Popping Sound, MBP 2016

Hi.

I wanted to share with you another bit of my story, seasoned with frustration.

As I wrote in some previous posts - or maybe I didn't. I don't remember - in February this year I decided to park my old Macbook Pro Mid 2009 and go for the new 2016 model. Soon I realised this popping sound wasn't something normal. So I took a video of the issue and talked to a Genius. He didn't know how to help me, of course, but that was fine.

Later on, I got in contact with an engineer from Cupertino. I described him the problem and we agreed to replace the machine. So three weeks ago, I shipped my Macbook Pro back to Apple and, at the moment, I'm still waiting for the new one.

As a freelance working around with his own computer, not having one could be a big headache. Luckily, my old, slow but diehard 2009 model was here to save my ***.

Then the WWDC17 happened and here's where all my frustration comes in. You know: buying a new Macbook; using it for a couple of months before realising it's a faulty product and then seeing they're introducing a new model right when you're still waiting (and paying) for the previous one.

Disheartened, I wrote back to the Apple engineer, asking him if there's any chance of receiving the 2017 version. I honestly don't think it will ever happen, but it's worth a try.

I'll keep you posted.

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Hi, i have the exact same problem , when i open my MacbookPro 15'' at 90 degrees , and i slightly press in the center and bottom of the back side of my screen then it makes a very annoying sound that almost reminds of a cheap plastic laptop of 300$ , when i bought it for 3300$.Furthermore it makes the same sound popping sound without touching the backside of the screen just like others...

The problem is that i live abroad (E.U) and i rarely come in US, so what do u propose me to do?

There is no way i let it go like that because i paid so much money for that.

Should i call them and ask for a refund?

I've got the same problem: until 3 months after I received my Macbook Pro 2016 everything worked fine, but then this weird cracking noise started to pop up and it got worse and worse ever since. Then I went to a Premium Apple Repair Shop and they replaced the entire display and even the keyboard, that was like 2 months ago. But guess what, the noise is starting to come again and it's so annoying it's unbelievable.

This is a video of mine before the parts were replaced:

Macbook Pro late 2016 cracking noise on push or pull - YouTube

I guess it won't take long until it starts making this noise again.

Hi JaviPrz,

I hope this is true and we can finally have a solution ... its so so annoying. I will call them too after work to see if they reply the same thing to me.

I'll post to confirm later your reply from them.

Kind Regards

If you are aware of lemon laws but don't know the details - do not try to repair yourself - or allow a non-authorized repair site to try and fix it -- that will void some lemon laws as apple would have the right of first repair.

Best bet is also to flood the report to apple site with requests for resolution.

Hi,

As mentioned earlier, I went to the store and I didnt get anywhere with it. Later, I was so annoyed I word with the APple Support guys over the phone and they told that currently, Apple are stating this as a cosmetic issue, which was not told to me by the guys from Genius Bar. So, I requested the transcript of the notes/email/chat exchanged between the Apple Engineers and Genius Bar Guy. Which I received today. As per the Apple, its still a cosmetic issue since they are not able to know the cause of the issue. Please find texts from the transcript

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It is very annoying and very careless and arrogant nature of the Apple, which ****** me oFF!!!

JaviPrz, did they say its a cosmetic issue in the machine?

An Apple Care employee and an APR employee both have identified this problem as a hardware fault. The APR guy thinks it has to do with the magnets somewhere within the casing.

The Apple Care employee called it a hardware fault that needs further inspection. I am in The Netherlands and made an appointment for Tuesday.

I will NOT let me tell it is cosmetic. Cosmetic damage is scuffs, scratches etc. Ticking hardware never is a good sign. My brother had an iPhone 6 when it was released. They identified the scratch on screen as ‘cosmatic damage’. My brother couldn’t feel the scratch. After two hours of bickering in the Apple Store, he spoke a manager. This manager decided to take a look with the microscope. He figured the scratch was under the display and thus never could have been cosmetic wear, but a production error.

After insisting for yet another 30 minutes he got his new replacement iPhone 6. Keep insisting. Ask for managers. And dare to escalate. I escalated some earlier keyboard errors with this particular model and got a new replacement model (that unfortunately is clicking, whilst my first model didn’t...)

Reminds me of the iPhone 7 Plus. The case was also creaking. After replacing the smartphone for four times, the problem was solved. It was not identified as cosmetic wear, thus I do not like to believe the creaking sound in the new MacBook is a cosmetic issue.

Ok everyone. I think I nailed this down and I hope Apple reads this. I have gone to the apple store several times since purchasing my MacBook in January. I wrote a few weeks ago that apple gave me got a brand new laptop instead of sending my old one out for repair which was awesome! However, the new one had dead pixels so they replaced the screen on it. I had no issues with it and still don't however I believe I know where the sound is originating. People have talked about the hinge as the issue and it definitely is. I moved my laptop on my desk while open which cause the screen/lid to move or wobble if you will, upon its movement the popping noise happened. Now it wasn't nearly as loud as my first MacBook but it definitely was there. My assumption is that this will get louder and louder as time goes on and the heat from the exhaust warps whatever is in the hinge causing this sound. Apple please look into the hinge it is absolutely where the problem is.

When holding the screen back, pressing 3 cm above the hinges, straight under the Apple logo, I can reproduce this popping sound for 45 seconds. I can also reproduce this sound by running the 'yes command' for 30 minutes and then let the laptop cool down. It will pop all out of the sudden, without me even touching it.

I am sure it must be something with the display or the hinges. Also, when I shake my MBP, I hear a component in the casing shaking. It makes this sound: YouTube

FYI: I have NEVER dropped the MacBook. I treat it like a baby. This must be a faulty product.

It would be interesting to understand why it happens only to some MacBooks, if it is indeed a problem with the hinge and heat (which I agree is very probable). As widespread as the issue seems from this forum, do you think it is still affecting a relatively small number of people with MacBook Pros?

Also, it could be just a misperception, but is it possible that the issue is more prevalent with customers outside the US? Personally, I had a 2016 MBP which I returned due to another issue (it did not show signs of the popping noise) and then waited to purchase the refresh that came with the WWDC. I guess I'm just concerned that this actually is a very widespread problem but that it goes underreported or unnoticed or just becomes evident after a certain amount of use. These are just thoughts of course.

I only noticed the popping sound 3 months after using my MacBook Pro 15" (I cannot guarantee that it didn't occur before). It became noticeable and recurrent after using a graphics intensive game, and from then on it does it every day (including the sound of a lose component inside).

— Does this occur for people who did not use graphics intensive apps?

— Does this only happen to computer that were built in a certain time window? (How can I be sure of my computer build date when compared to the buy date?)

— Is recurring popping always accompanied by loose component sound?

*sigh*

Hi John & Dennis de wit,

Is this noise/sensation you hear/feel happens while shaking the laptop along the axis of the hinge? I have also reported this issue and it was dismissed by at a very Genius person from Genius Bar saying, that it was the vibration felt from the taptic engine from trackpad and to prove this they took the laptop from the display, which only made that noise and not the one which didn't. I never understand how would that be? but this Genius person from Genius Bar said, you feel or hear the sound near/or from the screen because the screen is the thinnest part of the machine and vibrations are amplified. I told this guy, I am a mechanical engineer by profession and do study these vibrational forces, and when asked about why I really cannt feel anything near on the trackpad, which is the source of the vibration? He said it will only produce noise near the screen. I asked do you have screen and body separately to test it? He said, no! and I said I dont trust you. then he said, he cant help me anymore? What kind of fKing service do you provide?

I am very disappointed by the service, its very poor and very untrustworthy!

I am mad at the Apple and especially at the Guys from Genius Bar from St Davids Apple Store in Cardiff. They are useless and Apple please educate them or provide your customer with proper evidence rather than a story from the Apple Engineers. This is wrong!

I have had a look at the transcript and I will be reporting soon to the UK Consumer Rigths group along with the transcript and misleading information which was given to me at the time of collection.

And while I type this reply, I hear loud bang bing bang noise from the machine!!!

I will encourage other members of this group or forum to report to the Consumer Rights groups in their own respective country.

Hi Damo,

I pick up the laptop at both speaker grills and then just simply shake it. I hear and feel something is being lose at the very back of the laptop (like there where the Touch Bar is, but then on the backcover). I am very much not sure what exactly is shaking. I have no clue. If I didn't know better, I'd think it actually is the battery or so. I will have it judged by the Genius Bar in Amsterdams Apple Store.

Moreover, at least I am sure that it is not supposed to be like this. I have also shaken my brothers MBP (same model) and draw the conclusion my brothers model is not making this sound. It really feels and sounds like something is loose. Which is odd. So, I checked the rest of my MacBook. Per accident, I held my MacBook with my hand against the back of the screen while lifting the MacBook with my other hand. And I heard the very familiar pop. I am very much able to reproduce this sound on command now. All I have to do, is hold back my screen and then gently press the back of the screen. 3 cm above the hinges, at the middle (straight under the Apple logo). I am thinking that my display is not glued well enough to the casing and I am even scared of using my MacBook any longer. This sound reminds me of the iPhone 7 Plus, which has been swapped out 4 times.

This sound is not anything near the trackpad. I consider this argument as BS. Especially because my brothers MBP doesn't make this noise, and my previous MBP (same model) didn't either. If support in Amsterdam is going be like this, I am ready to ask for a manager. It would not be the first time finding myself or my family having an argument in the Store. I will be there on Tuesday. I will let you know.

Got a new MBP (512gb) exactly two weeks ago.

From the start on I noticed this "clicking". The comparison to a plastic bottle about sums things up. At first I thought it was the speakers but then I was able o replicate it by "LIGHTLY and ever so softly" pushing the bottom, middle part of the screen. It also makes this noise when opening the lid. The issue seems to be of mechanical nature.

The wierd thing is I have another MBP, similar model (216 Gb) and it doesn't have this issue.

The problem is progressing. Temperature is a factor, as soon as I fire up a VM or use the GPU the problem worsens. Not cool guys. Not acceptable for 3200€. I don't even feel like going to the AS just to have someone from customer service reset the SMC for me, send it in for 6 weeks to no avail.

dev_uRandom, i suggest you call apple immediately and ask for a refund seeing as you're only a day out of their refund/replacement policy. If you're not aware, Apple just announced the revised MBP on Monday and have already begun shipping them.