Q: MacBook Pro Retina display burn-in?

HI

I’m having the same problem with Retina MacBook pro mid 2012.

Today I receiver information form Apple service … to solve issue with screen burn-in you have to …. buy new display … 1000 EUR … what????

Maybe I should buy new Mac…. price of full laptop is close to new screen … or maybe I should buy HP … Dell … and forget about Mac, maybe when Apple start loosing fans (customers) they will start think and not only dreaming ...

Yeah, for that price it's probably not worth fixing it...

-Tom

So, what is the best way getting this resolved? I have yellow tint, backlight bleed, and burn in problems. This is my third display. I have apple care and all they can tell me is to send it in. I'm tired of doing this. How do I guarantee that get a proper display? Apple seems to be reluctant to provide me with a non defective display.

Send it in.

I talked to them about sending it in. It doesn't seem to be much different than taking it to a retail store when it comes to playing the screen lottery. Plus, I need my laptop daily for work, I don't have a spare laptop.

After spending over 40 hours on calls with AppleCare (and after having mailed the laptop in), I received my laptop back with severe backlight bleeding. I'm a software developer who spends majority of his time in the terminal with black background. The original display that came with my laptop did not have this problem, and when I pointed this out the the Genius bar (after having directed by AppleCare to bring this issue to them), I was told that backlight bleeding is considered normal by Apple.

After spending close to $2,500 on this laptop (which includes AppleCare), and this laptop being less than a year old, I can't recommend to anyone to purchase Macbooks anymore.  They essentially told me that the backlight bleeding on a laptop that costs over $2000 is normal and within the spec of what Apple considered to be of quality.  I was also denied a full refund (I argued that the laptop in its current condition after being handled by the Geniuses is way below the quality at which I paid for).  I can't even use it properly as a development machine (which I bought it primarily for) due to the severe backlight bleeding.

This was my first Mac and it will be my last.  It's hilarious that a Dell that costs less than half of this laptop has just as high resolution, deeper blacks, no backlight bleeding, no image retention, and just as high build quality.  If anyone is looking to buy a Macbook Pro Retina and think that AppleCare will cover them if anything goes wrong, I have to recommend that you stay far away.  Once this company has your money, they simply will stop caring.

If anyone is looking to buy a similar spec'd laptop, I highly recommend a Dell XPS 13 with Infinity Display (http://www.dell.com/us/p/xps-13-9343-laptop/pd)  It's much cheaper, runs just as well, has a better screen, good battery life (I have to admit, Macs are better in this department), and if you're a developer, Linux runs like a champ.

Yes, this is totally unacceptable.  The only problem is I just literally joined a startup and I NEED a MacBook.  So I found a 2010 MacBook Pro on Kijiji and put an SSD in it to make it run fast.

Oh, another thing.  I think my GPU just got fried on the 2012 retina.  Whenever it's plugged in and I run Photos or Safari or even Google Maps it freezes!  Then the screen goes black after a few minutes and you need to shut it down.  Terrible.

I am taking it to the Apple Store because there's a recall on that issue with this laptop.  I hope they will fix it.  Wish me luck! 

It seems that those old ones were made better.  I had a 2006 Pro that lasted some 9 years.  My retina is slowly dying after just 2-3 years...

-Tom

I just really noticed how bad my Macbook pro retina display is ghosting and now it even flashes. I took it to Apple since they are recalling the earlier Retina displays over video card issues and since mine is now flashing too. The told me it would be $315 to fix the Macbook. Also, the genius bar rep said it's been an issue, but they want to charge me!!

I loved Apple, but I can't purchase anymore products. This is a known issue with the ghosting, but you want to charge me for not purchasing Apple Care.....I shouldn't need Apple Care for a known problem! I've been a faithful supporter but cant anymore!

Tom,

I'm in the same boat with you. Mine was ghosting but I just dealt with it but its getting progressively worse and to add insult to injury. I took it to Apple and the representative said this is a problem. Then quoted $315.00 to repair...even after running the test I noticed the VST (video Card) was yellow after everything passed. He even said they may have to replace the display or video card...and they needed the computer for 5 -7 days

I'm totally turning my back on them if I receive my computer back (they told me 5-7days) and they still want to charge me. I'm a loyal supporter but can't keep supporting if you charge the customer for a known issues..

A   

Hey bro,

I spent over an hour at the Apple Store yesterday.  They ran all the VST diagnostics and they passed!  How is that even possible?  I don't think the diagnostic are doing the right tests.  Anyways, the computer was working fine for them initially (Murphy's Law into effect).  I spent a week on it at home and couldn't get it not to freeze on GPU switch.  Well, they did a quick factory restore and it wasn't freezing!  I was like what the ****, this is impossible.  So I kept opening and closing Photos (that's what usually like to use the discrete graphics) until it finally froze and the screen turned black after couple of minutes.  So they are going to fix it at no charge (thank God, I already blew too much on this door stopper).  I should have it back in a week.

Actually, that's not a bad price to fix the screen, but you may get an LG panel again which will have ghosting.  I ordered one from China and it's a Samsung, no ghosting at all.  Also my really old NEC IPS panels on the desktop have no ghosting at all after a 10 minute test (yay).

Oh yeah, I ran out an bought the 1st cheap 15" 2010 MacBook Pro on Kijiji cause I need it for work.  Put a spare SSD in it that I had sitting around and it's pretty fast.

-Tom

Got off the phone with Apple again.  Apparently, the backlight bleeding (my laptop below) is considered normal and within spec and they denied a full refund and/or proper repair.  And apparently it's designed like this to make the laptop thinner.  At this point, I would just stay away from Macs.  Apple seems like a company that cares more about thinness of their laptops than function.

I'm chiming in on this just to contribute to the complaint of this ridiculous issue that Apple refuses to admit is an issue and handle correctly. I'm a Mac user of almost 20 years, a long time stock holder, and have been a vocal Mac / Apple advocate. My first Mac was a PowerBook 190cs.

So here's my story...

I bought a maxed out Mid-2012 MacBook Pro Retina in December of 2012 and paid $2,999 plus $349 for Apple Care. Less than 2 months later the screen started showing burn in and within 6 months pixels started to die. I decided not to fix the machine until it was close to the end of the Apple Care to maximize the life of the repaired machine. After upgrading the machine to Yosemite in December 2014 the machine started rebooting at random times and the screen would just go black (yet the machine would still be on and running). The machine also started heating up to the point that you would burn yourself on the bottom of the laptop. After a few months of dealing with this I took the machine into the Apple Store and the tech ran some some diagnostics and determined the video card was bad as well as the battery. They said everything could be fixed in house and they would get in touch within 3 to 5 days. A few days later I got a call and they said to come in. When I got there they told me my computer had water damage and as a result the warrenty and Apple Care were no longer valid and I wasn't elligible for the MacBook Pro Repair Extension Program for Video Issues (https://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro-videoissues/.  They said in addition to the POS LCD screen that needed to be replace, and the video card, and the battery, that the logic board needed replaced too. So basically the whole thing was crap. They said if anything the back lid of the screen would be kept but probably not. They quoted me $1,549.36 for the repair. I told them I wanted a full refund for my Apple Care since I never got to use it and I'm stuck with a $3,000 computer that doesn't work and has known issues. The manager said I could get a partial refund for the remaining time of Apple Care (7 months). I said this wouldn't do and I wanted a full refund. After arguing with the manager I was able to get someone on the phone with Apple Care customer support and get a refund of $349 for the Apple Care since I never used it and they refused to honor it. I will NEVER buy Apple Care again, it's a rip off.

I took my Mac home and decided I'd look into fixing it myself since I'm comfortable working on hardware and do most of my repairs myself anyways. I searched for replacement parts but since this was basically a 100% rebuild I wasn't able to find a logic board for under $2,000 (2.6Ghz, 16GB RAM, 500GB SSD). I reluctantly decided to take the machine in and just pay them to fix it since a new machine with comparable specs would cost me $2,499 and to be honest there really hasn't been any significant improvements in the MBP to justify buying the new one over the 2012 model (other than maybe the new one doesn't have all the issues the 2012 has...).

When I took the machine in for the second time I was quoted a lower price of $1,240. I was fine with this but the same manager was hovering and decided to get in yet another argument with me about the screen burn-in issue stating that Apple does not agree this is an issue and provides no remedy to the problem. There was NO need for him to get involved again and this only ****** me off more.

I'm now waiting on my MBP to be returned and I hope it doesn't have any issues or I may reach out to a lawyer and see if I can recoup some of the cost since I will have now spent $4,239 on a single laptop. Which is completely insane!!

If anyone at Apple is actually paying attention to this you should take note that this issue has ****** off a large number of your new and long time customers. I will continue to use Macs because I'm loyal to the company and (usually) love the products. But for the love of god stop f-ing over your customers that buy high end machines and expect the top of the line quality that you claim they are paying a premium for.

Your line of

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I will continue to use Macs because I'm loyal to the company and (usually) love the products.

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This is why Apple doesn't give a ****, because people like you keep buying their products no matter how much Apple screws them over.  Stop buying Apple just because it has a logo of a fruit on it.  There are better quality laptops at much lower prices out there these days.

I had the exact same issue.  I replaced the screen with a Samsung one.  Then after while it started freezing, the screen would go blank when switching graphics cards.  Took it in.  They just called me yesterday and said it's not a graphics card issue but the logic board.  They want around $800.  Well, I already blew over $3000 in this door stopped.  I cannot afford to fix it. I'm on disability due to health issues and only receive $1000 a month to cover my rent, food, and bills.  The only problem is, I just joined a startup and am doing some iOS development, so I need a stupid MacBook!  This is totally unacceptable.  Apple doesn't care.  They have the money and getting richer, why should they care?

-Tom

@BananaKick

Thanks for your opinion. I'll stick with mine. I'm not happy about this but like I said I'm an Apple fan regardless of this. I'm more annoyed with the manager of the Genius Bar at the Boylston St. Apple store in Boston with how he handled the situation and I'm not going to stop using Apple products because of one guy I had an argument with that in the long run doesn't impact my life. If anything I'll go to another Apple store in the future so I don't have to deal with him.

I can tell you this in regards to quality. I'm writing this on an Early-2007 MBP that I have beat to **** and it works like a champ. I've torn it apart and fixed it several times myself and I agree with someone's previous comment about the problem really being the quest for the thinest laptop possible that causes many of these issues. When it comes to the MBP I'd rather have a rock solid machine that weighs more than a thin one that has issues like the 2012 MBP had. And again... That's my opinion. You have yours.