Why are MacBooks seemingly bad now?

[Savage]

Disclaimer: This is not derogatory. This is a legitimate concern I have after doing my buying research.

Backstory: I got my first Apple computer around 2007, the white MacBook. I loved it. Since then, I have been back and forth with newer MacBooks and Windows computers. I go to Windows for the power of the hardware and then come back to Mac for the OS. I don’t like Windows.

I’m currently using a Razer Blade and it is a beautiful, powerful machine. The MacBook of Windows. Highly recommend them if you’re curious.

But once again, I’d really prefer to move back to Mac OS for my work.

I thought I’d get a MacBook since they just got updated. But after my research and video watching, that seems like a bad idea.

I run a website and edit basic YouTube videos, with some basic graphic design to complement the two.

I started at the MBA. Great price. But apparently it doesn’t handle multitasking or even basic video editing well. And those 100c temps! I’d prefer to not have it burn my legs or sound like an airplane unless I’m really pushing it. But people say that even 1080p YouTube watching or basic video editing does that.

Okay, so how about the new MPB? The 16” sounds powerful and free of most flaws. But it is pricey kind of large for what I actually need. I travel full-time.

New 13” MBP options? This is where I thought I would land. However, the base model apparently has the same issues as the MBA. The 10th gen model with the improved cooling... apparently does too? And neither sound like they perform as well as you’d hope from an expensive, and otherwise beautiful, Apple product.

I don’t believe everything I read as DO NOT BUY THEY SUCK, but I have noticed more YouTube videos than ever suggesting to avoid them. That just seems odd considering, at least to my knowledge, the MacBook has been a great machine aside from gaming (which I don’t do).

So, I want to want a MBP, but I can’t justify it now. Of course a lot of you will say your experiences have been perfect, but do you not agree a concerning amount have been negative?

Also, for the 2021 models that might be 14” and/or have Apple’s new chip: that sounds awesome. I would get one if they are what we hope. But I’m fine with getting an Intel one now to sell later (and eat the loss in money).

Finally, and this is just me being picky. It seems like having the MBA and MBP are redundant nowadays. The Air isn’t impressively small compared to the Pro now. And do they still have normal MacBooks? Even more redundancy if so.

Does anyone else think they should either have either only one MacBook name, or the Air and the Pro, but the two are significantly different again?

If you’re still reading, thanks!

 

[Mattyman]

The base MBP does not exhibit the same concerns you mention re MBA

 

[Savage]

The base MBP does not exhibit the same concerns you mention re MBA

I’m not saying it does or doesn’t because I haven’t used one.

But I have watched multiple videos and read multiple forum posts that says it does. And hearing that the base MBP will quickly get too hot to have on your legs during a medium workload sounds unintended. Could it be software related?

 

[bill-p]

So I got a new MacBook Air at one point. I don't think you can compare them. The new MBP is at worst equivalent to the 2018 model that I still have and let me tell you this: the MacBook Air 2020 is just exceptionally bad when it comes to thermals.

It's an outlier. The MBP 13" should be far better.

But going back to your other points: why is it that 1080p Youtube videos are enough to cause the computer to heat up?

It boils down simply to:

1. Apple is coming out with their own silicon to use in mobile devices. They want to sever the relationship with Intel. So these last few Intel chips are "whatever" to them. They will not go out of their ways to make the chips run well.

2. Apple historically butts heads with Google, who provides Youtube, Chrome, etc... and guess what? Chrome is highly unoptimized on a Mac. If you want a "normal" web browser, you have to use Safari. But even Safari has its own problems when it comes to unoptimized websites. The world condemned Flash, but now it's heading towards Angular, React, etc... which are even WORSE than Flash. (note: I was a Flash developer and now I work with Angular/React so yes, I know what I'm talking about)

3. Intel has been "lying" about their chip's capabilities for years now. Their CPUs are no longer as efficient as they claim. As a result, you see what you are seeing with the MacBook Air.

4. Oh, did I mention that the 2020 MacBook Air is the absolute worst MacBook I have ever owned in terms of thermals? It still is. The 13" MBP 2018 is much better, and the 16" MBP I have is a whole grade above the 13" MBP even.

5. If you are so bothered by temps, just use a plastic snap-on case and forget about the computer itself. It won't die from the excess heat. If it does, you can sue Apple.

 

[Savage]

So I got a new MacBook Air at one point. I don't think you can compare them. The new MBP is at worst equivalent to the 2018 model that I still have and let me tell you this: the MacBook Air 2020 is just exceptionally bad when it comes to thermals.

It's an outlier. The MBP 13" should be far better.

But going back to your other points: why is it that 1080p Youtube videos are enough to cause the computer to heat up?

It boils down simply to:

1. Apple is coming out with their own silicon to use in mobile devices. They want to sever the relationship with Intel. So these last few Intel chips are "whatever" to them. They will not go out of their ways to make the chips run well.

2. Apple historically butts heads with Google, who provides Youtube, Chrome, etc... and guess what? Chrome is highly unoptimized on a Mac. If you want a "normal" web browser, you have to use Safari. But even Safari has its own problems when it comes to unoptimized websites. The world condemned Flash, but now it's heading towards Angular, React, etc... which are even WORSE than Flash. (note: I was a Flash developer and now I work with Angular/React so yes, I know what I'm talking about)

3. Intel has been "lying" about their chip's capabilities for years now. Their CPUs are no longer as efficient as they claim. As a result, you see what you are seeing with the MacBook Air.

4. Oh, did I mention that the 2020 MacBook Air is the absolute worst MacBook I have ever owned in terms of thermals? It still is. The 13" MBP 2018 is much better, and the 16" MBP I have is a whole grade above the 13" MBP even.

5. If you are so bothered by temps, just use a plastic snap-on case and forget about the computer itself. It won't die from the excess heat. If it does, you can sue Apple.

Lol, this is good info and I like the saltiness.

Great point about the case. I wouldn’t normally use one but that sounds like a decent workaround.

 

[mca19]

I've had sound issues (crackling, popping sound) when listening to music in a 2019 MB Air and 2019 MBP.
While I don't have an actual answer as to WHY this occurs, I can definitely confirm that I have seen this brand's quality deteriorate lately and prices rise.

 

[sundialsoft]

I bought the 2020 MBA i5. It's a very nice laptop. I'm a hobbyist Apple developer using Xcode, graphic packages plus the usual YouTube and general surfing. I do a lot with photos.

Does not overheat in normal daily use. There are at least a dozen videos with benchmarks 'going up to 100 degrees' blah blah blah. There are about 100 posts from people who do not own the MBA going on about 'thermals' and people being convinced to open up their devices to add extra cooling. The whole thing is a storm in a tea cup.

 

[jakeuten]

I had a 2020 MBA i5 and exchanged it for the i5 10th gen MBP after about 10 days. That thing ran HOT. My MBP is now idling at anywhere from 45-60 degrees, whereas the MBA would go anywhere from 65-85 degrees while doing the same things (safari, some mild video editing).

 

[AxiomaticRubric]

I’m not saying it does or doesn’t because I haven’t used one.

But I have watched multiple videos and read multiple forum posts that says it does. And hearing that the base MBP will quickly get too hot to have on your legs during a medium workload sounds unintended. Could it be software related?

It's the design and placement of the fan vents. If the side vents are covered by your legs when the MacBook Pro is on your lap, it can get hot. There are ways around this. Alluminum lap stands like those offered by Rain Designs, etc. keep the vents uncovered and also draw away heat.

 

[537635]

Maybe a different perspective:

I've been using the basic Air 2019 (8/128) since end of last year. I also have a 2018 15'' Pro at home. To be honest, I was pleasantly surprised, how good hardware/software combination Macbook Air actually is.
Vents do come up more often than in Pro but also dial down quickly. For example, editing HD 60p movie in FCPX doesn't put the system in overdrive. These claims that YT makes the laptop overheat... I cannot agree with that.
I could charge it just fine with iPhone 18W charger (!!!).

 

[Savage]

After further research I have pretty much concluded that a certified mint condition 2015 Pro could almost be considerably better than a 2020.

You get the ports and SD card slot, Retina display, no Touch Bar, respectable specs with upgradable storage, and potentially better temps.

I may go that route. Thanks for the advice, everyone.

 

[FilmIndustryGuy]

I bought a refurbished 16 inch base form Apple and I have 0 issues people mentioned. Also the touch bar people seem to hate is great if you customize it to your liking. I prefer it as it makes my work snappier in certain situations. I use another monitor with the Mac and tapping on the brightness button gives me sliders for both monitors (internal and external) instead of going into settings and changing this. When I do document work, I like the bar options for formatting. quick tap and words change instead of adjusting this in software dropdown menus. my only issue if I wish software gave you more custom options for Touch Bar. I also have the 12 inch MacBook and use that for on the go situations. People complain about so many things that dont affect me at all.

 

[jerryk]

Heat wise the more you ask of your CPU and/or GPU the more heat they generate and you have to dissipate that heat. That is just physics. That means either a bigger chassis with larger heat sinks like a gaming laptop, running fans faster, throttling back the CPU/GPU, using lower power CPU/GPUs, or often some balance of all of these. Each company makes these balance in the way that that they think best suits their market.

For me I am happy with Apple balance and own a 16" MBP and 13" 10th gen 2020 MBP. I have owned 15" MBPs since the 2012 model including the 2015 15" which is nice system. But I much prefer the 16" MBP. Also, the 2015 15" gets hot and noisy when push. Maybe more so that the 16".

 

[leman]

I started at the MBA. Great price. But apparently it doesn’t handle multitasking or even basic video editing well. And those 100c temps! I’d prefer to not have it burn my legs or sound like an airplane unless I’m really pushing it.

You are much more likely to have your legs burnt by a Razer Blade. The blade has a bottom-facing exhaust fans and will expel the hot air directly onto your legs. If you try to use it on the lap it is likely to quickly overheat. Also, because of its design it's bottom reaches higher temperatures than a MacBook Pro (based on tests from independent reviews). Mac laptops have their CPUs going up to 100C because Apple is utilizing the entire operational range of the components, they were always designed this way. The temperature of the MBP chassis instead is average to low.

If you are interested in getting a Mac, a 13" MBP would probably be a good fit for you. If you are not sure, you can always try and return it if it doesn't fulfill your expectations. Also, if you don't rely on specific legacy software and feel adventurous, you can wait until autumn when Apple releases their new ARM Mac laptops.

 

[dooyou]

With all the complaints, don't forget that millions of these devices are sold. Online or in forums, you quickly get the feeling that every Mac is junk. But of course the picture is heavily distorted.

 

[fendushi]

Sounds like you shouldn't buy a Mac if you have those thoughts. It will frustrate you and those thoughts will be validated for the first couple of weeks coming from Windows.

I know you have used Macs before, and so have I. A late 2009 white MacBook. I switched fully to Windows in 2014 and have not bought a Mac until recently. Once I adapted to it and worked out it's quirks, I am using the MacBook more than my Windows machines.

I had to the option to return it and have thought about it many times. I'm glad that I didn't. I still love my Windows machines though, just not using them as much for now.

 

[Kung gu]

I’m not saying it does or doesn’t because I haven’t used one.

But you have watched multiple videos and read multiple forum posts that says it does. And hearing that the base MBP will quickly get too hot to have on your legs during a medium workload sounds unintended. Could it be software related?

All laptops heat up, my 2016 Lenovo did the same. It too became hot on the lap, u do know that even other laptops exhibit the same results.

Do you want good thermals wait for ARM
[automerge]1593819475[/automerge]

Disclaimer: This is not derogatory. This is a legitimate concern I have after doing my buying research.

Backstory: I got my first Apple computer around 2007, the white MacBook. I loved it. Since then, I have been back and forth with newer MacBooks and Windows computers. I go to Windows for the power of the hardware and then come back to Mac for the OS. I don’t like Windows.

I’m currently using a Razer Blade and it is a beautiful, powerful machine. The MacBook of Windows. Highly recommend them if you’re curious.

But once again, I’d really prefer to move back to Mac OS for my work.

I thought I’d get a MacBook since they just got updated. But after my research and video watching, that seems like a bad idea.

I run a website and edit basic YouTube videos, with some basic graphic design to complement the two.

I started at the MBA. Great price. But apparently it doesn’t handle multitasking or even basic video editing well. And those 100c temps! I’d prefer to not have it burn my legs or sound like an airplane unless I’m really pushing it. But people say that even 1080p YouTube watching or basic video editing does that.

Okay, so how about the new MPB? The 16” sounds powerful and free of most flaws. But it is pricey kind of large for what I actually need. I travel full-time.

New 13” MBP options? This is where I thought I would land. However, the base model apparently has the same issues as the MBA. The 10th gen model with the improved cooling... apparently does too? And neither sound like they perform as well as you’d hope from an expensive, and otherwise beautiful, Apple product.

I don’t believe everything I read as DO NOT BUY THEY SUCK, but I have noticed more YouTube videos than ever suggesting to avoid them. That just seems odd considering, at least to my knowledge, the MacBook has been a great machine aside from gaming (which I don’t do).

So, I want to want a MBP, but I can’t justify it now. Of course a lot of you will say your experiences have been perfect, but do you not agree a concerning amount have been negative?

Also, for the 2021 models that might be 14” and/or have Apple’s new chip: that sounds awesome. I would get one if they are what we hope. But I’m fine with getting an Intel one now to sell later (and eat the loss in money).

Finally, and this is just me being picky. It seems like having the MBA and MBP are redundant nowadays. The Air isn’t impressively small compared to the Pro now. And do they still have normal MacBooks? Even more redundancy if so.

Does anyone else think they should either have either only one MacBook name, or the Air and the Pro, but the two are significantly different again?

If you’re still reading, thanks!

I have the 16” got it with student discount, a wonderful machine for me. Love the screen

 

[nick9191]

Apple ultimately designed themselves into a corner from 2015, they created a new design that was rolled out across their line and it wasn’t suitable for the chips Intel produced. This led to the shelving of their MacBook, something that they understood Intel would be able to provide chips for when they just couldn’t. They made the new MacBook Air to replace it, the laptop Apple never expected to make.

Meanwhile cooling issues plagued their sleek 15” making it about as fast as any PC notebook at a third of the cost due to throttling issues. They took the unprecedented step of making their pro bigger to try and combat this.

It’s not entirely Apple’s fault, they were designing laptops for CPUs they were promised that never arrived. Intel is still stuck on a 14nm process now.

Luckily we have the answer, Apple Silicon, the sooner the better.

 

[MacGizmo]

I'm of the opinion that the current line of MBPros are better than they've ever been. The 16" in particular is a powerful kit. As far as editing high-end video, it handles it easily. Is it hot on your lap? Yes, as is every other laptop I've ever come across when you're doing heavy-duty video editing.

If you want a powerful laptop with a large high-resolution screen, that remains cool on your lap when editing video, you're going to be limited to ultra bulky/heavy laptops with giant fans. Usually, these are gaming rigs that aren't necessarily made for working on your lap, just compact enough to take them to a gaming party.

 

[TraptedMind]

My 2019 13inch MBP has died on me twice. Apple told me that they needed to fix it three times before they replaced the whole unit. I honestly feel like they are trying to push it past the warranty.
I think Apple Silicon will mesh with Apple’s design better. Likely a lower failure rate in the MBP line.