M2 16in A2780 Display Design Flaw?

Question

M2 16in A2780 Display Design Flaw?

Hello!

I recently had a similar issue to what is described here: M2 MacBook Pro screen crack for no appare… - Apple Community

My M2 MacBook Pro went to bed fine, and woke up with its display acting weird! I opened the unit and it was displaying a weird double-image overlay, causing me to think there was some software issue. Upon closing and opening it, the screen remained black. Closing and opening the lid again caused some lines to show up on the left side of the screen, at the bottom of which appeared to be a hairline crack? Although no glass was cracked.

Upon searching for common inexplicable display failures, the above thread came up. Upon further investigation, it appears this case was filed against apple in 2021 about their screens failing abnormally quick with expected normal use (this is particularly true of larger screen 16in models, apparently).

Here is the lawsuit:

https://casetext.com/case/almeida-v-apple-inc-1

It appears apple settled outside of court and has, of course, directed customer service not to comment on it.

So I took it into the store, bracing myself for the same experience other users had, and that's exactly what I got. The technician took a look at it, pushed on the little line on the screen, which expanded, and still bears where he pushed on it as a little crack. Not that the technician caused the failure, but he certainly made it worse. He then told me I must have accidentally damaged the laptop.

This thing is in a fancy hard case, and whenever it is transported it goes in yet another case. It is crucial for my job, and I am very careful with it. It was closed and opened and this happened.

It's worth noting that this crack location is in the lower left hand corner where it appears many other people have a similar issue. AND just by actuating the display panel via their corners, the crack is obviously torquing. It's 900 bucks to replace the screen with one that even other users have said fails again.

I'm wondering what my other options are? I just don't have the money for that right now. Has anyone managed to fix this on their own?

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 14.4

Posted on Nov 30, 2024 2:02 PM

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Answer 1

Nov 30, 2024 2:12 PM in response to mariposamedia

Imho, about the best you can do now is leave product feedback.

Product Feedback - Apple

And then keep watching for any news and hope that Apple issues a service program for the problem.

Apple Service Programs - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Dec 2, 2024 4:56 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Hey! To be clear! There is no broken glass involved.

It appears the alleged design flaw is in the geometry of the display and LCD panel. You can read that in the lawsuit case text.

I woke up one morning, opened my laptop, which had been in its case, and the screen acted strangely with some flickering lines on it. Upon closing and reopening it and then restarting the unit, the screen failed altogether. The crack didn't really become apparent until the apple technician pushed on it, leaving a mark where his finger pushed on it. I believe this demonstrates the fragility of the product, not the technician's liability for its failure.

At this point, I'm looking for options that I can afford. My concern is that, with the unit not being covered by apple care, this is likely, as many others have reported, to happen again, at which point I would be shoveling out $850+ again for a part that is inherently flawed. It appears Apple fixed this problem with the M3's and has no plans of acknowledging the problem with the M1 and M2 displays. The lawsuit would have forced discovery for Apple's QC longevity testing results, and it appears they were able to avoid that.

Given all of that, I'm asking if there is some other repair option anyone here knows of, or if there is a way I could get this repaired and traded in, reasonably, for an M3 which does not have this design flaw / lawsuit.

Also! I'm a little confused by your statement of pressuring employees and forcing them to be unkind to me, but thanks for the advice! (or threat? Either way, thank you!) Just looking for some solutions.

Is there perhaps another brand of laptop I could buy that will run protools and manage a bunch of realtime plugins, well? Anyone else here in AV production and can comment or an alternative brand, given this unfortunate situation?

Thanks!

[Edited by Moderator]

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Answer 3

Nov 30, 2024 4:30 PM in response to D.I. Johnson

If you want a working computer, I recommend you not wait for Apple to issue a recall. They have NEVER considered broken glass a defect, EVER. The policy is inflexible, and if you attempt to pressure Apple employees over it, it will force them to be unkind to you.

If you have your receipt for your paid repair, and Apple ever decides to issue a service program for this, they will re-imburse you.

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Answer 4

Dec 2, 2024 6:58 AM in response to mariposamedia

<< not being covered by AppleCare >>

Your statement as written is not quite accurate.

defects that do NOT include cracked glass ARE covered under Apple standard 1 year warranty. Cracked or broken glass are NOT covered.

AppleCare PLUS does cover defects in displays including cracked and broken glass, with a modest co-pay, likely us$100.

but you needed to have purchased AplleCare plus in the first 60 days of ownership.

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Answer 5

Dec 2, 2024 7:09 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

In my communications with Apple, in the store and on the phone, the official stance was that this damage is not covered under warranty, regardless of the fact that this unit is no longer covered under warranty. There is no broken glass here. Similarly, many of the posts in the thread mentioned now twice above include warranty claims that Apple would not cover which did not include broken glass and included specifically what we are talking about which is an internal display crack. That is specifically what the aforementioned and linked lawsuit alleges, which is why it is important that all 3 of these links remain on this page to give appropriate context.

What you are saying is nice, but that's not the situation I or many other people have experienced.

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Answer 6

Dec 2, 2024 7:20 AM in response to mariposamedia

<< internal display crack. >>

ANY display cracks of any kind — whether or not they express all the way through to the outside surface of the glass as a palpable crack — are NOT covered under standard warranty.

that has always been the policy, and it continues to to be the policy unless/until a court of competent jurisdiction rules otherwise.

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