Apple Employee Gaslights Redditor Over $2,000 MacBook Pro Issues

Key Takeaways

1. The new M5 MacBook Pro has received positive reviews for performance, efficiency, and battery life, but some users report issues.
2. A first-time buyer experienced creaking noises from the hinge and palm rest after 15 days of use, raising concerns about quality.
3. Apple store staff dismissed the user’s complaints, claiming the noises were normal and not a reason for replacement.
4. Previous MacBook models have had similar hinge issues, often resolved by tightening screws, indicating a recurring problem.
5. Users suggest that being assertive and escalating concerns may lead to a replacement for persistent issues with the MacBook Pro.


Apple just launched its new M5 MacBook Pro a few weeks ago, earning a lot of positive reviews for enhanced performance, efficiency, and longer battery life. Nevertheless, a Reddit user’s first experience with the M5 MacBook Pro has not been completely satisfactory.

User Experience with M5 MacBook Pro

The Reddit user, known as noss616, hails from Australia and is a first-time MacBook buyer. He spent $2,000 on a fully equipped 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro. After using it for 15 days, he began to hear creaking noises coming from the hinge and palm rest areas. These sounds occurred whenever he opened or closed the laptop, or even when he pressed down on the chassis.

Noss616 filmed a video showcasing the issue with his MacBook. He also has an AppleCare+ subscription, which led him to visit two different Apple stores. Unfortunately, staff at both locations brushed off his concerns, claiming they couldn’t detect any creaking sounds.

Apple’s Response to the Complaint

Even after a thorough examination, the store employees maintained that everything was fine. During his second visit, he felt that the Apple staff were “gaslighting” him, as one employee explained that the noise was merely from the “metal-on-metal body” of the MacBook and insisted it was completely normal.

The same employee added, “We’re not going to replace it because we don’t want to create a precedent. If we replace it and the new one makes the same noise, it just continues the cycle of exchanges.”

Under the Reddit thread, a former Genius Bar Technician explained that the creaking noise was merely a cosmetic issue and wouldn’t be covered by the warranty. Another Reddit user mentioned that they managed to get an M4 replacement immediately after pushing store management over a similar problem.

Ongoing Issues with MacBooks

This issue does not seem to be unique; previous models of MacBooks have had similar hinge creaking problems that were often fixed by tightening the screws around the mechanism.

Such problems are particularly frustrating, especially after spending nearly $2,000 on a brand-new M5 MacBook along with an ongoing AppleCare+ subscription. Whether this slight creaking justifies a full replacement is a matter of personal judgment, but for a company that prides itself on craftsmanship and engineering, it serves as a reminder that Apple can also face quality-control troubles, even if they often overlook minor cosmetic issues.

Many users commented on the Reddit post, suggesting that if noss616 continues to be assertive with Apple and escalates his concerns to higher management, he may eventually receive a replacement M5 MacBook Pro from the tech company based in Cupertino.

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