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Macbook Pro Retina Display Pixel / Dust Scratch problem

I have a MBP 15' Retina purchased in October 2012 and last night noticed a number of small white dots on the screen which appeared to be dead pixels, booked into the genius bar this morning and was told that the dead pixels were actually dust scratches where a small piece of dust had got caught between the screen and keyboard when it was closed and had damaged the screen. You can feel tiny bumps if you run your finger nail over the areas so this may be the case but while it may be the reason you'd expect that a $3500 machine wouldn't have a design fault that allows tiny dust particles to damage the screen.


The Genius said that this was a known issue and that while it had been escalated with other customers' machines, the issue is cosmetic and not covered under warranty.


Has anyone else had this issue and what were the /are the steps to getting the screen replaced under warranty given that this apprears to be a known isssue and shouldn't happen to a $3500 computer.


Thanks

MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Feb 18, 2013 3:57 PM

Reply
31 replies

Apr 12, 2014 9:38 PM in response to photo Alan

Previous macbooks had a larger gap between the screen and keyboard/trackpad/chasis. The rMBP has far smaller margins all around to make the notebook as thin as possible. If you are carrying your laptop in a bag or backpack and anything is applyhing pressure against the lid, is is likely the screen is directly contacting the keyboard and trackpad. I had three screens replaced because of this "dust" scratching issue. Then I bought a ShaggyMac (http://www.shaggymax.com) and have not experienced any problems since. RadTech, Screen Saverz, and other brands offer similar products. You could even use a small glasses cloth or a sheet of paper in a pinch. You just need something to buffer the tiny gap between the screen and the chasis when the notebook is closed.


Since buying the ShaggyMac microfiber cloth and using it every time the notebook is closed, the screen has remained flawless. A worth $20 investment. And as a bonus, is is the best screen and glasses cleaning cloth I've ever used. Good luck.

Aug 1, 2014 5:43 AM in response to Merch Visoiu

This is a load of malarky!!! Do you know how big the dust particle has to be in order to chip the screen. Remember there is a rubber seal that runs the edge of the screen, and this is 1mm in height. So what we are talking about is something the size of a large grain of sand.


Ok, lets say you have this, the sand must be very sharp, in order to chip glass. Secondly, if you press gently on the glass while looking at a light in the reflection of the glass, you will see it distort, right? So that means, even a 1mm piece of dust is not going to "Chip" it.


Ok, lets say, that you happen to drop your wifes 0.2 carat diamond on your keyboard and close the screen. In this case, yes it may chip the glass, but I ask you, don't you think that this kind of protrusion would at least result in a scratch on the aluminium body? What is not known by these guys is that this glass is crystalline. If the manufacturing process doesn't go well, it can sometimes cause fault lines in the crystallisation structure. Not all glass chips are physical. In fact, heating and mild distortion of the glass could cause chips in weakened areas.


I AM 100% sure that if anyone threatens legal action they would replace the screen. Any laboratory low-end microscope will examine the chip and will clearly show the crystal in the glass flaking. Did someone say CLASS ACTION.


I have this issue after having the laptop for 3 days, I AM VERY ANGRY that the twerp at genius who thinks he is very intelligent, tries to fast-talk his way out of things. I am not one to make a scene at the store and dont think this gets us anywhere, but Apple needs to step up and train these nappy-heads about these things.


I mean, I have had laptops for 20 years, I have had scratches, cracks, smirks, plastic burns on the screens, but NEVER a chip in the glass, only time I have seen a chip is on my windscreen, and doesn't that look different? This is one for the courts, I am not happy that I have spent so much on a MBP now and have to live with the fear that the screen can spontaneously crack, perhaps even explode in a mushroom cloud (ok, that one was comedy relief).


I am a very honest person as most of us are here, and the bearded baboons at Genius have no right to call me or any of us liars, granted there are 1% of people who come in any lie, but the other 99% are loyal RETURNING customers, this is why Apple has been successful, not cos of the flarnin (that word is so I dont get sensored,!!) logo! Laptops are portable devices and don't belong behind museum glass. If Apple "Stuffed Up" with this design, that is ok, however they should take a few bucks off their soaring share price and help the consumers who help them succeed. Either redesign the product, do a recall on all your machines, or at least don't be a JE_RK about replacing machines still under warranty and make out that YOUR customers are liars.


The problem with a monopoly is not the company, its the staff who get a rush out of feeling like they are somehow in a position of power, but go home and realise they are only paid $20/h and get grounded for coming home too late.


I say, take action, prove your point, and don't take their nonsense.


(In case you are wondering, this was a rant, mainly at the Genius boys!!! But some good points.... I hope :D)

Aug 5, 2014 8:04 AM in response to arvinf

I brought new Mac book pro 15" with retina display and after two months i realized there is a tiny scratch looks like a hole on the screen I am not sure if this was there before. I never took this laptop outside and it was all the time at my desk. I have no clue how it had happen. This scratch looks like a tiny hole and is not covered under warranty as per Apple Store. What to do next? its frustrating 😟

Dec 22, 2014 4:45 PM in response to JT9876

Hello all,


Same problem here.

To make it worst, I live in Paraguay. So there is no Apple Store, and the "official" technical service claims it is not covered by the warranty.

I have a late 2014 Retina MBP, so I've had it for less than 6 months, and it already has three dust scratches.

For my first Apple product, I have to say I'm disappointed, even more after reading that this is not an isolated situation.

I wasn't expecting such a high-end machine to have this kind of problem.

Jan 27, 2015 9:03 AM in response to arvinf

I have just noticed these scratches in my rMBP. Really unhappy as the screen was the main reason I bought this machine. Dissapointed to learn what a common issue it is. I don't see how these scratches could have happened from dust either, there are too many of them and the machine has bene used in an office environment only.


I will take it to the Apple store where I bought it in London but I am not hopeful. I will have to use your post as ammunition.

Mar 3, 2015 6:50 PM in response to JT9876

I had the same issue once. Trying to wipe off the dusk and rubbing it with a screen wipe actually removed some kind of film/ler on the display and left a bigger mark. I has Apple Care and the screen was replaced. Today, after many months since the replacement, I noticed another new mark, this time towards the bottom edge of the display. Planning to take to the genius bar again. I am not sure what is causing these types of damages to occur, but on a high resolution display, they get to be very distracting and annoying.

Nov 10, 2015 4:33 AM in response to JT9876

I have bought a mid 2014 macbook pro retina display in april, 6 months later I have noticed some dots that are perfectly aligned with the edge of some keys in the center of the screen. They are only visible with the screen turned off or very black backgoround looking at reflective angles. Is there a way to remove those scratches? And how to prefent it to get worse?


I am going to put a cleaning cloth between the screen and keyboard when it is closed.

Dec 13, 2015 10:42 PM in response to JT9876

I previously owned a mid 2012 MacBook Pro retina and for 3 years if served as a great machine although having to replace the screen 3 times due to defects. I had never experienced dust scratching the screen until I bought the most recent model of the MacBook Pro Retina in May 2015. the damage on my screen in hideous and unfortunately grearly affects my work as a photographer. When have time to lose my workhorse for a week I will take it back to apple and see that they replace the screen. From then on I will put a thin screen cloth between the screen and keyboard when closing it.

Jan 8, 2016 9:17 AM in response to JT9876

Hi !

I have the exact same issue with my 13inch MacBook Pro. I went to the Genius Bar a month ago and they were able to change the screen for free because my MacBook is under warranty. I also have the ApplePlus Care on it, but the repair was not on the extended warranty it because I bought this Mac in September 2015. A week ago, I noticed another "dust scratch". I'm going to the Genius Bar again this week-end hoping they will find a final issue.

I had the same problem with my other 15inch MacBook Pro, but they wouldn't change the screen, saying it was an accidental damage and it was not covered.


MacBook Pro (Retina 13inch, early 2015, 3,1 Ghz i7, 16 Gb RAM) OS X El Capitan 10.11.3

Jan 16, 2016 2:15 PM in response to Felix Labrie

Hey guys!!! My Retina screen picked up some dust scratches recently (mbp mid 2014). I made an appointment with Genius Bar (it wasn't easy...), I went there and they told me that it is my fault (accidental damage). I use my MBP only at home and keep it clean all the time. It looks like new after 8 months. And here I am with my Retina screen ruined. The technician at the store told me i had to have some sand on my screen, I disagreed and told him to get the manager. The manager told me that if one is able to feel the holes in the screen, then it is AD and they can't help me (only replace the screen for 500 Euro). I am really mad at this point. I care about my stuff and would like it to serve me for some time in good condition. Does anyone know what should do at this point? I am very disappointed with Apple and their customer service...

Mar 18, 2016 8:38 PM in response to pawel.pozlewicz

Sure enough.


Perfect screen for the length of warranty and three weeks after it ends I get this....


And sadly it's right, RIGHT, in the middle of the screen. I can't ignore it even if I tried.


Ugh.


Pawel: Not sure if this would work or not, but I read some people having luck finding their macbook screen on Ebay for cheap (at least, much cheaper than a fix at the apple tech support). And they just get some tools and install it themselves.


I'm going to take my laptop to Apple and raise some ****, as a previous poster said, this is more a defect in manufacturing than us not being careful, and see if that works.

Macbook Pro Retina Display Pixel / Dust Scratch problem

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