new macbook air (m1) from amazon uk smells like mold / mildew

[newJeans]

this is seemingly a brand new macbook air, the macbook came packaged in the apple foldout cardboard box that acts as a kind of lever and shelf, and the actual macbook air box was wrapped in plastic wrap with the apple pull tag so it seems like it was definitely brand new and sealed. battery cycles are also showing as 1 in the system report and the purchase date according to the settings app is today.

unfortunately the macbook itself smells quite strongly of mold / mildew. i have tried cleaning it with alcohol and it has helped but smelling the hinge... it's quite unpleasant. i can smell the macbook when it's on my lap, too.

has anyone else experienced this? would you return it or will it fade?

no signs of mold / mildew on the box, or anywhere on the device btw. just the smell...

 

[arw]

has anyone else experienced this? would you return it or will it fade?

Yes. It is the cable. It will fade from the laptop after using it a few days.
The cable however is a different matter: After letting it sit in the sun outdoors for weeks, it still smells.
I even went to the store and all of their packaged cables smelled the same so a replacement won't help at all.
I simply purchased a 3rd party brand magnetic cable like this:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/usb-c-ports-constantly-wearing-out-on-late-model-13-macbook-pros.2395451/post-32308806

My original post about this issue:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-certified-refurbished-macs-am-i-getting-a-model-with-a-used-ssd.2301996/post-32305509

And some posts on Apple's own forum:

New MacBook Air Smells of Mildew - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

Moldy/mildew unboxing? - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

MacBook Air USB-C Charger/moldy smell - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

 

[newJeans]

Yes. It is the cable. It will fade from the laptop after using it a few days.
The cable however is a different matter: After letting it sit in the sun outdoors for weeks, it still smells.
Apple support is playing dumb. I even went to the store and all of their packaged cables smelled the same so a replacement won't help at all.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-certified-refurbished-macs-am-i-getting-a-model-with-a-used-ssd.2301996/post-32305509

I simply purchased a 3rd party brand magnetic cable:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/usb-c-ports-constantly-wearing-out-on-late-model-13-macbook-pros.2395451/post-32308806

New MacBook Air Smells of Mildew - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

Moldy/mildew unboxing? - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

MacBook Air USB-C Charger/moldy smell - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

hey, thank you for replying and for sharing the links - however i haven't even unwrapped the cable, it's still in the box 😅 so it is definitely the macbook itself that smells. if i hold the corner up to my nose where the hinge is it smells particularly bad.

did the macbook smell too in your experience? i'm not too bothered about not being able to use the cable.

 

[newJeans]

Yes. It is the cable. It will fade from the laptop after using it a few days.
The cable however is a different matter: After letting it sit in the sun outdoors for weeks, it still smells.
I even went to the store and all of their packaged cables smelled the same so a replacement won't help at all.
I simply purchased a 3rd party brand magnetic cable like this:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/usb-c-ports-constantly-wearing-out-on-late-model-13-macbook-pros.2395451/post-32308806

My original post about this issue:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-certified-refurbished-macs-am-i-getting-a-model-with-a-used-ssd.2301996/post-32305509

And some posts on Apple's own forum:

New MacBook Air Smells of Mildew - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

Moldy/mildew unboxing? - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

MacBook Air USB-C Charger/moldy smell - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

ok, you are totally right - i opened the box and took out the cable to smell it... 😩 it smells awful, much more concentrated than the smell on the macbook itself.

thank you for the response. so the macbook itself should stop smelling in a few days?

 

[arw]

Yes. I simply let it run hot (updating, CPU-intensive tasks like Benchmarks) for a few hours in a well ventilated room. But my MacBook has a fan so it worked pretty quickly.
At first, the whole room stank like mold but after a day, the MacBook was odour-free. Even quicker for the power supply.

Also, the cable never stopped leaving a sticky, stinky residue on my fingers.

 

[newJeans]

Yes. I simply let it run hot (updating, CPU-intensive tasks like Benchmarks) for a few hours in a well ventilated room. But my MacBook has a fan so it worked pretty quickly.
At first, the whole room stank like mold but after a day, the MacBook was odour-free. Same for the power supply.

Also, the cable never stopped leaving a sticky, stinky residue on my fingers.

that sounds awful, honestly 😅 but i am glad it was sorted for you.

i have wiped down the macbook air 3 times now with alcohol cleaner (while it's shut down), i will keep attempting to clean it over the next few days until hopefully the smell is gone.

 

[arw]

At the time, there were two theories:
- Apple changed a component in the cable's insulation. Supposedly more eco-friendly but smelly itself or prone to smelly bacteria.
- A warehouse full of cables was exposed to water damage and they still shipped them over a period of months.

I was just extremely relieved the MacBook was fine and didn't suffer any mold or corrosion and quickly stopped smelling. I didn't bother to escalate the issue with Apple as a 3rd party replacement cable is $10.

 

[MBAir2010]

there is a product called "damprid" that absorbs mold and mildew in the air.
maybe try placing a container near the macbook air while that it is rev'n up could save the room from sinking.

(oh i guess that is how Amazon got the name, their products smell like the region!)

 

[newJeans]

it smells really unpleasant, i'm honestly surprised it shipped like this. also i checked the manufacture date of my macbook using that chipmunk nl website and it says it's from a batch made in nov 2023 so it's not even like it's been sitting around for years. 😩

there is a product called "damprid" that absorbs mold and mildew in the air.
maybe try placing a container near the macbook air while that it is rev'n up could save the room from sinking.

(oh i guess that is how Amazon got the name, their products smell like the region!)

this macbook is fanless (which also hopefully means there hasn't been much ingress). i have an air purifier in this room and i have wiped down all external parts of the macbook (except the screen) with alcohol cleaner. if that doesn't work, i'll take a look at this product. 🙂

 

[sleeptodream]

100% return it and buy another, you’ll never get rid of the source of the smell it’s likely inside the macbook. Even if you get rid of anything on the surface there will be spores remaining

Mine never had any smell that I can remember

 

[macfacts]

You should bring it to a store. I'm sure there are moisture strips inside, get apple to double check there isn't any damage inside.

 

[TechnoMonk]

I would just return it. Not worth the trouble.

 

[cjsuk]

It was probably stored in the same bin as my Charcuterie boards which turned up mouldy.

I suspect they have serious problems in some of their warehouses. I would return it.

I closed my Amazon account recently over this and a couple of other issues such as deliveries getting stolen before they even turned up.

 

[newJeans]

100% return it and buy another, you’ll never get rid of the source of the smell it’s likely inside the macbook. Even if you get rid of anything on the surface there will be spores remaining

Mine never had any smell that I can remember

I would just return it. Not worth the trouble.

my concern is i’ll return it and get another one with the same problem 😅 this was only manufactured in nov 2023 so it’s not like it’s years old stock.

You should bring it to a store. I'm sure there are moisture strips inside, get apple to double check there isn't any damage inside.

i think since i bought it from amazon i probably can’t take it to an apple store? i imagine they’d rather i try and sort it with amazon first.

 

[cjsuk]

Apple will probably look at it but the packaging is likely compromised as well. I would just return it to Amazon and go buy one from the Apple Store where they don't keep their stock in a damp shed.

 

[newJeans]

Apple will probably look at it but the packaging is likely compromised as well. I would just return it to Amazon and go buy one from the Apple Store where they don't keep their stock in a damp shed.

apple don’t sell them anymore - i specifically want an m1 air because of the wedge design! last one that will have the design that defined it for a decade. 🙂

 

[maruyama]

While it’s still possible that the laptop was in a moldy warehouse, the most likely explanation is probably that cable. Nearly everything I’ve bought from Apple in the past few years has had this slight mold-like smell that seems to come from the cables, including an M1 MBP, Magic Keyboard / Magic Trackpad, and even a Studio Display.

It’s a shame because that “new Mac smell” was once such a memorable part of getting a new Apple product!

Edit: to clarify, I don’t think Apple suddenly got a pervasive mold problem a few years ago; it’s just that some presumably more eco-friendly chemical in their newer cables smells kind of like mold.

 

[Saturn007]

Return it — NOW. Don't mess with around with it.

Apple still sells M1 MBAs via its refurbished store. They come with the full Apple 1-year warranty and are eligible for Apple Care. See

Refurbished Mac - 2020 - MacBook Air

Save up to 15% on a refurbished MacBook Air. Tested and certified by Apple including a 1-year warranty. Free delivery and returns.

www.apple.com

OTOH, while I, too, am enamored of the wedge shape and have been tempted to buy one, I have repeatedly decided against it because the spontaneous screen cracking that has plagued a small, but not inconsiderable, number of people. Look for the threads here and around the Internet. It has even led to a class-action lawsuit.

Apple has apparently not been responsive in covering this.

I ended up buying an M2 15” MBA. In your situation, I would recommend returning the moldy, smelly one and buying an M2 13” MBA directly from Apple. They have not had the same screen cracking issue. You could buy a refurbished one to save a bit of money.

 

[newJeans]

While it’s still possible that the laptop was in a moldy warehouse, the most likely explanation is probably that cable.

i smelled the exterior of the white box it was packaged in and honestly it doesn’t have a smell at all. the smell is definitely coming from that cable but seems to have affected everything else inside like the macbook itself.

Apple still sells M1 MBAs via its refurbished store. They come with the full Apple 1-year warranty and are eligible for Apple Care.

this one is still eligible for applecare+ too!

 

[MBAir2010]

apple don’t sell them anymore - i specifically want an m1 air because of the wedge design! last one that will have the design that defined it for a decade. 🙂

Try OWC i purchased a mini M1 last October that is flawless!

for the record, my macbook air m1 form apple is perfect as well, except for the annoying software.

 

[TechnoMonk]

my concern is i’ll return it and get another one with the same problem 😅 this was only manufactured in nov 2023 so it’s not like it’s years old stock.

i think since i bought it from amazon i probably can’t take it to an apple store? i imagine they’d rather i try and sort it with amazon first.

How do you know when it was manufactured? I personally would try Amazon once and try somewhere else if they keep sending the same.

 

[newJeans]

How do you know when it was manufactured? I personally would try Amazon once and try somewhere else if they keep sending the same.

Klantenservice: Serienummers

it was recommended in another thread on here!

and yeah, i’m going to leave it til monday, if it still smells i’m going to return it / ask for a replacement.

 

[TechnoMonk]

Klantenservice: Serienummers

it was recommended in another thread on here!

and yeah, i’m going to leave it til monday, if it still smells i’m going to return it / ask for a replacement.

It’s not that accurate for Macs after Mid 2021. Apple is cryptographically randomizing serial numbers.

 

[MazingerZND]

Have you guys tried cleaning that cable/charger with some eucalyptus or tea tree oil? They are disinfectants and the smell is quite nice…maybe it’ll help get rid of the smell itself or any bacteria causing it

 

[maruyama]

While it’s still possible that the laptop was in a moldy warehouse, the most likely explanation is probably that cable. Nearly everything I’ve bought from Apple in the past few years has had this slight mold-like smell that seems to come from the cables, including an M1 MBP, Magic Keyboard / Magic Trackpad, and even a Studio Display.

It’s a shame because that “new Mac smell” was once such a memorable part of getting a new Apple product!

Edit: to clarify, I don’t think Apple suddenly got a pervasive mold problem a few years ago; it’s just that some presumably more eco-friendly chemical in their newer cables smells kind of like mold.

Related update: I threw the USB-C cable that came with an Ultrahuman ring into a storage container of cables about a month ago (I already had a cable I was going to use with the charger) and upon opening the container again… everything in there now smells like 2020s Apple unboxing mustiness. Ultrahuman must be using the same stuff in their included cables.