Macbook Air 2012 - LG vs Samsung LCD

[laff2]

OK campers - we are back to this...Just got my new 2012 Macbook Air 11" i7 256GB SSD/8GB RAM

I knew immediately that the LCD was a bit flat (or less contrast) as well as some blacks appeared more blue. After checking, I found that my new 2012 Macbook Air has a LG screen. I compared it to my Mid-2011 Macbook Air i7 (which has a Samsung LCD) and the 2011 had more contrast, etc.

Not that the LG screens are bad or anything, it is I am just use to the Samsung screen I have in my 2011 and do not want to go through the calibrations. Personal choice, Just like the Samsung better.

You can see what your LCD manufacturer is by doing the following:

Launch the Terminal (/Applications/Utilities/)
Copy and paste the following command onto a single line and hit return:

ioreg -lw0 | grep IODisplayEDID | sed "/[^<]*</s///" | xxd -p -r | strings -6

Read the output, you are looking for an “LP” prefix to numbers reported back:
LP133WP1-TJA3
Color LCD

If the prefix is not “LP” then you have a Samsung display and there’s no need to use the color profile or to follow the rest of the instructions, if it does start with LP (like the example shown), then proceed

[RocketRed]

oh boy.. here we go again

[mauimauer]

You can fix up color display on your LG display by using a different color profile. Google it.

[dcorban]

My new 13" Air says: LTH133BT01A03

A quick duckduck search tells me this is a Samsung panel.

[laff2]

I returned mine - the LG is not bad or anything, even with color calibration, I prefer the Samsung panal's contrast.

To each our own...

[SLM9555]

Originally Posted by laff2

I returned mine - the LG is not bad or anything, even with color calibration, I prefer the Samsung panal's contrast.

To each our own...

Damit, I have the LG on my new 13" air. I knew my screen looked a little off compared to my girlfriends 2011 13" air.

[mitty]

Originally Posted by dcorban

My new 13" Air says: LTH133BT01A03

A quick duckduck search tells me this is a Samsung panel.

Ditto, Samsung here as well.

Oh and it's beautiful

[RobNor]

Any problems with uneven backlighting on either the LG or Samsung displays on the 2012 models?

[GizmoDVD]

Originally Posted by dcorban

My new 13" Air says: LTH133BT01A03

A quick duckduck search tells me this is a Samsung panel.

Same here! Sweet.

[SLM9555]

One that that makes me feel a little better about my LG screen is at full brightness, it is a tad brighter than the Samsung. I held both side by side with the same content on.

[SoIsays]

Originally Posted by dcorban

My new 13" Air says: LTH133BT01A03

A quick duckduck search tells me this is a Samsung panel.

Mine is this as well for my 13" i5/4/256 from Best Buy

[usmaak]

Just thought I would join in on the conversation. Mine is a 13" base model i5/256GB/4. It has a Samsung panel and a Samsung SSD. I was considering returning it and ordering one with 8GB of RAM. I was also considering getting the MBP with the faster processor and 8GB of RAM for the same price as this model. But I'm not sure what to do. I like having the SSD. I have an SSD in my Windows computer, and it is MUCH faster than anything with a HDD. And I'm not really excited about the resolution difference, which I noticed long before I found out that there was actually a difference.

I'll probably just stick with what I can get from BB. Either the MBA that I have, or the MBP that costs the same. I'm not really sure if I even need the 8GB of RAM.

One other thing that I noticed is that along the very bottom of my screen, it is slightly darker than the rest of the screen. But I noticed that on all of the 11" and 13" ones that I saw at the Apple store and Best Buy. It's only noticeable on white screens.

[halledise]

Originally Posted by RocketRed

oh boy.. here we go again

true enough.

for the exercise I did the Terminal thingy and my new 13" Air has an LG display.
love it - Life's Good.
Apple know what they're doing …
my LG lcd television is a cracker, and so is my Samsung colour laser printer.
OP needs to get out more

[RocketRed]

Originally Posted by halledise

true enough.

OP needs to get out more

Anybody wanna place a bet? There's going to be the exact same topic next summer when the Haswell MBA's come out.

... Unless Apple sticks to one type of screen instead of 2.

[Skoopman]

Originally Posted by RocketRed

Anybody wanna place a bet? There's going to be the exact same topic next summer when the Haswell MBA's come out.

... Unless Apple sticks to one type of screen instead of 2.

I bet Apple will use Sharp displays next summer

[RocketRed]

Originally Posted by Skoopman

I bet Apple will use Sharp displays next summer

I've owned Japanese phones with Sharp displays in them (as the phone themselves were by Sharp).

My Body is Ready.

[mixman]

My 2011 Air had the LG and used it without any further color calibration. I had no problems with it in the long run. The biggest shock for me was that there is such high variance in parts for the same model.

[Sounds Good]

Originally Posted by Zzari

I just picked up an 11" i7/256/8GB from the store and it has the Samsung SSD and LG screen. Browsing through the replies on this thread, it seems that every 2012 11" has the LG screen.

Are there any other definitive patterns like this ?

[ericv232]

Originally Posted by Sounds Good

Are there any other definitive patterns like this ?

I had a 2012 11" with the AUO screen.

[macbook123]

Went to the local Apple store today in part to see for myself if there are significant differences between the different panels, and was surprised to find that 10/10 Air's on display had LTH panels. Aren't most of the panels people here end up with LG's?

Anyway, I'm curious what the actual fraction of Samsung panels is (in part because I'm considering getting one myself), so started this poll:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1400411

Hope that's OK. I'm not trying to compete with this thread here, just trying to get some stats going.

[zenfloater]

So, for the past 3 weeks or so I've been battling the LG vs Samsung display issues with Apple and have jumped through hoops in order to get what I paid for.

I guess my eyes are just calibrated to a Samsung display from my previous MBAs and I would not accept any less. When I ordered my MBA, (i5, 256, 8G) it's display seemed different, not as bright. After reading here about the differences, I contacted Apple, after which I had to speak with a multitude of people:

1. Applecare
2. Sales Specialist Team Member
3. Customer Service
4. Apple Store Genius Bar rep

Finally, I got the Sales rep to accept sending me a replacement which I hoped was a "good" one. I wasn't too sure about getting the right one so I used my wifes apple ID and order another MBA, same config with the Education discount (you can only have one order of an item with the Education discount on an apple ID).

I booted up the replacement and sped through the setup .... LG display. I kind of knew it from the moment I booted it up ... no go and my wife was pretty bummed about it for me.

Then the day after arrived the MBA I ordered using her account, I booted it up and immediately my wife said, this is a good one. The two MBAs were sitting right next to each other and you could see the difference in the brightness and sharpness. She was right and I finally hit the jackpot.

So, off the inital two MBAs go ... back to Apple for a return. Happy camper and glad I finally got this sorted out.

FYI .. not sure if it matters, the "good" MBA came from a factory addressed to someone in California .. and then to me.

The "bad" ones were shipped directly to me without a stop in CA.

Just an FYI ...

[kodeman53]

Originally Posted by zenfloater

I guess my eyes are just calibrated to a Samsung display ...

That's a new one. Thanks for the laugh.

Originally Posted by zenfloater

FYI .. not sure if it matters, the "good" MBA came from a factory addressed to someone in California .. and then to me. The "bad" ones were shipped directly to me without a stop in CA.

What, you think the "bad" panels are removed in CA and replaced with "good" panels on some MBAs? I didn't think this thread could get any more bizarre but you did it. Congrats.

[Haust]

Returned my 13/8/256 MBA with the LG display today. The Apple store employee asked why. I explained the whole business with the varying quality of the displays. Another Apple employee, a manager, overhead my conversation and was very curious about this, so I obliged and did the Pink Lotus Flower experiment, as well as the text demonstration. Both of them were amazed at the difference between the displays. Both of them fully agreed with me that the Samsung display was superior in term of image quality and text quality.

Just ordered another MBA. If I don't get the Samsung display, it will go back as well, and I will be done with it.

----------

Originally Posted by zenfloater

Education discount.

So, are you saying that you got a Samsung display using the education discount? I'm curious, because I'm purchasing mine this way as well, and I wondered if Apple might be shipping the LG displays to get back the loss on the discount. That is, I wonder if the the cost of the LG display is less the Samsung. I wonder if one has a better chance to get the Samsung if they pay full price?

I'm giving it one more chance then I'm done.

[macbook123]

Originally Posted by Haust

Returned my 13/8/256 MBA with the LG display today. The Apple store employee asked why. I explained the whole business with the varying quality of the displays. Another Apple employee, a manager, overhead my conversation and was very curious about this, so I obliged and did the Pink Lotus Flower experiment, as well as the text demonstration. Both of them were amazed at the difference between the displays. Both of them fully agreed with me that the Samsung display was superior in term of image quality and text quality.

Just ordered another MBA. If I don't get the Samsung display, it will go back as well, and I will be done with it

Wow, pretty impressive story. I can't believe that Apple gets away with this without being called out by Anandtech or another tech site.

[Sounds Good]

Originally Posted by Zzari

... it doesn't seem like anyone (at least from those that have posted in this thread) has gotten a non-LG display on a 2012 11".

What about the 13" 2012 Air screens? Are they all Samsungs -- or a mix -- or ??