Q: MacBook Pro Retina display burn-in?

Of the gray backgrounds, it's the darker one, solid gray, that makes it appear the best for me. But I've also seen the problem when using pictures for my background. It partly depends on how long the windows was static in that area and possibly how bright your screen is (the brighter, the more it will show).

How long does the burn in usually last? Like does it always go away after time?

Oh no!!! My rMBP with Samsung LCD has image retentivity too! I've got my rMBP for almost 2 weeks now, been following this thread since the very beginning. I got very worried recently after i saw these posts so i decided to test for IR again, abeit more intensive, using a custom made dark grey background that i made in photoshop i left the screen on this page with maximum brightness for an hour, pressed command + H and sure enough i can see very faint imprints of this forum's outlines in the dark grey background. Is this normal (because i left it too long with max brightness?) or it shouldn't show any traces of IR no matter how long i leave the screen on?

Well the reason they designed the "screen SAVER" was for the very reason of saving your screen. Sure technology has gotten better, but I bet many screens out there today LCD or not will have some form of screen retention. I would not be worried if your blasting full brightness holding the exact same image on for say 3 hours and then you can see screen retention for a minute or so afterwards. The screen retention though shouldnt stay around for long. If it does then its more a case of permanent retention which should not occur (though there are many people out there who claim it does occur) for LCD's due to the fact the screen uses liquid crystals rather than phosphor to create an image.

In LCDS as far as i'm aware they make the crystals twist into a shape which allows polarised light to come through it, therefore displaying the light. Image retention would be due to the crystals staying in their state for a very long time, and therefore not returning to their original state even when the signal says to change? Why that would happen is beyond me. Im sure the process is much more complex and therefore more reasons why screen retention could occur than first thought.

No, i only leave the screen there for exactly 1 hour, with max brightness. After that i can see a very faint IR that is still there after 1 or 2 minutes so i restarted the computer and found that the IR had gone. Is this normal?

If you ask me, that wouldn't bother me too much (LG or Samsung).  1 hour is an extreme test and you are getting only some faint IR.  In the end, it's up to you and what you feel comfortable with.  Just my opinion

I'm curious as to what happens if you run the 1 hour test like you said, quickly see if there is screen retention and then if there is immeadiately restart the computer. If it goes straight away on restart, its nearly a firmware/software issue, and there is some form of full screen refresh signal being sent on restart, or maybe tehre is a screen power loss during restart.

Another test would be to sleep the screen immediately after you see retention. See if that clears it.

Those tests will reveal some of what is going on.

Now the problem is that, my friend that also uses MBP (non-retina) can leave his screen on for days (he plays online games) and nevers sees any IR issues on his screen but here i can already see faint ghosting by just leaving it on for an hour. Is it because of the different technology retina screens use? Another question, any chance of apple giving me a replacement just because of this slight ghosting? I'm still in my 14 days return no-questions asked period.

I've had my LG screen rMPB for a week now, and i've not seen any image retention at all and i've had the dark grey background since day 1.

Out of interest, those with image retention have you tested if it occurs when using the Integrated gfx and the Discrete gfx?

It may be a small problem as only a few posts on here, or it may be a large proportion of people don't notice it or don't complain as they think it is normal.

I had two things in my kind when I decided to return it :

1. Will it get worse with time. The level it is at at the moment I could live with, but apple are keeping quiet about the technical aspects of the problem, I.e. is it inherent in the Retina technology but varies in how noticeable it is or is it a real defect. I am not taking chance it will get worse and spoil my use of a £2400 computer.

2. At some point there will be a better MBP (2013/14 ?) at which point I may want to sell this to part fund my new one (as I did with my 2011 MBP). When you come to sell it, guess what question you are bound to be asked,mand if you have to answer yes, it has an LG screen with retention effects, the resale value will drop drastically.

If this was a £400 Dell I would ignore it and avoid the issue with my next purchase, but I have PCs that are that quality already, I bought my MBPr because it is the best at what it is, and for its price, I expect it to be defect free when I receive it.

I called applecare and they said it was normal, unless it was very obvious. I spoke to a advisor and he later forwarded me to a senior advisor when i asked for a replacement. The senior advisor said this was perfectly normal as all screens have a tendency of image retentivity if a static image is left for extended periods of time on the screen. He said apple engineers are working hard on this issue and it isn't a defect unless the IR is severe. He guided me through some IR solving techniques which i patiently go through with him since i already knew about it (putting on a white screen and stuff). Guess i'll live with it (unless if it gets worse) since the IR is very slight and does not directly affect my work on this computer.

I have Samsung :( i will test this later tonight with the same situation to see what happens. I'm so sad because i'm out of 14 days and i was so happy that this issue will not bother me.

Lets see what happens.

Test it with maximum brightness for at least 1 hour. I've been testing mine since last week for 40 minutes every test but cannot see any traces of IR, not until today when i decided to leave it there for 1 full hour. Leave a high contrast page with lots of blacks and whites (like this thread here) and use photoshop to create a dark (very dark, close to black) background that can fit into the whole screen (2880x1800) then open it full screen using preview. Once an hour passes, swipe away from this thread into the full screen grey backgroud and see if you have anything. Good luck!

OK the moment of truth. I have a Samsung screen week 30 and I tested this for 40 minutes at the day one. No IR.

Now I tested again for 1:05 hour with high brightness and left this page open. No sign of IR at all.

That's it. I wont test it again otherwise I have to be around and do it everytime for 1:30 or 2 hours or etc. If I will be noticed some how in the future I will repair it. If I have an IR and didn't notice it well perfect! It's like I don't have it at all.

I'm out of 14 days now then I have 1 year (3 years with AppleCare) to find this issue and let them fix it

for me.

Good luck and have fun with your MBPR.

Is it also possible to identify the type of Display, with the serial number, by yourself?

I will get tommorow my third replacement and dont feel like contacting the support again.