Horrible colors on external monitor using macbook air(2012) with mini dp to hdmi

Bought a (third party) DVI-adaper. It works way better now. Dunno what's wrong with the mbp and hdmi.

Similar experience, I am using my old D-Sub VGA connector. No problem. The monitor looks excellent. Seems to be an issue with the HDMI. Not particularly happy with the idea of forking out a load of cash for a laptop with a poorly functioning HDMI interface. Will see what Apple say.

As there are not many discussion threads on this topic I get the impression that maybe not all units are demonstrating this problem.......

jtehlert, you did you get any responde from Apple?

I notice if I boot in Windows then the external display runs fine running through the mini display port to HDMI.

Makes me think it might be a driver issue? But then why are more people not experiencing it? Also makes me wonder if the Mountain Lion upgrade may solve the issue.........

Well, I'm completely frustrated. I am having the same issue as all of you: grays and whites almost indistinguishable. Signing on to this forum was difficult because I can't see the boxed shadows in the frame to enter my name. I have tried HDMI and now VGA on my Acer S230 23" monitor. This is simply unexceptable! I have been using Mac products since 1985 and I can't tell you how much time I've spent on this!

I would appreciate any updates. I will also bring my Macbook Air into the Apple store WITH my monitor. Now I will toss you all a real curve ball... sitting next to me is my wife's 2 year old MacBook Pro. I wanted to PROVE it was the Air at fault (or some settings), but when I simply hooked up her computer, it does the same thing!! This would have suggested it's the monitor save all these posts!

Temporary fixes are appreciated too (like the Ctrl/Opt/Cmd ,/. solution - it helps)... but ultimately I want this fixed! I will respond back with whatever I find out. BTW, I'm going to try the Air on her old ProView and see if it works, it's the old "TV" ratio, not the big screen ratio of the Acer. Hang on and I'll post...

Naturally, the old TV-ratio ProView works fine (albeit small). Now I'll try my Dell Laptop to PROVE it's not the monitor... hang on again!

Although the Acer is not the best quality monitor (by a long shot), it does look better with the Dell laptop. Now I really don't know what to do. I am inclined to see if I can return it and purchase another one. THIS time I'me bringing my MBA with me!

I may just have to break down and get the Apple monitor... fooey!

I think it is related to the HDMI conection since all the others seems to work fine...

I realy hope this is software related because I am NOT sending back my BTO MBA and waiting for another one...

😟

I installed Mountain Lion on the 2012 MBA and I can confirm that the issue still exists.

The same combination of monitor/cable/adaptor but with a 2011 MBA running either Lion or Mountain Lion does not have the issue.

Hmm, disappointing that Mountain Lion didn't fix issue......by the way, how come you have a copy of Mountain Lion to install?

I just spoke to an Apple Technician about a seperate issue (white lines across the screen). I was due to go into an Apple Store tomorrow, but they requested they collect the device and replace it as their technicians would like to look at the problem.

I mentioned this issue about the HDMI output and the chap said it wasn't something they were aware of. It seems they are aware of the screen issue though (hence I assume the request for a recall), so maybe this is something not affecting most Air's?

At any rate, I should have a new laptop in a couple of weeks (bugger!) so will see if the new one has the same issues........hoping this doesn't turn into a long drawn-out affair with replacement after replacement!

Well, they asked me to arrange collection with DHL and that as soon as they had confirmed receipt of the old computer they would send out a new on. Hopefully it won't be as long as a couple of weeks, but I imagine it will be at least 5 or 6 days. I'll let you know if there is any joy with the replacement once it arrives.

I have been suffering with this exact problem for about a month now on my 2012 mac air. I have this color problem with all the 1080p displays I have tried: a new 2012 Samsung 55" TV, and two HP 23" monitors, the 2310m and the 2311m.

I have tried to fix this problem with the control-option-command-comma trick, but no luck. The apple calibration tool helped, but also didn't fix the problem. I even tried to mess around with command line font smoothing, but no dice. For this reason, I don't think a software fix will help, and it's a hardware issue with the Moshi mini-display port adapter to HDMI.

I really hope Apple fixes this soon!

I have a similar problem. Colors are ok, but I really find it hard to read emails and web pages and using google maps is almost impossibile, unless I zoom to the maximum level. Everything looks blurry and I'm using a 23'' monitor, not a television.

I'm using the thunderbolt to hdmi connector and I have the 11'' Air with HD 4000.

If I connect my MBP with the same adapter the image quality is way better on the same monitor and I have lion on the MBP too, so it has to be the HD 4000.

I read that someone solved with a DVI adapter instead of the HDMI but I'd like to be sure about that since I don't want to waste money on another adapter