My Retina Display has stain damage, HELP!!!

Same problem for me. Bought my 13inch Macbook Pro Retina 5 months ago (May 2014) and stains started to appear around the bezel after the first month. Things progressively got worse, despite normal use. When major stains started to appear in the middle of the screen I decided to call Apple support:

In response to me referencing the complaints here and on MacRumors, Apple Support acknowledged that this seems to be a more widespread problem that is not necessarily due to inadequate usage. They sent me to an Apple store (or authorized Service Provider) to get my screen replaced; something they said should be covered by the warranty. Will post update when repair has indeed been completed.

<Link Edited By Host>

I am slightly relieved to have found this thread although it just indicates I am another macbook pro retina owner with a screen that is not fit for purpose. The suggestion by a Apple genius bar employee this could be just a cosmetic problem is ridiculous. Apple take great pride in their design ingenuity and the cosmetic and aesthetic performance remains a critical part of that. My own retina screen has started to encounter the same problems as other posters with the coating appearing to have been wiped off at mid center screen after normal non excessive cleaning with Mac store recommended cleaning products - MACBOOK clean kit solution and soft eco cloth. I am also out of warranty and feel a product of this high price point is not 'fit for purpose' under the terms of sale if it can so easily fail in use/normal cleaning. The fact we can not all be deemed to be isolated cases suggests there is a real manufacturing issue here that should be investigated and resolved by apple. Very disappointing.

I'm so glad I found this thread! Count me in as another with an early 2013 MacBook Pro Retina owner with a similar pattern of the coating coming off the screen. It's all around the edge of the frame and across the keys and trackpad. This is a refurbished machine I bought from Apple six months ago, so it's still under warranty. I won't be back in the states for another two months, but I will try to get it fixed under warranty then.

I've been using Apple products since the 1980's and got my first laptop in 1993. I've never had screen damage before and if anything I've treated this machine better than any I've had before. I'm disappointed that with so many complaining of this same issue, Apple has not owned up to the design problem.

I'm starting to see early symptoms on my screen but only if I hold a flashlight up to the screen.

Are any of you able to see the stains in normal light (i.e. no camera flash) or when the screen is on?

I am another person with the same problem. Moreover, since I buy them through work, I have two 15 inch macbook pro retina notebooks. The first one I bought towards the end of 2012. That has no issues whatsoever and I carried it back and forth from work for a year. The second one is, like all the others mentioned here, a ``late 2013" model. I have had it since March 2014. Since I have two, I have generally kept the late 2013 model at work and the 2012 model at home. That is until about 10 days ago, when I carried it home in the same protective ``wallet" that I used to carry the 2012 model in everyday. Well the result is that I am now in the same position as many of you. For now, the staining has only occurred in the black area around the actual screen, but I believe it is growing and I can confirm that I have ceased carrying it to and from work.

Tomorrow I will attach a photo so that I/you/they can monitor the progress.

ps I never use anything but water (damp apple recommended cloth) to clean the notebook, and my hands are the same as always. Indeed, if it were my hands, then the staining ought to have started on the left hand side of the screen as this is the hand I use to open the notebook. Instead it is at the top (near the camera) and bottom near the fan that the staining is occurring.

Correction, the staining at the top may well be due to my hands, but doesn't explain the staining at the bottom. Moreover, it does not explain why my 2012 model, which I open in the same way, has no staining.

Hi,

I have exactly the same problem. It looks terrible and getting worse and worse. I bought my MacBook pro retina 13'' exactly 11 months ago and it is under warranty. Unfortunately Apple Car said that it is my fault in daily usage but they won't explain how can I did it. I use only attached black cloth and sometimes water. Now damage is only right and bottom. Apple pls say if it is my fault what should I change in cleaning screen to avoid worse damage.

I made short test:

http://youtu.be/mchm7jFTZwE

Shocking to see that you can ruin your macbook pro display with Apple's own cloth.

I have a macbook pro retina from Jan 2014 with exact the same problem. I am planning a trip to the store tomorrow but I have a strong leaving they will send me back home without warranty. Shame!

Stan

I also have a Macbook Pro retina bought in April 2013 and experiencing the same problems with display. I am a recent convert to apple products, purchasing an iMac in 2012. That machine is suffering from the 'dark screen' problems ([GUIDE] Fix iMac flickering and dark screen problems out of warranty) So given I now have two really expensive machines both less than 3 years old that both have major screen failures, clearly i am very disappointed and looking for my next non-mac machine when I can afford one.. :-(

Joined the club(

Mid 2012, no warranty any more.

So sad( It's 100% around touchpad, always carried in soft sleeve. Paid smth like 2400... just incredible. Never had any problems with 3 Vaio's before that.

We should attract some attention to this issue, it is definitely a design flaw.

I too have the same unfortunate problem with my retina screen on my 11 month old 2013 Macbook Pro.

Cleaning it with a microfiber cloth it started as imprints from the keyboard on the screen and continued to spread.

Now 25% of the screen is affected.

This is my first Mac and I have great difficulties understanding, how a damage on a product this expensive is not covered by the warranty.

So having contacted the shop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Apple gave the following answer:

"Following our telephone discussion earlier, I have been in discussion with apple and this type of fault or defect unfortunately is not covered on warranty. They have cited certain probabilities which you cannot ascertain if they did happen or not

1. Pressure on the LCD – this could happen when the product is carried in a bag
2. Cleaning with strong solutions.

Due to this factors which we cannot ascertain if the happen or not this defect is not covered.

The customer has a option of replacing the screen at their cost.

Let me know if they would like to do this and I will make the order for you."

What good is warranty if it does not cover something as obvious as damage on the screen caused by bad product design?

For how can you place the screen so it obviously touches the keyboard when the laptop is closed, with AND without pressure on the LCD, mind you?

And how can you sell a portable computer, that you cannot carry in a bag in fear that the screen will be damaged?

And finally how... can you put a coating on the screen, which Apple must know comes off, on the OUT-side of the screen?

It is a mystery to me how Apple refuses to cover this. And now it appears that the ENTIRE screen - the inside and the case included... must be changed.

I am still awaiting the price from the shop, but I am fearing the worst.

SHAME ON APPLE!

Joakim L., Denmark

P.S. I have just been informed by the shop that the cost is $825 including labour.

Again: SHAME ON APPLE!

<Personal Information Edited By Host>

I have a theory of how it works!!

Could someone halp me? Do you have infrared camera? Like this:

https://www.google.pl/search?q=infrared+camera&espv=2&biw=1197&bih=641&source=ln ms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=bxa4VIvOD-iX7Qa59YCICQ&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ

and make test:

1. put MacBook in 5 - 10'C lower temperature for one hour

2, bring back to higher temperature, don't open lid for 15 minutes

3. open it and take picture in infrared

I think we will see places where coating is coming off first.

My theory is: When you bring MacBook from lower temperature for example in winter when you have it in backpack to higher temperature in office, paarts of screen area near aluminium body are longer cold. When you open and wipe it cold parts have small water drops (due to dew point), Of course when it is really cold dont't turn it on! You should wait. When temp difference is not big probably you don't see any drops but still are some. Thats why after a couple of month of use you can see touchpad, keys and border printed on screen. Coating in this place coming of faster then in other parts of screen. Of course main reason is poor coating. This theory is only about why it is coming of first that way.

I agree - how do we attract attention to this?

I have tried to find ways to contact Apple directly - but in Africa, it is a different thing contacting Apple, than in Europe and Denmark.

And I am not even sure that the staff from Apple follow the threads in this forum...

At least I see no reply from Apple - only more comments from unsatisfied customers.

I am really frustrated as I now have to spend some $ 950 on replacing the screen.

That is around 1/3 of the cost of the machine.

For not only is it apparently not covered by the warranty (which is VERY surprising)

but the entire screen case (!!!) has to be replaced.

You cannot replace the glass only.

Imagine!

Apple has to address this issue.

So any suggestions how to bring attention to this?

Wkr

Joakim L., Denmark / Ethiopia

<Personal Information Edited By Host>

I am having the same issue here on my 15' Retina Macbook Pro, purchased Dezember 2013. I found that it occurs when I try to clean the display with a damp paper tissue. This clearly appears to be a quality issue which should definitely not happen on a product that costs nearly 3000 Euro.

...same issue here, early 2013 Macbook pro... It is unbelievable how many people around the globe have the same problem and no reaction from Apple!!!

It's such a a shame!