2018 MacBook Pro pink screen

Has the Battery or Keyboard been replaced on this laptop at any time? If not, or if it has been a while, then you may be needing a Battery replacement soon, so that is another potential cost you should use to factor into your decision.

The 2018 model was discontinued May 2019, so this laptop will become "Vintage" sometime next year after May 2024. This laptop will be able to run the new macOS Sonoma which is to be released later this month.

Keep in mind this laptop uses a Butterfly keyboard mechanism which has a design/manufacturing defect and which also tends to have issues with just a tiny bit of dirt/crumbs/liquid which can jam the key mechanism. Personally I would put the money towards a new laptop just because of how often these butterfly keyboards have problems. While the design/manufacturing defect is less common with the 2018 model, it still exists. Plus like you discovered, the Display Assembly has an issue with the internal cable. I'm personally not real fond of the T2 security chip & Logic Board in the 2018 model....it isn't quite as bad as the 2019 model, but it concerns me. I really cannot say how the Apple Silicon Macs compare with their Logic Boards since I don't have as much experience with them yet.

I do know that I really like the feel of the keyboard on my MacBook Pro 14" M2 laptop....it is the best keyboard Apple has made in over ten years. It is really rare when I can compliment Apple these days. I also like having physical function keys back as well although I believe some of the 13" models may still have the Touchbar.

No matter which computer you use, make sure to always have frequent and regular backups since there are so many new ways to permanently lose access to your data on the 2018+ Macs which doesn't even involve hardware failures.

Lisaheather wrote:

Thanks so much for your reply. The battery and keyboard have not been replaced on this laptop. I’m not sure it’s worth it to try replacing the battery though.

Depends if you use the laptop on battery for hours or whether it is using the power adapter all the time.

I’ve had several issues with the keyboard but both times the issue seems to have gone away on its own. Apple said that if I pay for the $700 flat rate repair they could include looking at the keyboard at the same time and repairing if they found an issue.

Sounds like dirt & crumbs causing problems.

A flat tier pricing is when Apple or an AASP sends the laptop to an Apple mail-in repair depot for service where they will replace any parts which they find are defective. If they don't see a problem with a particular component when working on the laptop, then they won't replace that part. Sometimes it is hard enough to convince a tech you speak with in person to take the necessary time to investigate an intermittent issue....a tech you never even communicate with will most likely ignore the issue unless it occurs for them during normal evaluation & testing. Mail-in repairs can be a mixed bag...great if a lot of components need replaced since the price is capped, but there are also a few negatives as well.

If the Battery Condition shows "Service Recommended", then most likely Apple would replace the battery during the repair. The battery condition is much more likely to show "Service Recommended" when the battery charge is low (like 10% or less). The Apple Diagnostics are usually more likely to detect a battery issue at that point as well. It would be best if your tech could get see a "Service Recommended" condition or a failed MRI service diagnostic for the battery so you would be assured the battery would be replaced.

Remember with a mail-in repair which is what the tech is talking about will have a 90 day repair warranty for the whole laptop, so if you have any issues during that 90 days make sure to have them fix those issues (excludes accidental damage of course).

overall it doesn’t sound like this laptop is very good. Thanks for all the information. I hate being in this position 😞🙄

If the laptop has been working & performing well for you until now, then it may be fine to invest some money into it. I just wanted you to be aware of the potential costs like replacing the battery and realizing the keyboard can cause problems (seems you have experienced some key issues, but likely just due to dirt/crumbs getting jammed in the butterfly mechanism). If the same key has the same type of problem, then the likelihood of a hardware fault with the key increases (the defect can be intermittent at first & can sometimes mimic dirt getting jammed into the butterfly mechanism).

The age of the laptop & the high repair prices don't make this an easy decision especially when the laptop has those potential issues. I have the same issue when trying to decide to recommend repairs or reject them when our organization's Apple laptops have similar issues, but at least I am able to perform a better battery evaluation to know how close the battery may be to failing/wearing out (still guess work though especially since I don't always know how the user utilizes their laptops).

Check out the prices of a new laptop. You may find it is time to upgrade, or you may realize the new laptop is a bit pricey for now & the repair may be a better option.

Good luck with your decision.