Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

mattlukea

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 23, 2021
35
7
Hey. Hope you’re all well. I’m trying to decide between the Silver or Space Grey MacBook Pro 14” and I’m wondering what your opinions would be? I’ve read that the Silver shows less marks than the Space Grey? Thanks
 
Space Grey is an anodized surface treatment. if you scratch or wear through the top layer it will show the silver aluminum underneath.

It has never been an issue for me but I do take care of my devices. I rarely place anything on top of them and I keep them in sleeve cases and laptop bags when traveling. My last two MacBooks got the dbrand skin treatment (no affiliation) on the top and bottom so that I could be just a little rougher with them and not worry about scratches.

I've never skinned the keyboard deck and never had issues. I do take care not to rub my watch clasp on it.

In short - if you're really worried get silver. Both look great!
 
Here’s a SG at the store today. Literal chips of finishing missing lol
 

Attachments

  • 0FBE3199-70F9-493F-BDAF-4A44BC6805F6.jpeg
    0FBE3199-70F9-493F-BDAF-4A44BC6805F6.jpeg
    513.5 KB · Views: 2,582
  • Wow
Reactions: wlossw
My MacBook Pro 2020 and MacBook 2017 were both space grey and never had a mark on them. My sister has trashed that MacBook 2017 for the past 3 years and it has still held up well.

The space grey Mac Mini I got lost some colouring around the sharp edges but I’m not sure that was me. More like a defect or a result of just how sharp the edges were.
 
I chose the grey, less reflective from bright office or environment light. Less glare.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 7even
When I bought my space gray M1 MBP last year, the decision was more about changing things up a bit; since my previous MBP was a silver Early 2015. But, when I do upgrade (which is about 5 years from now), it will be to silver again. Silver is such an iconic color for the MacBook Pro line and its immediately recognizable. If you are about status symbol and brand identity, the Apple logo shows up more on the Silver versus SG. Either way, you won't notice it much if you are using it for work.
 
  • Like
Reactions: chengengaun
Anodize is a protective layer and will stand up to small damage better. But big damage will show up more. So it depends how much of what kind of damage and how much you care.
 
Hey. Hope you’re all well. I’m trying to decide between the Silver or Space Grey MacBook Pro 14” and I’m wondering what your opinions would be? I’ve read that the Silver shows less marks than the Space Grey? Thanks
Silver and it’s not up for debate. Space gray will show scratches. Go to your local Best Buy and just look at the floor models. They only put up space gray models and you can see the damage.
 
Here’s a SG at the store today. Literal chips of finishing missing lol
Hundreds of visitors handle devices in store. Many of those people don't give a damn how they handle machines. They wear sharp rings and bracelets and leave scuffs wherever they go.

All this stuff shows up in macro photography better than it does to the eyes.
 
In my experience, scratches show up equally well on both. But if you're not an obsessive hand washer like I am, palm prints will show up more on the silver.
Total opposite to my experience. SG shows up scratches as the casing is bright silver underneath the SG coating. And palm prints show up way more on SG.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SpotOnT
I have been using SG daily since late 2016. It has worn no worse than the silver models.
 
Silver and it’s not up for debate. Space gray will show scratches. Go to your local Best Buy and just look at the floor models. They only put up space gray models and you can see the damage.

It is up for debate. If your Best Buy only puts out the SG models how do you know the silver versions won't show the same damage. Answer: They would.
 
It is up for debate. If your Best Buy only puts out the SG models how do you know the silver versions won't show the same damage. Answer: They would.

That's not how anodizing works. The main problem (to my eyes) in the picture someone posted above is the difference in color between the anodized layer and the metal underneath. The silver is objectively closer in color because it's the same metal, so scratches still show due to the change in texture and reflection but are less noticeable than adding a different color into that mix as well.
 
That's not how anodizing works. The main problem (to my eyes) in the picture someone posted above is the difference in color between the anodized layer and the metal underneath. The silver is objectively closer in color because it's the same metal, so scratches still show due to the change in texture and reflection but are less noticeable than adding a different color into that mix as well.

Chips and scratches show on the silver models too. I owned them for years and know. Thanks!!
 
Chips and scratches show on the silver models too. I owned them for years and know. Thanks!!

Yes, that's what I said in my comment...?

The difference in visibility between the colors is the problem. Scratches will at least show because of the change in texture/shape/reflection. The Space Gray adds the difference in color to this.

EDIT: Here's a pretty good image showing the potential problem with the color difference that someone posted in another thread: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/tim-cook-poses-with-new-macbook-pro.2318577/post-30492649
 
Last edited:
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.