issue with MacBook Air & USB ports

[wfriedwald]

For a few years, I have been using an M1 MacBook air as my primary machine.

Basically, I love it - but one thing that's troublesome is that the USB C ports are kind of, well, flimsy - I find cords are always popping out. at least once or twice a day I have to ram them back in.

my question: does anyone know if the more recent MacBooks, like the new M4, are more secure in terms of the ports? Or is the MacBook Pro more secure?

grateful as always for feedback!

w

 

[Bigwaff]

For a few years, I have been using an M1 MacBook air as my primary machine.

Basically, I love it - but one thing that's troublesome is that the USB C ports are kind of, well, flimsy - I find cords are always popping out. at least once or twice a day I have to ram them back in.

my question: does anyone know if the more recent MacBooks, like the new M4, are more secure in terms of the ports? Or is the MacBook Pro more secure?

grateful as always for feedback!

w

Sorry.. can't speak to comparison between M1 MBA and other MBA/MBP models but can say our M1 MBA (purchased in 2021) USB-C ports still "click" or securely hold cables. I do know from watching repair videos, the USB-C ports component in the M1 MBA is super easy to replace. YouTube has many repair videos.

 

[wfriedwald]

thank you (Batboy!) for the feedback. much appreciated!

w

 

[russell_314]

On my M2 air the USB ports are tight. If you pull on the cable, it will come out. I’ve never seen any USB-C connection that’s as secure as USB-A. This is what happens when they make a jack of all trades connection.

The cable should not fall out under its own weight. If it’s falling out without pulling on it, then the ports need to be replaced.

Also, it depends on how many times you plug it in and unplug it. Things wear out. I don’t use my USB ports very often. Usually when I don’t have my MagSafe cable and I’m using a random USB cable to charge. Most of the time I charge with the MagSafe connector. I realize you don’t have that with the M1 though.

 

[CTHarrryH]

My M2 has tight ports - the power cable comes out all the time which is annoying

 

[Fishrrman]

One shouldn't be "ramming" in a USBc cable. Do that too often, and I can understand why a particular port might become "flimsy".

I noticed on my 2021 MacBook Pro that on one of the USBc ports, one has to be careful about how the plug is inserted.
Try to "push it directly in"... and it seems to "resist".
HOWEVER... if I "angle" the plug (off center) slightly... then it will engage properly and snap right into place.
(this MBP was opened up once, when Apple replaced the trackpad)

I'd suggest the above "method" to others with recalcitrant USBc ports, also.

 

[Tzvia]

I used to see lots of DELLs at work (I was in IT but now retired!) where that darn usb-c would disconnect the DELL docking station when the user did something that vibrated the table it was on, like from putting their arms on the table. It's possible there was a bad bunch of USB-C connectors in those early DELLs that had them, because after about 6 months with issues with them, the new laptops that DELL sent no longer developed this issue. Maybe that outer ring of the connector was too flexy, so bent out and didn't hold the connection points together... It can also distort if the cable is tightly 'cable managed' and applied force at an angle to the connector. I don't go nuts and allow that 'give' between my mini-dock and my M2MBA so the connector isn't stressed by a cable that is being pulled to one side or the other. Yea USB-C is a physically crappy connector IMO; USB-A was rarely an issue at work and we supported thousands of users on PC and MAC. If a USB-A went bad, it was almost always someone's coffee or soda spilled in the connector...