MacBook Pro 15" Grainy Matte Display

I just tried changing the resolution down to 800x600, and the grain stayed the same... hence suggesting to me that the problem is physical and not related to the GPU (although it might be).

Definitely physical, because the pattern sparkles and changes when you move your head around (even slightly).

I changed my browser background to dark gray to avoid the distraction of the extra layer of "dust" on bright white. Very dark colors help a lot, far more than turning the brightness down. Of course, bright color pictures, title bars, dialogs, and other apps I cannot adjust the color on, are still jarring.

Looking at the display from a high angle seems to help. The tradeoff is reduced color accuracy.

It's kind of sad, really.

Good call on the pixel density. I did some more research on this issue and found a bunch of people writing about the sparkly effect they were noticing on their Dell screens.

Dell provides its own official explanation as to the effect, basically that it is an interaction between pixel density and the coating placed on the screen, and that it is normal for it to look this way:

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/document?journ alid=1262400777E011DB8CA7CBB68E1EC894&docid=ECCF0BD385ACD62CE030030ABD6251E8

Perhaps the MacBook doesn't have the problem because it doesn't use the glare reducing coating?

That's very disappointing. If all the displays look this way, I'm baffled as to how few people are bothered by it. I'd rather have a slightly lower resolution than a shimmering, blurry display, since I stare at it for 12 hours a day. Especially since OS X is all white, all the time. I guess Apple is trying to keep up with the Joneses, at the expense of display quality.

Man, if this coating really does increase the viewing angle, I would hate to see this display without it. The viewing angle is miniscule as it is. Actually, I've become used to the uneven brightness; but the sparkling is difficult to focus past.

Fortunately, I use a black Terminal background, a black Emacs background, and (now) a black browser background, which helps a lot. Sure, the Web doesn't look great, but at least my eyes don't hurt. Also fortunate that this machine is blazing fast.

I went through two MBP 15" machines with the came thing. The manager at the Apple Store upgraded me to a Core Duo 17" and the problem is no longer there. I would rather have a Core Duo with a perfect screen than a C2D with a less than perfect screen. I really hope that Apple will take this problem seriously and correct it for all of its customers that are experiencing these issues.

Had sending back my MBPC2D17" matte on Tuesday too, received it on Monday, called the applestore for the display and the guy said to me we are sorry for the inconvenience.
Today I call Apple France to know if they will upgrade the quality of the display, the rreponse was there's no known problem concerning the display, and finally said to me "have you seen the performance of these machines ?" I answered that I pay 3000 dollars for stability and quality (like my pb 17" does) until i'll go to the pc market .....

A new low quality stuff is here at Apple. Low quality, high price, great communication.....

I just wanted to chime in since I've been wondering about this grainy issue for a long time. I have a 15" glossy screen that works perfectly in OSX but in my winxp partition the screen is super grainy. Like the pic that was linked to. I'm 'glad' to hear that others are seeing this and I'm not entirely insane.

now to fix it..

this is infuriating. I just dropped $4000 Australian for this MBP C2D 15" Matte today. The display is the worst I have seen in a long time. Apple, can we have a response to these problems please?

LOL... They respond by deleting your post or the entire thread...
They've done it to me so many times (and numerous others), I'm not sure what makes me more mad anymore.

Here's Apple's response: "ON HOLD: PART ON ORDER."

My only answer is to go to as many "non-Apple" boards, and post your problem. You won't be the only one!

You can also short the stock.

I took my MBP C2D into my local Apple Service Centre ( it's not an Apple store - it's an Apple Premium Centre - they're very good there), anyway, I had 2 of their technicians look at the screen. They brought down a 2.16Ghz MBP C2D to compare my 2.33 against.

Their screen showed the same grainy effect, although it wasn't as noticeable, as their screen on full brightness was at the same level my MBP when it's on 6 bars brightness level, so their screen was much duller.

At first they couldn't see what I was talking about, both techs said my screen was amazing. After about 45 minutes, one of the technicians said "what's that on the screen". I asked him to elaborate and he said it's a sort of grainy shimmer effect on the screen. (Bingo! I thought at long last) he then looked at his own MBP screen and said it was on his too only not as noticeable.

The second technician only saw it when I set the background to a solid colour, he said it was as if the screen was moving.

So, it only took best part of an hour of constant looking at the screens for the technicians to both agree there was something odd about them.

They offered to replace the screen, but said they didn't see much point until they investigate with Apple the cause of the issue. I tend to agree with them in that regard. They know of the problem now so when they come up with a suitable fix, they will get in touch. Both agreed the MacBook has a better displayed image than the MacBook Pro - I responded "when the MacBook is primarily aimed at stoned students and the MacBook Pro is aimed at professional creative sorts who need a high quality display, why would the stoned out students get the better of the two?" Both techs laughed at my analogy, but agreed it made no sense that the MacBook Pro has such a lesser quality display than that found in the MacBook.

So, my advice, if your screen is grainy, take it into Apple or an Apple authorised service centre and take as long as it takes for them to see the problem. Show them on a solid light grey background, that's what showed my screen at it's worst, and they can't fail to see it. If they do, they're either blind or lying.

Only when a high number of service centres get in touch with Apple, will they (Apple) start looking into the display issues we're experiencing.

If Apple do nothing to resolve this matter, I think that shows clearly what Apple think of it's customers, in which case, direct action is required, i.e. arranging a specific day and time, where we all march upon our nearest Apple Stores or resellers, MBP's in hand and demand action. I think if several thousand people around the world turned up to complain about their MBP displays, Apple would have to take notice - especially if TV media was involved - think of the bad press so close to the holidays!

gasp blasphemy!!! To even suggest desecrating the sacred Apple Store Temples!
NO AppleCare for you!


Seriously though, I think I remember someone saying on a thread that some Apple engineers are looking further into this issue?
sigh always silence from Apple.

The MBP's sold last june, looked perfect in the store (whoa...). However, 5-6 months later, my screen that looked nice, decided it showed off enough. Sooo, went into a mode that looks like a light-show screensaver, lasted about a minute, and shuts itself down/BREAKS.

If all was fine and unique:
Apple would not have been "ordering a part," for way over a month.
Someone at Apple could tell me what's up with all the problems.
Apple could get their geniuses to fix things.
Apple could say, "nobody else has a problem, we'll give you a new one to make you happy... lol...

there is no such thing as, "a good one." Kinda like cigarettes. Some might get lucky and not have a problem, while others' have computers that have ebola.

I trust Vladamir Putin more than Apple.

Apple is in full 007, we don't know a thing about it... but will look into everyones' problems (ooops) mode.

Look, Apple has to get past the 4th qtr with their crazy stock price. Investors mean more than cutomers--though most are one in the same.

Until Jan., "we haven't seen anyhing hee at Apple to suggest a widespread problem." Then, recall!

As someone else said: send your complaints to CNBC or any financial institution. They'll figure it out.

I bought a new 15" mbp c2d matte just two days ago, the viewing angle was kinda poor - perfectly visible, but colour shading changed so much as I moved my head. from greater angles, whites went a deep yellow. But useable as a laptop I guess, albeit not impressive at all.

The graininess just wasn't visible - either a lucky one or too new.

But although most of the screen was good in terms of even brightness, there was a painfully noticeable bright band at the bottom, worse in each corner, also a greyish/yellowish faint line down the left side. No way I stand for that at the prices Apple charge in the UK.


So back to the store ( not Apple) and try another ( less bright at the bottom, but more uneven and a band at the top ) viewing angle/color change just the same. Got a refund, since the store guys said they'd sent several back to Apple, and were told "it's in spec" which is laughable when pc laptops at 1/2 the price or less have better screens, as does the MB overall.

Checked out a mbp cd 17" while I was there, and the bright band was also very noticeable - awful on moving images, or slideshows, since different parts of the images 'light up' as they pass over the band.


Very disappointing, and a sale lost.