What a hard-shell case does
A hard-shell case is two pieces of thin, hard plastic, one for the lid and one for the base, that clip onto a MacBook and stay on while you use it. It guards the aluminium against scratches, scuffs and light knocks, on the desk as much as in a bag, and changes the colour if you want it to. Cut-outs leave the ports, the hinge and the vents clear, and many have ventilation holes and small feet underneath. A shell is for everyday wear; for carrying in a crowded bag, a sleeve over the top adds padding.
Clear, frosted, matte or printed
- Clear and crystal shells show the MacBook's own colour, and the logo shows through.
- Frosted and matte shells hide fingerprints and light scratches, in a range of colours.
- Printed shells carry a pattern or a painting on the lid, with a plain base.
- Shells with a bumper have a softer TPU edge to take the shock of a knock.
- Sets come with a keyboard cover, and one with a keyboard skin and a screen protector as well. A keyboard cover is shaped to one layout, so check the layout named in the choices. See keyboard covers.
Choose by the exact model
A shell clips to the shape of one MacBook, so the screen size is not enough. Two MacBooks both sold as 13-inch can need different shells: a case for the 13.6-inch MacBook Air made from 2022 does not fit the earlier 13.3-inch Air. Find your model's name and year under About This Mac. Many product pages also ask for the model number, an A followed by four digits, printed in the small text on the underside, and list the model numbers each size fits. Match it exactly. The pages for the 13-inch MacBook Air and the other MacBook pages gather the cases, sleeves and covers named for each model.
Questions people ask about MacBook hard-shell cases
How do I put a shell on and take it off?
Line it up and press it on at the corners first, gently. To take it off, ease it away at a corner. Forcing a hard shell can crack it.
Can dust get underneath?
A little can, over time. Take the shell off now and then, and wipe the MacBook and the inside of the shell before clipping it back on. The cleaning kits have soft cloths for it.
Will a MacBook with a shell still fit in a sleeve?
Usually, in a sleeve that is not tight. The shell adds a little on every side. See the 13-inch, 14-inch and 16-inch sleeves.
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