The Fintie Protective Case looks and feels like an elevated version of the traditional hard shell case: It's a tough-feeling polycarbonate with a faux leather decorative coating on top.
Overall, it's a nice-looking case, but it makes big compromises on quality. It also comes with a screen protector, but what use is a screen protector on a laptop? The included cleaning cloth is helpful, however. On the bright side, the case comes with two pretty keyboard covers. Sadly, the color doesn't match the pretty cyan shown in the picture on the listing. The back vents appear to be partially blocked, which could lead to overheating. On the bottom half, there's a distinct gap between the laptop and the case.
The top anchors are unevenly cut, making the display half difficult to put on. The case technically snaps on, and it seems like it'll stay attached, but the fit is poor. It'll ward off scratches, but I wouldn't count on it providing much more protection than that. But in this instance, the lightness seems more indicative of thin protection than of sleek design. This case is lightweight - good news for the MacBook's hinge. And with the stay-at-home world of the past two years shifting back into go-to-the-office mode, I thought it was time to give hardshell MacBook cases another look. The laptops feel light and sleek.Īt the same time, though, I've spotted some scratches on the bottom. Nothing catastrophic has happened, despite my fears. And to this day, both my personal MacBook (now a 2020 M1) and work MacBook are in the nude. How could I subject my precious MacBook to grubby surfaces and unprotected drops? But I gave it a try. The prospect of going caseless horrified me at first. Apple did not respond to CNET's request for comment. They said cases could put pressure on the display half, weaken the hinge, and stifle the cooling mechanisms. Long after the fact, I spotted some forum posts recommending against casing MacBooks at all. Whatever messed up the display, it seems the hardshell case didn't do much to protect it. When neon pink bars started sprawling across my screen, I lugged it into the Apple store and learned I had to get the display replaced. The hinge became loose, and every time I opened the MacBook, the display would gradually tilt backward. But within two years, some serious problems still bubbled up.
MAC PRO 2017 CASE PLUS
Even a flimsy plastic case would offer a layer of protection from dings, dents and scratches, plus some peace of mind, right? It was certainly better than nothing, I reasoned.Īs I carted my MacBook off to college, its cheapish teal case from Amazon did indeed protect it from scratches and dirt for the most part. The next logical move was to buy an all-over hardshell case.Ĭasing the MacBook struck me as a no-brainer at the time: I shuddered to imagine my hard-earned, first Apple computer getting flung onto desks, jostled between textbooks and doused with coffee. Despite the MacBook's reputation as tough, the space-gray laptop still felt delicate in my hands. I had to navigate that dilemma the summer after I graduated from high school, when I finally splurged with my saved-up grocery-store cashier earnings on the ultimate luxury: a 2017 MacBook Pro that I hoped would get me through my college years and beyond. Do you slap a protective hardshell case onto the pricey computer? Or would that detract from the sleek look and feel you've paid so much for? Could a case, in an ironic twist, actually end up damaging the MacBook's hardware?
When you've invested in a high-end laptop like a MacBook, it's natural to agonize over the best way to keep it safe.