MacBook Pro Retina display burn-in?

Maybe you will get lucky like me and they will give you a new computer with a samsung screen.

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heh, your built to order Macbook with the LG screen doesn't have IR... yet. Sorry =( I honestly think all of the LG screens are bad from the sounds of it. You just may not be hit by the problem right away. I use my computer a good bit and it's been about 3 weeks since I purchased it and the ghosting reared its ugly head today. So give it some time... Get Apple Care, etc. I have a feeling Apple is going to take a serious bath on some screens...

Always worth comparing feedback in other threads, Any rMBP owners here with a flawless LG screen?

Yes get AppleCare as if you do have a problem you won't have to worry about getting it fixed in the future is needed. MY LG screen so far is great.

Hi,

First, I am not an apple-fanboy. When I first saw the rMBP specs I was really compelled by such amazing combination of features, so I just pull the trigger to buy my first apple computer. After 3 weeks of waiting my rMBP arrived. I was well aware about the “image retention” problem, so I quickly checked it for the issue and at that time I did not noticed any problem (LG display, week 29). Maybe I was not looking carefully enough, but it happen that one night I suddenly noticed some image retention. The next morning I made some tests: first left the screen in some static webpage (the apple store) and then check in the gray background. Unluckily, the result was clear: my rMBP suffer the image retention problem. After more testing, I found that the problem was actually very bad, 4-5 minutes where enough to produce an image retention that remained 1-2 minutes.

I feel real panic when realized that my 14-days return period was already expired (this happen on the “day 15”). I was contacted by apple on “day 17”. It was the usual history: they told me that it was "Normal"… I tried to explain about how bad was the problem and why I think that a very expensive “Retina MBP” with a “stunning display” should be free of any image artifacts; Answer: the representative wanted to give me some recommendations to minimize the effect (that was what really ****** me off). I finally got my call transferred to a manager/supervisor who expressed his will to help, BUT I was over the 14 days return period. Then he asked me to bring the computer to an authorized service center for a “pro-“diagnostic. The service center kept my computer for 2 days, and they found something faulty, the report said: “blurry image after warm up” and “AST sensor fail (ch-B1)”. That report was enough to grant me a replacement (I still do not know if the faulty hardware/sensor was actually related to the screen image retention, but it was clear that the unit was defective). At that point Apple was kind enough to grant me an in-advance replacement, so I had the opportunity of compare the faulty and new units side by side. It happens that the new one has a Samsung panel (in 3 days I have not noticed any problem).

There is a very noticeable difference between the image in the LG and Samsung panels. Both are good displays (of course, I prefer the one without the image retention). But in my opinion, after a cold boot the image was actually better in the LG screen (more crisp, natural colors [not so saturated as in the Samsung panel], better contrast). So, my ideal would be an LG display without the ghosting issue. Therefore, my advice for anyone with this problem is to push Apple until you get your computer exchanged, repaired or refunded. But, regardless of whether you get an LG or Samsung panel you should base your decision on whether the screen presents some problem with the image, otherwise you could be dropping a gorgeous glitch-free LG display (I really hope that such thing exists).

Apple: you should raise your awareness about the defective units and stop wasting your costumers time, just give a no-question exchange for the defective units (should be easy for you to identify the batch that has the defective component). Costumers paid a premium price for these computers, so we all should get a premium product and support. Apple should accept that something is wrong with these units. In my case it took me more than a week of phone calls, emails and travels to a far-away service center. This is quite far from my ideal of a premium warranty.

I am amazed with 1500 replies and 150K views there is still no Apple response to this problem and stores/Applecare are still inconsistent with addressing this problem.

The Apple Retail Store closest to me refuses to replace the display because this is "normal display characteristic" because the head genius could reproduce it on all the Retinas on display (which are all LG panels).

Luckily the other Retail Store in my area had a differing opinion.

Honestly. At this point. They should just put out a recall and switch everyone over to the Samsung panels. I mean, I guess let's see here...Give it a little bit to see if any LG panels do end up being "good"...But how long? I don't think there's any "good" LG panels. It's just a matter of "when" they go bad.

@a10a Thanks for that info, it's nice to know what I may have to go through. I sincerely hope that I don't get sort of runaround when I go to get mine fixed. It is most definitely NOT a normal thing nor is it acceptable. This too is my first Mac. I think that retina display really drove a lot of new people to Apple...It's a real shame that the same thing may lead to driving people away as well.

I just wanted to add to the general conversation that I was wondering if anyone with this problem has calibrated the monitor with one of the various pucks like eye1 or Spyder? If that has had any effect on this burn in phenomenon?

I have a Spyder 3 Express (which contains the same puck as the Spyder 3 Elite/Pro) and I used the Coloreyes Display Pro software to calibrate the original LG display that came with my rMBP and it had no effect. I did not even bother to calibrate the first replacement display I had. The rMBP is currently in the shop for the 2nd replacement display.

Just to update, the new command provided by rrahimi made a difference and it looks like they've replaced mine with another LG.

Color LCD

LP154WT1-SJA1

DCN22940TCPDMJ0A0

No signs of IR as yet, but as some have mentioned it may take time to show up. I'll monitor and report back.

Wow. Well I just ordered tonight so I guess I'll wait and see😉

I've been following this discussion since the beginning and can't believe how much hassle this has been so some of you guys. I was ready to order on day one but held off just in case to see if any early adopters were noticing any issues with the new rMBP - so glad I did. I took the decision to hold off until things appeared to settle but at the moment it's difficult to see if things are improving for new orders or not.

I have a few queries that some of you may be able to help with. Whenever I've ordered a portable Apple machine I've always ordered AppleCare at the same time, I've now had several Apple laptops (early PowerBooks onwards) and only once had a machine with problems (6 replacement screens on a 17" MBP - don't ask...) - but here's my query - if I order AppleCare at the same time as purchasing the laptop the AppleCare is auto-enrolled; so what happens if the machine laptop is replaced (if for instance it has a dodgy LG display) or I ask for a refund.

As far as I understand it, once enrolled the AppleCare is specifically attributed to a machine serial number so if a 'new' laptop replacement is made does the serial number get updated/transfered on the AppleCare policy? Or if a refund is given on a laptop presumably they refund the cost of the AppleCare too?

I'm in the UK; I'd be very interested to know what the current situation is with which type of display people are receiving LG/Samsung/AUO with new orders coming pre-installed with 10.8 Mountain Lion.

As always, any feedback gratefully received.

Many thanks -

High-Death wrote:

1. WRONG: from your own document:

When voltage is applied to a cell, the crystals of that cell all make a 90-degrees turn. By the way, an IPS panel lets the backlight pass through in its active state and shutters it in its passive state (when no voltage is applied), so if a thin-film transistor crashes, the corresponding pixel will always remain black, unlike with TN matrices.

IPS cells are either ON or OFF ONLY Like I said it, there are NO diferent levels of "twists".

Shame you didnt keep reading, because half a page later there is a nice pictorial of how IPS achieves different brightness... via different crystal orientations and the use of a polarizer.

The original statement is misleading and probably should have said "When full voltage is applied to a cell, the crystals of that cell all make a 90-degrees turn.".

3. WRONG, there are only 2 electrodes PER PIXEL, not subpixel. and IPS does not put electrodes in a different substrate, and you can even find this explicitly explained in the document you posted, and you can even find a few graphics there where it is more than crystal clear that the IPS crystal doesn't even twist, it simply turns - It is not a TWISTED crystal from like TWISTED Nematic - and the there is also a few graphics where you can see the subpixels between the 2 electrodes.

There are most certainly 2 electrodes per subpixel. I don't see anything in that document that would indicate otherwise.

BTW, lower contrast = less shades.

A flashlight has an incredibly high contrast ratio. But it only has 2 shades: Off and OMG Bright.

The rest of your post looks correct, although I still don't see how non-local dimming of the backlight supply results in well-defined image retention due to the phosphors (which are part of the backlight). Perhaps you are under the misconception that modern LCDs are directly backlit by the LEDs.

The LEDs themselves reside along the edges of the panels are actually blue with a yellow phosphor which when mixed together produces white light.

This white light then is sent through a diffuser film so as to create an even white light behind the panel before it passes through the liquid crystals.

mac-dude wrote:

As far as I understand it, once enrolled the AppleCare is specifically attributed to a machine serial number so if a 'new' laptop replacement is made does the serial number get updated/transfered on the AppleCare policy? Or if a refund is given on a laptop presumably they refund the cost of the AppleCare too?

If they replace a machine for you, you will have to call them up and have the Apple Care policy transferred over to the new machine with the new s/n. Catch is that the policy does not have its start date refreshed, so you effectively lose however long you had the defective machine, and however long you had to wait for the replacement from the cover.

If you end up going for a refund, they will also refund the cost of the Apple Care policy.

I am in the UK, the last two replacements i have had were pre installed with ML and they both had LG screens, both defective.

Thanks salthustle, very helpful information, sorry to hear of your experiences with the LG displays.

I'll be very interested to hear how you get on with your new awaited replacement.

Thanks again

Finally saw the issue in person. Went up to the local Apple Shop (iStudio in Bangkok) and ran a 5 minute test on Safari and bam... image retention. LG display.

It might be a good % of the LG displays are bad.. just people haven't woken up to the issue yet. Has anyone had their rMBP for more than a month with an LG display and no IR?

Just received my 2nd replacement (rMBP, 2.6ghz, 16gb, 512gb).

A short summary and some pictures:

• 1st rMBP: Week?? Samsung screen, with a very annoying dead pixel right in the center of the screen: called apple support and received a new one without any problems.
• 2nd rMBP: Week31 LG screen. Noticed the IR problems quite quickly: called apple support and again, recieved a new one without problem
• 3rd rMBP: Week34 Samsung screen, perfect condition!

The 2nd rMBP has not been collected for return yet, giving me the opportunity to compare the two (LG vs Samsung) side by side, also with some pictures including checkerboard tests.

Left side: LG. Right side: Samsung

Both laptops at maximum brightness and standard setting (no calibration of screen/color settings)

Picture 1: side by side

Picture 2: White vs White

Picture 3: Checkerboard background on both

Picture 4: Closeup of LG after 10min and changing background to dark grey

Picture 5: Closeup of Samsung after 10 minutes and background set to grey

In my opinion the Samsung screen is indeed the better one: it seems to be slightly brighter, whites are less yellow than the LG and most importantly: no IR.

Glad I made the exchange. I think Apple should solve this difference in screen-quality, it is just too big to ignore.

On the other hand, I have to say i'm quite impressed with Apple's customer service: they've been very polite and helpful and replaced my two faulty units without difficulty. (both times within 14days after purchase, online store, Netherlands).