Thanks. Maybe it sound crazy but I’m worried about the red tint from the new one.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
M2 MBA backlight bleed issue? How does your monitor look?
- Thread starter isealbz
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
do you see it on a normal black background? I thought it was a camera/photo artefact that happens when you take a pic
It really looks like that in real life. So, again, I don't know if I should return both and try a third one or keep one of these.
Did you check tint uniformity using full screen white and lighter gray test patterns? Something like that can often show in lighter shades with uneven tint, one side greenish other pinkish for example. In the end first one could look even better in all but black image. Maybe worth to try third if second one does pass test in lighter test patterns.
Good point. I will check it tonight. However, I feel like I should send both back and try a third one - maybe directly in the store and explain them the problem and if we can maybe try out 2 or 3 different ones.
Probably but usually two units having obvious issue often just leads to getting new one after another with issues either new or the same issue. For entry level laptop you might have to accept some issues but I'd definitely in that case prefer one that gives no issue in lighter images since uniformity issue where sides are different tint is driving me crazy.
That is very difficult to do in bright lights in a store. They might looks fine at those conditions but you see issues at home right away.
I understand what you want to say but from my perspective 2309 EUR are far away from an entry laptop. That's why I'm so picky regarding the display - especially because I haven't got such an issue with any other MacBook in the past (neither from Pro's or Air's). The display from the new Air is also much more bendable than all previous models. I guess the issue with the screen is only because they saved some money during production - which is annoying because the price increased.
Apple doesn’t make an entry level laptop. Entry level laptops don’t start at over $1k. An entry level MacBook would be called something like a MacBook Se.
This is a ultra thin and light MacBook, that’s what it’s marketed as. So I completely agree this isn’t acceptable to see in these displays. Especially when part of their advertising of this air is having a better display!
Yeah, I know it is quite pricey here in Europe, even more so now with weak Euro. However it is just 1200 USD laptop (not including options of course.) and in Apple line up, this is an entry model. Pro is higher level machine with much better display but pretty cheap at the moment due to not yet gotten weak Euro value adjusted price.
I agree, display in Air M1 did not have light leak issues. But light leak like this is pretty typical in many IPS screens.
I would have hard time to accept panel with issues like that.
From what I tested new models, the new Air was the most flexible MacBook I’ve ever laid my hands on.
Also new flat desing IMHO plays a big part in this display lid bending, older round shape added naturally rigidity.
You are not too picky but that looks like average quality laptop IPS-screen. Probably won't get much better trying another unit but definitely not quite as good as what I'd expect for that price. This looking black screen is what you get with many 500 bucks Windows laptops with IPS-screen.
Hard to say but it is rather common issue in cheaper edge lit IPS-screens. Most consumers do not care about this anyway. I had some Zenbook 14" (IPS-screen) price about 500-600 and it had no light leak like this. Also product lines are different where the Pro obvious is a Pro and the Air is consumer / entry level machine. I had MBP 13" 2019 and it had excellent IPS-screen, then MBA M1 where screen was already lower quality and much much lower contrast (but no light leak). Even black bars in video material looked fine in MBP 13" 2019.
If you search here you can see that some also had a backlight bleed problem with the M1 MacBook Air. Going even farther back you can see that it is a normal problem with notebook displays.
M1 MacBook Air backlight bleeding: Macbook air m1 backlight bleeding, Backlight Bleed - M1 MacBook Air, Backlight bleed on M1 Air
I can't tell if the M2 is worse, the same, or better when it comes to these reports. My M2 MacBook Air has a reddish tint that increases towards the bottom of the display but I don't have the backlight bleed that some people are showing here.
Those seemed less bad but far from perfect. Biggest problem in MBA M1 was that reddish right side in blacks as shows in many of the links you posted above. I posted my findings in different thread right after I got mine. Again, most people here did not find this issue, just like almost any other display problems (but I'm very picky with displays).
I had one M2 unit with some visible backlight bleed and did an exchange. The new unit is much better when it comes to the backlight bleed, but yes, it’s kinda reddish. Can’t seem to notice it in daily use though.. I can only see it when I’m testing for backlight bleed. Left is new unit, right is the old I sent back.
Attachments
In other words, if I crank up the brightness to max and set a black background I can see a reddish tint compared to the other unit. It’s not like everything that’s black looks red, no.
There was similar issue with MBA M1's where right side of the image had some reddish tint in that test, but not the whole screen. Most people did not find that bothering. Anyway, I think that is normal variation in Air, this is not a Pro level machine. For perfect black and also perfect black bars in video content, Pro is the answer for that. No more bluish or red tinted blacks with possible light leaks.
As for your second display, if you don't get bothered too much by red tint in black image, I'd check and make sure there is no uneven tint/hue in brighter images, that kind of issue can something show in those very badly. So check full screen white and lighter gray test patters that you don't see issues like one side greenish and other side reddish tint, those are something that drive me crazy and I cannot take display like that. Again, this is rather individual thing, most people don't find that bothering either. Anyway, if yours pass that test, I'd call it a day - never-ending vicious return/rebuy limbo is a real PITA.
Are you doing something with the camera to have a longer exposure time? I have never seen so much light around the keys of my MBA? Also on my unit it looks a lot more black and don't see the color variation in the pictures? As far as blacklight bleed it seems within an acceptable range to me.
The only one that looks bad to my eyes is the top left unit. The top right and bottom seem fine?
Honestly unless you notice the backlight bleed during use it is not much of an issue. Any backlit IPS or TFT screen that does not use mini led is going to have a certain amount. I remember when I got a razor laptop with 120 or 144hz refresh rate on a IPS display and the backlight bleed was crazy. So many gaming laptops with high refresh rates had tons of backlight bleed but in normal use it was fine. If you are watching video with black bars I think that would be the only time you would even notice it.
My long winded point is as long as it is in an acceptable range just try to ignore it. If you go looking for it, it will always be there. If backlight bleed on IPS screens really drives you nuts then a 14" MBP with mini led would be a better fit. I had some issues related to the mini led but in terms of backlight bleed I don't remember seeing anything at all. So you might be better off with one of the base model 14" on sale everywhere right now. I love the M2 MBA but all of them are going to have some backlight bleed because they use IPS display.
Hope that helps and good luck!
Bottom one looks fine to me, as long as your happy with how it looks for your personal usage, I say enjoy it! Im on my 2nd MacBook Air and it definitely has a better screen then my first one. Its not perfect but I really have to go out of my way to look for it as well.
The other point too make is because these screen get so bright, its going to show the imperfections more prominently then say a 300 nit its panel would.
Thanks guys. I think I will keep this one as I feel it’s ok. Especially, since I now have saved over 260€ for the same model.
they all look bad to me, the 3rd one has 5 spots just along the bottom
Yes, I agree, they all look about as bad. But I don't think it is worth to keep exchanging any more units, it will be the endless limbo. Just avoid using it in a dim or dark room and mostly those should not appear so badly, as long as you keep brightness control at reasonably dim level in relation to the lights in the room. Someone who appreciate OLED like blacks, maybe want to consider MBP 14" or 16", there is no "flashlights" in the conditions where those photos were taken in this page.