Apple screens have terrible color uniformity

[pendragon1984]

I've been posting a lot but in other threads about this problem but decided to make my own to update the world on my situation.

Five years ago I walked down to my local apple store and bought a new top of the range 15" MacBook Pro. The screen had yellow botches all over it. I exchanged it for another. This one had the same problem. So I left and ordered a machine direct from Apple. This was better but still had easily noticeable problems. Long story short it took 5 exchanges to get a screen that I was happy with.

I kept that computer over 5 years in part because I didn't want to go through the exchange game again. I was ready to buy a year ago but Apple's 460X graphics were underwhelming. I got an Alienware instead.

The Alienware screen was perfect the first one I got. No issues. I mean windows is a pain in the butt; however, the machine itself works great. As windows sucks, when Apple released the Vega 20 I decided I would give Apple another chance. I was willing to sell the Alienware and go back to Mac full time.

So, I shelled out the enormous amount of about 3 grand to get the MacBook Pro with Vega 20. The first screen was noticeable pinker on the left side. I didn't run any screen tests or anything. I was just reading and I noticed the issue and found it very distracting. I returned the machine and tried two more. They both had obvious, easily noticeable issues. These were issues that didn't take any screen tests to notice. Just a web page with a mostly white background. I could even tell the machines apart easily just by their uniformity problems. My wife set up a blind test for me, and I was able to identity each machine just looking at the screen, with no other identifying information present to me (same page full screen).

I won't pay 3 grand for a machine with such a poor quality screen. So, I have rejected all 3 of the models I've ordered. What to do? Well I really wanted a more portable machine. So, I decided to just keep the Alienware and get the quad core 13" (the air seems like a total rip off and can't comprehend that machine at all).

The 13" came with High Sierra. I guess they aren't selling many of these machines. However, the good news is that screen is in fact better than the screens on all of the 3 grand 15"'s. It's not perfect. I'd say the Alienware's screen is clearly better. However, IT IS better and more importantly it's half the price.

So, Apple what's going on? If you're going to sell 3 grand machines for video editors and pro photographers and so on, then you need to get the uniformity issues fixed. These issues are fine for budget Dell's, but they are not acceptable given the price you are charging for these machines. And it doesn't match the rest of the build quality, which seems very high quality honestly. So, get your act together Apple!!!!

A bigger question I have is how come Apple can get away with this? Do people not care? Am I the only person who cares? Everyone else is fine with paying those prices and have yellow blotches or pinker left sides or whatever? That's just cool with you people? Please stop! Have higher standards!

 

[thadoggfather]

Thats pretty sad Apple lost out money you were willing to spend, because of quality control issues... I'm sure you wouldnt be the first

 

[makemake]

What model 13inch MBP did you get?

 

[pendragon1984]

What model 13inch MBP did you get?

I just got the basic Touch Bar version of the 13". I figured the quad core would come in handy if I wanted to do some photo editing on the go. The Alienware is my main productivity and entertainment machine. But The Mac is nice for travel and to use on the couch when watching tv. The Alienware is pretty huge. I thought about an iPad but I don't understand those products either. I understand the basic model for reading and games I guess.

I do like the 13". Very portable and light. Honestly this two computer set up is probably better anyway.

 

[buran-energia]

Had 2015 13 with perfect white screen. Changed the display because of staingate. Got 2 uneven screens and gave up. So, 2 out 3 were bad

Had 2017 13 with uneven screen, replaced 1 time for staingate, got even worse. So, 2 out 2 were bad

Had 2017 15 with good screen, at least not as bad as on some of my 13.

So, I think most of the screens have these pink, yellow, blue / uneven white issues.

I think it's not quality issues, rather it is "Apple's normal". It probably doesn't bother most people, so Apple doesn't care to fix the root of the problem. It probably has something to do with the fact that it's hard to make an even backlight reliably on such a thin screen.

 

[pendragon1984]

Had 2015 13 with perfect white screen. Changed the display because of staingate. Got 2 uneven screens and gave up. So, 2 out 3 were bad

Had 2017 13 with uneven screen, replaced 1 time for staingate, got even worse. So, 2 out 2 were bad

Had 2017 15 with good screen, at least not as bad as on some of my 13.

So, I think most of the screens have these pink, yellow, blue / uneven white issues.

I think it's not quality issues, rather it is "Apple's normal". It probably doesn't bother most people, so Apple doesn't care to fix the root of the problem. It probably has something to do with the fact that it's hard to make an even backlight reliably on such a thin screen.

Right. It is apple normal I'm sure of that. I understand how they can get away with it on their cheaper machines. I don't see how people are okay with it on 3 grand machines and higher.

I do wonder whether it has to do with the thin display. My Alienware and Asus monitor are near perfect but they are both much thicker.

I kind of suspect apple's just cutting corners cause most people have bad eye sight or something.

 

[Starship67]

Suifice it to say not in My experience. I’m not gonna write a dissertation.

 

[makemake]

I just got the basic Touch Bar version of the 13". I figured the quad core would come in handy if I wanted to do some photo editing on the go. The Alienware is my main productivity and entertainment machine. But The Mac is nice for travel and to use on the couch when watching tv. The Alienware is pretty huge. I thought about an iPad but I don't understand those products either. I understand the basic model for reading and games I guess.

I do like the 13". Very portable and light. Honestly this two computer set up is probably better anyway.

The sad reality is Apple’s had issues with its larger screen notebooks for quite some time. So this is par for the course.

At work my team transitioned away from 15 inch MBPs to 13 inch MBPs during our last refresh cycle back in mid-2016. Everyone wanted greater portability. We're using the 13 inch MBP with 27 inch external 4K monitors when we’re at our desks. So I’m very familiar with the 13 inch size. I’ve just become accustomed to the size of the 15 in my lap when I'm at home. Hell, I would totally get a 17 inch MBP if they brought it back… BUT, would probably deal with the panel lottery on those as well!

As Marques Brownlee said recently he doesn’t do video editing on a laptop any more. He’s actually toting his iMac Pro to CES in Las Vegas. He’s a 13 inch MBP guy - when he’s on a notebook. And he's not alone. Many people seem to be gravitating away from large bulkier laptops when they can get a better bang for their buck with a desktop that's faster.

 

[Howard2k]

A bigger question I have is how come Apple can get away with this? Do people not care? Am I the only person who cares? Everyone else is fine with paying those prices and have yellow blotches or pinker left sides or whatever? That's just cool with you people? Please stop! Have higher standards!

As long as people keep buying, Apple will keep taking their money. There are plenty who do care and won't buy the current generation, but then there are plenty who just want the latest and greatest MBPro because Apple is a "brand" they want to be seen with. And hey, mine is not used professionally.

You can be sure that Apple tracks returns, and collects feedback about a portion of those returns. They'll be aware that these things are being returned. A lot of folks tend to think that Apple don't know anything about computers, business, marketing, or even economics; but obviously they do.

 

[pendragon1984]

As long as people keep buying, Apple will keep taking their money. There are plenty who do care and won't buy the current generation, but then there are plenty who just want the latest and greatest MBPro because Apple is a "brand" they want to be seen with. And hey, mine is not used professionally.

You can be sure that Apple tracks returns, and collects feedback about a portion of those returns. They'll be aware that these things are being returned. A lot of folks tend to think that Apple don't know anything about computers, business, marketing, or even economics; but obviously they do.

Long term I hope that when we finally get OLED that these problems will diminish. As for now, I hope people are returning these machines. Apple has never asked me why I returned anything. But maybe they email people sometimes.

I know they've probably worked out that these screens don't get returned enough to bin them more radically. However, I wish they'd bin them better for their more expensive machines. I wish we had an option for those who care for a better screen. I'd pay a few hundred more to avoid these hassles honestly.

 

[buran-energia]

Long term I hope that when we finally get OLED that these problems will diminish. As for now, I hope people are returning these machines. Apple has never asked me why I returned anything. But maybe they email people sometimes.

I know they've probably worked out that these screens don't get returned enough to bin them more radically. However, I wish they'd bin them better for their more expensive machines. I wish we had an option for those who care for a better screen. I'd pay a few hundred more to avoid these hassles honestly.

If iPhone X/Xs is any indicator, OLED won't solve the uniformity problem on the light background. On top of that, I'd rather not have to worry about OLED burn-in in a laptop. Maybe microLED, but we probably won't be seeing that in laptops this year.

 

[justinf77]

I agree 100%. I posted in another thread how I had to get five MBPs before I got one that wasn't defective in some way, but the screens on every single one of them had some degree of uneven color temp. I settled for the one I have now because it was the best of the bunch and didn't have any other issues, but it's frustrating.

Apple also never asked me why I was returning any of them, truly no questions asked, which is a good policy overall but it would be nice if they collected at least some feedback from users willing to offer it so they're aware of the screen issues.

 

[thadoggfather]

I agree 100%. I posted in another thread how I had to get five MBPs before I got one that wasn't defective in some way, but the screens on every single one of them had some degree of uneven color temp. I settled for the one I have now because it was the best of the bunch and didn't have any other issues, but it's frustrating.

Apple also never asked me why I was returning any of them, truly no questions asked, which is a good policy overall but it would be nice if they collected at least some feedback from users willing to offer it so they're aware of the screen issues.

I much prefer indifference on a return to 'well, what didnt you like about it?' trying to change your mind when your mind is made up, or blame the user's pickiness, type stuff

screen issues arent new or niche

 

[pendragon1984]

Apple could ask you why you're returning without judging or harassing. I feel they are getting all these computers back from me and they have no idea what's going on.

 

[User_E]

Apple could ask you why you're returning without judging or harassing. I feel they are getting all these computers back from me and they have no idea what's going on.

In my experience, they do ask when you're exchanging. If the reason involves a physical issue, they will also email you and ask for pictures.

 

[bevsb2]

I agree 100%. I posted in another thread how I had to get five MBPs before I got one that wasn't defective in some way, but the screens on every single one of them had some degree of uneven color temp. I settled for the one I have now because it was the best of the bunch and didn't have any other issues, but it's frustrating.

Apple also never asked me why I was returning any of them, truly no questions asked, which is a good policy overall but it would be nice if they collected at least some feedback from users willing to offer it so they're aware of the screen issues.

I'm happy with the screen on my 2018 MacBook Pro (first try), but I returned 2 2016 MacBook Pros and settled for a third which still had that pink to blue shift, but was minimal and something I could live with. Each time I returned a device I told them that I wasn't happy with the uneven screen, but the response was the same "we can't see it, but some people see color unevenness where others don't" and there was no difficulty with the returns (within 14 days). I doubt Apple got any feedback on my returns.

 

[shansoft]

For 2015, none touch bar version I had plenty of them that are near perfect uniformity.

Starting from 2016, I have not seen a single panel that doesn't have uniformity issue, especially with pink/yellow shift from one side.

 

[SDColorado]

Apple could ask you why you're returning without judging or harassing. I feel they are getting all these computers back from me and they have no idea what's going on.

I agree. I returned a MS Surface Product and they asked. Not to try to talk me out of the return, but to try to see if they had something else in their lineup or among the other brands that they sell that would better suit my needs.

I also got a follow up email about the device and had the opportunity to submit my answers about what issues I had and what I think could have been improved upon.

Even if they don’t ask in the store and perhaps they shouldn’t, a marketing follow-up about the return could provide some valuable info to them.