooks, I work for a massive global company that has been deploying new MacBooks through out last year, everyone ( and I mean normal people) loves the new design, the keyboard and even the Touch Bar (even I have my grips with the last one)

 

[frankiee]

This is why I recently bought a 27-inch 2017 iMac and maxed out the ssd and ram myself. I came to the thinking that this may be the last great consumer level desktop apple makes before they go and **** that up as well.

This is why I went to Hackintosh for my desktop 5 years ago. But the problem is that my MBP2012 is getting old now, but hackintoshing laptops is even less fun than with desktops, and I cannot justify before myself to buy their current crap. Please fire not only Tim Cook, but Jony Ive as well. Thank you!

 

[MacsRuleOthersDrool]

The flex strips do not cross 180 degrees to qualify for the "flex in both directions" perception, but they still flex both ways every time the laptop is opened and closed. The major stress point will be at the joint/junction; which is why they attachment to the display should not be permanent.

I agree with the last sentence.