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2017 Display Quality
- Thread starter nabeel24
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It looks fine. If you have to ask other people to know if it's fine - trust me, it's fine.
My advice - and this goes to 50% members here - is stop examining your screen. LCD technology is not perfect, screen bleeding, uneven uniformity - it's all normal and doesn't really affect work.
Last week my Late 2013 MBP display went out and I figured instead of spending the $800 to get the display replaced (second time in it's life span) I would just buy the a new one since they just updated them.
I'm on my second one. I do professional color correction so I'm aware of the variance in the displays, especially between LG and Samsung and the first one I received just looked very yellow to me. The contrast and sharpness was incredible and it was a definite improvement over what I was used to on my 2013, but I couldn't get rid of that yellow tint even after multiple calibrations using the spyder at my design studio.
I figured I'd take it back because if you're spending $2,800 on something you better be happy about it. They thought I was crazy at the Apple store when I explained it to them but I showed them one of my proofs and how I was compensating colors because I was used to a more cyan tint and couldn't get rid of the warmer look of the monitor so they let me change it out. I crossed my fingers hoping I would get the opposite screen and even opened it up in the store with the employee who was helping me and lucky at the time, the screen had more of a cyan tint. It was very apparent on the settings screen which was more yellow on the old one and more cyan on the new one. The employee noticed it and was very surprised since they assumed they were all the same but they could definitely see as difference and were glad they could help me.
After calibrating the monitor at the studio again, I realize this monitor, while not having the warm tint of the one I exchanged, it just didn't have the contrast or sharpness of the old one. The blacks are very washed out compared to the previous one. It looks identical to my old MacBook, which is what I was after, but it feels like I'm using a 4 year old display which I wouldn't even have noticed had I not experienced what the newer models are supposed to look like. I would have just been happy to have the exact same monitor as I had in my 4 year old MacBook.
I think I'm going to take this one back too. My work comes out normal but the screen is just boring. It has no contrast.
There are definite variations in the screens, but 99% of people aren't going to notice because they all look pretty good, but on a professional level, there are better and worse displays and if you are someone who will notice it, you have to cross your fingers when you boot it up for the first time.
I'm on my second one. I do professional color correction so I'm aware of the variance in the displays, especially between LG and Samsung and the first one I received just looked very yellow to me. The contrast and sharpness was incredible and it was a definite improvement over what I was used to on my 2013, but I couldn't get rid of that yellow tint even after multiple calibrations using the spyder at my design studio.
I figured I'd take it back because if you're spending $2,800 on something you better be happy about it. They thought I was crazy at the Apple store when I explained it to them but I showed them one of my proofs and how I was compensating colors because I was used to a more cyan tint and couldn't get rid of the warmer look of the monitor so they let me change it out. I crossed my fingers hoping I would get the opposite screen and even opened it up in the store with the employee who was helping me and lucky at the time, the screen had more of a cyan tint. It was very apparent on the settings screen which was more yellow on the old one and more cyan on the new one. The employee noticed it and was very surprised since they assumed they were all the same but they could definitely see as difference and were glad they could help me.
After calibrating the monitor at the studio again, I realize this monitor, while not having the warm tint of the one I exchanged, it just didn't have the contrast or sharpness of the old one. The blacks are very washed out compared to the previous one. It looks identical to my old MacBook, which is what I was after, but it feels like I'm using a 4 year old display which I wouldn't even have noticed had I not experienced what the newer models are supposed to look like. I would have just been happy to have the exact same monitor as I had in my 4 year old MacBook.
I think I'm going to take this one back too. My work comes out normal but the screen is just boring. It has no contrast.
There are definite variations in the screens, but 99% of people aren't going to notice because they all look pretty good, but on a professional level, there are better and worse displays and if you are someone who will notice it, you have to cross your fingers when you boot it up for the first time.
Well, I have my own story too. And I'm glad I'm not crazy!
Some weeks ago, I purchased a new 2015 13" Macbook Pro, because I prefer this keyboard, ports and overall design. Just like the OP, in the screen of my first Macbook Pro, there was a reddish tint on the left side. It wasn't something small, it's width is of about 4-5 cm, well, almost a third of the screen. I noticed it with text over a white background, which is pretty common in my use (I read tons of PDFs and text books in PDF). So I decided to buy another one.
The second one has a uniform "white" color. It may seem a bit yellowish, but I consider it OK. It is definitely from another manufacturer because the first one, with the deep grey wallpaper from macOS, it somewhat flickers, whereas the second one with that same deep grey wallpaper and maximum brightness, it doesn't flicker at all. Also, The first one has a bit of Image Retention (which eventually dissapears), and in the second one the image retention is barely noticeable.
So, you are probably guessing I'm going to keep the second one... But there's more. The second retina MacBook Pro, which has an acceptable screen, has its keys loosened, spongy, very noisy. THe first MacBook Pro, on the other hand, has a good quality keyboard: Sturdy, compact... but the screen has a reddish tint on the left side.
So right now I'm pretty upset with Apple and its multiple sourced components, its lower Quality Control, and thinking about purchasing a new 2017 MacBook to see if I have more luck, althoug I'd like to buy a 2015 model. But I just cannot buy more 2015 MacBook Pros, this were the last ones...
Some weeks ago, I purchased a new 2015 13" Macbook Pro, because I prefer this keyboard, ports and overall design. Just like the OP, in the screen of my first Macbook Pro, there was a reddish tint on the left side. It wasn't something small, it's width is of about 4-5 cm, well, almost a third of the screen. I noticed it with text over a white background, which is pretty common in my use (I read tons of PDFs and text books in PDF). So I decided to buy another one.
The second one has a uniform "white" color. It may seem a bit yellowish, but I consider it OK. It is definitely from another manufacturer because the first one, with the deep grey wallpaper from macOS, it somewhat flickers, whereas the second one with that same deep grey wallpaper and maximum brightness, it doesn't flicker at all. Also, The first one has a bit of Image Retention (which eventually dissapears), and in the second one the image retention is barely noticeable.
So, you are probably guessing I'm going to keep the second one... But there's more. The second retina MacBook Pro, which has an acceptable screen, has its keys loosened, spongy, very noisy. THe first MacBook Pro, on the other hand, has a good quality keyboard: Sturdy, compact... but the screen has a reddish tint on the left side.
So right now I'm pretty upset with Apple and its multiple sourced components, its lower Quality Control, and thinking about purchasing a new 2017 MacBook to see if I have more luck, althoug I'd like to buy a 2015 model. But I just cannot buy more 2015 MacBook Pros, this were the last ones...
There does seem to be a huge increase in threads relating to screen uniformity lately. People, just leave it a few days and try calibrating. If it still looks bad and you can easily see it, after calibrating the colours, then call Apple.
People, if you leave it a few days, and you pass the 14 day trial period, you won't be able to return or exchange your Mac without tons of questions and employees suggesting that tint, or color degradation, is just your imagination. And then, they won't let you exchange your Mac. Been there.
Nevertheless, try calibrating your screen. It is a very useful tool when your screen color is uniform.
How does one go about calibrating the screen without expensive tools? Are there are any presets anywhere?
Thanks.
Don't use any presets if your goal is to really get a calibrated screen. The presets you will find are specific to the device and to the environment in which they were created, and thus probably not optimal for yours.
Calibrations should always be done on a per device basis, meaning each device, even in the same environment can require it's own unique calibration.
You could try using macOS's own calibration tool in System Preferences > Screen > Color > Calibrate (sorry if that's wrong, my system is in Finnish). Just be sure to hit "Calibrate" with alt pressed, that's how you get to the advanced stuff.
If it's all the same though, and you're not working with color sensitive material, me personally, I'm content with Apple's pre-calibrated options.
EDIT: And just now it dawned on me that maybe you were referring to presets already present on the computer, and in that case those can be found in the same place as the calibration tool.
Calibrations should always be done on a per device basis, meaning each device, even in the same environment can require it's own unique calibration.
You could try using macOS's own calibration tool in System Preferences > Screen > Color > Calibrate (sorry if that's wrong, my system is in Finnish). Just be sure to hit "Calibrate" with alt pressed, that's how you get to the advanced stuff.
If it's all the same though, and you're not working with color sensitive material, me personally, I'm content with Apple's pre-calibrated options.
EDIT: And just now it dawned on me that maybe you were referring to presets already present on the computer, and in that case those can be found in the same place as the calibration tool.
I may simply be misunderstanding things here but I find the calibration tool confusing - on the left slider it seems I'm meant to match brightness but that's hard to do given the stripey background. Am I supposed to aim for similar blacks?
I went through three of the 2016 15" MBP before giving up on them completely. They all had the issue where one side of the screen had a pinkish tint on one side, a blueish/greenish tint on the other side. Whenever I was at home reading something on the web or writing something in Pages for example, it was noticeable and looked off. Once you see it, it's hard to un-see. I don't have this problem on my previous gen 15" - nor the previous gen 15" that I have through my work - both of them are the late 2013 15" MBP. I compared them with the 2016 and I was like WTF?!?! I wish I could find the pics I took that showed the unevenness quite clearly. Aside from two of the 2016's having speakers that also blew out (and I wasn't using Boot Camp either), I was like I'll wait until the next rev in 2017.
Apple's rumored to be switching the MBP screens to OLED in the future - thank god! Now all we'll have to worry about is burn in! LOL
I was thinking of buying a 13" MBP before I got my late 2013...so it looks like the 13" MBP is in my future. I don't read/hear about as many issues with the 13" MBP.
After returning my third 2016 15" MBP, I went into BestBuy. I looked at the 15" models made by other companies. While not entirely the same issue I had experienced on the 15" MBP, some did have similar uniformity issues. So it's probably indicative of the current panel tech.
Apple's rumored to be switching the MBP screens to OLED in the future - thank god! Now all we'll have to worry about is burn in! LOL
I was thinking of buying a 13" MBP before I got my late 2013...so it looks like the 13" MBP is in my future. I don't read/hear about as many issues with the 13" MBP.
Yeah the idea is to make the Apple logo blend in to the background as much as possible. Squinting your eyes helps with this, as does looking at the screen from a distance. That's the only way I know how to explain it, really.
That being said, I'm using the default preset. Using the calibration tool the screen (photos most of all) look a bit too dark for my liking.
Every single 2016-2017 MBP 15" I have seen have the pink tint on one side. All Display model in Apple Store have the same issue (Harder to notice under sunlight since most Apple store is pretty lit up)
This isn't a IPS panel issue or no perfect panel myth whatsoever. This is clearly a Apple cost cutting manufacturing defects.
Most other IPS display such as Microsoft Surface rarely have such problem. It's not something that can be fix through calibration.
You can calibrate it to make it whatever you want but none uniform tint just gonna ruin the other side as you calibrate to one.
I have seen this issue since 2015 MBP, but the perfect display does exist all over the place. 2016-2017 so far Apple has gone to a new low on the display QA as every single machine have such problem.
This isn't a IPS panel issue or no perfect panel myth whatsoever. This is clearly a Apple cost cutting manufacturing defects.
Most other IPS display such as Microsoft Surface rarely have such problem. It's not something that can be fix through calibration.
You can calibrate it to make it whatever you want but none uniform tint just gonna ruin the other side as you calibrate to one.
I have seen this issue since 2015 MBP, but the perfect display does exist all over the place. 2016-2017 so far Apple has gone to a new low on the display QA as every single machine have such problem.
Thank you. I was doing the correct thing then, but like you I think that the calibration ends up making things too dark and so I reverted back to the original LCD preset.