2013 Macbook Pro 13" Retina Display Models A018 vs A020 Which do you Have?

[Burnsey]

So apparently there are two displays on the 2013 13" rMBPs, an A018 panel and an A020 panel. Now I know people have tried to determine who makes which, but is there any discussion or conclusion as to which panel is actually better? What are the differences between the two? If one gets an A018, is it worth it to switch it out and try and get an A020 or vice versa?

I have an A018 panel on my week 44 13" rMBP (2.4/8/256) purchased today. Brightness seems mostly uniform with very limited/hardly noticeable bleed at the bottom left and no IR during regular use so far. However the display does seem a bit washed out (i.e. low on contrast?), and moving head from side produces noticeable dimming on the other side (i.e. moving head slightly to left = dimmed right side and vice versa). This is not as pronounced on my mid 2012 Macbook Air.


Owners of 2013 13" rMBPs please chime in with your display model and what you think of it (brightness uniformity, colors, contrast, cool or warm, and any image retention or yellow tint issues).

To find out which model display you have, System Preferences -> Displays -> Color -> Choose any color profile -> Open Profile -> Scroll down the list to "17 mmod" and select it:

 

[Alicia1]

I had a late 13" 2.6/512/8gb with an A020 screen with image retention. I have since purchased a 13" 2.8/512/16gb with an A018 screen. This one doesn't have image retention. The first one had a cooler screen and more uniform, this one is slightly warmer (I think it is a Samsung panel) and a slight yellow tinge top left corner (hardly notice it). The display on mine doesn't seem washed out at all.

 

[Burnsey]

I had a late 13" 2.6/512/8gb with an A020 screen with image retention. I have since purchased a 13" 2.8/512/16gb with an A018 screen. This one doesn't have image retention. The first one had a cooler screen and more uniform, this one is slightly warmer (I think it is a Samsung panel) and a slight yellow tinge top left corner (hardly notice it). The display on mine doesn't seem washed out at all.

Image retention aside, which display did you prefer in terms of brightness, color, and contrast? The manufacturer for both is listed as "610", so I assume they're both made by the same manufacturer, and I have to assume it's LG.

 

[macfacts]

So apparently there are two displays on the 2013 13" rMBPs, an A018 panel and an A020 panel. Now I know people have tried to determine who makes which, but is there any discussion or conclusion as to which panel is actually better?
...

So how did you determine which model you have?

 

[Burnsey]

So how did you determine which model you have?

System Preferences -> Displays -> Color -> Choose any color profile -> Open Profile -> Scroll down the list to "17 mmod" and select it:

Edited original post as well.

 

[Ai-apple]

That is the exact screen and built date I have on my rMBP. I don't know what A020 screen looks like but I love my A018. Using all default color settings out of the box. The white screen looks slight on the warm side but it is my liking. Here is a screenshot of photoshop white screen.

 

[Burnsey]

That is the exact screen and built date I have on my rMBP. I don't know what A020 screen looks like but I love my A018. Using all default color settings out of the box. The white screen looks slight on the warm side but it is my liking. Here is a screenshot of photoshop white screen.

A screenshot won't show anything.

 

[Ai-apple]

A screenshot won't show anything.

Sorry you cannot see the screen . It is what I see

 

[dirtnnasty]

So... I have a A018 and I am very satisfied...

Attached you find some pics, but in real life the white is much better...
I switched the Profile to D65.

The third pic shows you my Win7 Bootcamp. There the white is whiter than on MacOS without any calibration...

 

[KUguardgrl13]

I have an A018 on a 13" 2.4/8/256, and overall I'm satisfied. No IR or backlight bleeding. It does seem a little warmer than the color lcd on my old mid-2009 MBP, but that's not a fair comparison, and I haven't looked at them side by side.

 

[khaberz]

A018 2.4/8/256 here. Slightly warm, but uniform. No noticeable IR (didn't run the full test).

 

[viktormadarasz]

A018 Here BTO Macbook Pro 13" 2013

Hi,

I have the A018 panel, so far very happy with it, no ghosting or any craziness thank god

Its a BTO Core i5 2.6 GHz 16GB Ram 128GB SSD 13" Model 2013 Late

 

[priitv8]

There the white is whiter than on MacOS without any calibration...

You probably meant "bluer" or "cooler"?
When I did my colorimetric calibration, I discovered that also I had hand-tuned mine slightly bluer than neutral white would be.
OK, there probably is no such thing as "neutral white" but I calibrated mine to D65 (6500K) whitepoint.
Wonder where does this preference towards cool blue comes from?

 

[dirtnnasty]

the white in Win7 is now the same like MacOS white with D65

 

[Jeanloup]

A friend have a A014 screen :/

 

[Adonys]

just checked mine A018 2.4/8/256

 

[Hockin]

I've got a A018, looks fine to me...

 

[nightryda]

Mine is A018, purchased 12/2013. The A014 is a 2012 Retina Model Screen. I would be sure to double check your friends Macbook.

I've also seen the A020 and noticed the screen was warmer and the color were a bit lighter. Text seemed a little easier to read. I'm wondering if anyone has found a way check the terminal codes for the 13" Retina? OR better yet if anyone else has compared the 18 and 20 side by side.

 

[Jeanloup]

So the A018 is IR free ?

 

[nightlong]

Mine is A020, no warm cast, it is bright, clear, no IR that I can see. Manufactured 22/11/13, base 8/256.

 

[dirtnnasty]

We have to analyze it... So far, mine A018 seems to be IR free and a little warmer...


rMBP 8/256 late 2013 born cw 48-49

How can I see the correct manufacturing date?

 

[1BadMac]

A020 here. No IR. Bought on launch day. 2.4/256/8

 

[Adonys]

my manufacture date says CCD71000 how do you translate/code?

 

[RyanG]

I don't think these numbers mean jack **** but I will play along - A020 and zero issues.

 

[Chatran]

A friend have a A014 screen :/

Haswell, or just early 2013 model?