Pixel "explosion" on my MacBook Retina

No, it has nothing to do with hard grains of sand. It's an electronic issue. When the pixels burn out they literally burn a hole right into the surface of the display.

I had this happen too. At first I thought I somehow caused the problem. Then I started reading about the problem online. Unfortunately mine was 10 days past warranty. I took it in anyway. They did the screen replacement for free. However, I'm concerned since I didn't buy Apple care and I don't trust the engineering on this first version of the rMBP. I'll be selling this and moving to the next version. Hopefully they'll solve it by then. I had a similar disaster with the Air a year ago. I was on my second screen there and just got fed up and sold after the screen was replaced the second time. In that case I was getting the problem of white dots. Holes in the display takes the cake for me. I need this machine to just work.

It's best not to argue with fools. So, I'm done. Take your machine to Apple if you have holes in the screen. Chances are they'll fix it unless you dumped sand on it or something. For the rest it's probably a few bad panels out there, as it was in my case.

Mulleady wrote:

I have had the same problem with and I'm on my 2nd screen. The 2nd has now had a dead pixel explosion of 4 on the screen having started with just 1 larger bright one. My MBP Retina 15 is only 3 months old.

This is worrying and Apple won't acknowledge it is a known fault.

You better buy Applecare because once it is past the standard 1 year warranty Apple will charge you an arm and a leg to replace the screen.

That bites. I'm not sure if it's the same situation as my problem. I think people were reporting this for the very earliest release of the retinas. You could try another store, but most likely they have taken notes on your file. But it might be worth trying. In my case it was absolutely not sand or anything else. It was a defect. But it was also only a month out of warranty and they replaced it. I doubt I would have met with such fortune if some years had passed. Personally, I think letters are probably useless. Being really nice with the genius is your best way to get somewhere.

The problem with your macbook air was what is called a "white pixel". These are caused by either a transistor malfunctioning, or a morphing in the liquid or the LCD screen. Your rMBP had holes in the screen I'm guessing, while your macbook air did not. Your problem with the macbook pro retina and the macbook air are completely different. I "used my fingers" and found nothing about the possibility of a pixel exploding out of a screen. Just people giving a description of what the result looks like. If it's an explosion powerful enough to break through glass, you would think you would see, or hear, it happening right in front of you. Like maybe a *snap* or something. I bet you that people have never seen the pixel explode when they had their computer open. It is always noticed after they open it up.

You say that my case is misleading and illogical, but I don't see much evidence on your side of the argument. I gave an story of how I solved my problem, which was almost identical to all of these complaints people are having. I had the problem, I applied my logic and proposed solution, and the problem was eliminated. A pixel exploding is an unheard of event. And it's much less likely than a piece of dirt or debri puncturing the very thin and tightly packed glass. This is probably one of the thinnest displays every made for a computer. It's going to be more sensitive to small, hard objects.

DogDutyAscetic, I'm sorry to hear they were such douchebags about it at the Apple Store. Are you in a spot in OZ where you could call AppleCare, and then follow up with a visit to an authorized Apple Service Center once you have a case number? If Apple Stores are few and far between, or there is only one in a major metropolitan area, see if there are any other Apple resellers in your area that offer service and make your case to them. Good luck. 🙂

This exploding pixel is still very real (Macbook pro Retina Late 2013)! It happened on my computer after two flights. After the first flight I noticed some spots. After the second flight I noticed a bunch more.

After reading online about Camera sensors being affected by XRay scanning at the airport and the correlation of defects to my two flights I am pretty certain that has caused the damage. Anyone else who has seen this happen after having their stuff xrayed?

Same just happened to my macbook pro early 2013 retina display. I read some ware else that someone experienced it after the computer was put through x-ray scanner. I travelled recently and just noticed it. A tiny hole on the screen with a constantly lit pixel. Very strange indeed and painful after the warranty is over.

I have read with interest all the comments regarding this issue. I also had to replace a screen, so understand some of the the upset felt.

The disappointing thing for me is that when upgrading to the top of the line portable laptop i would have expected the materials to be tougher and stronger then the previous model.

I must now make allowances for the fact that with the Mack book pro Retina is not as tough as i thought. Therefore i take extra special care when handling my portable lap top in case the same thing happens . Hence bought a hard case and a soft case as well and soft computer brush to brush the keyboard down.

The keyboard however is not flush with the aluminium surface and is raised above the surface so sticking a protective screen to the LCD probably would exert pressure on a already fragile LCD panel.

One solution might be to make a slightly thicker Mac Book Pro Retina display with all the protection put back into the screen design.

Dan,

You are very lucky! I have the same problem as you, and Apple has said that they will not repair my screen. That after 3 months of contacts. The latest news is that they want me to pay around $1000 for a new screen, in a laptop that I paid around $3000 for just two years ago. (I'm in Sweden)

I'm contacting all the possible media press in Sweden and sending my laptop's images and my history. Maybe someone will pick it up. I have their mails, and documents etc promising to take a look and giving nothing at the end.

Let's show that not all is so wonderful with Apple. (( And until today, I was a truly fan (

I will also contact Swedish consumer protection office on Monday.

Indeed, not all is so wonderful with Apple and these retina macbook pros. After more then three years of problems, Apple just started an extended repair for these models, but for video issues:

http://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro-videoissues/

But I think they will just replace the logic board, not sure if they will replace the screen which would solve our specific product defect. It seems that this generation of laptops have had several manufacturing issues. I wonder if anyone official at Apple checks these boards and perhaps can respond to us about our problem.

Hey Guys I have the same problem but apple refuses to exchange my screen on the therms of Warranty. What should I do? I was in Apple Store two times already and each time I was turned down by the store manager. Some advice?

I wrote an e-Mail to the Store address and I also sent it through the Apple feedback formular:

"

Dear Madam / Sir,

i visited the Apple Store in Berlin twice in last two weeks. I am really disappointed with the level of customer service. The staff at the store is impolite and I always have to wait between 15-30 minutes past my appointment time. I have a Problem with my MBP retina mid 2014 model. There are some strange small holes in the coating on the screen. I use my computer with great care and only indoors, so logically it should serve me for some years...

I tried to discuss this topic today (23.01.2016 at 15.30) with the "Genius" (Norman -> disagreed to give me his full name) and the store manager (Karina -> also disagreed to give me her full name).

I started my visit talking to Genius and trying to explain my problem. I started of explaining my problem and he told me that in this case it is indeed physical damage. So I asked him some basic questions like:

- Is using your laptop at home Accidental Damage? -> no answer came

- Is closing the lid an Accidental Damage? -> no answer as well

- Is having some dust on your laptop an Accidental Damage -> no answer and he told me as well that he doesn't have to answer this questions...

Obviously millions of people use their laptops everyday and all of them have some dust at their homes, in the air, and on their keyboards. It all shouldn't lead to any damage but the staff at the store claims that thats what happened in my case. They said that i had some dust on my keyboard and closed the lid. Yes it could have happened but it is perfectly normal and shouldn't lead to any kind of damage.

Please tell me know how you see this in this case.

I also brought some forum post printed out because more people have the same kind of problems and they got their screens replaced.

At this moment Store Manager Karina was already there and the Genius told me in her presence that he won't read any of this stuff, because it is not what they do.

I asked for some kind of documentation of my visit or just to consider my case but the Manager refused.

I don't agree with the point of view of the Genius and the Manager which is totally out of place in this case. They both didn't want to help me but to get rid of me as soon as possible.

I am really disappointed with the level of customer service in Apple Store. If I don't agree with the manager than there is nothing I can do to solve the problem.

Please address my problems in Your Answer.

Regards

Pawel Pozlewicz"

I am really mad and disappointed with the customer support at Apple Stores...

The first time around I talked to the genius very nicely and they sent me home with nothing (just with regret). The second time I also started nice but the Genius and Manager were impolite and unhelpful... As i mentioned they really didn't want to talk with me and said that if it would be a Problem they would know about it. They blamed me and sent me home. I will try my luck in Hamburg or one more time in Berlin. I already filed some complaints and we will see. Thanks for Your reply.

Being polite didn't get me anywhere. I'll give it another try in some other Apple Store. Does anyone else have suggestions in this matter?