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13" New Air with a Loose Screen

I have a brand new 13" air that moves on its own past 100 degrees of tilt. This is very annoying and the machine is two weeks old. Does anyone else have a new 13" Air with a loose screen? Is this a repairable problem?

Posted on Dec 1, 2013 3:50 PM

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3 replies

Dec 1, 2013 3:59 PM in response to Jim B C63


Is it in your lap when it moves? If so then normal


moves on its own on a flat solid surface? not normal


As per Apple.com, the video above doesnt fall within this parameter:

Learn what you can do if you experience one or more of these issues with the hinges on your MacBook Air.

  • Unable to close lid completely.
  • Broken or cracked plastic near one or both of the hinges.
  • More than one inch (2.54cm) of free play while opening or closing the lid.
  • Lid falls freely into closed position from a 30-degree open position. (From a closed position, open the lid approximately 30 degrees and let go.)

END from Apple.com



The hinge in the macbook AIR hinge, a friction hinge.

Due to the thin nature of the LCD backlit LED monitor on the Air, you would NOT WANT a very tight hinge.


Why? Excessive hinge resistance would cause the screen to BOW (and possibly crack), especially on a longer fulcrum from the hinge in the case of the 13" screen...... Ergo it is designed logically to be “looser than” a traditional macbook Pro's hinges for a very good reason.


Friction Hinge: A device with torque between two parts on a common axis.


A friction hinge is also commonly known as a:
Constant Torque Hinge, Position Hinge, Clutch, Torque Hinge, or Detent Hinge.


Common Applications include:
Laptop computers; lids, doors and enclosures; positioning device for controls, monitors, arms, seat rests




Contact Apple for in shop diagnostic 😊



Ive owned 3 Airs, some of the friction hinges are a hair tighter than others, but nearly all (never seen one that wouldnt) WILL IF you lift them up when at a 90 degree angle, ....if you lift up quickly, or tilt it back a bit,...the screen will flop open.


Friction hinge in the AIR see pic below (there are NO SPRINGS in these kind of hinges)


User uploaded file

Dec 1, 2013 3:59 PM in response to PlotinusVeritas

This notebook replaced an old 13" Air. I still have the old machine. This new machine is much looser and falls back on its own just a few degrees past 90. I sit them next to each other and the new machine exibits much less friction than the older air with 3 years of use on the machine. This is just after a week of use. If i didnt have a three year old air to compare this to, I would be inclined to just "live with it". However, is the friction hinge loosens up at all, it will not hold a position at all. I can not tilt the machine backwards at all, the screen falls back. It also closes itself just after slowly pulling it forard from 90 degrees.

Dec 1, 2013 4:04 PM in response to Jim B C63

You have a 14 day return, and free 1 year service


IF on a flat surface "just past 90 degrees" it "falls on its own" that is ABnormal



Contact Apple for likely exchange.......or if after 14 days,...service



however there is no comparing any 2 Air, the friction hinges are often a hair diff. from Air to Air (just a very little bit)



But yes, that would be ABnormal.




IF you are LIFTING your Air up and claiming that the monitor will flop open at or past 90 degrees. Normal.

or the same if youre using on your lap, couch etc



differentiate WHERE/HOW it is opening up at, on a flat surface, then its ABnormal. 😊

13" New Air with a Loose Screen

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