My 24-inch M1 iMac Display Has Failed Twice
I purchased my 24-inch M1 iMac (8GB/512GB) in 2022 and have used it normally and carefully. It has never been dropped or physically damaged.
In December 2023, about one year after purchase, the display developed horizontal lines across the entire screen. At the same time, a large dark/black spot appeared in the upper-right corner, and that area became unusually hot. I had to replace the complete display at a cost of approximately ₹50,000.
Unfortunately, in August 2026, the replacement display has developed another serious problem. This time, a large horizontal dark/black band is covering a substantial portion of the screen. The image is still visible through the affected area, but the problem is clearly visible.
There is no dark spot this time, but the upper-left corner of the display becomes extremely hot, to the point that I cannot comfortably keep my hand there. Because of the excessive heat, I have had to shut the iMac down.
I also performed tests to rule out a problem with the Mac itself. A screenshot taken while the problem was visible is completely normal, and when I connect the iMac to an LG external display, the external screen is also completely normal. This indicates that the M1 Mac and graphics output are working normally and that the problem appears to be isolated to the built-in display.
What concerns me most is that this is the second display failure on the same iMac. The original display failed in December 2023 with horizontal lines, a dark spot and localized heating. The replacement display has now developed another horizontal-band problem with severe localized heating in August 2026.
I would like to know whether anyone has experienced the same problem and, importantly, whether anyone has successfully repaired it at the component, cable, connector, or display-circuit level without replacing the entire display.
I do not want to simply spend another ₹50,000 on a replacement display without understanding why the replacement has failed again.
Given my experience and the other reports of similar display issues, I would recommend that anyone considering buying an iMac research these reported display problems carefully before making a purchase.
iMac: 24-inch M1, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD
Purchased: 2022
First display failure: December 2023
First replacement cost: Approximately ₹50,000
Second display failure: August 2026
Current issue: Horizontal dark band + severe upper-left heating
Screenshot: Normal
External LG display: Normal
Physical damage: None
