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M1 MacBook Air black uniformity (red glow)
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I think strongly about it. Actually I really like the form factor (more than the MBP) - but the display... Also don't like the contrast of the MBA - MBP is much better concerning black level and contrast.
What do you think Apple would say if you took it in? Could you get a replacement?
In my unit that red tint on the right just shops up in black or near black image viewed in dark room or with dim lights and high display brightness. So far nowhere else.
Are you watching movies or viewing photos in dark or dim environment, or what you think causes what you see there is white and bright test images seem fine? Also do you view screen in straight angle, because I think this coating is very directive and it does change some when viewing odd angles. Have you tested gray images in levels say 40-80% do they look fine or you see that tint issue there?
I'm still sitting on the fence with mine too but I would have to get MBP due to it is much worse unit otherwise besides the display, and of course longer battery run time due to much higher battery. (Seem like MBA battery is not even performing full capacity even when new, and many seem to comment the same thing in this forum but I guess that is also a feature).
Just wondering if there will be any difference as it seems based on the comments here being the similar with all of the regaring red tint in black. But yeah, if there is noticeable issue in yours in brighter grey or even whites in normal room lights on, then there is probably something wrong because at least mine seems fine in that regard. Only with very dark image and dark or dim lightning this reddish tint on the right can be seen.
I wonder why reviews do not mention this but I guess they did not test such thing. Even Notebookcheck review did not seem to measure color temp in different locations of the screen.
But their review confirmed what I hear myself, MBA speakers are better than Pro's.
Crazy story... I found the MBP so much better than the MBA speaker. For MBA the sound is dull and flat. Much better with MBP. (My opinion)
Yeah, but their measurements seem to back up that, so it is not just someone opinion in their reviews, it is actually measured. Anyway, I found MBP speakers sound tinny with no bass, while Air has some nice warm bass and fuller sound. You can actually even feel MBA body vibrate a bit when louder volume while MBP is so tinny there is not even noticeable vibration. That is with MBP base model, I know better specsed Intel model has different type (I guess reflex type speakers) and 16" model even hugely better.
Didn't you already have one (if I recall correctly)? Was there something wrong with that one? Display lottery is still there I guess as well as other possible issues like with my previous orders all were more or less scratched or smudged.
I try to avoid exchanges to the end as I know from the past things usually can get much worse with all new issues (or the ones with the same issue).
Had one for testing. But went directly back because of light leakage around the bezel and other stuff.
No, but even Notebookcheck confirm my previous findings I've had with Air 2018, MBP 2019 and MBA M1.
Both Air's sound as good while MBP was huge disappointment with tinny sound.
As can been seen in iFixit teardowns, even that confirm that speakers have not changed during/after that, plus current reviews even measured Air better.
My point exactly - Lottery. Do you win usually the Lottery? I never win anything.
EDIT. Hey, by the way, I noticed your profile shows you are from Germany and so is Notebookcheck originally as far as I know. I was wondering if you have emailed them or perhaps know some other way to contact them and could ask about this red tint issue we see here in case they had some input about it or if they could do some measurements? That could maybe give some hint with what we are dealing here. Just a thought and since their reviews they seemed to prefer MBA over MBP sounded like no serious issues with it (or they also think it is not normal to use these in the dark)... I understood they have at least 2 pcs MBAs there with different configurations.
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I picked up a MBA today out of curiosity 😃
I like the wedge shape of MBA and think it lends to a slightly better typing experience. Also the MBA speakers are brighter and can get louder, but they doesn't have the same bass extension as the MBP. I think I may prefer the sound signature of the MBA for general use. The regular function butters are preferable to the Touch Bar, even though sometimes it makes me laugh.
As far as displays go they seem to have their own pros and cons! The MBA has a faster response that means less smearing with scrolling... not a huge deal but definitely a noticeable improvement over the MBP. The black level is worse though, and that is quite noticeable side by side. I can also confirm a red glow on the right side of this MBA panel. I can see it in a dim room with the brightness at 70%+. My MBP has great black uniformity and no color glow at all.
I consider this particular MBA to have slightly better white unformity, which I appreciate for reading anything thing on a white background, but they both could be better. If I'm working away at something I can get over the uniformity shortcomings.
I'll use the MBA for a few days and see how I feel. Right now I'm leaning towards keeping the MBP because I appreciate the punchier blacks for photography and whenever I watch videos in darker rooms. Both machines are great but the MBA is probably the right choice for most people.
I like the wedge shape of MBA and think it lends to a slightly better typing experience. Also the MBA speakers are brighter and can get louder, but they doesn't have the same bass extension as the MBP. I think I may prefer the sound signature of the MBA for general use. The regular function butters are preferable to the Touch Bar, even though sometimes it makes me laugh.
As far as displays go they seem to have their own pros and cons! The MBA has a faster response that means less smearing with scrolling... not a huge deal but definitely a noticeable improvement over the MBP. The black level is worse though, and that is quite noticeable side by side. I can also confirm a red glow on the right side of this MBA panel. I can see it in a dim room with the brightness at 70%+. My MBP has great black uniformity and no color glow at all.
I consider this particular MBA to have slightly better white unformity, which I appreciate for reading anything thing on a white background, but they both could be better. If I'm working away at something I can get over the uniformity shortcomings.
I'll use the MBA for a few days and see how I feel. Right now I'm leaning towards keeping the MBP because I appreciate the punchier blacks for photography and whenever I watch videos in darker rooms. Both machines are great but the MBA is probably the right choice for most people.
Which MBP model you are comparing it to? Base MBP M1 and Intel 1.4GHz base version has less bass in hearing range and that can be heard (tinny sound) and seen in Notebookcheck speaker measurements. Sure MBP in measurement may have few db more near 20Hz and above but that is still few dozen db below what db is in actual hearing range Hz, so that cannot be heard. Measurement and ears prove that MBA has stronger bass (higher db at certain Hz) in actual hearing range than base MBP.
But higher end MBP 13" have different speakers and they are likely better than MBA, and 16" is in completely different league.
That sounds pretty common issue. I wonder if anyone actually has MBA M1 that does not have this glow when checking this way? I had MBP 13" 2019 and it did not have this red glow but otherwise I think my MBA has more even screen than my MBP had in brighter images. Contrast ratio is hugely better in MBP.
I'm comparing M1 to M1. The MBP certainly has more bass along with lower extension, in exchange for quite a bit less overall volume. The Air's bass is not bad at all, though. I think I prefer the extra clarity of the Air. I wouldn't call them harsh.
I’m still wondering what this glow is. Because if you look at all the images in this thread and if you adjust the brightness of the pictures every red glow looks the same and everyone has this small white part at F4.
So this is no typical bleeding or anything like that. If you look at IPS gaming monitors every monitor from the exact same model has different bleeding.
The MacBook Air model on the other side seems to be made this way. Also if I turn the screen around and view it from different angles the red appears everywhere. Could it be that when the panel is coated the process starts at the left side and ends at the right side? So like if you spray with an airbrush you will have most of the paint at the end of your move.
I’m still more than satisfied with the MacBook Air. If I look at the MacBook pro pictures with the strange corners and bad white pictures this would be much more of an issue for me.
Interesting if you hear MBP stronger in bass because even in Notebookcheck measurement show in hearing range Air is better. I take your word since I haven't heard myself MBP M1 but based on iFixit teardown photos speakers looked identical to previous models and I have myself compared MBP 13" 2019 vs Air 2018 and later this MBP against MBA M1 and the result was for me that Air's had stronger bass and much nicer sound, while MBP sounded tinny without almost any bass. Maybe something is different in MBP M1 but even this mentioned test did not rate it as high as Air in speaker sound.
Looks pretty idential to my MBA M1. Thanks for posting your photos! These are valuable information for all confused with this issue whether they have a faulty unit or if this is a feature.
I'm also leaning to that it must be coating or similar causing it. It cannot be just few faulty units as they seem so idential. If it was some odd fault, there would be some variation how it shows but these are all just too identical for that.
And I agree too that white and bright images are pretty much perfect in uniformity in MBA, even better than my MBP 13" 2019 was even that one had perfect black image uniformity and higher contrast ratio. This is one of the reasons I'm leaning on keeping my MBA. Also I'm considering MBP M1 probably is soon obsolete model likely because there is just so little difference to MBA to justify the price difference.
The only reason I would consider a MacBook Pro over an Air is battery life. If you really need those 2-3 hours more and can’t carry a cable around.
but even then: the air has an easily changeable battery while the pro battery is glued in. Battery service costs almost twice and if you can hold a screw driver you could do it yourself with the air.
The throttling is obsolete because there are already tests with heat pads that you put under the lid to help spread the heat better. Combined with a stand the air didn’t even throttle after 10 minutes...
I don’t care about the Touch Bar. I don’t use neither this nor the f keys to an extend that I could care about that.
the sound is louder in the air.
and as you say, the pro entry model will be obsolete when the 14” comes out. The air will probably keep its value much longer for the very same reason.
Same for me. The M1 MBP has much more hearing range than the M1 MBA.
And I'm working in the music business and know what i am talking about. So maybe a faulty MBA or something else is kind of weird?