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1BadManVan

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Dec 20, 2009
3,217
3,341
Bc Canada
I have an appointment tomorrow to get my MacBook replaced because of a few quality control issues. Because im still within the return window, I also have the choice to swap colours. I currently have the midnight, while I love the colour when its new, the longevity has me a bit worried. Any of those in the same boat as me, how are you enjoying the silver colour? I usually get darker colour of everything, my iPad is space grey, my phone is space grey, my desk is black etc. So its a tough choice for me to move over to a light colour
 

iStorm

macrumors 68000
Sep 18, 2012
1,907
2,321
It's just a matter of opinion. Personally, I would stick with midnight if I were in your shoes. (I don't care about normal wear and tear around the ports.) Silver is a classic color, but feels dated to me. They've had silver Macs for 20-ish years now...
 
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VineRider

macrumors 65816
May 24, 2018
1,393
1,214
I don't have the Air, but I have a 14" M1 Pro in silver. Personally, I love this color and have found it to be very durable. No fingerprints or scuffs. Mine is a launch day device and still looks like it did on day one. I keep it in a sleeve, but don't baby it and use it every day. Almost a year old and looks great!
 

1BadManVan

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Dec 20, 2009
3,217
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Bc Canada
Luckily I’ll be in the apple store tomorrow for my appointment to take another look at them in person. Their layout sucks though, they have all the colours spread out, they don’t have more then 2 next to each other lol.
 

Alpha Centauri

macrumors 65816
Oct 13, 2020
1,301
1,013
well what do YOU like best? You have to pay for it, you have to live with it once this thread falls into the void.

I'm typing this on a silver MBP that's 13 yrs old, the edges have some wear and that's about it. Much like cars with darker paint they will be more susceptible to micro scratches. That's obvious.

What would I get? Silver or Starlight!
 
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1BadManVan

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Dec 20, 2009
3,217
3,341
Bc Canada
well what do YOU like best? You have to pay for it, you have to live with it once this thread falls into the void.

I'm typing this on a silver MBP that's 13 yrs old, the edges have some wear and that's about it. Much like cars with darker paint they will be more susceptible to micro scratches. That's obvious.

What would I get? Silver or Starlight!
I love midnight best, but I have a feeling I won't like it near as much if it starts to wear easily. Im very careful with my devices, but both my iPhone and iPad live in cases, where this won't be in a case but it is stored in a sleeve at all times when not in use.
 

Alpha Centauri

macrumors 65816
Oct 13, 2020
1,301
1,013
I love midnight best, but I have a feeling I won't like it near as much if it starts to wear easily. Im very careful with my devices, but both my iPhone and iPad live in cases, where this won't be in a case but it is stored in a sleeve at all times when not in use.
Yer, mine's been globetrotting absolutely everywhere. Back then, I fitted the complete clear Zagg Shield Film, for 6 years just the upper/lower protection. It started eventually looking ratty on the edges but I no longer had the receipt for their life time warranty. Think that company no longer sells such film for laptops, it's a shame as it was quite tough and durable.

Perhaps that could be an option for you with a similar product and you just go with Midnight? Scuff on ports will just be one of those things.

Edit: Always loved the look of SG but I think 13 yrs on am convinced that Silver wears the least..or Starlight!
 

azentropy

macrumors 601
Jul 19, 2002
4,101
5,600
Surprise
I've bounced back and forth with Space Gray and Silver when there was the option for both for both my iPads and MacBooks, but when it comes down to it I do prefer the Silver. It just is a clean/brighter color.

I saw the Midnight in person for the first time the other day, wasn't impressed. Shows finger prints really easy and was darker than in pictures. While I don't like Starlight at all on the Watch mainly because it didn't match my bands, I do think it looks pretty good on the MBA M2.
 

1BadManVan

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Dec 20, 2009
3,217
3,341
Bc Canada
I've bounced back and forth with Space Gray and Silver when there was the option for both for both my iPads and MacBooks, but when it comes down to it I do prefer the Silver. It just is a clean/brighter color.

I saw the Midnight in person for the first time the other day, wasn't impressed. Shows finger prints really easy and was darker than in pictures. While I don't like Starlight at all on the Watch mainly because it didn't match my bands, I do think it looks pretty good on the MBA M2.
Appreciate the input, so far the fingerprints dont bother me. Its the fact tat it won't hide any marks or imperfections over time. Probably the only reason even noticed the uneven hinge on this thing lol
 

Mainsail

macrumors 68020
Sep 19, 2010
2,415
3,217
So, I have a 2020 MBA in SG that has two years of regular daily use. When I leave the house, I put it in a sleeve. Otherwise, no hard case or skin. Basically, it is pristine, but I tend to be careful with my devices. The only minor cosmetic wear is right around the entry to the USB-C ports from plugging and unplugging.

If I were to buy a new MBA, I would go with silver. I like the retro look. It reminds me of my first 2014 MBA, except no illuminated Apple Logo on the back. I loved that machine. Even in 2018, when people criticized the screen resolution and large bezels of that model, it was a real workhorse and a sweetheart of a computer.
 
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1BadManVan

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Dec 20, 2009
3,217
3,341
Bc Canada
So, I have a 2020 MBA in SG that has two years of regular daily use. When I leave the house, I put it in a sleeve. Otherwise, no hard case or skin. Basically, it is pristine, but I tend to be careful with my devices. The only minor cosmetic wear is right around the entry to the USB-C ports from plugging and unplugging.

If I were to buy a new MBA, I would go with silver. I like the retro look. It reminds me of my first 2014 MBA, except no illuminated Apple Logo on the back. I loved that machine. Even in 2018, when people criticized the screen resolution and large bezels of that model, it was a real workhorse and a sweetheart of a computer.
Definitely going to take a good look over the silver when I go in tomorrow. going to be hard to pull me away from this midnight finish. Another worry about this finish is ive seen people complain the space grey finish eventually wears out around the palm rest area. That won't age well on a finish this dark either

Oh the choices.. lol
 

DD88

Suspended
Jun 6, 2022
343
706
I have a Macbook Pro in Silver and it’s as stunningly sexual since the day I got it , silver may appear boring but it’s really not and holds up great, certainly better than “fingerprint midnight” and “I’ve just taken a slash on silver and called it midnight” colour options.
 

1BadManVan

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Dec 20, 2009
3,217
3,341
Bc Canada
I just hope my replacement has better Qc. This one has light bleed on the bottom left of screen, a mark in the finish on the top right of the keyboard deck and an uneven hinge gap between the left and right.
 

fcracer

macrumors regular
Jun 15, 2017
134
277
I have an appointment tomorrow to get my MacBook replaced because of a few quality control issues. Because im still within the return window, I also have the choice to swap colours. I currently have the midnight, while I love the colour when its new, the longevity has me a bit worried. Any of those in the same boat as me, how are you enjoying the silver colour? I usually get darker colour of everything, my iPad is space grey, my phone is space grey, my desk is black etc. So its a tough choice for me to move over to a light colour
For some reason, there aren’t many silver pictures online, so when I wrote a review of my silver M2, I took lots of pictures comparing it to space grey:


If this were my first MacBook, I’d get space grey. It always looks stunning. However, after five space grey MacBooks in a row, I went silver and I absolutely love the retro vibe!
 
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