Q: MacBook Pro Retina display burn-in?

Just got my 15" MacBook Pro Retina last week and immediately noticed ghosting (LG display of course, build week 42). Went to the Apple Store today and while waiting for about ten minutes I did the usual to reproduce the problem. Dimmed the display to about 1/2, changed the background image to a solid dark gray and opened Safari. When the genius arrived I closed Safari and he immediately acknowledged the problem. He then went to talk to some collegues, came back and started some new display test which basically showed a chessboard like pattern for 3 minutes, then a black image for one minute. After that he inspected the display but did not find any ghosting (I'm pretty sure you just can't see ghosting on a solid black background). So, according to him what I'm experiencing is "normal behavior" for that display. I still insisted on getting a new MacBook and because I'm within the 14 days return policy, he finally did order a new one.

I've been an (happy) Apple customer for almost 10 years and it makes me pretty angry that they simply say ghosting on a >3000 EUR notebook is "normal behavior". I really do hope they address this issue at some point :-/

These models have image retention especially when using a gray background.  I would have kept it.  Your new one will be the same also.  It bothered me at first but now I dont even notice it.  Yes you paid over 3,000 EUR but it appears that LG will be predominant in most of the screens in the 15" retina and its a characteristic they have.  If it bothers you too much then return it and get another machine.  Don't waste time returning it and trying to get a Samsung.  If the IR is bugging you then choose another machine.  I can't replicate any image retention with a black background and the only time my background was gray is when I stumbled upon this thread and started looking for it.  It is a great machine and even with the minor IR I know this is the best machine out right now for the type of work I do.  Its not perfect don't get me wrong but it's pretty darn close.     

@nt wrote:

 

"These models have image retention especially when using a gray background"...     

...or simply Apple's iLife suite of apps, or any app who's GUI elements are medium/dark grey.

Check out this guy's IR...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eN27Qdyta-U&NR=1&feature=endscreen

Now, that's nasty.

I was able to recover the test from Safari's cache, just did it again and I can actually see some ghosting after the 4 minutes have passed. If anyone is interested in giving it a try:

http://sascha.psyonic.net/mbprirtest/ (German)

http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=de&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=de&ie=UTF-8&la yout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fsascha.psyonic.net%2Fmbprirtest%2F&act=url (English translation)

Thanks a lot for the great info & Test Cybersystem.  I just got my Macbook Retina on Friday with 16GB and full 768 SSD and have been very concerned re this Burnin Problem - I have the LG Display so I was dissappointed I did NOT get a Samsung Screen.   I ran the Checkerboard Test you provided and and did see a bit of an image retention after the 3 minute test was over, during the followup one minute test for about 15 - 20 seconds, then it dissappeared.  Then I immediately went back to the Screensaver, shut it down  and there is no IR whatsover. Does this mean I'm okay ie good to go with this LG Screen??

Hi Mitigator.  What that means is your display is within spec meaning its good.  Mine does the exact same thing.  It is not defective.  Defective would be LG screens not having this characteristic and yours did but all LG's have slight IR.  Some will tell you in this thread that it is defective but this is not the case.  Most if not all LG screens are have this trait.  If it starts to bug you or interferes with work then by all means get your money back.  If not then enjoy your new Retina Display! 

I went in to the store on the 20th to complain about the IR and they tested mine and said it fell within spec. I politely asked to speak to a manager and explained this was unacceptable for a top of the line machine and insisted they fix it. They agreed to replace my screen but said if the next one has the same issue they won't replace it, and this was written on my work order. I told them they can replace the screen but if the next one is worse, they can't expect me to just roll over. They said at that point, should it come to it, they might just have me return the machine. I bought it in June my return period is well past.

I say all this because just be pushy and forceful. Ask to see a manager and explain, politely and courteously that you just can't accept such poor performance for a machine that is supposed to excel on image quality.

For your info

Most of the screen orders for Apple's new iPad mini, fourth-generation iPad, 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display, and redesigned iMacs have reportedly gone to LG Display, not Samsung

http://appleinsider.com/articles/12/10/25/lg-lands-most-display-orders-for-apple s-latest-products---report

At the event they bragged with the 15 inch display; such a big lie. Because it has so many problems it's just a very bad display. I don't think any pro in this world would buy an external display with this problem.

It's just a display with high resolution and kind of good colours, not great.

I got a rMBP and after 2 months the ir is so bad that it shows after one minute even on the default background.It is the wors ir i've seen on a display so far. Apple really screwed its professional costumers on this product.

Only bought the rmbp because i thought t would get the advertised display.

This thread will go on until the next gen when they will probably fix the issue but all the first gen buyers will remain screwed.

Hi Mitigator.  What that means is your display will get worse over time. Somebody in this thread will tell you that it is perfect, counter to all evidence because they are really sad about their own defective machine which they didn't exchange when they had the opportunity. If this was normal Samsung displays would have it too. They don't.

You are within your 14 days which puts you in charge. This is a very expensive machine, specially since you bumped up the specs. After 14 days you would have to rely on some random genius's kindness (varies a lot from one to another).

Read the thread, including Chivote and Adonis91's troubles on this same page. Make up your own mind.

I just returned my macbook pro retina with LG display for full refund.. I don't want to be in a state where I will always be checking my display to see if it got affected by IR or not.. Instead of enjoying this costly machine peacefully.

I will wait till the second generation rMBP is released.

This is heart-breaking, Mine just developed the problem after 7 weeks(week 35 even though I received it on August 30th). LG screen too...I'm so angry/upset right now...I went into the Apple store a few days after I got it and the guy assured me it was a very small percentage of ealry machines..it's a lie..All LG-screened machines will develop the problem..Add me to the list of suckers that bought into the lies..I should have just sent it back..I feel like such a loser right now. :-(

How many of you have heard the story "The Emperor's New Clothes"?

It's a very old, but very familiar, children's story.

(Here's a link: http://deoxy.org/emperors.htm)

I think it's time that those cowardly Apple employees, who keep propagating this "myth" that image retention on LG displays is "within spec", stand up, do the right thing, and openly admit that "the emperor has no clothes".

Any Apple genius who can look customers in the eye and tell them this lie over and over again must either have no scruples or no self-respect. It's pathetic, really pathetic.

Well, my 3rd rMBP arrived today, well over a month after I clicked the purchase button. I have already had 1 Samsung and 1 LG which were damaged, and while the Lg did show minor IR it hasn't gotten any worse since I received it a few weeks ago. I would just have to trust that they all exhibit this behaviour and it gets worse over time.

However, the machine I received today is a week 42/43 build - appears to be damage-free and a Samsung display. No yellow tinting or dead pixels so I'm happy so far.  Finger crossed this is the end of the road for me.

Is @nt an Apple exec ?!

After 300+ pages on this thread *only* (meaning there is more evidence out there anyways), you, @nt, have to be very naive, or not acting in good faith, to advocate that image retention is a phenomenon 'within specs'.

That's preposterous on so many levels. I have a Samsung display (after having had six LGs) and there is no hint of image retention. I also have five displays at home, all but one are LGs, no image retention. I have had 19 MacBook Pros since 2005, no image retention until this year. I have had desktop computers and laptops since the mid-80s, no image retention.

Need I say more? And FYI, IPS technology is nothing new. It's been out for years in the PC world, even in Apple's products. So it is not the case that IPS panels all exhibit image retention. Image retention on any display for such expensive devices is unacceptable.

There is nothing right about image retention. Plus, the 'within specs' rubbish is an idiotic and dishonest reply on two levels:

1- the spec may be arbitrary, subjective, and defined by Apple

2- the spec is UNKNOWN, unavailable to customers prior to purchase

Therefore, what the ef is that spec anyways? Is it recognized by ISO, ICS, ANSI ?

Oh wait, they won't tell you that.

Do you know what a tech spec is? I work with engineers, computer scientists, and businesspersons on a daily basis, I'm a human factors scientist by trade and a cognitive scientist by education. Standards and specifications for technology is something I have to deal with on a daily basis. They are well-defined, and leave little to the imagination. If they do, it means that whatever hasn't been explicitly determined is up to the engineer.

You, madam or sir, are being blindsighted by sheer devotion to Apple, a lack of understanding of technology, or something else altogether which I cannot diagnose.

Some people will be Apple (or any brand) apologists to irrational levels. I used to be very eager to 'promote', 'support', and even 'defend' Apple products. I haven't been much lately, with multiple issues on iPhones, iPads, and Macs. The honeymoon is over.