I Won the Lottery: Unboxing of Refurbished rMBP's

[CedarPoint182]

I won the lottery (the LG / Samsung lottery, that is)! My story in a nutshell: I originally purchased a rMBP in July, which I returned due to body issues. Since then, I've gone through four other rMBP's--all with LG screens and image retention out of the box. (Call me picky, but for this amount of money, I think I have a right to be.)

When refurbished rMBP's became available in the online store last Friday, I jumped on a 2.6/8/512. A mere few hours later, some refurbished 2.6/16/512's became available. Feeling the 16GB model was a better choice, I purchased this one and will return the other later this week.

After unboxing both machines, I can say they are both in perfect condition and--best of all--have Samsung screens! I literally jumped for joy when "LSN" appeared on the screen. The screens are awesome with no discoloration, bleeding, etc. The bodies are perfect with not a single scratch or scuff. The power cords are in pristine condition, too. Neither of the computers even has a single battery cycle for crying out loud!

If this is representative of all Apple refurb products, I'm extremely impressed. Sure, I miss the fancy box, but with the money I saved by going the refurb route, I now have a 512GB SSD (which I couldn't have afforded otherwise). Plus, I have a Samsung screen! (I continue to wonder if Apple replaced a lot of the screens before listing the rMBP refurbs...)

[krravi]

I just got my refurb and its a Samsung as well. Haven't done the IR test or anything and honestly cant find the difference between my previous LG and this Samsung.

But I knew it the moment I opened the lid and turned it on for the first time. That bright flash of light that fills up the screen... I thought it had to be a Samsung and sure it was.

[tekksan]

I just got my 2.6/16/512 refurb and it's an LG. Also, when I tried to register it, the serial number on the rMBP is invalid and doesn't show up in the their system so they are shipping a new one to me and I have to ship this one back. Sucks.

EDIT: Later that day I tried to register the serial number again and noticed it already showed up on my Apple ID account. I called in and they said sometimes with refurbs, it takes a while for you to be able to register it because the serial was under another Apple ID.

[krravi]

Originally Posted by tekksan

I just got my 2.6/16/512 refurb and it's an LG. Also, when I tried to register it, the serial number on the rMBP is invalid and doesn't show up in the their system so they are shipping a new one to me and I have to ship this one back. Sucks.

Wow, I just got the same config.I tried to register and it took it.

On the plus side, think that the next one you get might be a samsung, if that matters.

[CedarPoint182]

Considering how the leading cause of rMBP returns was screen issues (at least on most Apple forums), I'm hoping Apple did the right thing and provided many (if not most) of these refurbs with new LSN panels.

How many battery cycles does everyone's refurb have? The first machine I received had 0; this one has 5.

[emgoodman]

My base model refurb 15 in rMBP came with the Samsung screen.

[krravi]

Originally Posted by CedarPoint182

Considering how the leading cause of rMBP returns was screen issues (at least on most Apple forums), I'm hoping Apple did the right thing and provided many (if not most) of these refurbs with new LSN panels.

How many battery cycles does everyone's refurb have? The first machine I received had 0; this one has 5.

Mine was zero.

[emgoodman]

Originally Posted by krravi

Mine was zero.

Didn't realize you could determine this so easily.

Only 1, but could have been zero when I got it.

[cheezeit]

i hope when the time comes ill get as lucky and score a samsung screen. fingers crossed!

[jkeekij]

Where do you find the screen manufacturer?

[M5RahuL]

Launch Terminal and copy/paste this

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

Press Enter and if you see LSN it's Samsung, if LP = LG Screen

[MikesGravity]

I had an LG machine for about a month and the hard drive died, so I exchanged for a new one and I knew immediately I had a samsung screen.

I don't necessarily think either is better or worse (IR issue aside). The samsung seems a little warmer and the LG seemed to have better color saturation out of the box but after calibrating, I was happy with both.

[zackkmac]

Just ordered a refurb 2.7/16/768. I'm really hoping it comes with a Samsung display. I had a 2.7/16/512 with an LG which was beautiful but it did not take long for the IR to really build.

[M5RahuL]

Originally Posted by zackkmac

Just ordered a refurb 2.7/16/768. I'm really hoping it comes with a Samsung display. I had a 2.7/16/512 with an LG which was beautiful but it did not take long for the IR to really build.

If I was told correctly by a Senior Advisor [ Apple Care, not the store ], all Ultimate Retinas have the Samsung Display Of course, this info wasn't revealed very easily or voluntarily!

[zackkmac]

Originally Posted by M5RahuL

If I was told correctly by a Senior Advisor [ Apple Care, not the store ], all Ultimate Retinas have the Samsung Display Of course, this info wasn't revealed very easily or voluntarily!

That would be awesome. I will check mine the second I get it. I wonder if, assuming that info is true, Apple decided that before or after the IR complaints began. If after, then mine still might have an LG panel as it is refurbished and could be from one of the first batches.