MacBook rattle - loose battery?

My lid is fine. It doesn't make any noises or squad at all. The computer is great. I was just worried that something was loose inside. But from what I can conclude based off of everyones posts, I guess this is just part of the construction.

Hello,

Did you ever figure this out? My brand new Macbook Pro 13 inch Retina does this exact same thing you describe. To be honest, the sound is very subtle and not very loud. I wouldn't have noticed it if I wasn't so OCD about my stuff. Is this worth getting checked out? Or is it "Normal" as the apple rep told you?

No way, it's certainly abnormal. This is not what Apple hope to deliver to you. If you're not satisfy with your product, don't settle down. Replace it or fix it. If everyone simply settle down due to fear of hassle, Apple's quality control will not improve, cause no one bringing up issues.

So I took mine to the apple store today and the apple genius said that this was normal and all MacBooks pros do this. He said there needs to be some wiggle room within the computer. I tried it out on some of the MacBooks in the store and to my disbelief... they all did this to some degree. Some felt like they were making a larger knocking noise then others, but they all did it. Long story short, I think it's normal.

Lol. Okay~ cause I can't think of anything can be shifting inside the stupidly thin Retina MacBook 12-inch after watching the design video from Apple and also iFixit tear down page and some tear down videos on YouTube. I can't seems to think of the cause is from the battery, since they're glued. Even though the glue melt, they're tightly packed and each cell has it's own compartment. I'll let you know how's mine gonna work. I think it's on its way since Apple sent me an email stated Return Completed.

yeah definitely let me know, If your new one doesn't make any noises I'm gonna tell them I want a new one lol

Ok, sure. I hope everyone's MacBook free of problem so we can enjoy using it all the time. By the way my Order Status now is Preparing To Ship, I think this week should be receiving it. Just try to check back this thread. Good day for you.

Me too, i experience this. There is some rattling noise inside when i shake it horizontally. I think it's normal. For the hinge sound, i had it too. I went to a apple service center and they changed my lcd screen and now the sound disappeared. For you guys who have the hinge sound, you can let apple service it(they would change the lcd).

Lanny, when you look at the photos in iFixit, you can see (eg step19), that the only thing that could have a little play is the trackpad...

This trackpad is not a very lightway item.

Lex

Hi, I just got my replacement unit of the 12-inch Space Grey MacBook Retina. It has the loosen part inside clanking left and right while tilting the machine (As you mentioned, it might be normal, since most display unit in the Apple Store having the loosen part) and the creaking sound is gone while opening the lid, but there's still a little creaking noise from closing it. Overall still acceptable for the moment. Now I clearly can tell you why there's the sound. That's from the flexi cables, which use to connect the display to the logic board. Wanna see the cables? Easy, just flip to the back of your MacBook and look at the gap near the hinge (Use a torch light if you can't see the cables). There'll be 4 pieces of flat black flexi cables. Those are the culprit. When the cables flex, it will produce the creaking noise. I read from the forum, someone's creaking noise gone after using it for awhile longer. The cables are still new I guess, so it is harder when flexing it. When my MacBook heat up a bit, the creaking noise will gone for awhile and back while cooled down. I guess it'll be fine after some usages. Will update you guys again since this is the 3rd day with this replacement unit.

I took my macbook pro 13 inch retina to the apple store today and the genius told me that it's not supposed to make that noise and that him and 4 other geniuses tried to figure out what it was and none of them knew or could figure it out. They said that it should have some movement which would be normal. but the knocking sound that was happening in mine and from what you're describing along with other users isn't supposed to happen. They did a full replacement and gave me a brand new macbook pro, packaged and everything. As soon as I opened it up i noticed my brand new one didn't make any knocking noise. It does have some movement to it though meaning I can feel a bit of movement inside but it definitely doesn't make the same noise it did before. I suggest you guys take your MacBooks back and try to get them replaced. I'm glad I did.

Great, be happy 🙂

Lex

Hi Jackalton,

When I first bought the rMB 12" (force touch), I accidentally noticed this same noise. After looking closely where the noise is coming from I deduced is it coming directly from the Retina Display panel of the computer.

The way you can test this for yourself is by lightly squeezing (pinching) the screen (interior and exterior) then, while still holding that, tilting the rMB left and right side - up and down (however which way came to find this noise).

You will find that the noise actually goes away. Then when you let go, it comes back.

I am not sure if this is a wide-spread factory defect or just how the rMB was built and put together and Apple not being aware of this internal design flaw.

At the end of the day, it's still a beautiful piece of equipment. Though, I do wish Apple would have caught this earlier on.

Video below is my last Mac which made cracking sound, I changed it. However my new (two weeks old) Mac starts same issue… 😟

https://vimeo.com/141317418

Hello all,

So just like all of you I experienced this same issue after just spending $2000 on a brand new Macbook Pro. Also just like you all I was super worried and freaking out once I discovered this weird, and not so pleasant "rattling" or "banging" side to side noise and feeling. So like any other person i took it into the genius bar and just like everyone else I received the same information about it being the new trackpad. I doubted it at first but after a thorough explanation from the guy there I have come to the conclusion that it is, in fact a normal thing and nothing to worry about.

Morale of this post is to save all of you who are frantically searching for answers someof your valuable time by not going to the Apple store and recieveing the same answer as I did. So please trust us and save your time... this is normal and thy wont fix it. Very disappointing for a $2000 laptop but what can you do...