Known issues with the 2017 rMB?

[onVacation]

My 9.7" iPP has been serving me well for almost a year now, however, the fact that Apple removed/changed some features in recent updates that were really important to my workflow kinda made me question my purchase and I thought I might have been better off buying the MS Surface that I originally intended to get especially now that I'm starting to need some actual laptop capabilities and a proper OS.

Fast forward to today: I just returned my second Surface Book 2 that I bough to replace my iPP. They both had terrible coil whine and so did every other SB2 that I could find on display in electronics stores near me, so I kinda gave up on it although it's an awesome machine in every other aspect and I've never used anything but Windows in my life so using it was as easy as it could be.

I'm starting to think a "normal" laptop in addition to my iPP might be the best idea. 2in1s just don't seem to be ready yet.
The tbMBP is too expensive for what it is and the ntbMBP has a noisy fan and the 128GB base config has to be a joke. Also they both seem to have some keyboard issues which I'm definetely not a fan of.


I like the rMB 2017, though. A single USB3.0 port isn't ideal but there are nice dongles now, so that should work.

Now the actual question is:
Are there any known issues with the rMB? Is it also affected by the MBPs' keyboard issues? Any other problems that are somewhat common and worth to look for (except usual stuff like dead pixels)?

 

[Brookzy]

The 2015 and 2016 models feature an even flatter keyboard than the current MacBook Pros, and this arguably makes them more susceptible to failure due to debris. If you get a 2017 model, that has the same keyboard as the current MacBook Pros (although with fractionally less travel which makes it sound a bit more clacky), so you should be good there. Personally I can come to peace with the keyboard on this device (rather than the Pro) because there is a good reason for it: thinness at all costs. I'm willing to have a keyboard that's maybe 95% reliable - rather than 100% - in order to have an extremely light laptop. Your priorities may differ.

Other than that, they're pretty solid. After a miserable experience buying and selling many MacBook Pros over the last 12 months, I realised I was better with my trusty MacBook, and returned to it when the 2017 model was released.

These are a few issues I have read about or experienced, but they're nowhere near as common as the MacBook Pro's issues:

• Creaking hinge
• Fast hinge loosening - this seems to be resolved since 2016
• Trackpad haptic issues (I had one that popped)
• Fast battery degradation (I was worried my current one had this, but after declining to 94% in the first couple of months, it's now stabilised 7 months later at 93%)
• Warped base (i.e. not all four rubber feet touch the surface at once) - this is just part of the wafer-thin design unfortunately and if you put it in a particularly loaded backpack it can bend a bit. You can apply pressure to all four corners to straighten it again, but if it's like it straight out the box then that's not ideal

Again, these are rare and I'm being picky listing them all. I think that's about it. It's a great machine!

 

[anonymous4a]

This is for all MacBook 12 but some of the displays are "warmer" than the MacBook Pro and iPad Pro. My display has a yellowish tint to it. White colors look yellowish . I tried calibrating, didn't help much .

 

[ZapNZs]

The rMB is definitely prone to the same keyboard issues of the MBP. This keyboard design in general is simply more fragile. That said, I really like my '17 MacBook.

 

[Loge]

I have both the 2016 TB MBP and the 2017 MB and I think the keyboard on the 2017 MB is noticeably improved. There is just much more of a definite click to the keys, and they feel more sturdy.

 

[Zapdoc]

I have both the 2016 TB MBP and the 2017 MB and I think the keyboard on the 2017 MB is noticeably improved. There is just much more of a definite click to the keys, and they feel more sturdy.

Agreed - noticeable improvement over 2016 model

 

[Treyhunna]

on year 2 of my 2016 rMB I've had no KB issues. It think its overblown...I also dont eat or drink while on my machine. so theres that

 

[konradsa]

on year 2 of my 2016 rMB I've had no KB issues. It think its overblown...I also dont eat or drink while on my machine. so theres that

I don't eat or drink either while on the computer. But in 6 months, already had keys stuck twice, able to fix it with some compressed air. So there goes that.

 

[827538]

I have a 2016 rMB and I've had no problems with it. Battery is at 88% after 1.5 years.

Once they release a big update for it I'll upgrade but so far it's perfect. Runs a lot faster than I was expecting.