Macbook Pro 13 inch 2020 back edge ventilation is blocked for two small slots on one side?

Question

Macbook Pro 13 inch 2020 back edge ventilation is blocked for two small slots on one side?

Bought new Macbook Pro 13 inch 2020 week ago, found the back edge on one side (see the picture), the ventilation slot is blocked, it looks like apple design it that way?

Simply put, on left side, there's 6 slots, but only 4 of them you can see through (if you use your phone light), 2 of them are blocked. On the right side, there's 6 slots, you can see through all of them (no slots are blocked).

Why? why apple make it different on the both sides? Why they make the slots but block it though? I'm so confused, is it a mistake they make just on this Macbook I bought or everyone has the same problem? Should I return it?

Great thanks!

MacBook Pro with Touch Bar

Posted on Sep 27, 2020 8:36 AM

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Answer 1

FoxFifth

Level 10

475,401 points

Sep 27, 2020 9:36 AM in response to BigMacNoPicklePlz

My 2020 13" is the same. I don't know why but given that it is the same as yours I would say it is normal.

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Answer 2

Sep 27, 2020 9:47 AM in response to FoxFifth

Thank you so much!! That's all I need, I thought they forgot to open the rest of the slots lol. I'm sorry I know it is dumb to think that way. But thank you so much, then i dont have to worry about it.

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Answer 3

Sep 27, 2020 9:55 AM in response to BigMacNoPicklePlz

It was not a stupid question. But I think only Apple would be able to answer. I assume they have a case template that is modified rather than redesigned from scratch but as a user I can only guess. Apple has the answer, but they may not provide it to users.

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Answer 4

Sep 27, 2020 9:48 AM in response to BobTheFisherman

Thank you for the reply, if others have the same then I wont worry about it. And sorry for bringing up stupid question like this. Thank you.

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Answer 5

Sep 27, 2020 10:09 AM in response to Chattanoogan

Haha, thank you so much.

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Answer 6

Sep 27, 2020 10:38 AM in response to Chattanoogan

chatanoogan--

Which MacBook pro model is yours, exactly?

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Answer 7

Sep 27, 2020 10:40 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

A2251, 4 TB PORTS, 16GB RAM, 512 SSD, 13 inch

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Answer 8

Sep 27, 2020 9:05 AM in response to BigMacNoPicklePlz

To understand this, one needs to look at the 15-in MacBook Pro. Ambient air enters through slots on the sides. It has two fans, each of which sends heated air out through one side of the rear opening.

On the 13-in model, there is no discrete graphics card or hot graphics RAM. so only one fan is needed, and the other side is not open, because nothing should enter or exit there.

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Answer 9

Sep 27, 2020 9:18 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

First, thank you very much for the reply.

But I think I bought 16 gb 512 ssd edition with 4 thunderbolt ports, remember it should have two fans.

Also, actually it is not like one side is not open, both sides are opened, just like in the picture, there are slots on the both sides. but one side it has 6 slots, the other side also has 6 holes but there are only 4 slots (2 of those small holes are blocked).

Or let me use symbols to state it more clear:

if below is the 2020 macbook pro back edge, the squares represent ventilation slots. On left side, 2 of them are blocked as the dark squares show.

Left Right

▮▮▯▯▯▯ ▯▯▯▯▯▯

Sorry I'm just confused why apple design it like this, open the slots and then block it.

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Answer 10

Sep 27, 2020 9:45 AM in response to BigMacNoPicklePlz

BigMacNoPicklePlz wrote:

Sorry I'm just confused why apple design it like this, open the slots and then block it.

Ask Apple if it is of such concern to you:

Contact - How to Contact Us - Apple

Or, if you want to provide feedback about the design you can do so here:

Product Feedback - Apple

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Answer 11

FoxFifth

Level 10

475,401 points

Sep 27, 2020 9:50 AM in response to BigMacNoPicklePlz

BigMacNoPicklePlz wrote:

Thank you so much!! That's all I need, I thought they forgot to open the rest of the slots lol. I'm sorry I know it is dumb to think that way. But thank you so much, then i dont have to worry about it.

Not dumb -- I can see getting an idea like that.

You were looking much more closely than I ever have.

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Answer 12

Sep 27, 2020 10:05 AM in response to BigMacNoPicklePlz

Interesting observation, I suspect it's simply a "fingerprint" of interchangeable parts.

Any manufacturer ... Apple included ... uses interchangeable parts and tooling.

Efficiency dictates minimizing the quantity of both to the largest extent possible.

When designing your specific body ... it might have been more efficient to reuse already existing tooling for the slots.

Or, the "blocked" slots might also be needed for "other" hardware options which simply aren't installed in your computer.

That said, I'd never examined my own MBP slots ... now I have. (8 "left", 8 "right," all 16 visually "clear")

Cheers.

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Answer 13

Sep 27, 2020 10:56 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

For my 8+8 "vent slot"

2017 MBP w/ "Touch Bar"

Model A1707

15" Display

16 GB RAM

2 TB SSD

Intel HD Graphics 630 w/ 1536 MB

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Answer 14

Sep 27, 2020 11:00 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

FWIW it's "undocumented" spec:

It also doubles as a small "space heater" while driving it's two (2) 5K LG external displays.

LOL

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