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M1 MBA weird noise

Pi272

Pi272

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 5, 2021
15
1
Hello everyone.
About two weeks ago I bought a M1 Macbook Air (16/256). While I was checking it I noticed that it made a strange noise when shaken horizontally, especially from the upside down position. So I brought it to an Apple store and they confirmed me that it was not normal, saying that it was coming from the screen. They suggested me to get a refund and buy a new one, and so I did.
Today I received the new one and, unfortunately, it has the same "issue". Now, either Apple was wrong and this rattle is normal or it is a widespread defect or I got two defective units with the same "problem", which seems rather unlikely to me.

I'd like to hear your thoughts about this and, for those of you who own a M1 MBA, I'd be grateful if you could try to see if yours makes any rattling sound.

Thank you :)
 
Pi272 said:
Hello everyone.
About two weeks ago I bought a M1 Macbook Air (16/256). While I was checking it I noticed that it made a strange noise when shaken horizontally, especially from the upside down position. So I brought it to an Apple store and they confirmed me that it was not normal, saying that it was coming from the screen. They suggested me to get a refund and buy a new one, and so I did.
Today I received the new one and, unfortunately, it has the same "issue". Now, either Apple was wrong and this rattle is normal or it is a widespread defect or I got two defective units with the same "problem", which seems rather unlikely to me.

I'd like to hear your thoughts about this and, for those of you who own a M1 MBA, I'd be grateful if you could try to see if yours makes any rattling sound.

Thank you :)
Click to expand...
You made me close may MBA just to check 😃. Nope, that's not normal. It looks like just bad luck. Ask them for a new computer.
 
No, I can't hear anything. Just be sure, that it is actual the computer and you are not wearing a bracelet or similar that rattles 😁
 
Hi guys,
thanks for your answers. May I ask you when did you buy yours? I noticed that they recently changed screen model on the M1 MBA and I was wondering if it could be related with that.


M1 MBA feb 2021 | M1 MBA jul 2021
MBA_feb2021.png
MBA_jul2021.png




P.S: I'm not wearing any bracelet 🤣
 
Pi272 said:
Hi guys,
thanks for your answers. May I ask you when did you buy yours? I noticed that they recently changed screen model on the M1 MBA and I was wondering if it could be related with that.

M1 MBA feb 2021 | M1 MBA jul 2021
View attachment 1806051View attachment 1806054



P.S: I'm not wearing any bracelet 🤣
Click to expand...
Interesting that they have changed panel model. Is it better or worse than older model.

Can you test if new screen model is still suffering from this problem?https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/m1-macbook-air-black-uniformity-red-glow.2274365/
 
0906742 said:
Interesting that they have changed panel model. Is it better or worse than older model.

Can you test if new screen model is still suffering from this problem?https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/m1-macbook-air-black-uniformity-red-glow.2274365/
Click to expand...
It seems to be suffering from that too, but not as much as the ones showed in that thread. I suppose though that mostly depends on the camera that you use for taking the pictures. Anyways, never noticed that during normal use.
 
Pi272 said:
It seems to be suffering from that too, but not as much as the ones showed in that thread. I suppose though that mostly depends on the camera that you use for taking the pictures. Anyways, never noticed that during normal use.
Click to expand...
So it is something you can see with your own eyes when checking with full screen black image at 100% screen brightness in dark room?

It is true that photos make it look worse than it is by eye, but there is definitely slight red glow on the right side (especially upper right corner in my unit) that I can see in those conditions. I know that is probably not an issue for the most people but I just wanted to check whether this new panel type is totally free from it just in case it start to bother me more.
 
0906742 said:
So it is something you can see with your own eyes when checking with full screen black image at 100% screen brightness in dark room?

It is true that photos make it look worse than it is by eye, but there is definitely slight red glow on the right side (especially upper right corner in my unit) that I can see in those conditions. I know that is probably not an issue for the most people but I just wanted to check whether this new panel type is totally free from it just in case it start to bother me more.
Click to expand...
In those conditions it is probably slight noticeable, though I do think they do not represent a real use case scenario. Also, I think that it is somehow related with the screen coating as if I move my head to the right/left it seems to get better/worse respectively.
 
Pi272 said:
In those conditions it is probably slight noticeable, though I do think they do not represent a real use case scenario.
Click to expand...
Yes it is so but IMHO not normal and not something that I see with any of my other monitors I have or have had, except the faulty ones...

Also, I think that it is somehow related with the screen coating as if I move my head to the right/left it seems to get better/worse respectively.
Click to expand...
Yes mine does exactly like that but still coating should work so that viewing from normal middle position these should not be visible even in most demanding unusual conditions (again IMHO).
 
0906742 said:
Yes it is so but IMHO not normal and not something that I see with any of my other monitors I have or have had, except the faulty ones...


Yes mine does exactly like that but still coating should work so that viewing from normal middle position these should not be visible even in most demanding unusual conditions (again IMHO).
Click to expand...
You're probably right. However, this red glow seems to be widespread among these machines, therefore I wouldn't play the "screen lottery" if I were you, even because you could run into something worse. If this thing bothers you I'd suggest switching to the Pro or waiting.
 
Pi272 said:
You're probably right. However, this red glow seems to be widespread among these machines, therefore I wouldn't play the "screen lottery" if I were you, even because you could run into something worse.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I know. I bought mine just after release. I was just wondering whether that new panel type fixed the issue and then maybe I would have done something to it. But I'll live with it for now.

If this thing bothers you I'd suggest switching to the Pro or waiting.
Click to expand...
I know Pro has better display but the current M1 Pro is pathetic otherwise. Definitely not worth the price and just a "placeholder" to offer M1 product for Pro line for now. Practically it is M1 Air with a little better display and cooling fan. But I'm interested to see what new Pro will look like. I'm pretty sure we'll see some new design.
 
0906742 said:
I know Pro has better display but the current M1 Pro is pathetic otherwise. Definitely not worth the price and just a "placeholder" to offer M1 product for Pro line for now. Practically it is M1 Air with a little better display and cooling fan.
Click to expand...
Quite agree with you.
0906742 said:
I'm interested to see what new Pro will look like. I'm pretty sure we'll see some new design.
Click to expand...
Me too. I'm afraid though that the new Pro line will start from 2k dollars or something.
 
Pi272 said:
Hi guys,
thanks for your answers. May I ask you when did you buy yours? I noticed that they recently changed screen model on the M1 MBA and I was wondering if it could be related with that.


M1 MBA feb 2021 | M1 MBA jul 2021
View attachment 1806051View attachment 1806054



P.S: I'm not wearing any bracelet 🤣
Click to expand...
Mine is from December, ordered November 12th 2020 and received December 2nd 2020, and is the same model the one of July 2021. I don't think it's related to your problem
 

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Pi272 said:
Hello everyone.
About two weeks ago I bought a M1 Macbook Air (16/256). While I was checking it I noticed that it made a strange noise when shaken horizontally, especially from the upside down position. So I brought it to an Apple store and they confirmed me that it was not normal, saying that it was coming from the screen. They suggested me to get a refund and buy a new one, and so I did.
Today I received the new one and, unfortunately, it has the same "issue". Now, either Apple was wrong and this rattle is normal or it is a widespread defect or I got two defective units with the same "problem", which seems rather unlikely to me.

I'd like to hear your thoughts about this and, for those of you who own a M1 MBA, I'd be grateful if you could try to see if yours makes any rattling sound.

Thank you :)
Click to expand...
Why would you deliberately shake your new MBA and hold it upside-down? It's not meant to be shaken and rattled around. These machines are not toys!
 
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Clix Pix said:
Why would you deliberately shake your new MBA and hold it upside-down? It's not meant to be shaken and rattled around. These machines are not toys!
Click to expand...
The MBA’s only moving parts are the keyboard and the trackpad’s haptic motor. I would think they should be able to stand a moderate shake.
 
Pi272 said:
Me too. I'm afraid though that the new Pro line will start from 2k dollars or something.
Click to expand...
Yeah, probably. Current MBA M1 is good value. I have rather little need for the notebook anyway, mostly for a toy I like to play with. :)
 
LuisN said:
Mine is from December, ordered November 12th 2020 and received December 2nd 2020, and is the same model the one of July 2021. I don't think it's related to your problem
Click to expand...

Do you see this red glow in black image on the right hand side in those condition described above and in the link I posted?


Does your or other people's MBA M1 with this panel model have notebook serial starting with C or F?
Just wondering if that is just related to that and the panel is more or less the same?
Mine is C and panel is the one ending with 3C.
 
Clix Pix said:
Why would you deliberately shake your new MBA and hold it upside-down? It's not meant to be shaken and rattled around. These machines are not toys!
Click to expand...
Hi,
Thanks for your answer. I deliberately shake the device in order to make sure that the internal components are sturdily installed, as they are supposed to be. It is a check of the physical characteristics like that there are no scratches and similar.
These devices are not toys, that's true. They are not cheap, and the company that sells them boasts of qualities that we, who pay for, demand to have. It is a sign of respect towards the money we pay for these machines to verify that they look like they should. :)
 
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Pi272 said:
Hi,
Thanks for your answer. I deliberately shake the device in order to make sure that the internal components are sturdily installed, as they are supposed to be. It is a check of the physical characteristics like that there are no scratches and similar.
These devices are not toys, that's true. They are not cheap, and the company who sells them boasts of qualities that we, who pay for, demand to have. It is a sign of respect towards the money we pay for these machines to verify that they look like they should. :)
Click to expand...
Amen to that! :)
 
jdb8167 said:
The MBA’s only moving parts are the keyboard and the trackpad’s haptic motor. I would think they should be able to stand a moderate shake.
Click to expand...
Exactly. Besides, they are supposed to be portable, so if there's an internal component not properly secured inside I'd rather know it now while I'm on the return window.
If it were a desktop computer that would be another story.
 
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Clix Pix said:
I have had many, many mobile Macs from my first PowerBook to my current M1 13" MBP and I have NEVER felt the urge or the perceived "need" to "test" a brand-new one by shaking it! To each his or her own......
Click to expand...
I see. Conversely I'm used to double-check my new devices, especially when they're not exactly cheap. Despite that I am not surprised when someone says that they don't. As you said, to each their own :)
 
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