That seems like it is probably within a tolerance spec. I wouldn’t worry about it. Mine is similar.
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MacBook Air M2: Bent bottom plate
- Thread starter mrcel
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I have two brand new ones here in my house and I looked at the display units at the Apple Store, and all of them have some degree of "wavy" bottom case. Some more noticeable than others. I don't think it's worth going through the hassle of replacing it because chances are your replacement unit will have the same issue.
Good Lord people! These things are made by humans and, as a result, are never going to be perfect. My M2 Air also has a little bit of waviness, but in my case I would have never noticed without looking specifically for the issue and, even then, it's only seen by sighting down the edge of my computer.
If a thin aluminum panel is held on by 3-4 clips, of course it'll be a little wavy. If this kind of thing really bugs you (especially after you've been shown that it's common, if not ubiquitous), then the M2 MBA just isn't for you.
If a thin aluminum panel is held on by 3-4 clips, of course it'll be a little wavy. If this kind of thing really bugs you (especially after you've been shown that it's common, if not ubiquitous), then the M2 MBA just isn't for you.
Mine's a tad wavy. Never would have noticed without seeing this thread. I'm pretty OCD, but I'm not going to worry about this one.
Just went to Apple Store and every MacBook Air I checked (about 5) had a bent bottom plate.
Awful build quality.
Awful build quality.
I'm not sure this is a sign of "awful build quality" as the overall build quality of the new MBA is great. This is just the nature of a very thin piece of aluminum that's being held in place by a bunch of clips. If I hadn't seen this post I would have NEVER noticed it in daily use.
Oh sorry I forget we’re on the forum for Apple apologists. Shouldn’t have said that x
If they are all wavy, its a feature.
Maybe it helps with heat dissipation.
Maybe it helps with heat dissipation.
nah mate no product is 100% perfect. Don't like it, you have two week return window
Hmm. Mine is almost perfectly straight. There is a 0.5 mm (guessing) bend in the middle back edge of the bottom plate. You have to really be looking to see it. If that is what you are seeing then just don’t buy the M2 MacBook Air and you’ll never have to worry about it.
I think that the appearance of 'bending' is due to the 4 clips on the bottom cover that hook (or slide) onto catches. If you look closely or at an angle you can see where the clips are sort of pulling the bottom cover down slightly and keeping it firmly in place.
This feels like an over-designed way of securing the bottom cover (making the removal and replacement unnecessarily difficult), when they could have just used one or two more screws, but this is what they decided to do.
I am sure with most units, the bottom cover opening has very slight 'waves' and you'd have to look at an extreme angle to even notice. From normal views, it should look even and straight.
The OP's situation appears to be a poorly fitted bottom cover from the factory where one of the clips didn't catch at all, and is sitting on top of the catch, causing a more pronounced bulge.
Another thing I noticed about the bottom cover on the M2 Air is that there are more prominent seams along the edges - the cover doesn't sit flush on all units. I found this by just picking up the display models at the Apple Store - I felt the seams immediately while handling them and decided to check all display units out.
This varies from unit to unit (and is more noticeable by the corner screws) so this must be due to very slight variances in the bottom cover size. Some sit perfectly flush where you cannot feel the seams at all (normal), while some are seated a hair too low, and others sit a hair too high. I also noticed that this only affected one or two sides in other models.
The M1 Air has a better fit and finish when it comes to the bottom cover (and better sounding speakers I might add). But, the M2 in all other areas has a superior design and feel (in my opinion).
This feels like an over-designed way of securing the bottom cover (making the removal and replacement unnecessarily difficult), when they could have just used one or two more screws, but this is what they decided to do.
I am sure with most units, the bottom cover opening has very slight 'waves' and you'd have to look at an extreme angle to even notice. From normal views, it should look even and straight.
The OP's situation appears to be a poorly fitted bottom cover from the factory where one of the clips didn't catch at all, and is sitting on top of the catch, causing a more pronounced bulge.
Another thing I noticed about the bottom cover on the M2 Air is that there are more prominent seams along the edges - the cover doesn't sit flush on all units. I found this by just picking up the display models at the Apple Store - I felt the seams immediately while handling them and decided to check all display units out.
This varies from unit to unit (and is more noticeable by the corner screws) so this must be due to very slight variances in the bottom cover size. Some sit perfectly flush where you cannot feel the seams at all (normal), while some are seated a hair too low, and others sit a hair too high. I also noticed that this only affected one or two sides in other models.
The M1 Air has a better fit and finish when it comes to the bottom cover (and better sounding speakers I might add). But, the M2 in all other areas has a superior design and feel (in my opinion).
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You are very welcome. Now that you know that you don’t have to buy a M2 MacBook Air I hope you can sleep better and not have to post about the bottom cover in every M2 thread.
Posted about it in 2 threads. Why are you triggered so much by it? Really hit a nerve there didn’t I.
The plates are bent which is shoddy build quality - it’s a fact. I’m on a forum I’m allowed to talk about it. You can apologise for Apple all you want tho if that’s what you want to do x
Mine is also wavy. Also, as I mentioned on another thread, all 4 MBAs I saw at retail stores have some degree of waviness. I've never seen a straight one.
14"/16" MBPs didn't have this issue.
14"/16" MBPs didn't have this issue.
I got my new M2 BTO today and didn't even bother checking the bottom plate for any wave. lol Everything looks good from normal viewing and use.
that's because your looking at it like some kind of normal personal. Gotta hold it up in the air and look down the line of it with a magnifying glass
I didn't really pay attention to the bottom case on my first MBA because it had a (much more problematic) display issue. Now that I have the replacement, I see similar waviness in the rear edge of the bottom case.
I highly suspect this is an issue to some degree on all of them...
I highly suspect this is an issue to some degree on all of them...
