2020 Macbook Pro overheating

Apple staff are definitely becoming aware of the overheating problem with the MacBook Pros. They explain that the new "performance driven" MacBook Pro 13 inch has a chip inside that uses a lot of power. The machine is also smaller and more compact than previous models and this also contributes to the overheating (at least the case is not made from plastic). It's possible Apple staff around the world have been instructed not to "openly admit" to the overheating problem and are careful when speaking with customers about the issue. It appears that they have a script when customers telephone them and which include questions about the fans making a noise and if one is using the device on a table or not - it's called a laptop for a reason. If staff start saying that the overheating is a problem then Apple may be required to issue a world-wide recall of the MacBook Pros. Maybe right now they are investigating how they can reduce the overheating problem, such as sourcing more durable and heat-resistant chips and returning to the design and build of larger size laptops.

Glad I found all this before I bought one. The Problems you guys are having are ridiculous. I haven't owned a Macbook Pro since 2016. The first time I ever owned a Mac was 2014. I liked it but eventually sold it because I wanted a touch screen Laptop. Later in 2016/2017 I bought another Macbook Pro and immediately returned it because I hated the Keyboard so much. So honestly I haven't even owned a Mac long enought to really learn the Mac OS. Well now I'm at a point where I really want to start using a Mac and learn the system along with a iPhone and Apple Watch... but now I'm not so Sure if this is a good time to be switching over. Also I only want the Macbook Pro 16. Don't want anything smaller than that. Are there any good Macbook Pro 16's out there ?

Ugh !!! I really want to purchase a Macbook Pro 16 but now I'm scared to. Like most of you in here have said about your problems... I don't want to purchase one and start having the overheating problems and then swap it out for another one and then have the same Overheating problems again.... or worse yet the 14 days Pass me by and then can't even swap it out and then be forced to have My Brand New Mac go to the repair shop. I guess this is a Bad time to be trying to come over to Apple.

I think the issues are mainly seen on the 13 inch 2020 higher end MacBook Pro’s. As they use a higher wattage CPU. This usually means the CPU will run hotter.

I think, it looks as though there are a lot of issues with overheating with this line of MacBook Pro’s. But you’re only seeing these problems when you come and read these forums.

The amount of people reporting overheating issues from this forum vs the total amount of macbooks that Apple have sold (haven’t reported any issues) is just a small fraction.

I’m planning on buying one next month, so despite reading about the issues, I will still risk buying one. I can always return it for a full refund within the 14 day period anyway if there are any issues.

You make a Point.... Also I'm not looking for the 13". I want the 16" But it still makes me nervous. Yea I know there's a 14 day return period but my Luck that will Pass before I start seeing any issues. haha just defining my type of luck there. I still may pull the trigger and purchase one. Just want to do a little more research.

i have bought a couple of laptop stands with fans. One lightweight for travelling and one with adjustable legs for when I am wanting to work on the sofa or in bed. They both work off USB leads. Laptop stays completely cool with no problems at all. Doesn’t fix the underlying problem, but does stop the effect.

When doing first setup on a Mac (laptops especially), especially while installing additional software (including apps from the Mac App Store), the fans will ramp up and the machine will be hot. Don't worry, that eventually dies down. It's a common phenomenon.

That said, your screenshot from that thermals app shows your machine as being a MacBookPro15,4 which is the MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, Two Thunderbolt Ports). Those models ran pretty warm in general. And their 2020 successors (using the exact same processors) are similar in this regard. So, some of that should be par for the course. But if it persists long after you've finished setting things up and on simple tasks (using Safari to check your e-mail, for instance), then I'd be concerned.

Though, your original post wasn't too long before the 2020 models came out. Hopefully you were at least able to exchange it for the 2020 equivalent (with its much nicer keyboard!).

I saw on YouTube, the fans were getting activated when cpu reaches to 70-80 degrees, they must have dropped the triggering value down with the new update where fans starts running before it is too hot and keeps the component cooler, people were using 3rd party softwares to manually start the fan running before it is too hot..they might fixed this within the kernel with the latest update.. That's why maybe after update you're getting better thermal control.. I am waiting them to fix this heating issue before getting a new mac and will be sticking to my macbook 12 m5 until then..

Which Macbook Pro did you buy. the 13" or the 16". Just wondering, because everything has me a little worried. I just purchased a 16" Macbook Pro from the Apple.com. Still waiting on it to be delivered. So now debating if I'm gonna even open it or not. Thought about returning it and just waiting ?

Are all the over heating issues coming from the 13" or the 16" ...Or Both ?

The 16" MacBook Pro has less thermal issues that the 2020 13" Pro as Apple has truly optimized that machine for performance and stability under load (relative to any other Mac laptop produced since 2015). If the concern is the Apple Silicon transition, then I'd only give thought to returning it if it's the 13" model and/or if none of the immediate drawbacks to leaving the world of Intel Macs (Boot Camp, emulation-free x86 Virtualization, and the decreased likelihood of some x86 Intel games that weren't culled by Calatina not making it over) would bother you. Otherwise, it is sensible to be on the later end of the transition than the earlier one.

I was thinking of buying the 13", but having read all the posts above I might wait until the Apple Silicon MacBooks come out next year. I could live with the risk of having to replace a MacBook Pro in four or five years due to obsolescence, but if this heat issue is not resolved, that would be a deal-breaker for me.

PS: I wonder if this is a case of the design and cooling systems of the smaller MBPs being insufficient to cope with high end Intel CPUs?

Perhaps the more power efficient Apple Silicon ARM processors will resolve this issue.

Apple said that it would be out in the fall. The earliest would be mid-September. The latest would be late October. Past that, it's anyone's guess.

The last time there was a massive top-to-bottom visual redesign of macOS (OS X Yosemite [10.10.x] in 2014), the OS was released in October. They may need additional time to rework that redesign. Unlike that redesign, this one also has massive under-the-hood changes coming as well (which justify this being macOS 11.0 instead of another release of 10.x), so it may be later in that range than it has been in recent years.

I would follow the news surrounding the developer and public betas (MacRumors, 9to5Mac, and AppleInsider are all good sources of Mac news and rumors) to get a clearer idea of how close Apple is to release. But, suffice it to say that when it comes out, you'll definitely see it available for upgrade either in the Mac App Store (if on macOS High Sierra or earlier) or via Software Update in System Preferences (if on macOS Mojave or MacOS Catalina).

If on Mojave and newer, once Software Update in System Preferences gets wind of Big Sur being available, you'll see a "1" badge on the System Preferences icon until you upgrade to Big Sur (as those on Mojave with the latest security updates currently see for Catalina).

Thanks, I look forward to the release.

I guess what I need to know now is:

1) Are a significant amount of MBP and MBA machines actually overheating as opposed to getting normally hot from activity?

2) Is the cause really due to the hardware? (some people didn't realize their machines were just indexing, or had OS issues)

3) If it is a hardware problem, is this due to Intel chips becoming ever more powerful but failing to meet the power efficiency requirements of super slim MacBooks, resulting in the overheating and excess fan activity some complain about?

4) Would Apple Silicon/ARM chips, which some reports suggest will be more power efficient, remedy any such issue with overheating and fan noise?

1) The heat you get is “normal”. My guess is that if someone complained to customer relations and customer relations escalated it to engineering, engineering would say it was within spec. The MacBook Air’s Y-Series processors are the modern equivalent of the Intel Atom processors formerly seen on the Netbooks of old; they are not particularly powerful and should only be used for the simplest computing use cases. Apple’s fan would be adequate if it were connected via a heat pipe to the CPU’s heat sink. My guess is that they assumed it would be fine. As for the 2020 two-port 13” Pro, the cooling situation is similar to how it has always been on that machine and similar to its 2019 predecessor (which used the exact same processor options, RAM, and storage). It gets warmer than desired, but it’s no change from 2019 and Apple would probably deem its behavior to be within spec. They did give the 2020 Four-Port 13” an extra fan over its 2019 predecessor, but it’s still not prioritizing a cooler running system over a quiet one in the way that the 16” MacBook Pro does.

2) For the MacBook Air, I’m inclined to say yes. Was helping someone out in another thread who was having issues with the stock Chess app and her 2020 MacBook Air. I know that app is CPU intensive, but a single running instance of it shouldn’t be THAT taxing to any modern Mac. The 2018-2020 dual-core Airs are underpowered, and all 2020 Airs are not cooled enough for a typical load.

3) For the MacBook Pros, yes; Apple is designing their machines to be too thin to have the fans run quietly while still keeping the computers cool (this is better on the 16” MacBook Pro and the less better but still markedly improved on the Four-Port 2020 13” MacBook Pro). For the MacBook Airs, the problem is BOTH that the laptop’s design (both from thinness and provided CPU cooling standpoints) is insufficient for the processor AND that the CPU is pretty weak. Again, the 2018-2020 MacBook Air’s CPUs are effectively the modern day successor to the Intel Atom processors that once powered Netbooks.

4) In theory, yes, Apple Silicon SoCs can CURRENTLY run a processor that beats out the performance of every MacBook Air (and 13” MacBook Pro) that ever has existed. They have such an SoC in the current iPad Pro models. So, yeah, a MacBook Air with the current cooling amenities and chassis could absolutely run faster and cooler and not have the issues we’re seeing with Intel’s 10th Gen Y-series CPUs.