Yellow tinge from bottom to top of the screen, 27" iMac

Dino, I totally agree with you. People either rationalize or cannot see they yellow. I think it affects every iMac, albeit to different degrees. I will say, however, truthfully, there are iMacs at Apple's 59th St store in NYC that have perfect screens. I've developed a sharp an eye as possible to detect the yellow, and I've run the tests on those screens, and they are fine. Also, those iMacs were built very early on. Like week 40 or 41, I think. Since then, I think all the iMacs, of both sized-screens, have had a yellow tinge. Never mind the other widespread problems like buzzing noises when brightness is reduced, etc (though that doesn't affect all iMacs, since only a few of the 5 21.5" ones I've tried have had that noise issue). This has all been a disaster -- very un-Apple-like. Very disappointing.

deemer, Yes if you checked the Squeaked site, the earlier iMacs did not have as many issues back then. So, I hear you when you say the ones in the Fifth Ave. Store are Perfect. But as far as on here goes. Either your screen has a problem, or it doesn't. If it doesn't, then this is not the thread for you. Off topic, I moved to Florida from NY 7 years ago. But every year when I visit. I visit the Apple Stores. Last Sept. went to the Fifth Ave. Store. Nice!

Dino I totally agree with you and Deemer. Although I think to be quite lucky to having received a 27" with just a light LCD color variance (not sure if this could be qualified as "yellow tinge"), it is pretty unbelievable how a company like Apple can incur in such a fiasco in a top line product like the 27" iMac (the "ultimate" screen....).

I do expect that in order to keep up its world famous fame (i.e. superior clients' support services), Apple will sort this drama out offering to its clients a fair solution. In the meantime a certain number of them could have already decided not to buy Apple products anymore and this would be the real damage for Apple.

Dino, I think you're spot on. Like I said in a previous post, I spent a lot of time with upwards of 10 different 21" and 27" iMacs. I didn't check serial numbers on all of them, but for the ones I did they were week 08's. Every single one of them had the yellow tinge, but on some it was very slight (screens I would have accepted) and on others it made the screen unusable for any professional work because they would simply be impossible to calibrate. You would literally have to decide which part of the screen you wanted to calibrate and then only use that part of your screen for your design/editing.

All except one of these screens would probably be ok as a home PC (and fantastic for movies or games, where the tinge will not be noticeable). And for a 27" screen in a $2k machine, we shouldn't expect the highest level of professional quality.

A sample of ten screens is statistically significant. So my research is done. If you're reading this and you have a perfect screen, you were lucky. It is entirely possible (like rolling double sixes), but it happens infrequently and your one sample is not statistically significant.

Well said Dino, and everyone else. This whole thing is frustrating, and mine is going back tonight. Part of me wants to risk a 21" because I need a computer at home, but I'm unsure. I can't afford a MacPro, the iMac's I don't trust, MacBook Pro's are about to be refreshed, and a MacBook, well, is a MacBook. But it would get me by at home until I could get a new desktop I suppose. I feel like I'm in this computer holding pattern and I don't like it...I just want one that works. 🙂

My friend whose iMac 27" quad had the dead screen has had his replaced with a week seven. We pick it up tonight, and I hope and pray his new machine is ok. Remember a time when you could buy an apple product and the fact that it would not perform as expected never crossed our minds? Yeah, I miss those days too. 🙂

Yes I remember that time Mike! The last thing on your mind was getting a computer that had a defect. Even buying a Used Mac, you felt confident. Btw, The 21.5" has the same issues. I had 2 with worse Color Variance than my current 27". Sorry, if I repeat myself, but can't you open one up in store & spend an hour running tests before you decide to take it home? I know people were allowed this option. Did you do that on your last one? Sorry, too many defective iMac situations to remember. I forget.

Agreed. But the Lucky ones never went to this Thread. Or maybe they THINK their Lucky! A ton of people, like the people doing Unboxing Videos, never even Tested their Screens. Even the folks who got their Screens Replaced, early on in the original thread, said their new Screen is Perfect but never provided a Picture.

Mike_Morgan wrote:
Part of me wants to risk a 21" because I need a computer at home, but I'm unsure.

Mike, the situation with 21.5" iMacs is essentially the same as for the big ones. (Apparently, size doesn't matter ...)
Although the 21.5" thread is less active (IMO because 21.5" buyers are less "picky"), the overall mood, so to say, is exactly the same: not a single picture of a perfect screen, multiple replacements without any significant progress.

Coming to my personal case: yesterday I had a call from the rep who's following my case to organize my 3rd replacement (yellow tinge). He was very surprised of the situation as +he never heard of problems with 21.5" iMacs+.
I've decided that I cannot accept such a degree of denial and that I've spent far too much time and energies just to obtain what I paid for. This will be my last try. If (as I fear) it will prove unsatisfactory, I'll ask for a refund.

Buying a product should be a pleasure, not an ordeal.

PaoloS wrote:


Buying a product should be a pleasure, not an ordeal.

Ditto Paolo !

I am doing a waiting game.

Trying to wait to see if the 27" iMac i5 or i7 stop being yellow or the new MacBook Pro's come out. Which ever happens first I will get as long as the Pros come with quad cores.

Apple store said I could keep this loaner till mid March so I have a little time left. Might have to beg for more time after that.

The 21.5" denial just kills me! After I wrote my email to S. Jobs, Executive Customer Care called me & thanked me for alerting them about the 21/5" iMac having the Problem. Stating they did not know the 21.5" had issues. That was in January. I actually thought my email had done some good. But I see it did not. They are still singing the same annoying song.

Hi people,

I'm a long time reader of this forum and although I have known the issues the 27" iMac model suffers, I still decided to order a new 27" model (i7) a week ago hoping that issues will be getting solved by the time I receive my machine/or a couple of months, so I could always request a replacement.

I ordered directly from Apple by phone and the sales representative stated that Apple has fixed the issues, but of course, I have my doubts on the objective value of that answer...

Now, for my machine: I also took Apple Care with it, especially because I was aware of the problems. Today I have gotten a mail from Apple that states the imac has been sent to me... but will be delivered around the 13th of March...? Is it normal for the actual delivery to take 2 weeks? (I'm not talking about manufacturing it, because clearly the mails writes about 'hase been sent'...)

The serial n° of my machine starts with W800949, can someone explain me what this means? I suspect it's a week 8?

You can expect me to post the results of my first tests upon receiving the lovely machine... Can't wait to power it up.

It's a week 09. 4th and 5th number

Mine had W8008 and the yellow tinge was massive. Waiting for my fifth iMac now.

Hi Meirsv...your iMac is actually a week 9: it will be interesting for all thread participants to know your feedback about the new baby ! Good luck 😉