MacBook Pro M3 Lid Difficult to Open with One Finger - Is This Normal?

kushan_manahara wrote:

Hello everyone,

I recently got a MacBook Pro M3, and I’ve noticed that the lid is a bit hard to open. I’ve heard that with MacBooks, especially the newer models, it’s possible to open the lid with just one finger.

However, this isn’t the case with my device opening it requires a bit more force, and I can’t seem to open it smoothly with one finger.

Is this a normal experience for the MacBook Pro M3 model? Should I be concerned about this and take any specific steps to fix it, or is this within the expected design?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

I checked with my work Mac laptop, a MacBook Pro M3 16-inch model. The lid opens easily with one finger. You may want to take yours to an Apple Store so they can verify that yours is working the way it should.

That said, I think I would prefer that the lid hinge be "too stiff" rather than "not stiff enough." When it is stiff, the screen stays where you leave it, but we have some older Mac laptops (one is a 2010 MacBook Air and the other is a 2013 MacBook Air) and over the years the lid hinge has become "too easy" and when left partially open it sometimes starts to close on its own. [Of course I suppose I should be grateful that a 2010 or 2013 MacBook Air even still works at all.]

And addressing your question specifically, while I haven't had access to an M3 MacBook, my experience with previous models is that being able to open the screen easily with one finger is rare. Not unheard of, but rare. Apple has to balance out the ease of opening with preventing the screen from moving on its own, so they probably tend to the latter which would be much less desirable. The hinges on your screen may loosen a bit over time and make opening the screen a bit easier.

Regards.

kushan_manahara wrote:

Hello everyone,

I recently got a MacBook Pro M3, and I’ve noticed that the lid is a bit hard to open.

I’ve heard that with MacBooks, especially the newer models, it’s possible to open the lid with just one finger.

However, this isn’t the case with my device opening it requires a bit more force, and I can’t seem to open it smoothly with one finger.

Use more than one finger...

Apple is all about marketing, if it does meet your expectations return it.

Personally I see no issue and would not be concerned.

you have a limited 14 days for an exchange or refund for any reason—see Returns & Refunds Order status

Only items that have been purchased directly from Apple, either online or at an Apple Retail Store

Returns & Refunds - Shopping Help - Apple

Your 90 days of complimentary telephone support begins on the date of purchase.

Call Customer Support (800) MY–APPLE (800–692–7753)

That 14-day return/exchange policy only applies in countries where you can buy DIRECT from Apple

You can submit your Apple Feedback here: Product Feedback - Apple

Contact the corporate office Contact - How to Contact Us - Apple