Space Black Color Durability Issues

[FrankySavvy]

So I love the new Space Black, and I have owned the midnight blue air that suffered from being a finger print magnet and the color durability and wear being an issue especially around the USB ports.

I know that new space black color is anodized aluminum.

Anyone with any issues yet? How do we feel this color will hold up?

 

[ric22]

So I love the new Space Black, and I have owned the midnight blue air that suffered from being a finger print magnet and the color durability and wear being an issue especially around the USB ports.

I know that new space black color is anodized aluminum.

Anyone with any issues yet? How do we feel this color will hold up?

I haven't seen anodised aluminium laptops from other brands that don't lose colour on the sharp edges around USB ports...

 

[FrankySavvy]

I know the Midnight MacBook Air wasn't anodized and was sensitive to it. Wasn't sure if the Space Black would hold up better.

 

[maka344]

Time will tell.

 

[Technerd108]

I know the Midnight MacBook Air wasn't anodized and was sensitive to it. Wasn't sure if the Space Black would hold up better.

The Midnight air is anodized aluminum.

Any anodized aluminum surface is just as susceptible to scratches as bare aluminum. It is not like a PVD coating or similar coatings that resist scratches.

The darker the color of anodization the more obvious wear to the finish to be.

There are different levels of quality to an anodized finish. But at the end of the day anodized aluminum is anodized aluminum.

If scratches and fingerprints really bother you get the silver color. It will look the best the longest. There is a reason that Apple used this color for so long.

But if you like black just get it. Enjoy it. Just baby it the best you can.

 

[7422736m]

I know the Midnight MacBook Air wasn't anodized and was sensitive to it. Wasn't sure if the Space Black would hold up better.

Every Macbook is anodized.
WHat the Space Black color has is an extra anodization layer to try to prevent fingerprints.
Non anodized aluminum is a shiny, very soft metal that woud get scratches and marks very easily.
Anodization is a chemical process that adds that "rough" look (if you use your iPhone with macro mode you'll see that the surface ihas a rough, etched surface), might add color and also strengthens the surface making it more durable.
That's why even the silver natural colored Macbooks if deeply scratched will show the shiny metal under that outer layer: that is the color of natural raw aluminum

 

[DHagan4755]

As nice as space black is there’s always the OG. Silver doesn’t show the wear as much as the darker finishes & is the safest best if you’re worried about durability.

 

[FrankySavvy]

So far there doesn't seem to be a scuff gate like there was with the midnight finish.

 

[maka344]

So far there doesn't seem to be a scuff gate like there was with the midnight finish.

Absolutely. Seems like they are coming out of the box with zero scratches unlike the Midnight. Hopefully, this is a good sign for durability. It’s a stunning colour and a much welcomed changed after constant space grey and silvers.

 

[FrankySavvy]

Just bumping this. I tried out a 16" MacBook Pro, just to see if I would like the bigger size. So far I am really liking the extra space but I noticed some paint chipping around the trackpad already right under the command key. Anyone else?

 

[Apple_Robert]

So far there doesn't seem to be a scuff gate like there was with the midnight finish.

There wasn't a scuff gate with the Midnight.

I haven't seen any problems with my 14."

 

[G&N]

Just bumping this. I tried out a 16" MacBook Pro, just to see if I would like the bigger size. So far I am really liking the extra space but I noticed some paint chipping around the trackpad already right under the command key. Anyone else?

And that is absolutely unacceptable. Well, I'll go for silver 16 this time around.

 

[decypher44]

Mine is pristine. Zero issues.

 

[bevsb2]

Mine is in perfect shape.

 

[Blowback]

Not kidding….really: go to Hobby shop and find closest color matching permanent magic marker you can. For touch ups when necessary.

 

[bushman4]

Durability………Only time will tell
There’s no way to know as Apple never had a Space Black Mac book
Before. While Apple is quality in what it does these Mac book pros take a lot of wear and tear so the answer may vary by user

 

[maka344]

Just bumping this. I tried out a 16" MacBook Pro, just to see if I would like the bigger size. So far I am really liking the extra space but I noticed some paint chipping around the trackpad already right under the command key. Anyone else?

Sorry to see that, mines perfect. I'd look for an exchange on that!

 

[loopi77]

Just bumping this. I tried out a 16" MacBook Pro, just to see if I would like the bigger size. So far I am really liking the extra space but I noticed some paint chipping around the trackpad already right under the command key. Anyone else?

this is how my space gray 2019 16" looks like on the ports from those metal plugs, but around the trackpad normally no metal or hard object should have contact. this looks like manufacturing fault, I would not accept and return, since this can’t be unseen and clearly doesn’t match the quality you can and will expect for such expensive machines, especially when the special manufacturing process and the purpose of that is so emphasized. no worries, the nice people at apple will replace it without problems.

 

[Mavrack]

Posted this in another thread, but I thought it would be relevant here too. Love the colour, but I’ve had issues with my models coming with scuffs or marks.

First one had a inch long scratch, second one had the following scuffs:

Third one had the following (smaller) scuff and has a dead pixel, going to try and exchange it later this week:

 

[Adam Henry]

my sb 14 is pristine. the only issue i could see is eventual scratches around the magsafe port which got me thinking does anyone make say a rubber or soft plastic connector that can be put into the port and then the power cable plugging into that? on mine the magnet in the port if very strong this time.

 

[richard371]

I doubt it will catch any more it less the the SG. If you had the SG before and scratched it a lot I'm sure the SB will be the same.

 

[FrankySavvy]

My 14" Space Black is perfect. The 16" just has that one scratch around the trackpad, which if I decide to go with the 16" I will exchange. Wondering about port wear though. I just can't get over how good looking the Space Black is and I am normally a Silver over Space Gray guy. I also went with the base M3 Max which will future proof for several years. Now just deciding on 14" vs 16".

 

[Mavrack]

Not having any luck here ladies and gents. 4th one in a row with scuffs straight out of the box…

 

[G&N]

Not having any luck here ladies and gents. 4th one in a row with scuffs straight out of the box…

View attachment 2312840

Just hold off on purchasing the new model for a week or two, and let the "old" stock depleted, then you should have better luck getting a "perfect" unit.

 

[JackNL]

Just hold off on purchasing the new model for a week or two, and let the "old" stock depleted, then you should have better luck getting a "perfect" unit.

The only thing is... how long will it have that 'perfect' look?

I planned to buy a 16" Space Black because it looks a bit more compact than the Silver model. However reading this thread convinced me to stay in the Silver camp