Blooming/Elevated Black Levels on new 16" MacBook Pro.

[WilliamG]

Yep, this will go over well. If you thought the blooming on the latest 12.9" iPad Pro was bad, stay well away from the new MacBook Pros. Not only is there terrible blooming (that does odd morphing things on end credits etc), but the elevated black levels are bad, too. Really disappointed for movie watching.

Here's a screenshot from the end credits of Blade Runner 2049 (over exposed on purpose). This in motion is terrible, but notice too how the backlight is not off for the surrounding area, so there's elevated blacks in dark scenes. Also, even ABOVE the black bars the screen is showing elevated blacks. What on earth, Apple?

And here's a video of the phenomenon, at an exposure level as if you were watching yourself:

*EDIT*

Turns out the UHD Blade Runner 2049 has elevated blacks. Ignore. Same blooming on iPad Pro and MBP.

 

[pst23]

Mine isn't doing this

 

[WilliamG]

Mine isn't doing this

Video proof, please?

 

[uecker87]

Mine isn't doing this

If you turn up the brightness enough, it will (or watch HDR content). Just the trade off with mini-led. If you like to watch lots of HDR content in really dark rooms then nothing will match a good OLED screen.

 

[WilliamG]

If you turn up the brightness enough, it will (or watch HDR content). Just the trade off with mini-led. If you like to watch lots of HDR content in really dark rooms then nothing will match a good OLED screen.

Absolutely, but this is worse than the iPad Pro, and there's no excuse for the elevated black levels in areas of the screen with no content...

 

[TheRealAlex]

Well that’s it we can never watch movie end credits ever again. Party’s over.

 

[WilliamG]

Well that’s it we can never watch movie end credits ever again. Party’s over.

The elevated blacks are more of an issue, to be sure, but it's interesting to see a seemingly inferior panel than what we have in the iPad Pro 12.9.

 

[MattXDA]

Here’s mine.

 

[WilliamG]

Here’s mine.

View attachment 1880006

Yeah it's not great...

 

[Kylo83]

It’s a horrible screen my intel one looks and acts better, apple loves to release new products with ruined displays

 

[zakarhino]

holy f***ing s*** that looks terrible. if mine is this noticeable in person it's literally going back in the box within 48 hours.

EDIT: I got mine and it's completely fine. Not returning. This thing is a beast and the screen looks beautiful. The subtle blooming is worth the constrast benefits.

 

[Kylo83]

holy f***ing s*** that looks terrible. if mine is this noticeable in person it's literally going back in the box within 48 hours.

Mines going back tomorrow it’s a disgrace apple released this machine, I’m starting to not trust a word apple say

 

[BradWI]

Mine isn't doing this. Not even close. Either you have a lemon or your camera is greatly exaggerating it lol.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

Yep, this will go over well. If you thought the blooming on the latest 12.9" iPad Pro was bad, stay well away from the new MacBook Pros. Not only is there terrible blooming (that does odd morphing things on end credits etc), but the elevated black levels are bad, too. Really disappointed for movie watching.

Here's a screenshot from the end credits of Blade Runner 2049. This in motion is terrible, but notice too how the backlight is not off for the surrounding area, so there's elevated blacks in dark scenes. Also, even ABOVE the black bars the screen is showing elevated blacks. What on earth, Apple?

And here's a video of the phenomenon:

what does elevated blacks mean? not as deep blacks ? kinda gray like regulard lcd display?

 

[WilliamG]

what does elevated blacks mean? not as deep blacks ? kinda gray like regulard lcd display?

Yes exactly. The miniLEDs should be able to switch off completely in areas where there’s nothing to display. In the case of the new MacBook Pro this isn’t the case.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

Yes exactly. The miniLEDs should be able to switch off completely in areas where there’s nothing to display. In the case of the new MacBook Pro this isn’t the case.

it should be ,they have 2.5k dimming zones..idk its weird.
maybe is it better on the 14 ?

 

[WilliamG]

it should be ,they have 2.5k dimming zones..idk its weird.
maybe is it better on the 14 ?

Good question. I doubt it though.

 

[asleep]

Here’s mine.

View attachment 1880006

What the brightness setting here, that looks overpushed or overexposed?

 

[flapflapflap]

Mines going back tomorrow it’s a disgrace apple released this machine, I’m starting to not trust a word apple say

Apple clearly rushed these products for the holidays. I’m glad I cancelled my 16 order.

 

[flapflapflap]

Yes exactly. The miniLEDs should be able to switch off completely in areas where there’s nothing to display. In the case of the new MacBook Pro this isn’t the case.

What the h…

 

[Daniel L]

Took a pic with my phone.. super exaggerated. In real life It’s not even noticeable in a dim room and at normal viewing distance. Looking up close (6 inches away) you can see a bit of blooming but it doesn’t bother me in any way.

 

[EnderTW]

Lol something is wrong with your display.

I am not seeing any bloom.

 

[NewYorkRanger]

Welcome to the world of mini-led. iPad Pro does this too.

 

[thadoggfather]

6:38 looks
Clean ?

 

[LtRoyalShrimp]

But do you see this in day-to-day usage?

Do you see this in regular movie scenes? (You know, not pitch black credit scenes)

The benefits of true blacks and frankly insane brightness of HDR on a laptop are worth it IMO.

Don't forget, what a video shows and what you see in real life are also different. Videos tend to exaggerate these types of issues.