A growing number of users have reported that their 2016 MacBook Pro makes a mysterious "popping" sound.
The noise was described by 9 to 5 Mac as something that sounded like someone slowly crunches a plastic bottle. Some users said that the sound appears randomly, while others have reported that the device makes this while it is performing resource-intensive tasks, such as during gaming or video streaming. According to the report by 9 to 5 Mac, the complaints are largely from owners of the 15-inch model of the MacBook Pro.
Apple has not yet given a conclusive explanation for the sound. According to users, some employees responded that it was caused by internal hardware, such as the logic board. Others have received the response that the sound was produced by a small dent found at the bottom part of the casing. Either issue is not covered by the warranty. BGR reported that one user, who brought his laptop to an Apple store, was told that the issue was due to the small dent being hit by the fan. He was informed that because this problem falls under user-inflicted damage/wearable part, the issue is not covered by the warranty. He was subsequently charged $130. However, he said that he still encountered the popping noise after the repairs were supposedly done on the laptop.
Users, meanwhile, have made their own speculations. Some theorize that the sound is produced by the hinges, which may slowly be losing sturdiness following exposure to heat, causing the glue or the mount to weaken. This is a probable theory, considering that some users observed that they hear the popping sound at times when the device produces a lot of heat, such as during gaming. This would also explain why this issue is encountered by the 15-inch MacBook Pro users, since their laptop has bigger, heavier screens, which can produce wear and tear on the hinges more quickly than the smaller 13-inch model.
Apple has not yet issued an official statement regarding this issue.
