Bought new iMac 20" Faded Screen

I am having the exact same problem. The gradient effect is horrible. I've adjusted the color profile to no avail. If I get the bottom half of the screen to a place where it looks good the top half looks way too dark.

I am so disappointed by all of this. I have had several iMacs and they have never come out of the box looking as bad as this. I don't think it is unreasonable to expect a newer iMac to look better than an older one.

I too will be returning mine. So disappointing... 😟

I've had my new 20' iMac for less than a week and I've found no way to get the screen properly adjusted.

The top half is too dark and the bottom half is too light and 'washed out'.

I plan on returning this Monday morning...but what are the options? Will a replacement machine have the same problems? The 17 and 20 previous models had perfect screens...at least from my personal experiences.

I expected much more from Apple than a screen that can't be used for any kind of detail work and gives you a headache trying to focus on the washed out sections.

The computer itself seems to be running okay...except for a growing concern about overheating in the upper LEFT hand corner of the screen. Another problem I noticed was that the entire computer/screen is crooked...leaning just over a quarter of an inch to the left. This is the first time I've seen this kind of tilting on an iMac.

I really hate to go to the extreme hassle of returning a computer and the downtime that comes with it. But these 20' screens are unusable as is.

Message was edited by: QGrayson

Message was edited by: QGrayson

By QGrayson: "I plan on returning this Monday morning...but what are the options? Will a replacement machine have the same problems?"

I don't know. Seems fairly widespread. I took ours back and got a refund less the 10% 'restocking' fee, of $149.90. Had it less than a week. Wife went back to using the G4 Cube that she's been using. So we just didn't upgrade and will wait until the apparent problems are sorted out, or another model comes out someday. But it was a long time for this rev to come out. The 24" is way too big for just a home desktop that she uses in her office/study. I don't know.

There shouldn't be any restocking fee if you return your mac within 14 days. Especially if the darn thing isn't working as advertised.

It's up to you...but I would call them back and ask them why they charged you ANY fees since the computer was what they call 'DOA' (Dead on Arrival...or unusable out of the box.) and you returned it within the two week period.

Having a screen that isn't working correctly certainly can be described as unusable. Not to mention that it appears to be a widespread problem.

I find it very disturbing that they're charging customers to return a defective product.

I went to the Apple Store yesterday to look for this issue. I had to wait as every iMac had someone looking at them! I finally got on one, set the desktop to a single color and was able to observe what everyone is talking about. The top of the screen in darker than the bottom. Calibration helps the fading at the bottom but if I moved my head down the bottom would get darker but the top would get even more dark. There is a definite shift in color as you move your head around. This is just a low end screen that Apple has put into this model. I don't think most people will notice this affect but now that it's been pointed out I don't like it. I'm still not sure I like the glossy screen either. The 24" sceen is the better screen but I can't afford that model. I may go with a new Mini and attach it to a nice Samsung 17" LCD I bought a couple of years ago that is hooked up to a PC.

Kelvin

Message was edited by: KRitchie

Brilliant idea - managed to order a refurbished 20" iMac from the UK store.

Still very disappointed in Apple over this horrible screen.

Hello,

I have this gradient screen issue too on my just received iMac 20". I was selling my old iMac white intel core 2 duo 20" on eBay but have just cancelled the sale, just in case. Because it seems that there is no new 20" iMac that have not the gradient issue.
I hope Apple will fix this issue very soon for me and for them.

Romain.

I have the same issue with my 20" Alu iMac. Because of the display I'm returning it for a refund and going back to my mini. It's a shame, I'd love to buy an iMac again - apart from this one issue with the screen it's an amazing machine but this is one area they shouldn't have compromised on. As things are now I'm torn between buying a 24" iMac that is perhaps a touch too large or waiting for 20" models with a new panel that doesn't have the same issues. Gutted.

I'm on the 20 inch too and this problem really bothers me I don't even do art and it bothers me just to look at a webpage and scrolling down and see the picture alot lighter is just so annoying. I hope apple does a recall on this or atleast offers somekind of fix for it 😟

Message was edited by: togermano

I suggest that everyone with this problem make sure that they bring it to Apple's attention through whatever means are necessary. This was a major screw up on someone's part and they need to make it right for the sake of the iMac product line.

I've been pondering this issue. Has anyone actually checked to see if the 'glossy' glass covering may be causing the dark/light, gradient, shifting color problem?

Perhaps someone should see if taking the glass off makes a difference? Essentially the screen is encased in glass in a sort of 'shadowbox'. Could the screen be reflecting off the glass in some fashion...causing shadows and color distortions? And what about the distance between the glass and the screen? Would that make a difference?

One has to admit that the 20" is a nice computer overall. But since this is the first time Apple has tried putting a glass cover on their screens...it may have something to do with the fact that so many 20s have the gradient situation.

I'm not ready to give up on Apple or the iMac. I'm willing to give them the benefit of doubt while until they take a good look at the problem and find a solution. The solution might be as simple as finding out that you can't use a 'cheaper' screen with a glass front.

This very nice machine has a lot of potential.

It's not the glass, it's the cheap, poor-quality TN panel behind it. Apple is closing these threads left and right. I'm sure they'll shut this one down soon too. Wouldn't want anyone to know there's a problem, right?

I was referring to the combination of a TN screen with a glass front. It might be that a cheap screen looks more reflective and 'washed out' behind glass.

Just speculation on my part.

I was defending the screen until I saw it, I've been using 160 angle Tn display (LG) for 1½ years now (was a cheap LCD when I bought it as well).

And everything looks fine on this so I thought, This is a TN, iMac 20" is a TN, and this one is almost 2 years old, OF COURSE the iMac's screen is better.

But the truth is, iMac screens is sooo much worse than my old one, how is this possible?

How can the even sell this junk of a screen?, please fix this now and replace every iMac 20" alum sold !

"I was defending the screen until I saw it, I've been using 160 angle Tn display (LG) for 1½ years now (was a cheap LCD when I bought it as well).

And everything looks fine on this so I thought, This is a TN, iMac 20" is a TN, and this one is almost 2 years old, OF COURSE the iMac's screen is better.

But the truth is, iMac screens is sooo much worse than my old one, how is this possible?"
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Thanks for your post. Many have tried to act as if those who see them fading considerably from top to bottom are just seeing things, or need to calibrate it, or are viewing it from a bad angle. They refuse to believe it's not really as bad as it really is. Easier to believe all the people complaining are just idiots than that Apple put out a terrible product.

But in my last visit to Fry's the 20" there did not have the gradation problem and didn't look too bad, certainly no worse than the TN screens you can find all over town. So this was clearly a manufacturing problem that has been cleared up, although it's still hard to believe Apple would have such lousy Quality Control in place as to allow those first iMacs to ship out.

And there is still no way to tell if you are getting a good screen or a bad one without actually opening it and starting it up.

Which also means the glass in front is not the problem. I suspect Apple made it glossy so people would oooo and aaaaa and not notice how cheap the screen is. Might have worked too, if they hadn't sent out so many seriously flawed ones all around the world.