2018 Macbook Pro and iMac Pro users report serious kernel panic issues

Things haven’t been going so well for Apple’s new 2018 Macbook Pro.

Owners of Apple’s latest Macbook Pro model 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.

This news of a widespread kernel panic issue affecting 2018 Macbook Pros arrives just as Apple released a fix dealing with another major 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, many iMac Pro users have also been reporting kernel panics, which leads some to believe is the fault of the T2 chip, which is only found in Apple’s latest MacBook Pro and 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 feature 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. 

We have reached out to Apple for comment and will update this story when we hear back.