Macbook pro retina flicker

@davidbsmith @DK__: I booked an appointment with the Genius and went in today - the person was quite helpful. I explained that I had a video of the problem but no way to reproduce it. I also noted that the problem also occured on Windows - the genius said that ruled out software as the cause. He's ordered some parts for me, in the next 3-4 days I should be able to go and give the laptop for repairs. It seems once he saw the video he knew exactly what was happening - thanks for suggesting I take the video along.

All I am hoping now is that I dont get an LG display with IR issues 🙂

I bought a custom MBP 2.6 GHZ with 512GBSSD and 16GB RAM. All in all it is the nicest computer I have ever owned which is probably around 100 and its about #20 in Apple computers. Its Fast CPU,SSD, and Video chip, display is great. I used my old MB Air, 2011 the other day and the display looked dim,washed out and unlcelar in comparsion, before the Retina MBP I thought it was fine.

I do howerver get this random flicker. It usually is quite infrequent, and it might go hours without doing it. Sometiems it will do it once or a few times and stop. I never notice it watching Netflix movies but I have noticed both when in bed and on a desk. It doesnt seem to relate to tempature. At this point it really isnt enough of an issue to worry about all I have noticed it twice since I have been writing this which is a lot. I wonder if I should go talk to an Apple Store now, or wait and see if it gets worse. I might point out that it never did it for the first few months and the machine fell off the bed in and has a very small dent at the top of the display. Flexing the display does nothing to cause it. I will run a flight sim under Win 8 which loads of the video processor and CPU and see if that makes any diference. Anybody have any suggestions?

Oh! gosh I have the same problem with you guys, At first, I think that might be the problem about OS X so I have clean it and It does not work anymore. What is the update from Apple now? and Please Add me on the list too Thanks.

I too have the flicker with my MBPR. I bought mine in Sept and the flicker stared months later. I also bough my son one in Jan. He hasnt seen the flicker but it sound like maybe some burn in although he though maybe a book rubbed against the display. My flicker doesnt seem to have any pattern. It will go for hours or days without doing it then might do it 4 times in 15 minutes. Heat or grounding seem to make no difference. Iguess I will watch it and make sure the Genius look at it before the one year waranty expires. I was suprised to hear that they will probably replace the logic board and display even if they cant see the problem. How do I check the type of displays we have?. System report doesnt seem to show anything beyond the video chips? Has anyone noticed the flicker starting after the computer wsa bumped hard? Its a great machine with or without the flicker.

I'm another member of the screen flicker club. I bought mine sometime in late June 2012 and it just started this week. No rythm or pattern to the screen flicker. It can occur multiple times in a few minutes and I can be fine for several hours. I'll be taking my Mac back to the store for repair.

I'm saddened that Apple is not taking this issue seriously.

Use the bottom of your fist (pinky finger side) to hit the aluminum area right above the F5 key and the flicker will stop. You don't have to hit it very hard for the flicker to stop. Yes, I know... don't hit your precious Macbook Pro. I'm sorry but the flicker is so insanely irritating that you'll do anything to regain your sanity. Hit it right there and watch the flicker disappear... it works like a charm. Note that this is only a temporary fix. It will likely recur within a day or two. When it does just hit it again. This will keep you sane until you bring your laptop in for repair.

@jonpegnato: Not sure why you expect to get the shaft from the genius. Take video of the flicker - many people on this board were unable to produce the flicker when at the Apple store, but showing video of it convinces the genius. The problem is a trapped wire or bad connection between the computer and the screen which runs through the left side hinge. It's pretty well known by the genius community now. Good luck.

It took me three visits, even with video.

1. All I got was a diagnostic.

2. They replaced my logic board.

3. The problem returned and they replaced my screen.

I brought video all three times and none of the geniuses had heard of the problem or could find anything about it in their 'special genius files'. It seemed like no one believed me. So they very well can give you the shaft. At least they do around here.

My Apple Store is in Oak Brook, IL if that matters.

My retina has been flickering for months.. It's been so long, I've gotten used to it to where I don't even notice it if I'm working...

Mine was purchased around July 2012. I guess I should go to a store with a video of it and get it checked... Will return with update

YCLAM,

You have a 1 year warranty, 90 days of free phone support, and 14 days from purchase to swap for another machine. If you take it in to the Genius bar, I recommend making an appointment. If it seems to do it when warm, go early and fire it up to get it up to temp so you can show them.

Take advantage of this!

Phone support 800-692-7753

Having the same issue since purchasing mine 10/2013, not sure when it started but seems like it was not too long after I bought it. It was seriously wacked today with lots of flicker after coming out of sleep mode, which is what brought me here looking for some answers. Thanks for all the details on what others have done to get it resolved, hopefully that will help get it done righ the first time.

Im so starting to get annoyed now.

My screen flickering started about 3months ago. Every once in a while, nothing major.

At this stage it is getting worse and worse, the whole screen judders and shakes and flickers that im getting sick. Apple obvoiusly dont care. I spent fortune on my macbook pro retina ( so called high end laptop).

Im totaly disapointed in this product, and i wonder when will apple do something about it.

FWIW, even at the WWDC Keynote, they had the flicker problem. At just over 41 minutes into the broadcast, right as he is wrapping up the segment on Calendar, you see a brief but familiar flicker. That is unless they go edit that out.

So i too have had the same problem and after browsing other websites I have found the root cause to the LCD flicker.

It's the WIFI. Turn off your WIFI and see if it goes away. Mine did which made me clue in to other possibilies. I then switched from 2.4ghz b/g/n to 5gz and the flicker rarely appears.

Let me know if your experiments yield the same results.

That's one trick, another is to place your thumb or some other object (I use a small battery) between the space where the screen and macbook hinge connect. It seems to be some sort of grounding issue. This whole thing is stupid anyways.