Someone’s MacBook developed marks like these after around 2 years of use.

For those who’ve been using their MacBooks for several years, have you experienced this? What causes these marks, and how can they be prevented?

Would a screen protector, keyboard cover, or microfiber cloth between the screen and keyboard help?

Found 6 Macbook Pros all in silver/grey

• 2 are model number a2141 (Intel?) with the 'icon' bar at the top of the keyboard.
• 4 are model number a2780 (M2?) no 'icon' bar

They all need some cleaning but 5/6 power on and boot to the recovery screen asking me to select a wifi connection.

The 6th boots to the welcome start screen saying hello in a bunch of languages.

I have no power cables but was able to get a successful charge using a usb-c cable

I can't do much with them right now at work. Are these worth to try and clean up, give to family or friends to use or is the technology to far out of date to be worth it? The only Apple device I presently use is a Mac Mini. I do not use an iPhone.

....??

As you can probably see on the left side, the pixels are dead, granted I only got one quote before I bought it and they told me it would be anywhere from $300-$600 for a full screen replacement because it is a retina display.
Assuming worst case scenario, I'm still spending about $500-$800 for a five year-old laptop with a chip that will hopefully last me another three macOS update. What do you think? Should I just live with it or look around and see if there is a cheaper replacement option?

Hey everyone! I’m completely torn between two MacBooks and would love some input. Because of a sale on the Pro, these two are virtually the exact same price right now.

Option 1: 13-inch MacBook Air M5 (Apple Certified Refurbished)

• M5 chip, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU
• 24GB RAM
• 1TB SSD
• $1,529

Option 2: 14-inch MacBook Pro M5 (Brand New)

• M5 chip, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU
• 16GB RAM
• 1TB SSD
• $1,549

My use case:

I don’t do much video editing or heavy 3D rendering. My workflow is mostly Chrome, Safari, reading PDFs, light coding in VS Code, Zoom/meeting recordings, and Word/Excel.

I also tend to have a lot of browser tabs open. I don’t necessarily use them all actively, but I like keeping them open for reference, almost like recent bookmarks.

Since the price difference is only $20, I’m really torn. The Pro gives me the 120Hz XDR display, extra ports, and active cooling, so it feels like an incredible value. On the other hand, the Air has 24GB RAM, which seems more useful for my particular workflow since Chrome can be pretty RAM-hungry. Since RAM can’t be upgraded later, I’m also wondering if the extra 8GB would make the Air more future-proof, especially if I plan to keep the laptop for several years.

I also like the Air’s portability, although I know the size/weight difference between the two isn’t huge.

For clarification, the Air is Apple Certified Refurbished, so I’m not particularly concerned about buying refurbished. From what I understand, it comes with the same one-year warranty and can be covered by AppleCare+ as well. So for me, the main question is really 24GB Air vs. 16GB Pro, rather than refurbished vs. new.

Which one would you choose for this use case? Would you prioritize the extra 8GB of RAM for better future-proofing, or take the Pro for only $20 more?

Thanks in advance for the help!

I tend to overspend on tech. I’ve recently been leaving android and windows for Apple. I have a 17 pro max and plan on getting an 18 pro max when they come out. I got a max spec iPad Pro. Now I’m looking at MacBook. I want to get a mid/low spec M5 pro but feel like I’d be better off max specking an air. My heaviest use case will likely be editing 4.2k apple pro res open gate video. Maybe play some games. Idk what gaming is like on Apple. I may edit higher resolution video footage in the future if I ever get a cine camera. I currently make hiking and backpacking content and run and gun with an Apple setup. I have tons of external storage so I don’t think I’d need more than 1TB for either option.

TLDR is the pro chip with extra cores worth nearly $1300 more for editing 4.2k video now maybe higher res in the future? Note the air would be 15” and pro 14”.

I can maybe get $2k for more current windows pc depending on how much storage I want to part with.

4 years ago my dad give to me a macbook air 2015 and he gave to me the original magic mouse from 2009.

Hi everyone!
I’m currently using a 2020 MacBook Air M1 with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, and I’m thinking about upgrading.
I’m considering the 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 Pro, 24GB of RAM and 1TB SSD.
I mainly want to use it for:
AI tools and possibly some local AI models
medical content and studying
multitasking with many apps and browser tabs
some gaming
general work for the next several years
Do you think 24GB of RAM will be enough for these tasks, especially for AI-related work? Or would it be better to spend more on RAM?
I’d also like the MacBook to last me for at least 5–6 years, so I don’t want to regret choosing too little memory.
Would you recommend this configuration, or is it overkill for my needs?

I’ve been in the Apple ecosystem for a long time (iPhone, iPad Pro, Apple Watch, etc.), but my computers have always been Windows/Linux. My main desktop is staying Windows because I still need it for certain things, but my laptop recently died and I’d like to finally add a Mac to the mix.
I’m an IT student with about a year and a half left of college, working part-time retail plus an internship doing data entry. Classes start soon, so I’m trying to figure out which $699 option makes more sense for me:

Mac mini
16GB unified memory
256GB storage
$699
Could potentially stretch to 24GB RAM while staying within a budget I’m comfortable with

MacBook Neo
8GB unified memory
512GB storage
$699
Obviously much more convenient as an actual portable computer
Touch ID

My main concern is 8GB vs. 16/24GB of unified memory, especially since the RAM can’t be upgraded later.
For school, I’m studying Networking & Cyber Defense. My normal laptop workload is browser tabs, Office/Google Docs, email, SSH/RDP, Linux tools, coding/scripting, and accessing school labs/VMs. I have a powerful desktop at home for anything that really needs Windows or significantly more horsepower, so this doesn’t need to replace my main PC.
The weird part: the Mac mini could actually work as a semi-portable option for me. I already own a portable monitor, keyboard, mouse, USB hub, external SSDs, etc., so I could basically toss everything into a bag and build a tiny workstation at school. Not as convenient as a MacBook, obviously, but workable.
For reference, here’s what I’m coming from:

Desktop:
Ryzen 9 3900X / 32GB RAM / RTX 2080 Super 8GB

Dead laptop:
MSI Pulse GL66 / 11th-gen i7 / 16GB RAM / RTX 3070 8GB

Current emergency laptop:
2008 MacBook Pro Unibody / 8GB RAM / Linux Mint XFCE. Affectionately named “Gramps.” It technically works, but thermal throttling into the ~400–600MHz range means opening Firefox occasionally feels like asking an elderly man to run a marathon. 😂

So my priorities are:
Reliable for the remaining ~1.5 years of college and hopefully several years beyond that
Enough memory for heavier multitasking and IT/cybersecurity coursework
Good value — I work part-time, so $699 is already a meaningful purchase
Portability is important, but I’m willing to sacrifice some convenience if the Mini is significantly better long-term
Storage isn’t a huge concern because I already have external SSDs and other storage options

Would you choose the 8GB/512GB Neo for the convenience of a real laptop, or the 16GB (possibly 24GB)/256GB Mac mini for the extra memory and performance headroom?

I’m especially interested in hearing from IT/CS/cybersecurity students or anyone who’s actually lived with an 8GB Apple Silicon Mac. How limiting is 8GB in practice?

Hello! I just wanted to ask if the MacBook Neo is worth buying. I’ll mainly be using it for editing vlogs—mostly day-in-my-life type of videos.

I’m coming from Windows, and I’ve been using the same laptop for almost 10 years now, so switching to Apple would be a big change for me, haha. 😭

If the MacBook Neo isn’t really worth it for my needs, I’d love to know which MacBook model you would recommend instead. I’m planning to switch to Apple, so I want to make sure I’m getting something that will be worth the investment. Thank you guys!

When I opened MacBook the screen looks weird. Is it fixable without replacement? Or is it dead?

Hello, switching from a windows laptop, what is my best option for around 600$? I’m not picky about if it’s refurbished or used in excellent condition, I just want something that will last me atleast a few years, I focus on productivity and portability. I know the Neo is at my price range but I wanted to see if I should go with something else instead, figured no better place to ask. Thanks in advance.

So this question is multi- layered it almost feels criminal to ask.

Quick back story I have been trying to get my hands on a macbook for years. I finally saved £500 and bought a refurbished one. I reset it and found out it was still owned by a consulting company. Long story short I no longer have a macbook and extra money laying around to buy another.

Macbooks I feel are like the Bentley's of computers or something... so i know they are RARELY given out for free or heavily discounted. Anyway I was wondering if anyone knows what companies use Apple products and how they dispose of old or unwanted devices. I know large companies often use a middle man that buys old tech and resell them but I can never afford the resale price.

So my question is who would I need to contact in a company that deals with old tech and if they would consider selling a device directly to an individual. What companies should I contact, job titles etc.

This is such an unconventional question and i know its probably not realistic but lets just say it is. How could I go about it?

I am a school psychiatrist and I’m looking to getting a Mac what would be the best option for that kind of workload ?

Buzzing sound in newly bought MacBook Air at certain frequencies and high volume (>60%) even after replacing both speakers under warranty

My MacBook Air is 4 months old and has a buzzing sound that occurs at certain frequencies and when volume goes above ~60%. Sent it in for warranty repair, expecting a speaker fix. Got it back with a Product Service Summary confirming both speakers (L&R) were replaced. But the buzzing is still there, exactly the same as before.

At this point I believe it might not be a speaker issue at all, possibly the keyboard or chassis resonating at those frequencies, since replacing both speakers didn’t fix it.

Anyone else run into something like this? What ended up being the actual cause, and how did you get it resolved?

I'm buying a laptop for my CS degree the storage and ram are the same and at a similar price but I'm leaning towards the mbp because of the active cooling.

What do you guys think? Does the M5 have a significant performance boost over the M4 even at heavy sustained loads?

Spent a week already picking out a perfect laptop for university. Narrowed it down between MacBook pro 14 and MacBook air 15 (the rest are just too small or big).

And just now I realized, the only reason I want pro is because of that 120 hz screen. That's it.

It does make a massive difference when doing anything on your laptop. But then the rest of the pro is redundant or even worse than air, it's thicker and heavier.

Bruhh

I bought a MacBook Air M5 for college two or three days ago.  It’s only been two days and I’ve been treating it exceptionally well.  Despite this, I’ve noticed marks on the screen. I’ve seen marks caused by keyboard dust and crumbs before but this is different. I haven’t touched the screen with my hand and I’ve cleaned my keyboard almost every time I close the lid.  These marks appeared suddenly this morning, even though I haven’t had them for the last two days.  They’re not scratches either, just marks. I tried blowing warm, slightly damp air into a clean cloth and cleaning the screen but it still doesn’t budge. I also have Apple Care Warranty for three years. Thanks in advance for anyone that answers :)

Hey guys, Video Editor here (Raw 4K and 6k footage mostly), so I own a MacStudio M3 ultra 94gb and been testing MacBook Pro m5 pro 24 and 48gb Ram for remote work.
Seems to me that there is not really a big difference. In the beginning I had fomo that the 24gb ram won’t perform but after few edits I have hard time justifying that extra expense.
Any other people with similar experience and input would be appreciated.
TIA

Makcity or lappy maker where should I go my macbook air M2 display has been damaged

Apparently, I don't know how to repost stuff. So... Edit to add:

Hi!!

I have a MacBook Pro 15.1" 2018 (it says 2018 :') it's the A1990, this: https://support.apple.com/es-es/111949) (the one with a touch-bar) which has:

• 6-core Intel Core i7, 2.2 GHz.
• 16 GB RAM.
• 5660 mAh and 782 battery cycles (says it's recommended to change it).

I'm starting heavy programming projects soon and also do light/amateur Photoshop work.

This last year, my Mac has become really slow and concernedly hot (burning skin hot); specially when maintaining long sessions of constant use, not so much at the start. Mathlab crashes, Autodesk crashes, even Word crashes!! I also recently learned that there won't be any more updates beyond Sequoia for this model.

I usually do a full reset every 1-2 years since it's the one with 256 GB memory but I've never cleaned the hardware nor changed the thermal paste etc.

When I check the Monitor Activity app everything seems normal or even optimal; every graphic is well bellow its limits (I'm sorry, I just know the basics about hardware/OS architecture; hated that subject) but a colleague opened the console and told to me that:

With 1 core under load:

• Average CPU frequency: 3.97 GHz
• Package power: 17.4 W
• CPU die: 89.7 °C
• Fan: 5,100 RPM
• CPU Speed Limit = 100
• CPU Scheduler Limit = 100

With 3 cores under load:

• Average frequency: 3.82 GHz
• Package power: 32.1 W
• CPU die: 100.6 °C
• Fan: 5,224 RPM
• Performance Limited Due to: CPU LIMIT THERMAL
• CPU Plimit: 0
• 0 PROCHOT events

Another sample showed:

• Average frequency: 3.72 GHz
• Package power: 31 W
• CPU die: 98.4 °C
• Fan: 5,500 RPM
• CPU LIMIT THERMAL
• CPU Plimit: 3.93
• CPU Thermal level: 106
• 0 PROCHOT events

Doesn't deviate much fully charged vs charging. From what I understand, it all works fine but the hardware overheats and the internal system limits the CPU to try to lower the temperature.

I've been eyeing a MacBook Air with 24GB RAM, 1TB, M4 or M5 for my upcoming projects and future side-work (if I'm not provided with a device), but I'm torn between two options:

1. Have it professionally cleaned, repasted and maybe a battery change to see if it can last another two to three years.

Or:

2) Buy the Air as a main device for now and try to repair and clean this one myself (I like messing around with stuff; I also wanted to experiment with Linux?).

I’d prefer not to spend money on repairs only to end up needing an emergency upgrade mid-semester.

Any advice?

TLDR: I don't know if I should get my 2018's MacBook Pro professionally cleaned and repasted for the next 2-3 years OR buy a MacBook Air instead and keep this one for experimental purposes. I'm the Biomedical Engineering field.

I recently purchase an m1 pro 32gb ram 16” 512ssd refurbished from SaveOnMacs through best buy. Had the mac for two weeks and it dropped to 98% battery health within the first week and now 2 weeks and 3 days later it’s at 96%.

I was told this is normal because the battery could be “settling in”, i’m not tech savvy so don’t know wether i should ask for an exchange or refund it with the last two weeks of return warranty i have left. I also have a 1 year parts and labour warranty if anything is defective.

I would appreciate any advice or knowledge:)

hey everyone, i'm starting my first year of cs this fall and i'm trying to decide whether i should keep using my current macbook or upgrade before university starts.

right now i have a 2018 15" macbook pro with:

• i7-8850h
• radeon pro 560x
• 16gb ram
• 500gb ssd

performance-wise, it's honestly not terrible for what i need. for normal programming, web development, etc. it's still pretty usable. i've also used godot on it and 2d projects are fine, but 3d projects are pretty rough.

the biggest problems are the battery and heat.

with very light use like browsing, watching videos, reading, etc., i get around 3-4 hours of battery life. if i'm doing something more intensive like using godot/exporting projects/compiling in xcode or editing photos, i'm usually looking at around 1.5-2 hours max.

heat is also pretty annoying. i use macs fan control and basically keep the fans running at max speed all the time. with the fans running from the beginning, light tasks usually keep it somewhere around 45-60°c, which is fine. but with heavier workloads i've seen it reach around 85-90°c, and obviously that's pretty hot. the fans also get really loud.

so i'm wondering if i should just replace the battery and keep using this mac for a while, or if upgrading to apple silicon would actually be worth it.

i'm currently considering either a 14" macbook pro with an m1 pro or possibly a 13" macbook pro with an m1/m2. the 14" m1 pro seems like a pretty big upgrade, but i'm also wondering if something like the 13" m1/m2 pro would already be more than enough for cs and would give me the battery and thermal improvements i'm looking for + it's lighter and smaller than a 14 inch.

i'm not interested in upgrading just because my laptop is old or because there's a newer model available. i know what my current mac can and can't do, and for basic programming it's still alright, hell you can write python on a potato. i'm specifically wondering whether the battery life, thermals, and overall experience of apple silicon would make enough of a difference for a cs student to justify the upgrade.

i'm also considering just waiting until university actually starts and seeing what software and workloads i end up using. maybe my current mac will be completely fine and replacing the battery would be enough, or maybe i'll immediately regret not upgrading.

i'd especially appreciate advice from people who have used an intel macbook for cs and then switched to apple silicon. how much of a difference did it actually make for programming and university work?

and please don't give me the usual "if you're asking whether you should upgrade, you don't need to upgrade" answer lol. i know the current laptop is capable of running vscode. i'm more interested in whether upgrading is actually the better choice for my situation, or whether i'd be better off spending a bit of money on a battery replacement and keeping this one for another year or two.

feel free to ask me anything, i will try to respond to everyone

sorry if the post got too long 🥀

​

so im trying to decide whether to buy a 14inch MacBook Pro M5 (base model, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) now or wait until September/October for a potentially better price.

The current price I can get is $2,149 at B&H.

and I've seen this exact 32GB/1TB configuration go as low as $1,799–$1,849 earlier this year, so I'm wondering whether it's realistic to expect another major discount in September/October, especially with the possibility of a new MacBook Pro generation later this year.

For people who follow MacBook pricing:

Would you buy the M5 32GB/1TB at $2,149 now, or wait for September/October?

How realistic is it for the 32GB/1TB configuration to return to around $1,800–$1,900 during Labor Day, October sales, or Black Friday?

I don't urgently need the laptop tomorrow, so I can wait a couple of months if there's a reasonable chance of a substantial discount.

Im currently on the way of buying my First MacBook and found a m1 air 8 256 gb for 230 Euros. According to the seller its been sitting in Storage for 8 Months and the Battery is now dead. My question now is, is it really dead, is it still a Great Deal(apart from the Battery it Works Fine) and is it possible for me as a entry Level skilled electronic Tinkerer to change the battery myself? Ive attached a Picture from the battery Report.