27", 21.5" iMac Owners, test your screen for yellow tint issue here

[qualar]

I was set to order an i7 quad 27" tonight, but then I saw this thread. I hadn't realized that the issues were still so prevalent. Since I'll be using this station primarily for graphics work, it's crucial I have a uniform screen.

Do I have a chance of getting a machine that's fine, or are all of them screwed up with at least a bit of tinging/dark bars? I'm also stressed about the HD issues. Any recent reports of "perfect" 27" i7s?

I would say NO. I had 4 iMac before I gave up and got a refund.

 

[iSamurai]

Hi iSamurai, I'm in Australia too! [Sydney]

Got my 2nd iMac and it's got the yellow tinge at the bottom too. Have scheduled a Genius appointment in Sydney CBD on Tue and hoping to get a refund.

Sounds like they haven't offered you a refund yet? Have you tried asking for one?

They've offered a refund without dragging me through the mud, so I was quite glad to hear it after 4 returns.

Just bear in mind that it is likely they will not allow a refund if they replace the screen because it has been "repaired", even if the replacement panel still has the yellow tint.

One of my mate today actually mentioned what I haven't realised: I've gone through $10k worth of computers yet none of them was tint-free. I lolled (LOL'ed) and told him these units get put back onto the refurb shelves straight away and I shaved $400 off Apple's profit with each return without even counting the courier costs.

My Week 14 iMac still got yellow problem also back-light bleeding. Should I get Macbook Pro instead?

My last iMac was a week 14. enjoy. IMO get a MacBook Pro if you have a MacBook/Pro that is relatively old, and wait for the new iMac to come out in July/August. By then there's a pretty good chance they've *solved* the problem (not addressed -- so far they've "addressed" the issue meaning they've acknowledged it and put out plan, whether it goes according to plan is anyone's guess).

If the screen is still bad then you can always use the MacBook Pro.

 

[highflyer]

I know by some time I would exhaust Apple Care to keep on sending replacements. So I thought the best option was to get my money back. Should the quality of the screen improve (or at least become tolerable) I can always make a purchase.

I'm in Australia and every time I phone Apple I am connected to a US person except once this Oz guy tried to be smart and told me to update the firmware before offering a replacement. The US people would always transfer me to Singapore, where they manage Apple Care in the Asia-Pacific region. I tell them about the situation and they seem to understand. Their service is without a doubt superb and have no complications with replacements and refunds. They even allowed me to return the iPod and printer which I intended to claim for the rebates (of course they're still in their boxes).

All replacements I received were sent directly from China, fresh off the production line and couriered immediately to Oz. I do appreciate them trying to get the newest batch for me, but unfortunately getting new models instead of stock in Australia does not mean they're problem free. I guess out of all of them, the 2nd unit had the least yellowing and grey bar. Though I could try to live with it, I thought the issue was resolved and the next replacement would be completely problem free.

I've spent more than a month receiving replacements and sending them back. It's evident that the problem will not end and the yellow-tint seems like a hidden feature if you ask Apple. I'm tired of doing this and can never get any work done. What they should've done is that I get to keep one unit until I receive an adequate replacement so that at least I can do some work on it.

So anyway, I guess if I keep on asking for replacements they would very well one day refuse just like your case.

iSamurai

I think you ar every lucky to get such great service from just 'regular' Applecare. I have been dealing with Exec relations based in Ireland although I am in the UK. This was after emailing sjobs@apple.com.

She said they would do 'everyhing' to resolve my problems, but after sending me an upgraded i7 as a replacement for my i5 (which was great), they refuse to send another one.

So I got a free upgrade but the machine they sent has a worse screen than my i5 and terrible backlight bleed and greybar. Plus the DVD drive scratches disks really bad.

It's such a nightmare as my old i5 is actually the better unit, but has recently started flickering from time to time. I think the flickering may be a more serious long-term problem than a yellow screen and grey bar, what do you think?

I am so annoyed they will not send me another one based on your experiece with Applecare.

 

[alanwong]

They've offered a refund without dragging me through the mud, so I was quite glad to hear it after 4 returns.

Just bear in mind that it is likely they will not allow a refund if they replace the screen because it has been "repaired", even if the replacement panel still has the yellow tint.

Thanks iSamurai, that's very helpful. I take it that they never offered to repair yours?

Will have to remember to get a replacement and if they tell me they wish to repair I'll have to insist on a refund.

Am pretty disappointed with Apple, may get the new MacBook Pro instead or even (gasp!) build a Win7 machine...

 

[spcdust]

iSamurai

I think you ar every lucky to get such great service from just 'regular' Applecare. I have been dealing with Exec relations based in Ireland although I am in the UK. This was after emailing sjobs@apple.com.

She said they would do 'everyhing' to resolve my problems, but after sending me an upgraded i7 as a replacement for my i5 (which was great), they refuse to send another one.

So I got a free upgrade but the machine they sent has a worse screen than my i5 and terrible backlight bleed and greybar. Plus the DVD drive scratches disks really bad.

It's such a nightmare as my old i5 is actually the better unit, but has recently started flickering from time to time. I think the flickering may be a more serious long-term problem than a yellow screen and grey bar, what do you think?

I am so annoyed they will not send me another one based on your experiece with Applecare.

Seems really random as I have also been dealing with Exec Relations in Ireland and they have been quite willing to keep sending replacement after replacement until I got a good one - this has been going on since November, throughout they have been excellent allowing me to keep previous iMacs until replacements were received and assessed by myself. After 4 iMac's I have decided to draw a line under this saga and keep it.

I took delivery of a week 14 last week - still not a consistent screen although yellow is less pronounced than previous iMacs - I'd actually speculate that the screen has an overall warmer (some might say yellow) hue all over. This one does suffer from more pronounced backlight bleed than the other iMacs but I actually can live with that. Think we all all have to accept that the screen technology is still in it's infancy and the manufacturing variance of the panels is wider than one would have hoped for. I also think I have become hyper sensitive to the issue so likely that I'd probably find fault with a screen I would previously have been happy with so the personal choice I had was accept the iMac for what it is or get a refund - I decided to elect the former although my Apple contact would likely have been happy to re-supply another iMac if I had wanted to follow that option.

 

[tigereat]

My week 14 iMac , Is this screen normal?

 

[iSamurai]

Thanks iSamurai, that's very helpful. I take it that they never offered to repair yours?

Nope.

iSamurai

I think you are very lucky to get such great service from just 'regular' Applecare.

...

She said they would do 'everyhing' to resolve my problems, but after sending me an upgraded i7 as a replacement for my i5 (which was great), they refuse to send another one.

I can feel your headache... If you're definitely keeping the i7 then call them to despatch a technician for a screen replacement. You see the only trade-off with Apple Australia is that I don't get big compensations (like free CPU or HD upgrades as someone mentioned earlier). I got a $50 online store credit with a 3-month expiry date.

I also don't get to keep one unit I receive a problem-free machine. This means I can't do any work I was intended to do on the iMac. The courier has to come pick it up, send it down to Sydney, then wait for them to process the paperwork before placing an order to pull one from the Shanghai production line and courier it to Brisbane via Sydney. This is really a lengthy process and takes about a week.

Took delivery of a week 14 last week - still not a consistent screen although yellow is less pronounced than previous iMacs - I'd actually speculate that the screen has an overall warmer (some might say yellow) hue all over.

I've noticed a strange thing with my week 14 replacement. When I wake it up from sleep, the screen lights up. For about a second or two the screen temperature looks "cooler". After the delay, the screen colour suddenly jumps to a warmer tone (like flicking a switch). It is a noticeable change especially when texts are displayed upon waking up (like a webpage, document etc). I suspect it's the updated firmware "kicking in" with its trick to conceal the yellow tint and could be easily revealed if one has 2 units with both old and new firmwares and calibrate the colour temperature to "Generic RGB Profile" instead of "iMac".

My week 14 iMac , Is this screen normal?

No, mine's kinda like yours. Week 14 seems to have yellowing resembling an inverted "T", i.e. yellow down the centre, and along the bottom. All my previous replacements had yellowing on the right and the bottom.

 

[vandal76]

Tint, tint, tint...

Got my iMac 27" i5 last Thursday and have both the tint and light bleed...and a very faint grey line just where the dock is...not good...appointment this coming Sunday with a genius, hopefully will get it swapped...
Can't believe this is still happening though !...

 

[IndustrialSpace]

Got my iMac 27" i5 last Thursday and have both the tint and light bleed...and a very faint grey line just where the dock is...not good...appointment this coming Sunday with a genius, hopefully will get it swapped...
Can't believe this is still happening though !...

Swap it a million times. They ALL have some yellow.

You need to decide whether you can live with a little yellow or not. A replacement will most likely contain some yellowing. Do you really want to be in a return replace repair cycle? - Once you have it repaired, you CAN'T get a refund. Keep that in mind.

Good luck.

 

[jaycee520]

Heres the screen i got yesterday from my I7...what do you guys think? Photo taken form Iphone...Thanks

 

[vandal76]

Swap it a million times. They ALL have some yellow.

You need to decide whether you can live with a little yellow or not. A replacement will most likely contain some yellowing. Do you really want to be in a return replace repair cycle? - Once you have it repaired, you CAN'T get a refund. Keep that in mind.

Good luck.

Really ?... that sucks...will post a pic later on to see what you guys think...from other pics i have been looking at, mine is not that bad...

 

[auero]

My week 14 iMac , Is this screen normal?

This scares me. I can only how much worse it looks in person. A lot of bleeding in it.

 

[iSamurai]

Heres the screen i got yesterday from my I7...what do you guys think? Photo taken form Iphone...Thanks

hmmm... judging from this photo, I thought the lower bar as well as some areas towards the right were just a tiny bit yellower and lighter than the top bar. From the photo, I can't seem to notice any patchy yellowing across the general region. In regards to light bleed the centre is brighter but I can't tell if it's because of the low quality photo or is actually the screen. Also test if there's a horizontal grey band towards the bottom on a white/light grey background.

I would keep it if I were you as that looked way better than any of my replacements. I can't conclude without looking in person (or with clearer pictures) of course but I think it's tolerable...

 

[sir mal]

got my 27" i5 week 15 today and ordered a replacement same day. Love the machine but it is a shame about the screen. The more I look at it the more I try and convince myself it isn't there. But it is. Got to get it sorted.

 

[Btom]

My week 14 iMac , Is this screen normal?

YES

Tom B.

 

[StarTzar]

My week 14 iMac , Is this screen normal?

Perfect.

 

[jaycee520]

hmmm... judging from this photo, I thought the lower bar as well as some areas towards the right were just a tiny bit yellower and lighter than the top bar. From the photo, I can't seem to notice any patchy yellowing across the general region. In regards to light bleed the centre is brighter but I can't tell if it's because of the low quality photo or is actually the screen. Also test if there's a horizontal grey band towards the bottom on a white/light grey background.

I would keep it if I were you as that looked way better than any of my replacements. I can't conclude without looking in person (or with clearer pictures) of course but I think it's tolerable...

Thanks and yeah it really looks better in person..there maybe some yellowing, its really hard to tell...there is also this very quiet rumbling
hungry stomach noise on the Seagate HD. Exact problem I had with the
I5 that was returned..Its tolerable so i think im now keeping this replacement plus i really got a good deal on this refurb I7..

 

[alanwong]

I also think I have become hyper sensitive to the issue...

I feel you man.

Am 50/50 in my mind whether to go ahead with my Genius appointment on Tuesday.

It will be such a pain to lug the darn machine to the Apple Store in Sydney CBD and have to lug another machine back (which will probably have the yellow tinge!).

Hmm....

It is a subtle thing and I tested the test pattern on my work's Dell 1704FPTt and noticed a similar yellow tinge.

I'm beginning to wonder if it's just a result of the size of the screen. If you follow ergonomics the line of sight is perpendicular to the top of the screen but when you look down it would be at an angle less than 90 degrees.

Perhaps I'm just trying to learn how to stop worrying and love the yellow tinge!

 

[IndustrialSpace]

My week 14 iMac , Is this screen normal?

Perfect!

(you're kidding, of course!)

 

[StarTzar]

Perhaps I'm just trying to learn how to stop worrying and love the yellow tinge!

I returned 6 iMacs before deciding to finally keep number 7. It has a quiet HD no hissing sound coming from the screen and the yellow tinge is wayyyyyyyyyyyy better than any of it's six predecessors. Really have to be careful when inserting CDs or DVDs in the super drive otherwise, they come out all scratched up... but like I said if I'm real careful and they usually come out OK.

I keep away from the bottom right hand side of the screen. It's like the bad part of town.... I don't go there..... The yellow tinge stays in it's corner and I have the rest of the screen.

 

[jtap]

I keep away from the bottom right hand side of the screen. It's like the bad part of town.... I don't go there..... The yellow tinge stays in it's corner and I have the rest of the screen.

LOL! That is exactly the case with mine.

 

[treoguy]

I ordered refurbished i7 knowing full well the risks associated. Well, I've got a slight yellow tinge at the bottom. It's not as bad as the i7 I ordered back in December, but it's certainly noticeable using the test. I shot these with a DSLR and the colors don't match from top to bottom. Left side is grey but Photoshop palette shows yellow tinge.




I'm going to call Apple today and go over my options. For me, it'll be:
a. Keep it
b. Swap it
c. Return for refund

I'm not taking my chances on a repair. Since it's a refurb, I'm not sure what they'll offer if they don't have any machines in stock.

Either they haven't figured this out or they are cutting costs hoping customers don't notice. If you don't do the Tapplox test, I doubt any normal customers would notice. I work in design, so it's noticeable for me.

 

[auero]

I ordered refurbished i7 knowing full well the risks associated. Well, I've got a slight yellow tinge at the bottom. It's not as bad as the i7 I ordered back in December, but it's certainly noticeable using the test. I shot these with a DSLR and the colors don't match from top to bottom. Left side is grey but Photoshop palette shows yellow tinge.




I'm going to call Apple today and go over my options. For me, it'll be:
a. Keep it
b. Swap it
c. Return for refund

I'm not taking my chances on a repair. Since it's a refurb, I'm not sure what they'll offer if they don't have any machines in stock.

Either they haven't figured this out or they are cutting costs hoping customers don't notice. If you don't do the Tapplox test, I doubt any normal customers would notice. I work in design, so it's noticeable for me.

It looks pretty good to me. But again its different when you see it in person. Mine arrives today. Ill report back on how my new i7 is.

 

[Kavik]

I really wish people would quit using the Tapplox test and asking what other people think. If it's good enough that you can't notice an issue, then enjoy. The gray bar test only shows the difference in tint between the very top and bottom and was provided when it was assumed that the problem was a top-to-bottom gradient issue as with previous MacBook screens. The new iMacs can have color temperature variations anywhere on the screen and are usually blotchy or in vertical columns as of late.

For instance, I can see that the treoguy's screen look very yellow along the left side and middle, as well as the very right edge--with bluish areas in between. On the two iMac's that I had, it was always very obvious when viewing white areas on a webpage such as this forum.

 

[tkingart]

Mine has a "slight" yellowing on the entire right side of the screen. It's gradual. Is this something normal? Also, I've found 2 dead pixels. (they are very tiny.

Another issue, when using the default iMac color profile, the screen overall is yellowish. I have to use the Apple RGB profile to get the "normal" grays. Also, is this normal? I'm still within exchange time frame. I do graphics work, and I need to have the screen be "evenly toned".