Popping Sound, MBP 2016

Update: Apple Store replaced my late-2016 MBPtb 15'' 2.7Ghz, 512GB, Radeon 455 w/ popping issue... Repaired it twice, first they replaced the top case then they did something w the hinge and replaced fan / antenna assembly. Popping continued. Last weekend got annoyed and took it back to the Apple Store w a Genius Bar appointment. I explained the situation. They understood, but wanted to send it out for a third repair before they'd agree to swap. I got to the manager; a real nice guy. I remembered to maintain composure, was very polite and made my case. There's some paperwork, time and effort involved in an 'exchange' (there's an internal term for a swap, but I forgot)... point is, they have to be motivated to help you. Manager's can make the call, but I had already been through an ordeal w repairs and it still took some effort to get it done. That said, I received a 2017 MBPtb 15'' 2.9Ghz, 512GB, Radeon 560 as a replacement... it's beefier and a more expensive model, but it sits in the same spot of the line-up, so I lucked out there... more importantly, no popping!! This experience ultimately left me feeling pretty good about Apple. I got a defective product and they ultimately did the right thing.

Hey guys

I've had this issue on my MacBook Pro 2016 15" with touchbar flagship model, and I've noticed this issue right after the first month and it is pretty **** loud.

I got in contact with a senior advisor and explained the issue to him. At first he recommended Genius Bar, but after all of these replies to the issue I highly doubt that will be useful so I said I want a refund and I explained to him that I'm a student at UW and the sound really annoys my professor. The advisor filed a report for me and an hour later I got my full refund. And that was the 3rd month that I've used this machine.

I do think the 2017 model has fixed the issue since there are very few reports. Guys so if this really annoys you just go to an advisor and ask them nicely and explain your situation - it will work.

Steve, in Seattle

I would like to second this. I can't second getting a refund but I do second that if you are having issues with your MBP to let Apple know. Be organized. Be prepared to describe and possily demonstrate the issue you are having.

My customer service experience started off on rough waters but there are Apple employees out there working to calm waters.

From what I have seen Apple is going great lengths to not only address the issue but take care of customers who are experiencing them. You may have to ask for a number for a higher level of customer service or relations and explain your situation a few times. Be patient. IMO, Apple is collecting the data and working on making things better. That's my $0.02.

BIG TIME UPDATE: I sent my 2016 MBP in on Monday (8/7) and received back today (8/9), 48 hours after dropping it off. That was fast service and made me a very happy customer.

As mentioned above, I had the popping noise and a failing right speaker.

Here's the deal though...I didn't get back the MBP I sent in. My laptop had a distinct scuff on the lower left corner that couldn't be 'buffed' away. It was even documented when I dropped it off for repair. My most used keys (especially the spacebar) had slight dulling areas due to use (my MBP is/was 8 month old). And, my fingerprint ID was gone. Everything about the returned MBP looks brand new!!

The paperwork with my returned laptop mentions changing the display and fixing the speaker but nothing else.

And BEST of all, I've gone two hours without a pop and the right speaker works like new.

Is it possible they just slapped my flash drive and my upgraded graphics in a new computer? Is there a way to find out?

Anyway, I wasn't happy about having to send off my MBP for repair but getting it back so quickly without the pops (so far) and without a funky speaker is great. On top of all of that, the scuff that I agonized over is GONE.

Apple, you make me proud to own your product!!!

What does your paperwork say. If they replaced the top case that is the top of the bottom half of the laptop, including the battery. That would explain the 'new' hardware. You can even check your battery to see if it was replaced by downloading a battery app and checking the # of cycles or getting the power information in system information.

Either way, you are happy and your speaker and popping issue are resolved. Great service and a happy customer. That is what's important.

Bought my fully loaded 2016 MBP on 1-03-17, its been making the popping sound since day one, almost. Typically when its charging and especially under load of the LG 5k monitor. I had a small section of bad pixels at the lower left of the screen. Finally I made an appointment at the Pittsburgh/Shadyside store. Took it in on a Friday afternoon and they called the next Tuesday, four days. They replaced the screen which also is the lid of the unit. So far the sound is gone, usually its starts up pretty quick when I hook up the monitor, and also to a smaller degree when I open and close the laptop at times. Good luck, those bad pixels helped getting it through Apple repair with no questions, but it sure seems like the screen and associated hardware is the "popping" problem. My paperwork said Labor and replacement of Item # 605-01813 "Display Assembly Space Gray". Good luck out there, I know its frustrating, but I will say I don't think the pop was really hurting anything.

SoCalDawg.

Under: About This Mac/System Report/Power/, I found 'Cycle Count: 2

However, looking at the paperwork more closely I found this:

Items replaced;

Item 605-01813 Display Assembly Space Gray (symptom: built in audio device problem).

Item 605-02939 Top Case w/Battery (symptom: internal speaker - distorted audio/sound

Obviously, in my excitement of finding a pristine top case and eager to test for resolved issues, I skimmed over my paperwork.

I'm still concerned the popping my return (as it's done with other 'repaired' 2016 15" MBPs) but so far so good...

UPDATE: hello, as promised today i brought my 2016 15" macbook pro to the local apple store. The genius was very competent and polite. He immediately heard the noise produced by the lid during the opening, then i showed him a video i had recorded with pop sound during heavy load works.

After 2 minutes of conversation he said that the upper case and the display (they are glued together) would have been replaced up in 2/3 hours (659€ of bill, 0 with warranty of course). Back to home i stressed my notebook, booting it and then launch a heavy conversion of 2 4K video h265. For now no pop sound. The plastic and the lid look pretty solid and stable now. We will see in the future.

#1 customer care, in my case.

UPDATE:

Got my MacBook Pro 15 inch 2016 repaired from the Apple Store. They took quite a bit of time to get it fixed. But I can safely say that my popping noise has gone, its been 2 weeks after the repair. They replaced my top case & display. As I have noticed in these posts too, the issue is in the display. Replacing that will mostly sort out the issue. Hope this helps anyone who is getting it repaired.

Brought my popping 2016 MBP, 15", 2.7GHz, 16GB, Radeon 460 in to the local Apple store after having made an appt. Apple guy, Alex, said his laptop was exhibiting the same problem. He mentioned something about a display replacement, but that they'd do a diagnosis off-site and I should have it fixed and returned with 5 business days.

Hope it works! Will post results.

Glad I am not the only one experiencing this with my Late 2016 15" MacBook Pro with 512 SSD, and Radeon Pro 450. Will be back in town in January and will be able to visit a physical apple location to bring it in for a repair. Thank goodness I have AppleCare, otherwise that would have been too long to use my warranty.

BondFancy,

For those who don't have Apple Care, and who are beyond their warranty period, I would encourage them to talk to a manager (as many as needed) at the Genius Bar to have this problem resolved on Apple's dime. This is a known issue and should be covered under a 'recall' type of warranty.

I'm now on day four post repair and happy to report that the popping noise hasn't returned. However, if it does and it's beyond my 12-month warranty period, you can bet I will become very insistent that Apple cover the cost of repair...

Hope everything works out for you.

The popping sound on my laptop started around 3 months after it was bought, back in Nov-16. It was initially very sporadic but towards the end of June it was happening almost every time I used the laptop.

They sent it back after the first repair which of course didn't solve the issue. I took it back in and they said the motherboard / logic board needed replacement. A week later I got the machine back with the annoying popping sound still as loud and frequent as before. The system was sent back in for the third time and after around a week of diagnosis, I've been told today that the top case + screen needs to be replaced.

I should have my machine back in around 4 days. Here's hoping I have the same luck as the other users who've had their laptop top cases replaced.

Will report if the problem is corrected.

I am facing the same issue. The same popping noise also occurs when I open the lid after 20-30 minutes of idle time. Took it to an Apple authorized service center twice as they were not convinced of the problem at my first visit. Now they have acknowledged the popping/tapping noise the laptop is making but refuse to make any repairs.

This is the response I have recieved "Found unusual Noise from display if opened after some time and Unusual tapping sound issue,Did SMC and PRAM reset,ran diagnostics test-Tests passed.Kept device under observation and tested with Multiple high end application-No tapping noise issues observed,Found Display noise if opened after some time.Which is normal in All devices.No issues found in device.ready for delivery"

They have mentioned that the noise coming from the display when opened after a prolonged time is "normal in All devices". I really do not know what to say to that, it is driving me insane and it gets more frustrating to collect my laptop back again without any repairs, all my efforts down the drain!!!

Not sure what to do next... My laptop is a MacBook Pro 2016 with Touchbar, 15 inch 2.6 GhZ i7, 256GB SSD. The logic board was replaced a few weeks back, but that was due to the laptop not turning on. Not because of the popping noise issue.Replacing the logic board had no effect on the popping noise, the noise still remains the same.

Tired & frustrated!

Thank you Apple

Is the sound generated only when the lid is opened?

In my case, the sound was heard when the laptop was under load using programs that needed medium to heavy processing power, with the lid open. I did hear the ‘pop’ while opening the lid every now and then.

I could, with some success, recreate this sound by letting the laptop cool down, wake it from sleep and immediately load it with multiple RAM intensive programs.

My first experience with the Authorised Service center was quite similar to yours. At first they claimed that the issue did not exist. I had to go back there and recreate the sound (which is pretty random, to begin with). It did ‘pop’ eventually, and they agreed to take it in for repair. I had my logic board replaced and as stated earlier, the issue persisted. They even suggested changing the logic board for the second time, proving that they didn’t have a clue as to what was going on.

I escalated the issue with Apple Phone Support and got a single point contact / Senior Advisor associated to my issue. On the other hand, I insisted that the Authorized Service Center escalate the issue with the back-end hardware team as well. I have sent several videos of the problem to the senior advisors and the service center as well. This way they at least acknowledged that the issue exists !

I would suggest that you reopen the same case with Apple and speak to someone senior.

I’ve been without a laptop for over 2 weeks now, but it’s going to be worth the trouble if the issue is finally resolved.