MBP 13" 2017 experiences

[Jefke Peeters]

As an owner of a 2019 27" i5 iMac, I do all heavy tasks such as video & photo edit on this machine and it works well.

Sometimes I do some "light" computer tasks in my garden, hobby, etc. I did those things on a Windows machine before. Don't like Windows, so looking to a MacBook, I found a second hand MBP 2017. I repaired it (reflow CPU, maybe later a reball) and this machine works like a charm. Very good battery time btw.

Reading on several forums, Google,... I discover this isn't the best MacBook Apple ever made. Keyboard problems, swollen batteries, defective screens,...
This macbook is produced in July 2017.

I'm looking for some real experiences of this machine. Are they really that bad?

I've also a Late 2013 MBP retina 13" and an early 2013 15" retina. The 2017 works faster, better battery life, SideCar option,...

Which Macbook should I keep?

 

[mfram]

Some people have issues with the Butterfly keyboard. Some people don't like the feel of the keyboard or claim that it failed easily. I never had issues with the keyboard on my 2018 13" MBP in the two years I used it. I got a newer MBP to get a larger SSD.

 

[Jefke Peeters]

It seems like the main issue of this machines is still the keyboard.
I don't hear anything of broken flatcables to the screen, nor defective logic boards etc.

Keyboard is caused by dust and dirt, so the owner could be responsible for this...

 

[Acronyc]

I have a 2016 MBP that I am still using as my main machine daily. It never had any problems. Right before the keyboard replacement program for my machine expired, I took it to the Apple store for them to check over. I wasn't having an issue, but they replaced the keyboard for me anyway. That gave me a new battery, top case, and trackpad.

When they replaced the top case they damaged my screen so they also replaced my screen, so my MBP is almost completely new.

My visit to the Apple store was preemptive though, and I never had any problems with it over 4 years of use. I've used it now for over 4 years and it is moving along nicely. I'm glad I got a larger SSD and 16GB of RAM as I think that helped it hold up well. Plus with my eGPU, it is really a very nice machine still.

Anyway, that's just my experience. They keyboard does have known problems and I think there was an issue for some with the backlight and reflective coating, but Apple has repair programs for those. I'd take the 2017 model over the other models you listed.

 

[Jefke Peeters]

Looking on several 2nd hand sites, I notice more and more 2017 models with defective screens, all of them with ghosting in the picture, no picture,... . I know this problem: flexcables from the screen to the T-Con are cracking. This is because there's too much torque on this cables with a closed screen (much movies on YouTube to illustrate this)
In my 13" the flatcables never become tight. Looking to the screws, I think they replaced the screen before.
The anti-reflect coating of the screen is something else. This is cracking. Strange with a new screen.

There's a non official Apple repair program for this. But for sure, they know about nothing :-(

Keyboard works very good, I hope when I keeps it clean it I will keep its performance.

My daily is the iMac. It's worth the risk to keep this funny machine I think, reading your replies.

 

[tmt]

I’ve got a 2017 MBP 13” and it works well.
i had to change my keyboard, but that was part of Apples replacement program as it just stopped working on a coupe of keys.
Otherwise all is well and it’s still a quick machine.

 

[bwillwall]

I consider my 15 inch a $3,000 paperweight at this point.

 

[chrfr]

Keyboard is caused by dust and dirt, so the owner could be responsible for this...

The keyboard problems are due to a fundamentally faulty design. Dust and dirt may aggravate the issues, but they are not the root cause.

 

[imac9556]

My 2017 MBP non Touch Bar’s only failure was the battery. It “needs service” at only 365 cycles or so. It was replaced by apple after warranty due to another issue (1% Big Sur update) for free. Then after the repair the repair center had dented the screen so apple graciously replaced the top half/screen for free too.