Pixel "explosion" on my MacBook Retina

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.

I have the same issue. Brought my MacBook Pro 13" retina in the first year for a clamshell replacement, was all good until this week. (Mac is 1,5 yrs old) Big white mark in the middle of my screen and you can feel a scratch when going over it with my finger. No warranty anymore so nothing I can do about it unfortunately!

I've had the same experience as well on two different MBPs at the same time from the 2013 generation (one is work, one is personal). They both developed a pin hole sized crater in the glass and the pixel underneath looked discolored- not sure if the pixel was damaged or it was the crater that caused the discoloration.

Although both covered under the warranty the Mac Genius at the local Apple Store did not want to fix it, he claimed it was due to dirt and so it would not be covered. Of course I complained to the manager and since I was at the time a Joint Venture member they finally agreed to repair both laptops.

Now a year later the same issue has reappeared on both screens that were replaced. Unfortunately the warranty on my personal laptop is expired and Apple only offers me their $310 flat rate repair. I should not have to pay for a screen that was defective from the start. What poor quality for screens to have this defect and suffer from these tiny craters. A search on Google of "macbook pro exploding pixels" come up with several more people who have experienced the same thing among other problems.

If you are listening Apple, these screens are suffering from multiple issues, from craters, to ghosting, to light spots. I would encourage you to start an extended repair program as you have done before for the rare instances one of your products were found to be defective.

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.

Got what looks like the same issue.

I've two dead pixels, despite having barely used my refurbed retina, 15-inch, Early 2013 MBP.

The issue seems to be caused by a lowering of the build quality on these laptops to ensure they met the (then) new target weight and thin profile demanded by Apple dev management.

The old MBP was a flagship robust workhorse of a machine.

I had one (provided by my employer) which I worked very hard and abused carelessly for 5 years.

It's good performance prompted me to get a MBP of my own.

I saved hard for two years to afford one and treated it much better- barely using it and being very careful.

When I reported my problem to Apple I was informed by a, refreshingly honest, member of staff that even a grain of sand on the keyboard when the laptop is closed could cause these punctures, due to the less robust screen surface.

I've used Apple machines since they were beige boxes and I've never been more annoyed by the company's approach to Customer Support and Service.

They messed up, in design, again.

My warrantee runs out in two days and I'm going to have to take a day off work, losing a day's holiday, just to get even a chance of getting this sorted.

Not. Happy.

So, got my screen replaced.

Initially: I took the MBP to my local store and was told it was my fault for treating the laptop like a laptop, ie- not keeping it in a tupperware box and brushing it down before closing the lid 🙂
They say it's caused by grains of sugar, salt, sand, grit, stale pastry crumbs etc on the keyboard.

Such micro-debris, forced by with the leverage effect of closing the lid, punctures the screen, would you believe it? (no, neither did I).
It therefore constitutes damage inflicted by the user.

Next: Took it to the Apple store in the big city hereabouts (aka Brighton) and they said "OK, see your point. We can't upgrade you to a less fragile model but we'll replace this screen, this time, free of charge."

On collection a precocious young gent with a fashionable beard told me a few things of interest:

a) If Apple really thought it was user damage they wouldn't have replaced it for free.

b) The response you'll get from different stores varies.

c) "Screen Protectors" are not advised or even sold by Apple as they don't think these screens are liable to puncture from without.

d) I really should treat my £1600 laptop with kid gloves.
IMHO for that price I shouldn't have to worry about crumbs, etc as the build quality should be rock solid.

e) Internet material on this issue, including these forums, is seen to be a place of wild unreliable rumours and drama.

f) I should probably sell my laptop and buy a more recent build MBP, where they overcame the issue.
This would leave me several hundred pounds poorer but at least it would rid me of this worry that it will just happen again, when I'm not covered by warrantee or statutory UK rights.

I think the pixel explosion and crumb issues are really part of the same flaw. The pressure of micro-debris, coupled with insufficient space between the mac and screen surface when closed, will cause pressure points leading to burn-through.

Look at it under a microscope, like I did.

The only real flaw is that design and build quality on this release of MBP failed to integrate correctly.

Hope this helps. Best of luck with your exploding pixels, and getting your screens replaced.

Maybe you should print this thread out and take it in to the shop with you?

gah. This has happened to me too. Happened a few months ago, but I purchased my mac back in Nov 2012.. (so it's about 2.5 years old now) initially it was one spot (probably 4 pixels?). eventually I realised there was a "crater" where it is located. A month or so later three more stuck pixels appeared (not in the same area). Might still try my luck. Really annoying considering it wasn't caused by me.

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...

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 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.

If they're rude, so be it. Stay cool and be nice. You'll stand a much better chance of getting somewhere. That's been my experience.

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?

Same problem here with my Macbook Retina (Mid 2012). The first screen had the ghosting problem. After the replacement, the Apple reseller ( Lab9 - Aalst - Belgium) gave me a 50 euro reduction on the Apple care warranty extension, which I took. They told me the ghosting problem wasn't Apple their fault, but they still wanted to give me the 50 euro reduction anyway.

A couple of months before the end of my warranty, I started noticing little holes (craters) in the screen. I went to the same Apple reseller and they gave me a new screen for the second time. The repair took place on 30/06/2015.

On this day (+- 7 months later), I once again noticed a little hole in the middle of the screen. ******* unbelievable! I have this laptop a little more than 3 years now and I had 2 screen replacements and a full new unibody (unibody was creaking).

I am going to contact my Apple reseller this week and I hope I will get a new screen even though my warranty is over.