MacBook Pro 15" Grainy Matte Display

The matte display on my new MacBook Pro has a grainy look to it. It's very noticeable. I'm curious if this is a defect or if all MacBook Pro displays are like this. To better describe the look... it looks like someone took a screenshot and applied the noise filter to it. It also looks like as if there's a lot of dust on the screen. Please let me know if anyone else sees this because if it's not right, I need to return it and get a replacement. Thanks.

2.33GHz - 15" MacBook Pro - 2GB RAM - 256MB VRAM, Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Nov 7, 2006 6:30 AM

115 replies

Nov 10, 2006 8:35 AM in response to Jayson Allyson1

Based on your picture, it seems that the two images are the same size.
But your G4 powerbook (unless it was the very last generation from last November) has a lower resolution. I'm guessing that the image is optimized for the lower resolution, which explains why it looks crisper. In order to make the image the same size on a higher resolution screen, you need to use more pixels, so the image needs to be "expanded" or stretched. If the images were both displayed using the same number of pixels, then it would show up smaller on the higher resolution (MBP) screen. Again, your picture shows them the same size, and I'm assuming you didn't stretch or shrink the images.

PowerBook G4 1.67GHz / MBP 17" C2D (soon...) Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Nov 10, 2006 8:47 AM in response to Tom Ingemanson

That's not the case. I completely understand the whole resolution thing. No matter what resolution your screen is, the OS and all it's elements still take up the same number of pixels. A higher resolution screen gives you more space to move those elements around... that wouldn't explain the hazy screen. I think the screen has a new type of coating on it to improve brightness and that coating interferes with the pixels on the screen making them appear distorted or grainy. I think it's a matter of the image simply showing through that hazy later of the matte screen. Whatever the problem is, I don't like it and no matter how much I try to forget it's there, I still see it. I haven't really fully enjoyed my new computer yet because I'm obsessing over this issue. The PowerBook G4 screen was clear as a bell, and the new screen looks like someone slobbered all over it. How come only a few people are noticing this?

Nov 10, 2006 8:59 AM in response to Jayson Allyson1

I think I responded to your post in a diff forum too, but I was saying my glossy looks the same. I think it's going to be hard to rely on people saying theirs isn't affected because it's subtle enough that many wouldn't notice it.

I disagree with the idea of it being due to the graphics card... it's pretty clearly a physical phenomenon. The only thing I can say it remind me of are color LCD screens in phones/pdas that are meant to be readible in daylight without the backlight on. One theory then is that apple switched to a design meant to improve contrast in high ambient light situations. It certainly does seem intentional if a whole apple store full of MBPs looked the same.

Nov 10, 2006 9:16 AM in response to Charles Conway

Actually, my friend has a previous generation MacBook Pro with a glossy screen and he swears that he doesn't have this problem. I bet they're trying a new coating on the screen to make the screen even brighter. If it is actually the same on both versions, then it would be pointless for me to trade for glossy with lots of glare. I guess I'm just gonna have to get over it or wait until they realize everyone's unhappy and does a recall (which probably won't happen).

BiOsLaSh

Level 1

12 points

Nov 10, 2006 12:27 PM in response to Jayson Allyson1

My glossy screen looks the same. Somewhat grainy. I though that it was just the glossy screen but it appears that it isn't.

Nov 11, 2006 6:25 PM in response to Jayson Allyson1

EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND GOOD NEWS UPDATE!

I've found a TON of websites about the graininess issue from the x1600 specifically! Do not go and trade your computer for a different for glossy... I think it's a problem from the x1600 ATI card. Do a google search for "Grainy x1600" and you'll find a lot of websites with angry peoples on both Mac and PC side. Here's a couple of discussions I found:

X1600 Grainness issue update from Intel - NotebookForums.com
Laptop Screenproblem using a ATi X1600 - Notebooks - PC Hardware

So this is GOOD news and that there MAY be a fix in the near future (hopefully). I'm sure glad that we're not the only one with this problem. Please, don't blame Apple until we know if it's an ATI issue or not.... remember... this ATI chip is really really new.... there's something about dithering 18 bit graphics. (Not sure what that means)

Lets just hope Apple fixes this with a firmware update soon!!!

PS: This must be why the regular MacBooks do not look like this. It's simply because they don't carry the x1600 card. Tada!

This is the happiest day of my life! I'm such a geek.... but, I love it!

Nov 13, 2006 5:13 PM in response to Jayson Allyson1

I' ve read from other forums ( http://www.notebookforums.com/thread173555.html) that the same grain issue appears on other PC laptop screens with ATI Mobility X1600 graphics card aswell. Asus provided a bios update for the card, and it resolved the issue!

When is Apple going to release a bios update? This is very embarassing to Apple, which advertises its computers to be made for media people working with graphics etc. We have been waiting for a fix for almost a year now. I can't use my MacBook Pro for work because the graphics quality is appalling. The grain appears even on the Mac OS X. I'm very disappointed.

Phil Ta

Level 6

10,400 points

Nov 13, 2006 6:08 PM in response to betonfoot

It's not a problem with the X1600, at least not for the MBP anyway. The grainy-ness is due to the LCD itself and whatever coating it has, and is more apparent on some LCDs compared to others.

Nov 13, 2006 8:08 PM in response to Jayson Allyson1

Just an idea - maybe it has to do with color calibration? I would try altered settings.

Nov 13, 2006 8:22 PM in response to Community User

Well... I'm still not used to this display yet because I work on an LCD monitor at work that isn't this bad so that makes this seem worse every day. If I ONLY had this 1 computer, I probably would get used to it and not even see it anymore but, since I switch back and forth from work and home and I even have a PowerBook that looks fine, it just makes this one stand out.

If I return it, I don't even know if I'm gonna get a good screen or not.

Oslice

Level 1

0 points

Nov 13, 2006 8:46 PM in response to Jayson Allyson1

I'm trying to decide whether to return mine. It's subtle, but I find the "sparkle" distracting and annoying. From what I've read on all the various forums, I think it's definitely an issue with the coating on the display. Apparently it affects both the matte and the shiny displays, though I'm going to go to an apple store this weekend and see for myself. Maybe mine is particularly bad? So close to being perfect, but the display is such a major part of using the computer. I'm considering getting a Macbook, though I really don't want integrated graphics. Bah, maybe I'll just wait for them to fix this issue and use my ailing powerbook until then.

I've heard at least one person returned theirs without having to pay the restock fee due to this issue.

Nov 13, 2006 8:48 PM in response to Jayson Allyson1

My MacBook Pro has a Perfect Screen.
I am wondering why are you getting that upset ans still keeping it.
The problem is just your MacBook (and some other) . Why don't you give it back instead of complaining and keeping it ?
Apple will give you back either a new one or your money.

😉

Nov 13, 2006 9:26 PM in response to colorville

I'm on my 3rd and quite frankly this is getting annoying trekking back to the store...it's obvious to me that there is a batch of bad screens out there...

Nov 14, 2006 3:40 AM in response to Scott Slater

I think the problem is with the X1600. It has the same dithering problem, not a sparkle effect like some people are saying, I dont even understand what they're talking about. Okay maybe there's two issues: sparkle and dithering, but I would like to see the dithering problem fixed, like the ASUS computers etc. It has been widely discovered that ALL laptops with X1600 have the same exact problem. Why would be MacBooks Pro's with X1600 be any different? The issue is exlained (and the fix for ASUS) very well here, please read: http://www.notebookforums.com/thread173555.html

Or go make a Google search: "grainy x1600"

Ofcourse I'm also aware that the MacBook Pro screens are crap quality, but still with BIOS update I think we can fix the worst issue.

Does Apple people ever read this? Is there a email for a tech support, or a developer team?

Nov 14, 2006 5:11 AM in response to betonfoot

I took some photos of my MacBook Pro screen with my digitalcamera with macro lens. The photos have been taken very near the screen, so you can clearly see the grainy pixel patterns. The first photo is supposed to be a solid black on a website background. The second one is taken from gradient fill (gray to black) in Photoshop. The third one is a picture of a car tire.

And yes the same kind of grain was created by ATI Mobility X1600 graphics card (same as apple is using) on ASUS computers, and they fixed it with a bios update. So I think there could be a way to update the bios for Mac as well.

Here are the pictures: http://www.laspalmas.nu/macbookpro_grain.jpg

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MacBook Pro 15" Grainy Matte Display