Late 2013 RMBP 15 YELLOW SCREEN (updated)

[thekev]

Yes. If you want the blue look, you need to calibrate to 5000K and above.

It's a bad idea to set it to something other than native unless it's necessary.

Surprisingly, the one on the left is a Samsung display. The one on the right is LG. It seems the screen of this generation is worse than last (samsung)
Really? I don't think it's that blue. It looked yellow when the "blue" one compared to 2012 retina.

I guess I should wait? next batch?

The problem is not that it's yellow. The problem is that Apple should stop changing backlight types so much. When they switched to LED, the color temperature on them was way too high. It measured 8000K at native in i1 profiler. Typically I would say leave "calibration" alone. If you must use it, choose gamma 2.2 and color temperature native. It doesn't perform well with other settings. Remember that it makes all tweaks via a basic set of matrix transformations across 3 channels, which is then fed to the framebuffer. There is no low level hardware adjustment of signal levels, and you just end up with fewer output values when you use heavy handed corrections. Looking at the two you posted the new one is probably within spec. Even if it is somewhat warm, you're used to seeing one that is too cold. I call it too cold because typical content is optimized for sRGB which is based on a roughly 6500K white. Swap as many as you like, but just don't expect to see a match, and stop thinking of your old one as "correct".

Yeah, I'm really considering your advice, but I'm also a little afraid that Apple may have records for that. I mean they will know if you keep exchanging or returning stuff, right?

They may, but I wouldn't worry about it. You can try it once or twice, but these are not going to match. Ironically if they do match, you got a very bad unit, because the color temp is so much different. Look at it next to a thunderbolt display or imac. You'll see that those are also much more "yellow" than your old one.

 

[aiyaaabatt]

Yeah, I'm really considering your advice, but I'm also a little afraid that Apple may have records for that. I mean they will know if you keep exchanging or returning stuff, right?

Apple doesn't care. They are so good about returns... its all in your head. Don't be paranoid. Besides, it doesn't hurt to try, worst they can do is say "no."

 

[Timmy2013]

Apple doesn't care. They are so good about returns... its all in your head. Don't be paranoid. Besides, it doesn't hurt to try, worst they can do is say "no."

I've heard that if apple refuses the return, you're also not eligible to purchase any Apple products in the future. I don't know if that's true or not, but I think we all should be aware of it though.

 

[aiyaaabatt]

I've heard that if apple refuses the return, you're also not eligible to purchase any Apple products in the future. I don't know if that's true or not, but I think we all should be aware of it though.

Possibly, but even if that were true, I am assuming it is only for extreme cases. It does not sound like the OP is an obsessive repeat returner.

 

[walkie]

You don't need to return your rMBP, your computer still thinks you have a LG panel, do this:

1) Go to the path "Library/ColorSync/Profiles/Displays" and delete the old default profile, look for a file named like this "Color LCD-00000610-0000-A00E-0000-000004280380.icc", if you find more than one delete them all.

2) Restart your machine so that MacOSX can recreate this file for the Samsung default Color profile, the yellowish color should have disappeared.

3) Calibrate to your taste.

 

[akdj]

Return it and get a new one.

Not always necessary and certainly not apparent with just a pair of shots from two different computers with a digital camera. For all we know the 'cool (white/blue) monitor could be 'off' while the 'warm' (yellow) is closer to 6500°
Warmer is traditionally easier on the eyes as well as easier to set up print profiles (again....assuming the display IS within spec and not too outta whack!)
FWIW---I've got a 2012 pair of rMBPs. One came stock with an LG. The other a Samsung (wife's). Out of the box...the LG 'looked' closer to white but within a couple of months the IR creeped in and got significantly worse. Had the panel replaced and it was almost identical to my wife's Sammy, my iPad 4 and iPhone 5. We were having a new front projector installed in out HT room and while he was calibrating the projector I asked him to check out the rMBP displays. They measured @ 6438° on my wife's. 6510° on mine. Damn near dead on. For S's and Grins...we checked our older, cooler 17" 2011 models. One was at 7000°. The other nearly 7100°. And these looked 'right' to me! After a year's usage of the rMBPs I've noticed I strongly prefer the warmer (lower---closer to 6500°) displays much more to the cool, higher temp panels
Extremely hard to tell with a CMOS digital photo. As it'll try to find the correct white point itself and accept that as 'true' white, meanwhile showing yellow (or blue) pending whatever display wasn't selected either automatically by the camera OR the user shot the whiter/bluer screen as the correct white point to the cam. Hard to say. But again...don't be so quick to return it. If you can take it to the Apple store and do a quick side by side with a couple of their on shelf displays. From there you should have an idea of where your panel 'sits' within Apple's specs

These calibrators, how do they work?

.....

And one last question.
Can you recommend some cheap calibrator that is not hard to use.
I don't need super perfection, since i don't do professional work. But a good calibrated screen would be nice.
I've always wanted one to calibrate my TV's and computer screens. But I don't want to spend a lot of cash on it.

Do you have a local display calibrator in your area? One that knows what they're doing? It was my experience with my original 'flat panel' LCD and my of RPTV that post calibration..it didn't look 'right' to me...but after a couple weeks watching BluRay flicks to standard HD cable; skin tones were more real, the natural colors were evident immediately...and once used to a 6500° display...it's an enjoyable experience. That said, you get what you pay for. There are $69 calibration kits and $2800 units and software. Only so much you can do without experience and going 'cheap'

We use Eizo and NEC displays for color correction video and print finalizing and printing for sometimes pretty large prints. I find my 2012 rMBP pretty damn close to the higher end panels used for final output

I've spent hours calibrating mine. The yellow is just inherent in the Samsung screen. If the yellow tint is rather moderate like mine, live a blissful life and pretend it doesn't exist.

If it's extreme, then go on and make a Genius appointment.

Or we've become used to blue/white and high brightness displays over the years, and your display on your rMBP MIGHT just actually be accurate in comparison to your older displays you've become accustomed to.

Mine is regular for the top 3/4's of my screen, but the bottom half has a slight yellowish tint. Its annoying as hell, plus my keyboard and trackpad locks up when it feels like it. 1st Mac....

Not just the color shift....but an unresponsive keyboard and trackpad are deeper symptoms than a bad display. You're well under warranty. Take it back. They'll gladly change you out. Apple's post purchase support is A#1. Make sure you're happy. These aren't small investments.

If the display is not uniform, it's defective. Partial yellow or purple tint are common manufacturing defects in IPS panels.

If you are within the 14-day return period, send it back.

Or within the first year (& without AppleCare). Doesn't have to be 14 days. They change the panel out and any defective parts. You may be a candidate, regardless of purchased date for a total replacement...pending repair time and parts.

If his monitor is yellow tinted, then any yellow in the image will be even more pronounced..

Without knowing the white points of the displays, or the camera, you have no way of saying which one is neutral.

Precisely. CMOS sensors are notorious for showing us what is or isn't white. Unless you white balanced your camera before you took that pic...chances are we aren't seeing an accurate depiction of the actual colors you're seeing. It's definitely obvious one is warmer than the other but don't dismiss the 'yellow' display as bad. Measure your white/blue panel's color temp to see they haven't calibrated that one to 7200° or some over the top, non standard white point

You don't need to return your rMBP, your computer still thinks you have a LG panel, do this:

1) Go to the path "Library/ColorSync/Profiles/Displays" and delete the old default profile, look for a file named like this "Color LCD-00000610-0000-A00E-0000-000004280380.icc", if you find more than one delete them all.

2) Restart your machine so that MacOSX can recreate this file for the Samsung default Color profile, the yellowish color should have disappeared.

3) Calibrate to your taste.

Did he have his panel replaced? If it's stock, it KNOWS the color profile and calibration was done with Samsung. Not LG. Why would it 'think' it's still calibrated as an LG when it shipped with Samsung? I'm not following you here

IMO....as far as the 2012s are concerned, Samsung, with internal and external battles on patents aside....are providing Apple with some extraordinary IPS panels. Samsung makes a sh-- gob o' cash from Apple. It still (in business) behooves them to supply top notch displays (as they aren't using this resolution of panels on their lineup---they're being designed and built specifically for Apple). I don't buy the fact they're passing down second rate/tier displays to their biggest client buying these new IPS panels that are probably pretty lucrative to Samsung and are generally considered a better display than LG

Good luck OP. I'd spend some time really using your 'yellow' Samsung. Do some printing of photos. Manipulate some simple video from your iPhone, GoPro or DSLR....and play with it. If you have a broadcast display around your house, play the finished product through your everyday LCD/LED/Plasma TV. Tell us what it 'looks' like once you're done

J

 

[zOlid]

I've heard that if apple refuses the return, you're also not eligible to purchase any Apple products in the future. I don't know if that's true or not, but I think we all should be aware of it though.

That must be the most stupid thing I've read on this forum this year.
If this WAS true, there would be MULTIPLE reports about this on the internet.
They would get much more bad press then they would "gain" from it.

There are many that have returned their rMBP and got a new one more then 10 times, the most I've read about is 15.

 

[reery]

Have you brought your 2012 rMBP in to an Apple store to compare them side by side to confirm that the yellow tint indeed disappeared and it's not just that you don't notice it anymore?

I haven't brought it to the store but I have a good eyesight on this and can clearly distinguish if white balance is off or somehow odd to my eyes.

A few days after my calibration the white balance got warmer and warmer (over 7000K) so I disabled this profile and never needed it afterwards.

It is not the extreme warm and white balanced like on the LG (I changed my screen from LG to Samsung), but it is still good and in my opinion far away from taking hands on and change something in this respect.

 

[sabbyp]

you're comparing two totally different screens, apples and oranges...

 

[Jah2013]

For me, it is a bad quality panel and you should return it if they refuse to replace it on their own cost. Don't accept a potato when you have paid for an .

 

[fitgirl]

Yeah, I'm really considering your advice, but I'm also a little afraid that Apple may have records for that. I mean they will know if you keep exchanging or returning stuff, right?

Yes they may but that's not your problem you paid a premium price therefore you should expect nothing less then a premium machine with no flaws such as this, I kept returning mine till I got a perfect one which I finally did, the very last exchange I did I told the apple guy that I felt bad always coming back to do an exchange and his exact words were "never feel bad you paid a lot of money for this and if you keep noticing issues with it then we will keep exchanging it till you get a good one, we want you to be happy with your purchase" now that's great customer service, so don't feel bad this is your money and and your paying top dollar so expect nothing but the best.

 

[Atomic Walrus]

That must be the most stupid thing I've read on this forum this year.
If this WAS true, there would be MULTIPLE reports about this on the internet.
They would get much more bad press then they would "gain" from it.

There are many that have returned their rMBP and got a new one more then 10 times, the most I've read about is 15.

I have heard of Apple cutting people off on exchanges (as in, this is the last time we'll exchange this particular device; If you're unsatisfied you'll need to take a refund), but never outright banning for returns.

There is one story of a guy getting a lifetime iPad buying ban, but he was buying two a day right after the launch (when there's a limit per customer) and selling them overseas. IMO scalpers deserve it.

Amazon on the other hand does produce some return-based ban stories when you search on the subject, but mostly seems to be in cases where their return policy was being massively abused. Just mentioned this to confirm that if such a ban existed the stories would be out there.

 

[Texxy]

I have heard of Apple cutting people off on exchanges (as in, this is the last time we'll exchange this particular device; If you're unsatisfied you'll need to take a refund), but never outright banning for returns.

There is one story of a guy getting a lifetime iPad buying ban, but he was buying two a day right after the launch (when there's a limit per customer) and selling them overseas. IMO scalpers deserve it.

Amazon on the other hand does produce some return-based ban stories when you search on the subject, but mostly seems to be in cases where their return policy was being massively abused. Just mentioned this to confirm that if such a ban existed the stories would be out there.

If the exchange thing is true then I would just say "ok give me full refund" go to another apple store and buy a new one there, different email. BAM problem solved.

 

[Timmy2013]

If the exchange thing is true then I would just say "ok give me full refund" go to another apple store and buy a new one there, different email. BAM problem solved.

Unless you use different credit/debit cards, Apple still knows that you purchased the laptop. Even if you paid the cash, Apple employees will demand to see you ID/Driver License to document that the unit is sold to you, and at the end, Apple still knows who purchase it.

I've tried, and for some reasons, they still have all my info, and that's what I'm scared of.

 

[thekev]

Unless you use different credit/debit cards, Apple still knows that you purchased the laptop. Even if you paid the cash, Apple employees will demand to see you ID/Driver License to document that the unit is sold to you, and at the end, Apple still knows who purchase it.

I've tried, and for some reasons, they still have all my info, and that's what I'm scared of.

Have you even considered comparing your rMBP against the demo model set up in the store? I'm 100% serious that the 2009 is not how a notebook should look. Apple wanted to change backlights to save power and possibly achieve better uniformity, and they ended up with excessively cold panels. The new ones merely bring the color temperature closer to what it was pre 2008. Do you have an Apple Store nearby?

 

[Timmy2013]

Have you even considered comparing your rMBP against the demo model set up in the store? I'm 100% serious that the 2009 is not how a notebook should look. Apple wanted to change backlights to save power and possibly achieve better uniformity, and they ended up with excessively cold panels. The new ones merely bring the color temperature closer to what it was pre 2008. Do you have an Apple Store nearby?

Yes, I'm in LA. There're lots of stores. I will go to store tomorrow and do the comparison.

 

[Moshe1010]

If you have Samsung display, you can try this color profile:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/l96oz5mqr8jboxo/Apple_RMBP_Samsung

add the file to Username/Library/ColorSync/Profiles

and it would appear in the utility.

 

[Starfyre]

Yes they may but that's not your problem you paid a premium price therefore you should expect nothing less then a premium machine with no flaws such as this, I kept returning mine till I got a perfect one which I finally did, the very last exchange I did I told the apple guy that I felt bad always coming back to do an exchange and his exact words were "never feel bad you paid a lot of money for this and if you keep noticing issues with it then we will keep exchanging it till you get a good one, we want you to be happy with your purchase" now that's great customer service, so don't feel bad this is your money and and your paying top dollar so expect nothing but the best.

This is an Apple product. If Dell can produce flawless XPS 15 with little to no complaints, Apple should be more than capable of doing it... at least, thats what the Apple fanboys would want you to think. Whether they are credible or accurate is another story.

 

[pscl]

are those yellow screens affecting the 13" models too?

 

[fitgirl]

Does calibrating your display to a cooler setting decrease brightness?

 

[Shmanky]

You don't need to return your rMBP, your computer still thinks you have a LG panel, do this:

1) Go to the path "Library/ColorSync/Profiles/Displays" and delete the old default profile, look for a file named like this "Color LCD-00000610-0000-A00E-0000-000004280380.icc", if you find more than one delete them all.

2) Restart your machine so that MacOSX can recreate this file for the Samsung default Color profile, the yellowish color should have disappeared.

3) Calibrate to your taste.

This doesn't work. And I don't know why there's a step 3 if step 2 solves the problem. Tested on a yellowed LSN154YL01001.

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Does calibrating your display to a cooler setting decrease brightness?

Yeah, and it just makes your whites bluish, your reds bluish, your greys bluish, which is not what you want either. Tested with a yellowed LSN154YL01001 and a Spyder4Elite at 7500 K and 9300 K.