MacBook Pro Retina display burn-in?

I first noticed this after my MBP [Retina] had gone to sleep, but: when returning to the login screen (since I have it set to require a password whenever the computer is idle long enough) I noticed what appeared to a very faint ghosting primarily noticeable on darker backgrounds.


After messing around with it a bit, there seems to be a fairly consistent in-display ghosting that occurs without much time at all; I was able to leave my screen on (a little above half-brightness) for about 10-15 minutes and the ghosted "burn" would be of the screen I left it on (which I deliberately reconfigured so that everything would be a new position).


Has anyone else experienced this? Is this a normal thing that I just have to get used to? It's not really noticeable at all in standard use.

MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012), Mac OS X (10.7.4)

Posted on Jun 16, 2012 10:26 PM

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9,625 replies

Jul 30, 2012 5:40 AM in response to tingle3003

That's not possible. They are giving you a choice. Return it for a full refund or get a replacement if you are not satisfied with what you bought or it's not working well. Part of this satisfaction could be the company who manifactured your hardware. You could return it for full refund if its not Samsung or get a replacement if it's defective.


I can't believe that some people here got a replacement with the same issue again and again! Apple really should take good care of the people who returned for a replacement instead of refund. They trust Apple to do it again and they've already waited and suffered more than anyone else.

Jul 30, 2012 9:45 AM in response to Maziyar

I called Apple Care on this, as I have the same issue. Based on the info found in this thread, I confirmed that my display is an LG.


1st call to Apple Care resulted in me being asked to reset the PRAM, and try to reproduce the problem.


Easily reproduced it later that evening, so called back today. 2nd tech I spoke to initially told me to try a clean install of the OS. Told him that I had already done a clean install of ML when it came out last week, so no need. He then put me on hold to speak with a Senior Advisor. Came back on the line after 5 minutes or so and explained that there was a "Capture" for this issue, where Engineering asks for several units to be returned so they can study the problem. He told me that there is a fix for it, and it should only take about 15 minutes at the Apple Store. I asked him if the fix was to replace the display and he wouldn't confirm.


My Genius Bar appointment is in about 5 hours - I'll report back this evening after I make the trip. Should I push for a full-out replacement of my laptop? Or let them replace the display in-store (if they are even doing that)?

Jul 30, 2012 12:52 PM in response to mittense

I started noticing image retention a few weeks after getting my retina Macbook Pro. Example after showing a black/white striped pattern for a few minutes, then switching to grey:

User uploaded file


Took it into the Apple Store, and the Apple employee confirmed that it was an issue - I could either leave the laptop there and they'd repair it, or I could call Apple and get a replacement one sent out. I opted for the latter, and called to arrange a replacement. A courier collected the laptop, and then I found out that they were repairing it rather than replacing the whole thing.


Called the "authorised service provider" that Apple is using to repair it, and apparently they're not going to be getting the replacement screen in until Thursday at the earliest.

Jul 30, 2012 1:20 PM in response to tiredjohn

I just ran ioreg -lw0 | grep \"EDID\" | sed "/[^<]*</s///" | xxd -p -r | strings -6 on my new replacement MBPR and unfortunately it also has the LG screen (model LP154WT1-SJA1). *sigh*


I'm running an IR test right now, but FYI the screen appears to be very dim (not just compared to my previous system, but compared to my 17" MBP and even my lousy ancient Dell monitor). I have this sinking feeling that Apple's IR "solution" was to severely limit the screen's brightness controls on LG models so that you just don't notice the problem... which would not be cool.


If this one is bad, I'm not asking for an exchange, I'm returning it outright and dealing with my old computer until next years MBP refresh.

Jul 30, 2012 2:34 PM in response to brianld

Spent a while at the Apple store this afternoon. After demonstrating the problem to the person assisting me, he went and spoke with a manager to see what my options were. I was told I could have the display portion replaced via a repair order. Alterntatively, since my rMBP was a custom configuration (ordered online) they could order an entirely new unit to replace it with. The problem with the unit replacement option was that I would have to leave my current rMBP at the store until the replacement one came in (2 - 3 weeks he told me). In the end I opted to let them just replace the display. The part should be in-store later this week, so hoping for a good outcome. I'd like to think that they've identified the issue internally and would only ship the Samsung displays as replacement parts, but we will see.

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MacBook Pro Retina display burn-in?

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