Popping Sound, MBP 2016

Ohh..

COME ON Apple!!

This is truly unacceptable! I want to change my old MacBook Pro and I visited a retail shop (Greece) to check the 'issue' myself.

This is exactly what I experienced

craigdjm wrote:

Reproducible by applying pressure to the display, generally towards the bottom-middle. It will randomy make this sound throughout use and is defintely affected by thermal changes. Opening / closing / manipulating the display in any way usually produces the sound.

I can quite literally feel the bottom of the display casing move slightly in the "depth axis" when physically touching / manipulating it - so it shifts towards and away from "itself" (the outer layer of the display case shifts towards the inner (the actual display) and then away again, causing the sound in question.

I couldn't actually hear the sound, because there were noise in the store but I can feel the display moving towards the external (depth-axis) when pressing it. I'm not in position to confirm that thermal changes could reproduce the sound but I have no reason to not believe it.

I hesitate to make the purchase for a such an expensive laptop (€3049 for the basic 15'' Pro with TouchBar model) with these kind of issues. Furthermore the after sales support for Apple products in my country is ridiculous (no genius bar), so... it's a deal breaker for me.

I am on my third MacBook Pro Touch.

- Computer #1: 2016 MacBook Pro Touch 15 Space Gray/2.7GHz/16GB RAM/512GB SSD/Radeon Pro 455 with 2GB. Ordered online and picked up the next day 11/18/16 at the Apple Store.

Shortly after it was purchased keyboard issues started. Setup appointment with Genius Bar for 12/30/16 and they determined that the Logic Board was the issue. They refunded my money and fortunately for me had another one in stock, which I purchased.

- Computer #2 2016 MacBook Pro Touch 15 Space Gray/2.7GHz/16GB RAM/512GB SSD/Radeon Pro 455 with 2GB purchased 12/30/16.

Computer was fine and then after about 45 days I heard a faint "pop" noise. It was awhile before it happened again and then it became more frequent and louder.

I setup an appointment with the Genius Bar for 07/12/17. They could not replicate the noise but the log files gave them concern. It was suggested that it be sent back to Apple for further review. This is a work machine and I couldn't be without it for a week so we discussed a loaner, which would be $450.

I specifically held off on taking my machine in until the 2017 models were out and Apple Store had an upgraded model in stock while I was there so I purchased computer 3#, a 2017 MacBook Pro Touch 15 3.1GHz/16GB RAM/1TB SSD/Radeon Pro 560 with 4GB on 07/12/17.

On 07/25/17 had an appointment to take Computer #2 in to the Genus Bar for warranty return to Apple. The computer arrived back at my office about 3 days later. Apple replaced the Logic Board 2.7 GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7 Processor for "Kernal Panic/System Crashes" and the Display Assembly for "Mechanical/Physical Damages. Please note that there was no damage to the computer, not even a scratch on it. It looked as new. Also the display made NO noise what-so-ever when opening it or moving the computer around. I will note that the "pop" noise would occur no matter if it was on the desk or in my lap. It RARELY occurred when closed and connected to my LG 5K display (2nd GEN with issues corrected) using external keyboard and mouse.

I sold computer #2 at a $1,700.00 loss (!!!!) to someone locally on 08/29/17 after making sure that the "pop" noise wasn't back.

-#3 2017 MacBook Pro Touch 15 3.1GHz/16GB RAM/1TB SSD/Radeon Pro 560 with 4GB purchased on 07/12/17. The "pop" noise that occurred on computer #2 started on this computer in early September but was MUCH louder than it ever occurred on computer #2. It has yet to occur when the computer is closed and hooked up to my LG 5K display and external keyboard/mouse. On this machine it will happen less frequently when on a desk or solid surface when the display is open but VERY frequently when on your lap. It is EXPLOSIVE sounding! The sound occurs more so when the computer is under heavy loads from file manipulations; 1080p or 4k video playing; downloading large or multiple files or any combo of those. Heat issue, expansion and contraction maybe? There is no noise when opening or closing the display or if you move the computer with the display opened. This is an over $4k machine and this shouldn't be happening!

I don't trust this machine so it does a Time Machine & Carbon Copy Cloner backups to a NAS drive at home and another at my office. Additionally I do generational backups on external drives. I can't be without a computer as I make my money using one. So I'm going to buy a 2nd machine (iMac 27 5k) and send computer #3 back to Apple.

My first Apple computer was a late 2012 MacBook Pro Retina 15. Before that (since 1983) I had been a PC user. After I switched to Apple I learned that there is no difference between an Apple and a PC. Both have hardware failures; new software/updates to the OS never work right and both are nightmares. There is one major difference. A PC user admits and realizes the problems/issues and nightmares of upgrades/updates where as a Apple user will not admit that there are problems/issues; is the first to blindly upgrade; will say thank you for the problems and issues; will pay more money for the problems and issues and will wildly wait in line to be the first to purchase them.

I have the same

popping sound problem with my mac book pro 13inch that I purchased in 2018.

The sound is like a light bulb breaking. I can hear it even when I am emailing.

It has been several months already but I apple support isn’t doing anything.

I thought I was the only person with this problem...

I have a popping sound problem with my mac book pro 13inch that I purchased in 2018.

The sound is like an light bulb breaking. I can hear it even when the speaker volume is muted.

It has been several months already but I apple support isn’t giving a solution.

Hi!

I got my mac book pro 13 inch, (2017, 2 TBT3) in year 2018.

They said they have replaced two parts, the speaker and the display for free under the warranty.

However after I came back home believing the problem was solved, it was not true at all.

There is still the popping sound every time I use my mac.

I have waited months for a solution, and a refund if it cannot be fixed.

Nothing has been done.

I am disappointed for this mac and also for have waited time all these months without any resolution.

hi! The official answer that I have got today after months of waiting is:

it was designed this way! The 13 inch mac book that I have purchased is normal with the sound.

what kind of response is this?

I have contacted apple support and asked them if they read these forums and I did not get any answer. I would like to get a formal answer for the popping sound case.

I even use my mac for recording music and I record the popping sounds no matter what.

This is so stressful!

I share the same popping sound problem with other mac book users. I contacted apple care for this issue for months and even sent the recording file of the popping sound. However there has been no resolution!

I am hearing this occasional "pop" sound as well.

My machine is in perfect condition (no dents) and occasionally makes the pop noise too.

I could not put it better. I have precisely the same issue as you, top case replace as well as display replace and under cpu intensive tasks it creaks. I have only been a mac user since 2012. However, I did expect more from Apple this time given the fact that we pay almost double the price than our previous macbooks.

Sono stato oggi al Genius Bar ** Porte ** Roma, mi hanno detto che almeno qui in Italia la Apple non ha comunicato su quale componente del mbp intervenire, mi hanno detto che anche sostituendo il display il difetto non è sicuro che venga risolto, mi hanno consigliato ** attendere qualche comunicazione ufficiale ** Apple.....io ho comunque qualche dubbio.......

I had the same problem . Bought the computer from Bestbuy and sent it off twice through Geek Squad service center under manufacturer warranty. Both times they “adjusted the hinges and screen assembly” which only made the hinges extremely flimsy/loose and the original issued continued. After all that trouble I decided to do a mail in repair directly throug Apple. When I spoke to the Apple Care people on the phone it seemed like they didn’t have an option to list the popping noise issue and therefore they kept listing it as faulty speakers and or dead pixels. When it arrived at the repair depot my unit was placed in hold because they needed more information ( I’m guessing because of the lack of notes from the phone AppleCare reps). At this point i was frustrated because I had read in this thread where some Apple technicians couldn’t replicate the issue and would send the computer back to the owner without any repairs. I ended up talking to a senior advisor because I just couldn’t afford to be without my computer for long right at the time school started. I directed him to this threat and other articles, videos and such on the web so he could specifically note it for the techniacians at the repair depot to see what was going on with the computer. After a couple of days I received my unit back with a new screen assembly, hinges felt rigid and the popping noise was gone. So, if you decided to do this as a mail in repair, make sure the AppleCare reps takes specific notes as to what is going on, mention this threat and if the confirmation email has something totally different than what you explained, KINDLY ask to speak with senior adviser and make your case.

I think I should switch to another windows machine. At this price a lot of options.

Too depressed, after the warranty to the third time (4 times go to Apple Authorised Service Provider) and took nearly a month each time to carry the warranty.

No apologies, no additional support, no alternative laptop to work.

No representative of the company in my country.

The excuse for warranty refusal because not to find fault although described very well.

After all, I would sell iphone, ipad, **** macbook pro to switch to other vendors, stop writing software for appstore.

Now, still waiting for warranty...

First, bug popping sound, try to work without warranty

Next, the keyboard spacebar error, try to work without warranty

Next the touch screen flashes, trying to work without warranty

Then one day without charge, carry a warranty

After 3 weeks of warranty popping sound is still there

To another Apple Authorized Service Provider, they refuse the warranty due to warranty elsewhere. Went home in frustration.

Get back to the old Apple Authorized Service Provider, described, for a second warranty

After 3 days, they refused the warranty because they did not find fault. Had brought a machine and a certificate of no error home

Got a video clip of bug popping sound and brought back the warranty again ..

Wait for the third warranty ..

During the process of contacting online support several times, they once said that only software support does not solve the hardware problem. Too angry.

Also requested to replace the new machine many times but they do not agree

I can not believe the $ 3000 machine is full of errors.