Late 2013 iMac 27" Gray Smudges/Smears Under Screen

[Johnf1285]

Looks like this is still a problem even with the newer screen lamination process. Just noticed upon startup that the bottom left and bottom right corners of my screen have this smudge/streak/smear sort of appearance going on. I used the provided cloth to clean the screen (no harsh cleaners) and as expected it didn't do anything.

My apartment is very clean and I run a tight ship, especially around my Mac. I keep everything very clean. Alarming to see this happened, assuming its related to dust or something like that.

Since I imagine the screen needs to be ordered and this will be a few days for turn around time, I schedule an appointment Monday evening so I have my machine for the weekend to get some work done. Will report back with what Apple says or does. Unless anyone knows whether or not they keep 27" screen on hand for fast turn around times? The Apple Stores in North Jersey are always bursting at the seams with people, so they're certainly busy stores - would imagine them having a decent amount of parts available.

Pics below of the bottom left corner taken with an iPhone 5s, so it isn't doing it much justice. Same issue at the bottom right. In person it is a lot more noticeable.

Overall, the screen has had fairly inconsistent lighting resulting in some areas darker and cloudier than others with a white background and of course slight yellow tint. Honestly, if I get a replacement as good as this screen (minus the weird conner smudges), I'll be happy. Too many horror stories of people getting replacement screens with dead pixels and or extreme yellow tint.

 

[SaSaSushi]

Please refer to my post (and pic) to this thread as it looks like you have exactly the same situation as I do albeit in a different location on the screen.

I'm going to be sending it back to Apple for a replacement panel in the near future.

 

[GhettoMrBob]

Any chance it's just a smudge on the inside of the glass? The LCD panel itself sits behind a glass pane. Has that machine ever been taken apart and possibly a finger smudge got on there?

 

[Johnf1285]

Any chance it's just a smudge on the inside of the glass? The LCD panel itself sits behind a glass pane. Has that machine ever been taken apart and possibly a finger smudge got on there?

Hasn't been taken apart. It's my understanding that since late 2012 onward, the glass panel is glued and laminated to the LCD screen. Judging by teardown photos the entire glass and panel look like one complete unit. That's what makes it even more troubling!

 

[GhettoMrBob]

Hasn't been taken apart. It's my understanding that since late 2012 onward, the glass panel is glued and laminated to the LCD screen. Judging by teardown photos the entire glass and panel look like one complete unit. That's what makes it even more troubling!

Silly me, I somehow missed the year in the title . But yes, that is the case.

I'd see if they can't diagnose it, order the part, and give you a call when it arrives. That way you keep your machine and take it in when they call you for the repair. Downtime would be however long it takes to slap the replacement screen on.

 

[Johnf1285]

Silly me, I somehow missed the year in the title . But yes, that is the case.

I'd see if they can't diagnose it, order the part, and give you a call when it arrives. That way you keep your machine and take it in when they call you for the repair. Downtime would be however long it takes to slap the replacement screen on.

Thanks for the advice! I will report back tomorrow evening. Going to visit the local Apple Store at 4pm. Would be amazing if they had the part on hand and had it ready in a few hours, but if they don't and I have to leave it with them for a few days - not a problem.

 

[April Knight]

I've also got the same problem on my late 2013 27". Was advised by AppleCare to take it to an Apple Store / Apple Authorized Service Provider to have the screen "cleaned." I was not aware this was possible given the new setup of the screen. I might chat in again and see if I get the same response. Doesn't seem like this is something that can just be cleaned, and if this happened to my Mac after 4 months of just sitting on a desk (never moved, opened, etc.), I don't want to have to have a repeat cleaning in another 4 months.

http://imgur.com/T2VhX9l

 

[SaSaSushi]

and if this happened to my Mac after 4 months of just sitting on a desk (never moved, opened, etc.), I don't want to have to have a repeat cleaning in another 4 months

Same here, except it was about 6 months, not 4. Still, I can say with absolute certainty that the smudges did not exist until then. I agree that I am not anxious to have to go through this routine ever again, much less on a regular basis.

 

[April Knight]

Same here, except it was about 6 months, not 4. Still, I can say with absolute certainty that the smudges did not exist until then. I agree that I am not anxious to have to go through this routine ever again, much less on a regular basis.

Yeah. I'm not even sure they can be cleaned. I've read elsewhere that people have had panels replaced for this, since the smudges are actually in between layers of the panel that can't be separated. I'm just going to make a Genius Bar appointment sometime soon when I won't need my iMac for a few days and get this figured out. I'll update here when I do.

 

[Johnf1285]

Yeah this cannot be cleaned. The glass is laminated to the panel. If anything, this may be a result of some faulty adherence where the glue is uneven or separating? Looks so similar to the problem that existed on the 2009-2011 models though. They too had the issue between the LCD layers and not necessarily between the glass and outer most LCD panel. Taking it to Apple in 3 hours. Will report back.

 

[FreemanW]

It looks very much like a QC issue, where workers that are not very well paid or technically proficient have created smudges on the parts during the assembly.

It's a bit surprising as I would have imagined a controlled, clean, automated process.

 

[Johnf1285]

It looks very much like a QC issue, where workers that are not very well paid or technically proficient have created smudges on the parts during the assembly.

It's a bit surprising as I would have imagined a controlled, clean, automated process.

I should have noted that this iMac was purchased October 2013 and just began exhibiting this issue sometime within the past two weeks.

----------

Dropped it off at the local Apple Store. A replacement screen is on order and I should have it back in 3-5 days. Hopefully the replacement is flawless.

 

[SaSaSushi]

It looks very much like a QC issue, where workers that are not very well paid or technically proficient have created smudges on the parts during the assembly.

As mentioned above, and confirmed by others experiencing this issue, the smudges did not appear until after several months of usage.

This display was perfectly clean until then.

 

[thedeske]

QC Issue for sure. Had a 27 purchased mid 2013, used for 8 months and it was perfect. Used in a very dusty area with no issues. 2 others I use from well over a year old are just fine. Same panel as the late 2013 on all 3.

 

[SaSaSushi]

QC Issue for sure. Had a 27 purchased mid 2013, used for 8 months and it was perfect. Used in a very dusty area with no issues. 2 others I use from well over a year old are just fine. Same panel as the late 2013 on all 3.

If by QC, you mean some error in the manufacturing process that leaves space between the panel and the display for dust to collect then I might agree.

Quite simply, the smudges were not present on this nearly 7-month old machine until very recently.

 

[FreemanW]

Well it may very well be some type of chemical residue that appears after heat or some other catalyst occurs through normal use.

 

[Johnf1285]

Picked up my iMac tonight. Pretty impressed with the 2 day turn around time, was originally told I would be contacted in 3 to 5 days.

I asked the Genius to power it up before I left so I could give it a quick review. No glaring issues found other than an absolutely filthy replacement screen (see pics below - used flash to purposely show the grime). I was really hoping the replacement display still had it's plastic sticker stuck to it when I came to pick it up - wanted to do the honors myself, but also didn't want it to be completely filthy.

Just got done cleaning it very gently and meticulously. It's looking as good as new now. The replacement screen doesn't seem to have any issues. I gave it a very up close review for dead/stuck pixels and could not find any. Not sure if I want to continue looking for trouble on that front. Back lighting seems consistent throughout and is an improvement over the original. The yellow tint toward the bottom 1/3rd isn't any worse than the replaced display - but then again it wasn't too pronounced on my machine originally. When moving my head lower, the different viewing angle tends to compensate for any faint yellow tint.

Overall, pretty painless experience.

 

[tedthebear2]

did anyone here have this issue re-occur? i had my lcd replaced and 12 months later the same smudges are back again...seems to be dust but in store they said could be a moisture issue....no my computer is next to a window or exposed to temperature swings or next to a vent...

 

[jxrxme]

My Late 2013 27" iMac suffers from this issue in the lower right corner, too. I noticed it approximately a year ago, and it seems that it didn't get worse until now. Not sure if I should contact Apple Care or just live with it. It's only visible on bright backgrounds.

 

[tedthebear2]

My Late 2013 27" iMac suffers from this issue in the lower right corner, too. I noticed it approximately a year ago, and it seems that it didn't get worse until now. Not sure if I should contact Apple Care or just live with it. It's only visible on bright backgrounds.

View attachment 629117

contact applecare and they will replace LCD

 

[jxrxme]

contact applecare and they will replace LCD

Finally contacted Apple Care. They will pick up the iMac and repair it.

 

[motifmike]

Finally contacted Apple Care. They will pick up the iMac and repair it.

Is your iMac still under AppleCare? I went to the apple store to ask them to give me an estimate and to fix the same exact issue and they told me $500

 

[MarsViolet]

Is your iMac still under AppleCare? I went to the apple store to ask them to give me an estimate and to fix the same exact issue and they told me $500

You can hardly expect Apple to foot the bill. That would leave them with only two hundred billion dollars.

 

[jxrxme]

Is your iMac still under AppleCare? I went to the apple store to ask them to give me an estimate and to fix the same exact issue and they told me $500

Yes it is.

 

[Kapphoto]

Has anyone gotten this resolved while not under Apple care or the 1 year warranty? My late 2014 27inch 5k screen has the clouding. Genius Bar said that it cant be cleaned but needs to be replaced-$600! I am in Phoenix AZ.... the humidity is zero so its not a humidity issue. This is all over the internet, but somehow Apple is unaware. (Does Apple know about Google?). The genius basically implied that he was unsure about this issue, and when I showed him all of the forums (Here and on Apples own site). He basically said “you cant believe everything you hear on the internet”.