Level 1

26 points

Macbook Pro 2018 overheating, and other strange problems

Hello Apple support community, I am a long time Apple admirer but I'm so unhappy with my latest purchase. I bought my MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2018, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports) about a month ago. Since then, I noticed that this notebook feels more like a trashy Windows computer with lots of problems, unlike a real mac like my old Macbook Air. That one used to work perfectly. I am extremely unhappy with my purchase and also want to let every Apple fan know that this laptop is faulty.

So the biggest issue with this computer is that even under very light load, it overheats. Like the palm rests become uncomfortable because they are too hot, and don't even get me started how it feels if I use it on my lap. I literally have to wipe the computer every 10 minutes because of the sweat caused by hot palm rests. I got the same issue with the first Macbook Pro 2018 I bought, I then got it replaced, but there is no difference at all. Before touching on every issue, let me show you some proof that this computer's cooling system is not working properly. Writing this post, I am very uncomfortable because of the heat on my legs.

Here's what Apple says about the heat. It will surely decrease the life of my computer:

I am also really disappointed by the bad battery life of this laptop compared to my 2015 macbook air. Here's a picture of the battery life under normal load: (I think it is so bad because of the heat problem)

Here's the battery life when the computer is cold:

For the heat issue, I took different screenshots in different scenarios and have a label for each photo, describing what it is about. I screenshotted the fan speeds, cpu temperatures and the computer load everytime I noticed unusual things.

Here the computer is really really hot:

This is a screenshot when the palm rest felt really hot:

This is when computer is kind of under some load, but doesnt feel so hot:

This is when computer was really hot but fans were not working:

This is when it was hot and fans running slowly:

Fans running fast while not hot:

A screenshot when everything feels totally normal, computer doesnt feel hot:

https://pasteboard.co/HDURYKP.png

This is when the bottom of the computer felt extremely hot:

https://pasteboard.co/HDURF8nf.png

This is when the temperatures look cool but the bottom of the laptop is burning:

https://pasteboard.co/HDUR8NH.png

When laptop was cool but fans running crazy:

https://pasteboard.co/HDUQP0c.png

When my hands are really hot because of the burning palm rest:

https://pasteboard.co/HDUQCic.png

When laptop is burning yet no fan working:

https://pasteboard.co/HDUQsY4.png

Here are some other problems occurred you would not expect from a real Apple notebook(These kind of -windows computer- style issues never happened to my 3-year-old MacBook Air):

- Airdrop doesnt work when connected to VPN. I've tested this and I'm sure that VPN connection blocks Airdrop usage between my macbook and iPhone X

macbook pro 2018 sound got stuck in the middle of the song - had to force restart the computer - YouTube

macbook pro 2018 screen gone - had to force restart the computer - YouTube

macbook pro 2018 won't turn on after crashed - YouTube

macbook pro wont sleep - YouTube

I am hoping to get support here because trying to get support through live chat and phone support, but they just kept asking for hardware test and stuff, and hardware tests didn't show any issues. I contacted Apple through feedback also, noting everything, but they did not respond. I need real Apple engineers to notice my report of strange problems and acknowledge them. This laptop disgraces Apple's quality. The overheating is absolutely not normal for this laptop. This laptop gets hot even if you only have safari open with 2 tabs

macOS High Sierra (10.13.6)

Posted on Sep 14, 2018 4:23 PM

89 replies

TomEmail

Level 1

8 points

Apr 11, 2019 8:01 AM in response to DPJ

DPJ the initial question in this Discussion is titled "MacBook Pro 2018 overheating, and other strange problems"

right at the top of the page.

mc_mc

Level 1

8 points

May 11, 2019 2:28 PM in response to fsjay

Hi.

Is it fixed now with the new software?

May 12, 2019 8:41 AM in response to denigada

I am having the same problem. Apple should be doing a product recall before some kind of explosion take place. Shame on Apple !

mc_mc

Level 1

8 points

May 13, 2019 5:06 AM in response to ozkar

Thanks for letting me know. I don't think I will buy it then. Cheers!

May 19, 2019 1:35 PM in response to vimalrajk

I just bought a macbook pro 2018 13 inches, and it is overheating too, I wish I would have read this before.

Is it happening the same with the 2017 model?

denigada Author

Level 1

26 points

Jul 5, 2019 9:31 AM in response to denigada

I am still having this issue. Have you found a solution? I am using 2-3 apps and the laptop is extremely hot

TomEmail

Level 1

8 points

Jul 5, 2019 10:26 AM in response to denigada

I have the same issue.

[Edited by Moderator]

d_nak8

Level 1

8 points

Oct 21, 2018 10:28 AM in response to denigada

Thank you for posting your issue. I'm on my 2nd MacBook Pro 13-inch and the overheating issues persist. I returned my first one due to excessive overheating and some popping noises. This new one has not had the popping issues but gets very hot quickly. I hope there is a solution to this!

fsjay

Level 1

4 points

Nov 3, 2018 3:34 PM in response to d_nak8

I don't think there will be a solution until apple goes away from intel chips or adds some real cooling fans. I have the 15" pro i7 and gets hot but since i use it as a desktop (just connected to 2 monitors) it doesn't matter. I do need another laptop for travel so now i will upgrade my old Mac Air with the new one, since I am hoping the new Air does not heat up like either of the 13" or 15" pros. oh well...

Nov 7, 2018 10:25 AM in response to denigada

I’m glad I read this thread before buying a MacBook Pro 13. Is this unique to the quad-core version or does it also affect the dual-core as well? Has Apple responded meaningfully yet? I see over 40 “me too” comments on this problem. Would love to know if I should go buy a Razer Blade Stealth 13 instead if there continues to be a heat issue with the MBP.

arvinsim

Level 1

4 points

Nov 24, 2018 7:48 AM in response to denigada

I just replaced my still working 2015 13" MBP for a 2018 15" MBP. The reason was that there are some loads that the 2015 is already slow in.

Imagine my surprise when I found that the 2018 model gets very warm on loads that the 2015 can handle well without heating up. I am about to go back to store until I read this post.

It's disappointing to see that it's not a hardware issue but an inherent flaw. Now I have to love with my decision to switch. I would switch back if I could.

Dec 19, 2018 8:42 PM in response to denigada

Sad to read these posts on overheating of the MBP. I am in desprite need of replacing my current 2008 which also has an over heating issue that started out of the box. Come on Apple — this has been a problem for MBP for a very long time. Figure it out.

Dec 23, 2018 8:25 AM in response to Dakota6210

I just purchased the i7 2.6 w/16GB. Running Capture 1 Pro12. Laptop gets hot on my lap. Have been testing for a couple of days now. When on solid surface, the heat does not seem to build up. I understand that the heat is really not an issue as all MBPros..from the past to now use the aluminum case to dissipate the heat created. This is why Apple does not find this to be a problem (not talking about recent throttling and fix).

My issue is the battery life and RAM usage. It is terrible. This is supposed to last 10 hours with just basic use? After one hour, it went from 100% to 82%. 30 minutes more to 77%. Then ran an export of 139 files at full .jpg resolution and now dropped to 64%. I got 16 GB RAM, compared to MacBook Air 2013 with 4GB. It ran fine but was slow on import and export. I figured 16GB would be more than anything I could need. I don't do video. So, under normal use with my editing program; I am using a total of 12 GB+. How can this be? I only had 4 before? I know that the new system and screen use more RAM..but what?????? So, will this meagre 16GB now limit me if I want to browse and do other things while I edit and process? What would be the usage against 32 GB for the exact same system and use? Will it still only be 12? I don't know...yet.

Dec 23, 2018 8:31 AM in response to jbk224bamacophile

The Macbook Pro is not a laptop computer and it is not designed to be used on one's lap.

With respect to memory use, you don't understand that modern opperating systems use all available RAM to increase speed and efficiency. If you had 32 GB RAM then maybe 28GB would be used under normal circumstances. What benefit is unused RAM providing, none.

Dec 23, 2018 8:59 AM in response to jaysun029

???

It is a notebook computer not a laptop computer. Your link specifically says " If your MacBook Pro is on your lap and gets uncomfortably warm, remove it from your lap and place it on a stable, well-ventilated work surface. Take special care if you have a physical condition that affects your ability to detect heat against the body."

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Macbook Pro 2018 overheating, and other strange problems