MacBook Pro Retina display burn-in?

Barry Fisher wrote:

ditto, unless I hear/see that there has been a fix for the problem, there's really not any opinion that hasn't been expressed except to blow off steam, and get some idea of how widespread it is.

Do we not know how widespread the problem is??? For those not in the know...

1) Apple has responded that IR is normal behavior for ALL their retina IPS displays ~~> http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5455

2) All retina IPS displays are made by LG

3) All retina S-PLS displays are made by Samsung

4) Samsungs do not display IR

5) All LGs IPS retina displays have shown IR on this forum, some people going thru multiple displays all showing IR

Draw your own conclusions...

srhwang wrote:

Like I said earlier, it's only a problem if one makes it a problem for him/herself. One must ask, if everything a customer does on the Retina Macbook Pro (with IR) is listen to music, surf the internet, and watch videos, and the customer never notices IR until someone does extreme testing on gray backgrounds to show him there is a problem with his machine, was the IR really a problem for the customer from the start? Was it that unacceptable? I think this is subject to intense debate – whether a problem is inherently a problem, or if it's only a problem if it's subjectively a problem without external "push" so to speak. I believe the latter, because a problem for one person may not be a problem for another. Then what would the IR be classified in the case of the person who doesn't consider it a problem? Maybe a side-effect, or an unintended "feature."

Apparently after 600K views and 356 pages it is noticed by more than you think. Time will tell as the 13" rMBP will be going out to a lot more people, so we will see just how noticeable this feature is. The other problem as stated many times is what do you think this IR is going to look like in a year or two???

I had my LG panel replaced last August and the replacement was also an LG panel. I did not get it replaced again until I suffered with a dead pixel in the middle of the screen that developed after some time. Got my computer back and the replacement panel this time to my surprise is a Samsung panel.

Both my LG screens had IR although the second was less visible. Will test this new Samsung screen and see if it's better.

First I will put a caveat over my comments in that i have only had my rMBP for two weeks. Having said that, I would not say categorically that all LG displays show IR on this forum. I for one have a perfect LG display (touch wood) with no hint of IR whatsoever and yes, I did look for it initially using the user generated app floating around this forum.

I am not saying it won't develop IR over time but I hope it won't or at the worst, i won't notice it if it did as i've stopped looking for it.

Did you use http://iva-soft.com/gray test? Did you try it in the dark (in fact you should see IR after 5 mins at any indoor light conditions, but in the dark room it's easier to see).

I have LG and I made this test to find out whether all LG displays suffer of IR, or none of Samsung does using the same test for more precise statistics.

In my case IR appears in less than a minute. And lasts for at least two minutes before complete disappear. For example after 3 minute test it lasts for 7 minutes. I have my rMBP for 2 monts, and noticed IR two weeks ago, so I'm not sure was it initially or not.

Now I plan to bring it for repair and I wonder if I should ask for Samsing display or the latest LG are fine as well.

Could you make the test again in the dark room, please?

Vespa Mod wrote:

First I will put a caveat over my comments in that i have only had my rMBP for two weeks. Having said that, I would not say categorically that all LG displays show IR on this forum. I for one have a perfect LG display (touch wood) with no hint of IR whatsoever and yes, I did look for it initially using the user generated app floating around this forum.

I am not saying it won't develop IR over time but I hope it won't or at the worst, i won't notice it if it did as i've stopped looking for it.

The only retina that screen burns is the one in my eye. Ouch!

Certainly not my Samsung! 😉

You mean during the test, or that screen is bright in general? Don't look at the screen during the test 🙂

I looked at the test and it hurt my natural retina

Previously I used a downloaded test called "TestRentention_0.1b" that was available way back in this thread. Not a bad app as you can adjust a few variables.

In any case, i just tried your test for 5 mins and there was no IR. Previously I did the other test for 10 mins a couple of times and 5 mins a couple of times, again there was no IR.

If IR was present like some images on this thread, I would be kicking up a stink or returning it within the 14 day return period.

But it would appear I have no IR and I don't want to return this rMBP on the presumption 'all LGs have IR' plus I don't have another computer to fall back onto since my 2007 MBP died.

Update guys.

I just received my latest and last ditch replacement today and I just can't believe what the terminal command tells me... IT'S A SAMSUNG!!!!

After 4 replacements / 5 rMBPs this one finally came with the one thing I had wanted all the way through this process. I had practically given up hope of ever getting one of these seemingly elusive displays.

I've only had a very quick 5 minute play with this replacement as I'm snowed under at work but I just had to check as soon as the replacement was delivered. The screen is very sharp, bright and white, I can see that much. There does seem to be a little unevenness as some people have mentioned, however, it is in comparing the right hand side to the left where the right side is (very) slightly yellower than the left.

Apart from this, there doesn't appear to be any dead pixels or mura, no creaks and no uneven backlighting either on the screen or the keyboard.

Everything taken into consideration, this one's a keeper for me unless I can see anything else under a darker light that bothers me. If for any reason at all I decide to send this back then it's a refund until the 2nd generation comes out next year but I wouldn't like to hedge a bet that the screens on these will be any better than the 1st generation. This may be especially true if Samsung and Apple fall out completely and we're stuck with LG / Sharp as a supplier. Based on this I'd rather stick with one that does have a Samsung screen and not have to potentially play the lottery again next year.

For reference, I've just looked up the serial number and it comes up as week 44 on appleserialnumberinfo.com with a configuration of 2.6 / 16 / 512.

I certainly hope that Samsung will be used more frequently for the rest of you in new builds and that this isn't just another one week wonder like we had with week 39 / 40.

"it is in comparing the right hand side to the left where the right side is (very) slightly yellower than the left."

You say this is a keeper, and you say everything into consideration.

So is it a keeper, period? or is it that apple has warn you down to accepting a notebook with a yellow screen on one side? Try to think back, would you have accepted this current (more yellow on one side) notebook if it was your first one that you received from Apple? Just curious.

DomdiDom,

Two thoughts on this. I also have a Samsung Screen (1st purchase) with a screen that is very slightly yellow on the right. The computer is perfect otherwise and is amazing.

1. I may not have noticed this if I had not seen this forum.

2. And yes, I would have the screen replaced if I thought I could get a perfect screen with no yellowing or IR and no dents to the case, etc. After following this forum I would not take that chance and am happy with what I have. I have Applecare and would consider asking for a replacement in the future if all issues are resolved.

Just got my first replacement. Again an LG screen, but far better than the one I had before. Only see very very slight IR (that I would probably never notice if I didn't try really hard), which disappears within a few seconds. Build week 44. Will do some tests in the next few days, but if it doesn't get any worse I really can't complain about this one.

DomdiDom wrote:

"it is in comparing the right hand side to the left where the right side is (very) slightly yellower than the left."

You say this is a keeper, and you say everything into consideration.

So is it a keeper, period? or is it that apple has warn you down to accepting a notebook with a yellow screen on one side? Try to think back, would you have accepted this current (more yellow on one side) notebook if it was your first one that you received from Apple? Just curious.

I would say at this stage that it IS a keeper. The only condition I'm putting on this is I haven't looked at the screen under darker conditions e.g. my study at home under artificial lighting at night.

Unless something with the screen or otherwise becomes obvious under darker lighting conditions then this one is definitely a keeper. When I say 'everything taken into consideration' I mean that I'm much more likely to get a rMBP with a problem if I were to send this one back, not least of which one that may come with an LG screen and then I'm back to square one.

If the only 'fault' that this one has is slight yellowing to the right hand side of the screen then I can live with that and keep it. I'm going to have another look at it this afternoon anyway as I'm not even sure that there is any kind of problem with it, especially as the screen hasn't been calibrated yet. Will report back later.

Hey guys (and ladies),

mine has IR now too ... noticed it yesterday for the first time. It came into existence after 6 weeks of permanent usage ...

The tests within my 14 days return period were all negative. 😟 My display is, of course, LG.

So, I guess that really all LG panels will show the phenomnenon (if not early then later).