Why You Shouldn't Put A Case On Your MacBook 

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I find it *really* odd that the reason not to put a case on the lid of the MacBook is because of excess weight on the hinges. Meanwhile, Apple advertises continuity camera with a mount that attaches to the lid of the MacBook with an iPhone on it which is significantly heavier than a plastic case and puts more weight on the hinges.

Plot twist: This is an Apple MacBook Sleeve ad.

An even bigger reason, Thermals! My Macbook air gets hot as-is, it would be much worse with a case.

"In extreme cases" is such a nice pun!

Surprised this video didn’t discuss heat dissipation and airflow issues caused by even well designed cases. The unibody enclosure of MacBooks is designed to act as a heatsink and radiate heat from components outward. Much like the human body, if this process is impeded by a non permeable layer touching or close to the skin, overheating will occur.

As a repair shop of 7+ years I wouldn’t say the cases weight significantly affects the hinge mechanism. The example you’ve used in your video sounds like she had a case and developed Flexgate. I agree that the slight gap left between the bottom casing and lid is a problem (especially if weight is applied to machine while closed). This can crack the lcd internally. In addition, cases that restrict the natural airflow of the machine can result in overheating and after extensive use, discolouration (especially on the coloured models).😮 A good sleeve and some discipline goes way further than a cheap case!

From buying my very first MacBook in 2013, I've always bought plastic cases and I've never experienced any ramifications by doing do. By installing a case, your investment is not only protected but the resale value is much greater than a MacBook that's damaged or in a poor state by constant drops, which can't be prevented with a sleeve..

Interesting, but I think your later point sums it up. Don't buy cheap. I've used INCASE cases for years and have never had any real issues. I have had issues with Apple's hinge clutches which they may specify carefully taking into account reasonable use and screen weights, but are in-fact not always manufactured to acceptable quality.

Man! Greg you’re really good at this. Short but informative insightful videos, well done. I always wanted a case for my Mac for this very reason. Now, I’m still likely to get one, but much more scrutinized. Thanks man!

I only put a cover on the top for looks, the bottom stays coverless so it doesn't overheat

This is why I use skins on MacBooks to retain their natural shape, but prevent any scratches. I also use a carry bag (or sleeve) so that MacBooks remain protected when on the move.

I used to have a case on my air and within weeks after owning it, I read up on this and luckily I have a sleeve from my previous MacBook. Very helpful reassurance

I had to get my M2 MacBook Air display replaced because the hard shell case I used loosen the hinges. Also what you did not mention is that cases can also cause damage to the laptops display. The case makes it more likely for the laptop to open and close in your bag which can allow dirt and debris to get in causing dents on the display.

Literally watching this video with cased macbook 💀 (Edit: Bruh Safari didn't even recognized Macbook lmfao, it autocorrected to Matchbook 😢)

I’ve had a hard shell case on my M1 Air since day one. Taking it off later today. Thank you for this

"cheap Amazon case" - proceeds to immediately remove the case I bought from Amazon

Never thought about this. I’m checking my case right now. But I think this is a problem mostly for cheap cases bought from random providers trying to cash in without worrying about real world use.

I have my case on my MacBook Air for about 4 years and it’s the really cheap kind and still looks new and no bends or pink lines anywhere to be seen!

Also, I can confirm this from using a phone case, debris can get underneath the case and it will scratch and build-up dust. I just put a Slickwraps Clear matte with a logo cutout and It's perfect for me. Highly recommend

true, i put a hinge on mine for a bit and then took it off coz it added weight to it. Once i took it off the hinge started making this weird rubbing sound, but it has gone away after a while

it will be nice to have a case just for the corners of the MacBook, u don’t will have all of those problems and your Mac can be secure for corner damages

I think an “Apple explained to help you sleep” idea might be cool. These videos are really chill and an extended compilation on certain subject would be neat, an iPhone edition, Mac edition, Apple Watch, etc

I buy a cover and only put the monitor part on because I cracked my screen a few years back and it felt like a very avoidable incident if I’d had a screen. Doing this prevents basically all issues listed-never ever had a problem with the hinge either but I think the MacBook Air had a subpar hinge which I never owned. Older macs also suffered from extra heat insulation if you used the bottom portion of the cover. Another reason I left it off

I was expecting the plastic to cause overheating, but the hinge wasn’t what I expected, maybe I’ll try it with the case off and live with the finger prints on my black MacBook (which is probably more hygienic by more frequent cleaning anyway).

I don‘t think the extra weight is a big problem, considering apple wants us to use our iPhones as MacBook Front cameras and many people sticking a SSD on the back of their screen for extra storage

Love your videos!!!

Something that I have done is remove the bottom section of the case and keep the top section so it's still protected from scratches and sometimes small impacts and keep the hinge functioning optimally. I just keep the top part of the case on and the bottom part off.

I get your point and you said some cases but tbh i’ve had an m2 for over a year with a case and no problems whatsoever, i think it all depends on how you use it and how much stress you put on it eg. people who go around on jt all day long. Nice video

You also forgot to mention that small debris can enter the case, which causes damage that never would occur without a case. I'm speaking of experience; I bought a €3 case 7 years ago, I had scuffs/scratches after a few months of regular use. Now I'm using a Dbrand skin (have had it for over 2 years now) and it's great

had a mac with the case on it for 8 years and the hinge was in perfect condition. but my new mac has been creaking without the case

I Love your Videos. We will Rectify/Correct our mistakes from you. Thanks for your advice.❤✨

This applies to any Modern notebook laptop and not just MacBooks and MacBooks already don't have the best thermal design compared to a Windows ultrabook laptop such as the galaxy book, so the case is even worse as it is suffocating the Mac even more and not allowing passive cooling (air blowing past the magnesium/aluminum body) to happen with the plastic covering up the body.

The algorithm is real, I just looked how to replace a hinge on my MacBook Air and I also have an Amazon hard shell. Taking it off immediately, thanks!

thanks for making this before i used a leather case on my upcoming macbook pro i want i will still use case but when i go outside with it only for short term

I got a used m1 Mac 16” that came with a case. I didn’t like how elevated it was and how warm it got, so I took it off. I love the silver finish too much to not have it naked, got AppleCare+ on it anyway. Now, I have a studio display to use in clamshell mode.

Honestly this makes sense. I use cases though my Macbooks aren't my daily drivers, they're travel laptops for me so I don't use them that often so I think it's okay for now. But whenever I buy a new case I end up having to file some plastic just so my Macbook even FITS within the case (seriously, does nobody check these beforehand?) and then it usually ends up not closing fully anyway. I think I'll settle for a decorative+protective skin and a sleeve.

Ever since apple put out the article saying that a simple camera cover can cause your macbook's screen to crack, I've always been skeptical about putting a case on any macbook and probably will continue to use sleeves for the rest of time.

Glad I invested in the mous carrying case for the macbook pro, it’s really nice!

Cases are mostly useful on the bottom, since the space between the bottom cover and the surface is so thin, it can lead to some scratches if there's some dirt on the surface. Of course, the surface must be clean, but it can happen when you're taking your machine with you. Some quality decal can do the job while being lighter.

Thanks, was about to order one online.

I recently thought about buying a case for my MacBookAir but gave up and with this video you gave me the reason.👍🏻

Excellent video! I thank you very much for these informations.

My M2 Air fits perfectly into the Apple Leather Sleeves that used to be sold several years ago. Had a case for a while afterwards. But came back to the sleeve and no longer use a case.

I put the bottom piece of the case on and leave the top open so that it doesn’t damage the hinge. Of course i also have a dbrand skin on the mac as well to prevent scratches. The reason why i have the bottom case is to prevent the sides and corners from scratches

This makes so much sense. My wife has a second hand macbook air with loose hinges. Probably had a case.

Thank you for agreeing with me.

Many years ago I had a huge Dell Inspiron 7500 with the big for its time 15.4” screen. I had to replace the hinges on that thing twice. The laptop was 10lbs itself and screen was heavy too. I think about how many times I open and close my MacBook everyday and hope it doesn’t break.

I love this channel a lot

I'm worried more on heat dissipation problem. This is more on the Pro's or when you use the unit in high performance mode, you see MacBooks unibody functions as a major heat sink for the electronics to cool down. When you cover the metal body it lessens to dissipate the heat as intended to be, so covering it up might slowly cook the internals...

Ok, fine. Will you then tell me where to get that sleeve? It looks super fabulous!

Plus scratching and adding to overheating from poor ventilation

What about dbrand skins? I’m assuming the skin on the outside of the MacBook wouldn’t be an issue, but I’m most curious about the skins that lines the inside of the MacBook around the keyboard?

I have been using a Spigen Thin Fit Case for two years on my Macbook pro 16 m2 and had zero issues so far. I am always happy to have a case when I hit something by accident. Especially when going through airport security. It is not cheap but well designed.

I've had cases on my MBP since 2012 and never had any issues. But I only use cases that are from reputable brands.

I made the mistake of putting a keyboard sleeve/cover whatever it is called back in 2015 and I'm pretty sure it is the reason my screen got damaged. Definitely don't need a case or keyboard protectors. Just be careful with it when taking it off the desk.

Have had an 'incase' shell on my M1 MacBook Air since purchase, no sign of wear on the hinge or any issues whatsoever. I imagine as you say if you buy a £10 case from amazon, then yes your mileage may vary.

If my MBA M1 didn't had the case for the past two years, I might had a dent on the back of the screen already or it's been scratched up from wear and tear. But my laptop never had any issue from the case, it can close properly without those two plastic case touching together and the hinges are still strong. Also no line bars on the screen.

I feel like the laptop case thing could apply to any laptop honestly

This is why it is important to buy a case from a trusted brand such as Incase, another one of those instances where it's cheaper to do it right the first time.

That’s why you should use a wrap like dbrand sells because there’s no hard things and just a big sticker so it does more good than harm

I've subscribed to this before: sleeves over cases, and using my MacBook Air bare. Come time when there was accidental damage to my laptop, I had lines running off-center, and over time, it turned into a black bar. Yeah, cases carry risks, but using my MacBook Air caseless bit me back when accidental damages happened.

I know this video was meant to deter me from buying a MacBook case but that purple one is kinda fire. You got a link?

had a similar experience with a mid-2015 15 inch MacBook I had way back when. The hard case put so much pressure on the hinge that it started to become looser and looser, and then the whole laptop snapped in half just because of the case

Just keep it in a good protective bag/sleeve when you’re not using it. It’s too big for a case like a phone. Plus it needs to exchange heat.

I use a vinyl for scratches and a sleeve for hits with my MBP

I really don’t put any case on a laptop as it is hard to take off, unlike the sleeve case where you just slide it in. Not to mention if you would need to clean the case of the MacBook that would be difficult to take off

Then why is Apple still selling incase cases in their direct stores?😅

what about screen protector is there any harm of benefit of installing a good one

I use hard case before, but as i observed, it really does bend the screen thats why i removed it immediately, i even put screen protector and keyboard silicon cover..

We should help him with video ideas

Could I use a case on the bottom but not on the top?

I've bought cases for years to protect my laptops from accidental drops but chose inexpensive ones to save money .Currently, I own a MacBook Pro mid-2020. Some time ago, a chunk of the bezel broke off near the hinge. I don't know when that happened. Until I saw this video, I didn't know why that happened. Now I realize it's the case that likely caused that. Unfortunately, that greatly devalued my Mac. I want to upgrade to a newer model with an M chip. The Apple store won't give me anything for my 2020 Mac on a trade-in even though it still works.

We used vinyl skins that pull off easily to protect from scratches and small drops

i have used a hardshell case on my 2015 inch MacBook pro for years I got one that had the tabs at the top of the case away from the hinge area so it would close properly what would bend my lid was a swollen battery because of the chasey being bent what I did was unplug it let the batter swelling go down put my iPad on the laptop closed leave it while it gets hot by the time I sold the 15 inch no warping or damage I got over retail price too it was in that great of shape too no issues either just slow from the lack of CPU ram and horsepower being intel 4th gen and a AMD 370mx mobile GPU 2 gp ram

I also think it might not be best brectice to do this in something like a macbook air m1 with no active cooling since the macbook's metal is better at conducting heat than plastic. If the device sences that it gets too hot it might even lower the power to the soc leaving you with less performance.

I've used a cheap hardshell case for over 10 years with no issues.

I use a sleeve but I have used one of those silicon keyboards covers and that just messed up the monitor of the MacBook. Never again.

I have a purple case on my MacBook Pro currently. Unfortunately the plastic began cracking only a few months in. I primarily used cases for stickers bc i didn’t want to stick them directly to the laptop itself.

If I bought a case from the apple website themselves, can I get compensation for it if it deteriorates?

I still have my 2015 MacBook Pro on mint condition because I’ve always kept it in a plastic case. Never had an issue.

I agree to the improper closing of the lid.. I went through at least 8 cases for my 16 M2 Pro and 14 inch M3 Max MacBooks.. until I found one with the clasps that attach to the MacBook that allow for complete close only then was I satisfied. I have a toddler so a case is a must have

What about screen? How should I protect the screen? Should I use a screen protector or not???

I have had a case on my 12” MacBook 2015 since day one and the hinge is as strong as the day I bought it.

Yes but have you seen the damages and unavoidable scratches your mac gets without having a skin/case on it after about a year or so., i’d rather have some kind of protection on it especially that they cost a third more than US prices where i leave 😊

I’ve had a hardshell case on my MacBook Air M2 for about a year now. Should I be worried that it may cause damage to it? I don’t remember where we got it from, but I’m 99% sure it was from Amazon

Any recommendations for sleeves?

A lot of people really need to do their research on what type of hardshell case to get in a lot of professional companies, test it out on their own, and we tested on our own to see whether it’s a good idea to fall through or not and most of the products do come in handy and it works very well so that’s why it’s better to do that and of course my MacBook have a hard case from a specific company and it helps and I have no complaints and no damage at all and I’m cool with that.

Apple sells licensed third party MacBook hard shell cases on their website though

I actually use one for 2 years. To me someone who bought a device for 2k shouldn't use 50 cent hard case. I bought slightly pricier one that fits perfectly and neither hinger nor screen has any damage. It protected laptop from dirty and rough grounds and drops. It looks new. Cases design lets macbook close without any space too.

With all the dings I see on used macbooks I think we’ll take it from here 😂

I’ve got a new theory! Don’t close your MacBook lid! Avoids marks on screen from keyboards and it keeps it in showroom condition

Funny how Apple offers 3rd party cases on their site but discontinued the very sleeve you showed, way before they decided to do away with leather for carbon neutral. I just think the lack of durability of their products is just a money grab to be honest……

and also most laptops dont even need protective cases anyways as we can use laptop bags

Learned this the hard way. Listen to the video kids, keep your MacBooks case-free.

Who puts a case on MacBook 😂😂😂 just carry it on a good laptop cover with padding

I once tried putting a hard shell case on mine. It was kind of a scary process, unlike phones and tablets, it actually felt like I was about to break the laptop, and when removing it, it was even worse. Ended up returning the case the next day.

I put a case on my MacBook because I don’t have a sleeve and I use regular tote handbag. I won’t put hardshell case if I have MacBook with fans.

I always just thought cases on computers were crazy and looked odd

Some people put cases on MacBooks for protection, but instead, they can store them for safety in bags made by technology companies, or bags designated for laptops.