Some 2018 MacBook Pro and iMac Pro users are reporting kernel panic issues
Things haven’t been going so well for Apple’s new 2018 MacBook Pro.
Some owners of Apple’s latest MacBook Pro laptop are reporting their devices are being hit with multiple kernel panics, some as often as two times a day, according to a new 9to5Mac report.
For the uninitiated, a kernel panic is basically when your computer’s operating system detects an internal fatal error which it cannot safely recover from. The computer forces a reboot to minimize the risk of major data loss.
The kernel panic issue is apparently only affecting a "very small" number of 2018 MacBook Pros, and it arrives just as Apple released a fix dealing with another issue that was being reported the owners of Apple’s latest computer model. Before the Apple-issued update, users of the 2018 MacBook Pro were reporting that the computer was running so hot that the Intel Core processors inside the computer were throttling its performance down to low speeds. Apple’s update apparently fixes a bug that was affecting the new MacBook Pro’s thermal management system.
As Digital Trends notes in its report on the story, some iMac Pro users have also been reporting kernel panics, which cast suspicion on the T2 chip, which is only found in Apple’s latest MacBook Pro and the iMac Pro.
The T2 chip is responsible for handling a multitude of tasks in these Macs: the secure boot process at startup, cooling fans, storage encryption, internal mics, speakers, and the live “Hey Siri” command are just some of the processes handled by the T2 chip.
It seems what exactly triggers the kernel panics is still unknown. Some users have reported Apple replacing their 2018 MacBook Pro, swapping it with a brand new one, and the kernel panic issue popping up on that device, too. Reports claim that system reboots, reformatting hard drives, reinstalling Mac OS, and other attempts to fix the issue have been unsuccessful.
Apple says it's investigating the issue and in the meantime recommends anyone experiencing problems with their new MacBook Pro to install the most recent macOS update and to contact AppleCare.
Correction: And earlier version of this post said the kernel panic issue was "widespread," but reports say only a "very small" number of users are experiencing it.
