21.5" iMac 2012 Display Issue!

OP what was the outcome of getting your unit replaced, did Apple hassle you for it? Was yours a BTO?

Where was yours assembled, Trojans?

I would visit an apple store if within a reasonable distance and compare the dilemma you noticed with another on display; perhaps more than one is on display to gain a good comparison.
Additionally, the purchase of your new computer regarding your decision is really not up to anyone else to determine concerning opinion, the latter includes the Apple rep at the store.

Satisfaction regarding your expensive purchase is totally up to you, should you notice the issue with the display models is "not" sufficient enough to live with.
In the event you dislike the backlight luminance then return it for a refund.

Perhaps, at a future time the issue will be corrected where you will be pleased to the point of a re-purchase.
Finally, keep yourself aware of the allocated return time - don't wait till the last day to return since other obstacles outside of your ability may generate hardship; example: return shipping delay, incorrect return paperwork etc...

Finally, thank you for posting your results - the feedback allocated by the customers is a big help to everyone!

The only problem with posting photos of the display is that the exposure of the photo can drastically impact how good or bad the bleed appears. Over exposing a photo will make the black screen look worse and the white screen look better.

I'd dare say I could make all of my screens at home (computer, iPhone, iPad, plasma tv) look good AND bad with the right exposure on a photo of them, yet I can't say I've ever noticed an issue with any of them.

Personally, if the screen looks good to the naked eye under normal usage then fine. If not, I'd replace it. Posting photos with auto exposing cameras and/or over posting over or under exposed photos probably puts more fear in people than is needed...IMO of course

Replace it, of course.
But not now.
You request the replacement, they will take your computer.
Then, you gotta wait for the new one when it is available.
That will probably take at least 2 weeks within these 2 months and you might meet the same problem again.
So replace it when it shows 2 - 4 business days for shipping. You will get the new one and very possible a perfect one just for days.
I have suffered this pain before.

looks normal to me. Watch a movie and if it's ok then it's fine. I don't think this reolsutuon will produce black borders so it should be ok.

I think there is no perfect displays come from Apple these days, no matter it is iPhone, iPad, Macbook Pro w/o Retina display, now the new iMacs show the problem again. I think Apple does really need to improve the quality control on the vendors of Display, especially for LG display.

I recently bought a CTO Macbook Pro High Resolution Anti-Glare one, but I can not say it is perfect after I got the replaced one, the bottom 1/3 part is definitely brighter than the other areas.

younker said:

I think there is no perfect displays come from Apple these days, no matter it is iPhone, iPad, Macbook Pro w/o Retina display, now the new iMacs show the problem again. I think Apple does really need to improve the quality control on the vendors of Display, especially for LG display.

I recently bought a CTO Macbook Pro High Resolution Anti-Glare one, but I can not say it is perfect after I got the replaced one, the bottom 1/3 part is definitely brighter than the other areas.

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LG is terrible and sole reason the iPad 2 was a major FAIL screen wise. The iPad 3rd gen were mostly Samsung panels when they rolled out and were amazing. Now they are back to LG and its no surprise these faulty screens are back.

bobright said:

LG is terrible and sole reason the iPad 2 was a major FAIL screen wise. The iPad 3rd gen were mostly Samsung panels when they rolled out and were amazing. Now they are back to LG and its no surprise these faulty screens are back.

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For the time I had it, I never noticed anything wrong with the iPad 2's screen. As for LG panels in general, I must've been lucky, I'm on my third TV by that brand and they were all good quality.

new iMac Late 2012 screen is better than Dell U2412Mb screen

Having seen the uneven backlight photo of the new iMac 21.5", I thought I'd do the same black jpeg test on my new Dell U2412Mb screen for my 2012 Mac mini. To my untrained eye the Dell looked/still looks black, really black and really good. With the iPhone 5 photo in a dim room, or even a nearly dim room - I get a worse backlight bleed than the first photos in this thread from the new iMac!

I'll try and post my images - but at the moment subjectively the new iMac looks around three times better than my new display. My new Dell is only calibrated with the Apple advanced calibration, I might have the brightness too high. I wonder if the camera is able to see that which our eyes cannot? I still think my Dell is great. I suppose I'll have to photo my 27" ACD now in a dark room and see how extensive the expensive Apple backlight bleed is?

Richard Peters said:

The only problem with posting photos of the display is that the exposure of the photo can drastically impact how good or bad the bleed appears. Over exposing a photo will make the black screen look worse and the white screen look better.

I'd dare say I could make all of my screens at home (computer, iPhone, iPad, plasma tv) look good AND bad with the right exposure on a photo of them, yet I can't say I've ever noticed an issue with any of them.

Personally, if the screen looks good to the naked eye under normal usage then fine. If not, I'd replace it. Posting photos with auto exposing cameras and/or over posting over or under exposed photos probably puts more fear in people than is needed...IMO of course

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Thank you.

It is after all your eyes that are looking at the screen, not your camera.

There is a small bit of me that is hopeful of not having any issues, simply because I have ordered a BTO 21.5" and hopeful that someone tests it after fitting all my extra bits and might notice any screen defects before boxing it all up. One can hope at the very least!

Siderz said:

I hope none of us were expecting the new iMac to be problem-free.

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Really ? Anyone paying top dollar should fully expect the item purchased to be problem free.

Tested the black screen with the lights out on my iMac (21.5", also Chinese assembly) and my display is pretty much flawless. A tad brighter near the bottom but barely noticeable (and I was looking for it). No murky yellow areas at all.

Yours was definitely a bad one.

cyclotron451 said:

Having seen the uneven backlight photo of the new iMac 21.5", I thought I'd do the same black jpeg test on my new Dell U2412Mb screen for my 2012 Mac mini. To my untrained eye the Dell looked/still looks black, really black and really good. With the iPhone 5 photo in a dim room, or even a nearly dim room - I get a worse backlight bleed than the first photos in this thread from the new iMac!

I'll try and post my images - but at the moment subjectively the new iMac looks around three times better than my new display. My new Dell is only calibrated with the Apple advanced calibration, I might have the brightness too high. I wonder if the camera is able to see that which our eyes cannot? I still think my Dell is great. I suppose I'll have to photo my 27" ACD now in a dark room and see how extensive the expensive Apple backlight bleed is?

Click to expand...

Foxfan said:

Tested the black screen with the lights out on my iMac (21.5", also Chinese assembly) and my display is pretty much flawless. A tad brighter near the bottom but barely noticeable (and I was looking for it). No murky yellow areas at all.

Yours was definitely a bad one.

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Whew this gives me a glimpse of hope on my 27" that is coming in a few weeks. I really hope the screen is ok and if it isn't well it will go back to Apple the next day. I paid too much money to swallow an awful yellow screen w/ flashlights all over.

shortie8512 said:

There is a small bit of me that is hopeful of not having any issues, simply because I have ordered a BTO 21.5" and hopeful that someone tests it after fitting all my extra bits and might notice any screen defects before boxing it all up. One can hope at the very least!

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Yeah, they are supposedly hand calibrating these panels so anything bad should raise a flag not holding my breath though as you see the OP's.

Trojans said:

I'm not sure if this is normal or not. I just tested my brand new iMac 21.5

Take a look at the lower right hand corner. Do you see any problem??? Or maybe just my eyes are too sensitive.

There is also a problem of back lighting. Take a look it. That's unacceptable.
If anyone of you have 2012 iMac, I suggest you to test the display first as you have probably paid a lot of money for it.

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That's pretty atrocious backlight bleed, but I can't particularly see the issue on the whites though from the picture. Get it replaced.

I also have an issue with my 2012 21.5" iMac. It has a yellow tint on the bottom 1/3 of the screen. In this area, white backgrounds appear like a sepia type of hue to them. I notice them on websites - like Macrumors...but as I scroll the same area up to the top of the screen, the background turns white. It's subtle but very annoying. Looks like I'll be returning it back to the store. Thank god this is a stock model - so hopefully they still have stock and can swap it out.

I also ordered a 27" BTO - so I'm now worried this one will also come with the same issue. If it does, this one will be more of a hassle to return since it's a BTO. I'm quite disasspointed that they haven't resolved this issue yet.

If it is a BTO model, will be a problem if you were to return due to defective problems??

wayne905 said:

I also have an issue with my 2012 21.5" iMac. It has a yellow tint on the bottom 1/3 of the screen. In this area, white backgrounds appear like a sepia type of hue to them. I notice them on websites - like Macrumors...but as I scroll the same area up to the top of the screen, the background turns white. It's subtle but very annoying. Looks like I'll be returning it back to the store. Thank god this is a stock model - so hopefully they still have stock and can swap it out.

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I noticed this slight issue as well on forums, though I wouldn't consider it a defect. Pure whites are still white uniformly, and this is only noticed with the specific colour of the off-white/beige dialog box. If you tilt your screen or position yourself above and below it you'll see that it's related to your viewing angle. If your display is otherwise flawless I would keep it as. I sure rather keep mine than run the risk of getting a worse display.

Same issue

I just got my imac yesterday. Im unhappy with the display. The upper third of the display is ok, but the rest has a yello tint. Please view the pictures. Now I'm not sure if i should return it to apple or not. The two bars in the pictures have the same color.

I've had my Chinese made 21.5" for a week now. The display is beautiful/flawless to my eyes.

You have to live with this if you want thin screens. Ask yourself: why do NEC and Eizo still make displays 7-8cm thick with a serious bezel? Because it is the only way to get a very even backlight.

apple shareholder... ;-)

torana355 said:

Looks pretty good to me, my advise is to not look for little defects like that as every iMac will have it to some degree.

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Every? ?! worth for repair of course!