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New 2016 13" tMBP noise when moving?

hawkeye_a

hawkeye_a

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jun 27, 2016
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Unwrapped my new 13" tbMBP today.

While inspecting the machine, i noticed that when i tilt the unit from left-to-right and viceversa it makes sortof a "clicking" noise (like when you press the trackpad).

It only seems to do this when the lid is open. It *seems* as though the sound is coming from under the keyboard/trackpad. Can anyone with a 2016 MBP see if their machine does the same? Its a fairly quiet sound so you will need to try it out in a quiet place.

Cheers
 
hawkeye_a said:
Unwrapped my new 13" tbMBP today.

While inspecting the machine, i noticed that when i tilt the unit from left-to-right and viceversa it makes sortof a "clicking" noise (like when you press the trackpad).

It only seems to do this when the lid is open. It *seems* as though the sound is coming from under the keyboard/trackpad. Can anyone with a 2016 MBP see if their machine does the same? Its a fairly quiet sound so you will need to try it out in a quiet place.

Cheers
Click to expand...
It's the display.
 
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is this "normal"? Or is it a manufacturing defect?

Can anone with this model mbp try it?

Cheers
 
If it's the sheets behind the display hitting the enclosure, it's nothing to worry about.
 
Please shake it Left/Right and if you can hear a noise coming from upper side of chassis ( down to display ) it is due to the hinge of the display. All MBPs have it.
 
Mine makes a metallic twang/rattle when I tap beside the track pad. Combined with the poor battery life I was getting I have just arranged for it to be replaced. Apple were very helpful given that I live quite far from an Apple Store, so a new CTO is being built and shipped out to me. Meanwhile I can use the rattling one.
 
Here's a video someone else made with an older MacBook making as similar sound.


Can any 2016 MBP owners confirm this kind of sound on their machines?
 
idark77 said:
Read my post above, it's the hinge of display.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply. It seems like its coming from the screen.

But whether its the hinge/screen, is this by design or is it a manufacturing defect?
 
2015 Macbook here and I have this noise as well! It might not qualify as a manufacturing defect. :(
 
idark77 said:
Please shake it Left/Right and if you can hear a noise coming from upper side of chassis ( down to display ) it is due to the hinge of the display. All MBPs have it.
Click to expand...

no noise here.. (13" tbmbp)

Edit. Neither of the two I have (2014/2016)
 
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hawkeye_a said:
Thanks for your reply. It seems like its coming from the screen.

But whether its the hinge/screen, is this by design or is it a manufacturing defect?
Click to expand...
It is by design, I tested a lot of MBP from 2013 to 2016 and all machines have this behavior, believe me.
 
idark77 said:
Read my post above, it's the hinge of display.
Click to expand...
It's not the hinge. There's a piece of plastic behind the display that isn't held in place with glue or screws. Almost all MBPs have this problem which is considered normal.
 
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There are vids / discussions and even ifixit(?) explained it once. Some weird plastic that may move for a some reason. Normal? well, it doesn't sound normal to me that there can be a white panel inside of the screen moving around.

Edit. The same vid as above.
 
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bizack said:
It's not the hinge. There's a piece of plastic behind the display that isn't held in place with glue or screws. Almost all MBPs have this problem which is considered normal.
Click to expand...
I know that it is the metal part between the hinges and it is normal.
 
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bizack said:
Okay, well, it's not. It's the plastic behind the display. It's well documented.
Click to expand...
No it's not, I know it ( due to hinge guide plate ) also some Genius Bar at Apple Store knows it.
 
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Either of the above could cause the sound, there's no point arguing which one it is as it could be different for each individual machine.

However, in my case, I did try "pinching" the screen between two fingers and shaking and there was no sound.

So finally, should I bother returning/exchanging it?
 
idark77 said:
Why do you want to return it if it is normal and all MBPs are affected?!?
Click to expand...

With all due respect, what makes you think this issue is "normal" or affects all tMBPS?

There is at least one user above who has said they dont experience it.
 
hawkeye_a said:
With all due respect, what makes you think this issue is "normal" or affects all tMBPS?

There is at least one user above who has said they dont experience it.
Click to expand...
No problem, I can only share my experience. I used a lot of MBPs and all oh them had this issue, all the MBPs of my friends have this issue, I shacked all demo units at Apple Store and all of them have it. Sometimes you need to shake them more to see the issue, or sometimes you need to open the lid or close it and shake them but all had it. If there is only 1% of machines that have not this issue I cannot know.
Hope this helps you.
 
mrex said:
https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/MacBook+Pro+Retina+Display+Teardown/9493

I dont find the page but im quite sure i read about it and the noise is caused by one of those plastic plate which may move when you shake/tilt the laptop.
Click to expand...

Yes I know, but it was valid for old unibody MBP (before 2012-2013), the newer machines have not this plastic and I can confirm it is due to other, but it is just my opinion based upon my experiences or maybe we are speaking about different issues.

Here the link about the plastic issue:
http://6ixpassions.com/post/1095520847/fix-the-ticking-clicking-sound-in-your-macbook-pro
 
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