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My Retina Display has stain damage, HELP!!!

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I dont know how it happened, but somehow my retina display got some weird clear-ish stain damage that is very noticable on a black background. I have tried to clean it with water and a micro fiber cloth like usual, but i think this is not something on top of the screen as much as it is something has like eaten away a part of the screen... I need help! what do i do to solve this aside from replacing the screen... if water and microfiber arent working, what else can i use? I am worried that windex or alcohol will excacerbae the problem, as i suspect it might have been alcohol that caused the problem in the first place, but im not sure... any insight, please? this is driving me nuts

MacBook Pro with Retina display

Posted on Apr 7, 2014 10:44 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 25, 2017 12:53 AM

UPDATE

January 24, 2017


To all staingate victims--


Apple has you covered. They know they f'd up big time so they are offering to fix the screens under their "quality program." No warranty needed. It was a manufacturer's defect that took them a while to figure out. Just visit an Apple Store, drop off your MacBook, and you'll have a new, stain-free screen in under a week.


I brought my MacBook Pro into the Manhattan Beach store on Saturday, no hassles. They estimated five business days but probably sooner than that. I have my work laptop in the meantime so it's not too inconvenient.


Hope this puts some of you at ease. Again, just bring your computer in to an Apple Store and they will take care of it free of charge.


Mark

1,596 replies

Oct 1, 2016 4:16 AM in response to am0rty

I suggest continuing to pursue the case with Apple, on the phone and in writing. An Apple technician in the U.S. told me that the company has opened a "Quality Program" on the Retina display issue, and that they will replace the display on Retina models even if it is beyond warranty. However, another adviser in the same shop said that may not be the case. Despite these conflicting statements, in the same shop, there is clearly an issue with the Retina display; many people have had the same problem. You might try writing apple.com/feedback, and persist with Apple support. The company needs to deal with this in a more forthright way.

Oct 1, 2016 12:03 PM in response to am0rty

They will replace it for you am0rty. You need to take it to an official Apple store. When you get there tell them you spoke with customer service and the issue/problem was lost in translation. Tell them you were on the official apple discussion website researching the problem, and you found the solution. You can refer them to this thread if need be. The way the problem with the screen / antireflective coating was explained to me by multiple people from Apple was this; it is a known issue with the Retina Displays on certain MacBook Pro's and they will replace them at no cost because it is an issue created by Apple and not the consumer so the consumer cannot do anything to effectively "control" the issue.


With all of that being said:


Even though I was told by multiple Apple employees the above info I did make time to get to the Apple Store sooner rather than later because there is a rumor they will not replace them after 3 years from your purchase date, and I have also found another article which states they will stop fixing them all together on October 16, 2016. I cannot confirm that last sentence but there is a valid article on the website "appleinsider" which says they will more or less honor whichever comes first.. the 3 years or October 16, 2016. The site I'm referring to is; http://appleinsider.com/articles/15/10/17/apple-activates-quality-program-for-re tina-macbook-coatings -- This article sites an Apple public announcement and jives with some things I have been told on this forum. For example I am busy with work and had to put off traveling to the Apple store on a weekend for a few months and then someone replied to me you better have it done before October or they will not do it. At the time I didn't read much into it I just decided I needed to make the time and get my laptop fixed as soon as possible. Later on I realized my MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Mid 2014) will be 3 years old sometime in October of 2016; meaning the 3 year mark would be up in October.


I hope this explains the issue and can help you.

Oct 5, 2016 5:51 AM in response to d_osx

d_osx


If you read some of the posts from a page or two ago you will see one gentlemen had his screen replaced 3 times. Basically the short answer to your question is NO. When they replace your screen they use the same Retina display with the same coating.


I'm curious to know if the NEW "MacBooks" have the same anti-reflective coating as the Retina display models. I was thinking about buying a new MacBook in space grey (because they truly are amazing and no other laptops compare to them, in my opinion), but if they have the same issue I will pass; keep my current MacBook Pro [mid 2014] and buy an iMac instead. If anyone knows or can answer MY question about the new MacBook's coating I would be much obliged.


Thanks.

Oct 5, 2016 11:06 AM in response to GreenMamba

I did read all of the previous posts showing that the screen has been replaced multiple times. However, all of those posts are in reference to screens that were replaced a while ago. Apple store recently gave me the information that the screen has been changed. Was curious if anyone that has had the screen replaced in say the last 4-6wks has any problems yet.


Thanks,

Daniel

Oct 5, 2016 11:47 AM in response to d_osx

d_osx


I fall into that category. I had mine replaced just last month. There is no damage, staining, etc so far. But my original MacBook Pro's screen didn't show signs of the screen degrading for at least a year to 18 months.


Fortytwowest


Are you being sarcastic? http://www.apple.com/macbook/

The new MacBooks are out I was trying one out and told at the Apple Store last month they aren't making the pro version anymore. More or less the "MacBook" is their new laptop. It has Retina display with "edge to edge" glass so if the coating hasn't been fixed you can see why there can be a serious problem. As far as tech specs you just pick the different levels of the MacBook instead of having a Pro version. It's also slimmer and lighter then the Air.

Oct 5, 2016 12:03 PM in response to GreenMamba

No, not being sarcastic at all. I read something over the weekend about the possibility of new macbook pro's being announced towards the end of the month. To be honest, I haven't looked at the new machines recently, so had no idea about the changes.


What I read was something about a new panel above the keyboard, utilising a sort of force touch interface, replacing the function keys, that would be programmable. I'll see if I can find the link.


Yeah - I can see that it would cause huge issues if they haven't fixed the problem. I only got my screen replaced 2 weeks ago; it only started showing signs of the issue about a month ago, and it's a late 2014 model.


*edit* This isn't the one I read, but is very similar.

http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/mac/new-macbook-pro-2016-release-date-rumours-uk- specs-3593988/

Oct 7, 2016 1:05 AM in response to bradymott

I was asked by the repair center to leave my MBP at the store for 5 days as they need to order the part.

I need my MBP to do my work, and I can't afford to leave it there for 5 days.

I called Apple to explain my situation, they just arrogantly ignored that.

I told them, I would bring my MBP to the repair center, so they could diagnose and see the problem themselves, so they could log a case to Apple for part. While waiting for the part to arrived, I want to keep my laptop (since you have identified the problem), so I could use my laptop. Until the part arrived, I would just bring it in again for the part replacement. Such a simple request has been declined. Apple said, this is their rule.

This is ridiculous, Apple thinks every Mac owner is a casual user? They can leave it for 5 days?

Oct 7, 2016 4:13 AM in response to joeansian

Inconvenient for us, yes, but it is not arrogance on Apple's part. Standard turnaround time for this issue is three to five days at all Apple stores. In some locations they have to send it out to another facility, rather than repair it in the local shop. They have many Macs in for repair. It's a shame Apple let this product onto the market with a faulty display in the first place, but they say the next generation, due out before the end of the year, will have a different and improved display. Meantime, Apple confirms that they will replace delaminating displays for three years from time of purchase, and sometimes beyond that.

Oct 19, 2016 9:27 AM in response to jashjacob

jashjacob


Like I have said previously. If you've owned your MacBook for over 3 years you might be out of luck. I read they were only going to replace them for free until October 16, 2016 IF your Mac is over 3 years old. If your Mac is not 3 years old yet then they should replace the screen free of charge.


The replacement screen costs about $500USD. If you have to pay for it (your mac is older then 3 years) and I was in your shoes I would make the investment and buy either the MacBook which is super light and compact or the new MacBook Pro (which i think comes out end of this month).


If Apple doesn't come out with a new MBP by the end of October I'm going to get myself an iMac with the 4k display. They are very reasonably priced right now and have great hardware specs. Right now I have a mid 2014 rMBP and love it but want a larger SSD hard drive, more RAM, a better chip (i5 now), and def 4k maybe 5k. 🙂


-GreenMamba

My Retina Display has stain damage, HELP!!!

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