Q: MacBook Pro Retina display burn-in?

JMF wrote:

 

I've been on the phone with Apple support for two hours now. They claim they can't do an advance replacement for a DOA (read: has image retention problems) rMBP. That's completely false, because that's exactly what Apple did the first time I had this issue (this is my second rMBP with IR issues). Frustrating.

Let's not conflate terminology here.  An IR problem is not the same thing as DOA; DOA implies that the product is completely non-working, which is certainly not the case with IR.  An rMBP that has the IR issue from the get-go is more like Flawed On Arrival.  I am certain that Apple would do an advance replacement for a truly DOA rMBP.  But it appears that they don't have a policy for dealing with this IR issue across all of their support staff, which certainly is frustrating.  It seems to be that what Apple should do is have a policy that says that anybody who calls and asks for a replacement because of the IR issue just gets a Samsung panel as a replacement, period.  They would save themselves and us alot of hassle.  Those people who don't notice would be happy with and can keep their LG panels.

I'll ask again - because this is my first Macintosh computer, I am not very familiar with how warranty support from Apple "tends to" go, so I don't know the answer to this question: is there any risk in waiting 6 months or so before asking Apple to address this issue on my rMBP?  I would rather wait until things have settled down and they have a standardized way to address this issue rather than the current luck-of-the-draw system.  But I don't want to wait if doing so somehow indicates that I am accepting this flaw and will not be eligible for a replacement months down the road.

DOA is the term two reps from Apple used for this issue, not me. They did an advanced placement the first time, the policy should be consistent. Additionally, the AppleCare tech "had never heard of this problem" which means there appears to be little communication about this issue or he's lying (which I highly doubt).

JMF wrote:

 

DOA is the term two reps from Apple used for this issue, not me. They did an advanced placement the first time, the policy should be consistent. Additionally, the AppleCare tech "had never heard of this problem" which means there appears to be little communication about this issue or he's lying (which I highly doubt).

Really?  Wow, what an inconsistent reponse Apple support has for this problem then.  Some consider it so serious as to warrant the term "Dead On Arrival" (i.e. a little IR means that the laptop is unusable!), and others consider it to be not a warrantable problem.  Crazy.

Here's one image.

LG left - iPhone 4S middle - Samsung right

I used the same brightness setting for both.

A little closer

FYI the logos on the back are the same color (light purplish tint to them).

Let me know if you guys want me to take any other pics before I package the LG model up and ship it back.

bjiibj wrote:

 

JMF wrote:

 

DOA is the term two reps from Apple used for this issue, not me. They did an advanced placement the first time, the policy should be consistent. Additionally, the AppleCare tech "had never heard of this problem" which means there appears to be little communication about this issue or he's lying (which I highly doubt).

Really?  Wow, what an inconsistent reponse Apple support has for this problem then.  Some consider it so serious as to warrant the term "Dead On Arrival" (i.e. a little IR means that the laptop is unusable!), and others consider it to be not a warrantable problem.  Crazy.

I can confirm that they do label them DOA when they have the IR problem. My support rep told me the same thing. They didn't know what I was talking about when I said "IR or image retention", but as soon as I said [power word:] "burn-in", they were like, "Ah! That." etc.

Edit: 666th reply.

Thank you so much for the pics! I was being driven mad, thinking that, not only did my LG screen have IR, but its white point/contrast seemed too warm/dim. I'm pretty sold on the Samsung at this point. No IR and a brighter, more true screen. Still waiting on my "Processing" replacement, and I hope I get lucky next time!

And thanks for taking note of the rear Apple logo color. It seems that they all have a very slight purplish hue. Doesn't bother me, but I wanted to see if they were consistently like that.

bcar1ton wrote:

 

Thank you so much for the pics! I was being driven mad, thinking that, not only did my LG screen have IR, but its white point/contrast seemed too warm/dim. I'm pretty sold on the Samsung at this point. No IR and a brighter, more true screen. Still waiting on my "Processing" replacement, and I hope I get lucky next time!

 

And thanks for taking note of the rear Apple logo color. It seems that they all have a very slight purplish hue. Doesn't bother me, but I wanted to see if they were consistently like that.

i'm with you 100%.

Had 2 lg screens both with IR and sent them back. Will keep doing this regardless of the IR issue as Samsung screens look better on the rMBP. Even after calibration samsung is still superior and does not need to be calibrated. Got 2 more rMBPs coming next week.

Wow thanks god I got Samsung. With this photo I would ship back LG screen even without the IR issue.

Thanks for photos

I continue to think who Apple can't sell a laptop for 2300+ euro with 50%, or more, of probability to sell you a defective laptot with Lg display!

They MUST resolve this problem, i buy it in may, and now i haven't a pc for what i pay, that money in 3 month and maybe more, if the new Mac has IR, can also do profit for me!while my money do profit for them for month, when i have nothing for what i paid!

Another thime, Sorry for my very bad english...

bcar1ton wrote:

 

Thank you so much for the pics! I was being driven mad, thinking that, not only did my LG screen have IR, but its white point/contrast seemed too warm/dim. I'm pretty sold on the Samsung at this point. No IR and a brighter, more true screen. Still waiting on my "Processing" replacement, and I hope I get lucky next time!

 

And thanks for taking note of the rear Apple logo color. It seems that they all have a very slight purplish hue. Doesn't bother me, but I wanted to see if they were consistently like that.

I am not sure how you can come to that conclusion based on just that photo.  The Samsung does look slightly brighter but then again the text also looks somewhat blown out by the brightness.  Also the photo on the left has some lighting glare that is not present in the right photo.  Based on just that photo alone, I would choose the left display over the right because, although it looks a little darker, it also looks less blown-out.  But then again, I would never make a selection based on just that photo so it's kind of a moot point.

You bet.

Honestly the LG isn't as bad as the photos make it seem. The whitepoint/contrast is different than the Samsung but the screen is just as crisp and clear (with no IR to date). The same can be said for the iPhone 4S.

I today was with my friend to pick up at the reseller store his retina macbook pro 2.3 ghz 256gb ssd 16gb ram. First we wanted to know the dispaly name and they wont help us, then phoned apple care and they said they dont know the screen type. He couldn't even return it back, because of the reseller policy. I was a little disapointed, how the reseller behaved. I will of course next time, buy a mac only in a apple store or let them order for me. But anyway, i saw the screen and with the terminal command, it showed tobe a samsung screen. I must say, am really happy, to not have lead my friend in a lye, cause it is his first mac and want him be happy with it. That samsung retina screen is fantastic and georgous and i fall in love with. I hope apple doesn't disapoint me either with the screen and hope to get in this fiew days, also a nice georgous samsung screen like i saw today, greetings from switzerland.

bjiibj wrote:

 

bcar1ton wrote:

 

Thank you so much for the pics! I was being driven mad, thinking that, not only did my LG screen have IR, but its white point/contrast seemed too warm/dim. I'm pretty sold on the Samsung at this point. No IR and a brighter, more true screen. Still waiting on my "Processing" replacement, and I hope I get lucky next time!

 

And thanks for taking note of the rear Apple logo color. It seems that they all have a very slight purplish hue. Doesn't bother me, but I wanted to see if they were consistently like that.

 

I am not sure how you can come to that conclusion based on just that photo.  The Samsung does look slightly brighter but then again the text also looks somewhat blown out by the brightness.  Also the photo on the left has some lighting glare that is not present in the right photo.  Based on just that photo alone, I would choose the left display over the right because, although it looks a little darker, it also looks less blown-out.  But then again, I would never make a selection based on just that photo so it's kind of a moot point.

You're welcome to interpret the photo as you wish. I have an LG screen, and I personally feel that it is too dim, and too warm. Judging from the SECOND picture, from rMBPs tested at my nearby Apple Store, and from my previous MBPs, the Samsung wins in brightness and white point. Usually people will opt for an inherently brighter screen, because they have the option to dim it. If you want a dim screen to get any brighter (once it's at max brightness), you're out of luck. Similarly, I can adjust my default warm LG screen to be cooler--giving it a blue tint, or even warmer--making it orange. But when I'm at the default color gamut settings, I want my whites to be as white as they are on my 4S and previous MBP (which they are nowhere near). When looking at the second photo, I don't see enough reflection on the left screen to warrant its relative darkness. At the same time, the Samsung screen certainly isn't so bright that it washes out whatever it's displaying. So, you're welcome to pick whichever screen satisfies you most. I'm not satisfied with mine, so I'll choose the Samsung. Leave it at that, and stop trolling.