The MacBook is one of the best (and most popular) laptop brands available. This is why many companies sell accessories for the device. Most of these additional parts enhance the functionality and/or protect your laptop, but some may be more detrimental than beneficial. For example, keyboard covers put unnecessary pressure on the screen, while hard covers accelerate wear and tear on MacBooks. On paper, hard cases protect MacBooks the same way phone cases protect iPhones from scratches and bumps.
However, while cases can protect your MacBook from the outside, the defenses they provide may come at the cost of internal damage, as some cases are poorly designed and block air vents. The cases don’t completely block the air vents, but they block them enough to make your computer heat up, forcing the fans to work faster. Sure, you face the immediate problem of noisy fans and poor computer performance, but fans constantly running at high speeds drain batteries faster, forcing you to charge your MacBook more frequently. And the more often you recharge a dead battery, the sooner you’ll need to replace it.
Fortunately, MacBooks tell you when to replace the batteries, but that doesn’t change the fact that your battery would likely last longer if you forgo the hard case. Hard cases can also affect more than just the battery; they also make screens heavier, causing the hinges to loosen over time. Not only will you have to frequently reposition the screen (unless you don’t mind neck pain from a non-ergonomic position), but a loose hinge could potentially damage the monitor.
Buy a pouch instead
Although you should avoid hard cases, you still need to protect your MacBook from unnecessary bumps and scratches. Sometimes the best way to protect such an investment involves a delicate touch. If you feel the need to put your MacBook in a protective case, use a soft sleeve. These offer the same protection (when the laptop is not in use) without any of the risks of a hard case. Granted, you have to remove the MacBook from the sleeve to use it, but you’re less likely to drop it when you’re actively paying attention to the device.
Additionally, a sleeve can technically block a MacBook’s air vents, but it can only accommodate a MacBook when the computer is closed and turned off or asleep, that is, when it doesn’t need the air vents for cooling. Frankly, if your computer’s fans keep running when its screen is closed, you have much bigger concerns than overheating or battery life. Sleeves have several other advantages over hard cases.
If you’re buying a sleeve, you need to make sure it fits your laptop, but you can always use a sleeve that’s a little too big, which gives you more purchasing options. If you find a sleeve you like on sale, you can buy it and still protect your laptop even if it’s a little loose in the bag. Hard cases, however, need to be more fitted to offer any sort of protection. These limit the case models you can buy, and if a retailer offers a discount on all models except the one you need, you’re out of luck.