MacBook Pro M1 13 - Cracked Display

Hello everyone,

I’m a long-time Apple user and currently own a MacBook Pro. Before that, I had a first-generation MacBook Air.

Back in 2021, I decided to upgrade from my old MacBook Air to a MacBook Pro. My MacBook Air was my trusted companion during university, lasted over 10 years, and is actually still working—apart from the battery life, which is understandable after so long. I used it everywhere and NEVER had any issues.

Now, here’s the problem. My MacBook Pro is used 90% of the time at home, mostly during my free time, so we’re not even talking about heavy or careless usage. It’s in mint condition—no scratches, dents, or signs of misuse. Last week, I opened the lid and was shocked to find a crack in the upper-left corner of the screen. I still can’t figure out how it happened.

I just closed the lid like I’ve done hundreds of times before, and when I reopened it—boom—there’s a crack. NOTHING hit the screen or the case. The keyboard is spotless because I use an external keyboard, mouse, and monitor with a docking station most of the time. I also want to point out that I don’t use any keyboard covers or accessories that could have applied pressure and caused this kind of damage. And no, I’m not the kind of person who eats or drinks anywhere near their laptop.

The crack looks completely internal, like it came from inside the screen itself.

I booked an appointment at the Apple Store to figure out what to do. The technician confirmed that the screen wasn’t hit by anything and that the crack is internal. Then came the kicker—they offered me a repair for around €700 and a 10% discount on my next Apple purchase. Seriously? A discount to buy another device that might end up with the same problem?

When I got home, I started digging through the internet and Apple forums and found that tons of people have experienced the exact same issue. Apparently, there was even some kind of lawsuit about randomly cracking MacBook screens a few years ago. So, now I’m sitting here wondering—am I just another victim of bad design?

And honestly, why should I be the one paying to fix what looks like a design flaw?

I’ve been an Apple user for years, and I’ve always appreciated the quality and customer service. I even had my 1st-gen iPod Nano replaced for free years after I bought it because of battery issues. That’s the kind of service I’ve come to expect from Apple, and this situation feels completely off-brand for them.

So here’s my question—why should I pay to fix what’s very likely a design weakness? I’m not expecting this kind of issue from a company with a reputation like Apple’s.

Has anyone else had a similar experience, and how did you handle it?