Totally, I agree 100% with you. This flaws are unacceptable for a 1.600€ laptop.
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[M2 MBA] Shadows on the screen
- Thread starter Populus
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Hi,
I just got my M2 air today and I have the same issue on the screen.
Any update for your M2 screen?
Thanks.
The Shadow is still there and I’m returning the device, because at least my shadows are hardware based (I updated to Ventura and they are still there). I’m probably not playing the screen lottery again, and I’m sticking to an iPad Pro + Mac mini combo.
This could change if Apple releases an M3 non-OLED MBA, or an 12” MBA, in which case I’d give it another shot. But on the short term I don’t expect buying it again.
If you really like the device, go ahead and exchange it. Another user on this thread had good luck, and has a new MBA with a pristine screen. Good luck!
The easiest way to tell is switch your wallpaper/desktop to a blank light colored one, something off-white. It should be visible enough that you can just go into a store and they’ll replace it for you. One other way of demonstrating it is launch an app window such as Mail, or Apple News, or even Safari. Something with a white background and then drag the window around your screen and if you see that the smudge, or shadow as I called it, doesn’t move but stays in the same location then it is definitely a defective screen. The replacement I got has been perfect. They replaced it on the spot for me. Since they didn’t have an exact match for me they did a return and new sale. I had used the Apple Card with zero interest payments and they took care of getting the refund through and setting the new one up with the same terms.
Just remember to have either a backup you can use or take the time in store to do do a transfer from the old to the new before they wipe it. The sales rep wiped mine so fast I didn’t have time to think about transferring everything over which is how I had set it up from an old mac that I traded. And I didn’t have a backup to use so I had to set the new one up from scratch which for me really wasn’t that bad. That direct transfer using Migration Assistant was as quick and easy as setting up a new ios device.
Just scrolling on a white background website should be enough to notice it if you follow the content while scrolling. I noticed it scrolling a PDF text book.
However, knowing how some Apple employees are, they could tell you that they don’t see anything and they see the screen perfect. That could happen, so go mentally prepared.
However, knowing how some Apple employees are, they could tell you that they don’t see anything and they see the screen perfect. That could happen, so go mentally prepared.
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That will work but not completely obvious that it‘s a screen defect. I had switched to a, I think it’s called Gold, blank desktop shut the lid arrived at the store when it opened and walked out with my new perfect one 15 minutes later. No hassle whatsoever once I opened it up and she could see the smudge, no scrolling necessary.
Honestly, without scrolling, it was hard to notice on my MBA. You do you, but I recommend moving items on a white background and follow the object/text with the sight in order to see it clearly 🤷🏻
EDIT: okay, I just saw your photo on the previous page (thank you for capturing it, mine has the same shape and location). It’s visible in the picture, yes, but it became more noticeable for me when I scrolled the page in my phone lol
Thanks to you, for not tolerating a lower quality screen on an expensive product like this. If we all reject defective units we’re sending Apple the message that we value quality.
Now, did they acknowledge this as a defect? Did they clearly saw it and said “this shadows shouldn’t be here”?
Sorry I am writing late. I am a pilot and my schedule always changes. I took a video, sent them and the technician saw it clearly.
Yes it is a defect and it should not be there. The new MBA is on the way now and I will definetely inform you for the new screen.
Thanks
I also got my m2air just yesterday and today figured out that small shadowy thing on the screen but this month I have to use it for studying for my exams and my question is that what do you think will this small defect gets worse during the time or just stay as small as its? I think I can get used to it like my old monitor’s dead pixels if it stay as it's and does not trigger other problems
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It's hard to see exactly what you're referring to, but if it is the area toward the left side of the image about the middle of the screen then that is what mine looked like. if that's it and you have an Apple Store nearby go in and show them that screen, I used a a blank desktop image in a "Gold" color which made it easily visible, 15 minutes later I had my replacement which has been perfect.
Yep same area same thing (maybe a bit smaller). Unfortunately, there is no apple store near me also I bought as online shopping. Did they also mentioned about this problem is major or can cause other problems? Or do you think?
In my opinion this is the way the screen is manufactured/assembled. I’d bet it will stay that way forever, so if it doesn’t bother you, I’d keep it. If it does bother you, I’d try to replace it on the Apple Store ASAP. If it’s online, you can contact them to send you a messenger to pick your MacBook on your home.
In my opinion, this is only an aesthetic issue. It depends on how much it bothers you or not.
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They did not say, but my own guess is that Apple had a run of bad screens. Mine was also ordered online but I didn’t want to go through the back and forth with the online support because it's difficult to see in an image or video unless it's pretty bad. So I picked a blank desktop that made it the most visible and took it in. I'm also thinking the in-store stock has different set of screens than they do online. if you don’t have a store then try going through Apple Support, my fear in doing that is the time and effort involved and then suppose the replacement has the issue as well.
Hi everyone,
I am still waiting my new MBA M2 but today I had a chance to try a new M2 on the Apple store (Turkish store in Istanbul). The screen was perfect and there was no any black shadow. Then I talked the technician about the problem and he said that your friends should have brought their M2 to the Apple service. They will definetely fix the problem.
Thanks.
I am still waiting my new MBA M2 but today I had a chance to try a new M2 on the Apple store (Turkish store in Istanbul). The screen was perfect and there was no any black shadow. Then I talked the technician about the problem and he said that your friends should have brought their M2 to the Apple service. They will definetely fix the problem.
Thanks.
The problem with getting it fixed, and I did consider that because mine was perfect in every other way, is that you’d have to send it in, be without a computer for whatever amount of time, and then have it shipped back to you. My guess is that with these M2s being so new, and quite a number of people like myself were within the 14 day return period, Apple would choose to just replace them anyway. Also my guess is that Apple had a bad run of screens and with all the posts here, who knows how many others are affected, Apple will probably do a warranty extension beyond the 1 year regardless of AppleCare. Or if enough of them are determined to be defective they may issue a recall.
Hi guys,
Tomorrow I am taking the first train to munich and will request a new mba m2 with perfect screen. Ill be write an update tomorrow night. For now wish me a luck.
Tomorrow I am taking the first train to munich and will request a new mba m2 with perfect screen. Ill be write an update tomorrow night. For now wish me a luck.
I agree with Papbot’s post above. “Your friends” (or you, in this case) shouldn’t bring the device to the Apple Service because that’s not a failure during the usage of the device, but a faulty piece from the factory. You have the right, during the first 14 days, to exchange the entire device for a completely new one. And, in my opinion, you should ask for a replacement in brand new condition.
Why? You may ask. Well, if you go the Apple Service route, you’re basically trapped with that machine. If the screen replacement is faulty as well, if the new screen has a different quality (happened to me with my Unibody MacBookPro, the replacement screen had much worse colors), you cannot say “okay, I’ll return it and get an iPad mini, or an M2 MacBook Pro, or a Dell XPS with that money “. You’re basically trapped with a faulty, expensive machine. Sure, you have 1 year of Apple Care but who knows how many times they will agree there’s a problem with that machine. The Geniouses are expert in gaslighting you when there’s not a flagrant problem with the machine, especially since Steve Jobs stepped down. “I don’t see anything, maybe it’s in your eyes “, “the battery is running as it should, our test says it’s healthy “, “maybe that third party app that you installed is causing the issues”, etc.
So I would be cautious replacing the screen, performing a repair, on what it should be a brand new device like yours. If you’re in the first 14 days, you have the right to demand a new one as a replacement. And judge by yourself if that new one meets your quality standards. This is not an Acer computer, or even an HP. This should be the Lexus of the laptops.
Good luck! Let us know, not only if you can get a new one (this is likely even if it’s because you changed your mind), but more importantly, if they acknowledge there’s a technical issue.
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I went the Munich Rosenstraße Apple store and waited 45 minutes for appointment then ms. “genius” said similar to this “send back this machine wherever you buy, I never gonna give you new machine” because I bought original apple product in Amazon 
They suggest only repair for 5days old device. Did everyone in this page buy their machine from Apple store or the apple website??
I am going to wait end of my semester than send it for replacement screen which I hope “guarantee” covers. They said it will but I o not trust this fruit anymore!!
PS: before all of that when I first showed the screen, she exactly said those(in order)
1. I do not see anything
2. This device suppose to be looked at directly not from the side!
😂
They suggest only repair for 5days old device. Did everyone in this page buy their machine from Apple store or the apple website??I am going to wait end of my semester than send it for replacement screen which I hope “guarantee” covers. They said it will but I o not trust this fruit anymore!!
PS: before all of that when I first showed the screen, she exactly said those(in order)
1. I do not see anything
2. This device suppose to be looked at directly not from the side!
😂
I have read of issues when buying certain Apple products through Amazon. That’s why even though I may pay a bit more I buy the expensive stuff from Apple directly. I used the online store to purchase mine but went to my local Apple Store to get it replaced. If you got it from Amazon and it’s still within a return period just return it. If not your only recourse may be to initiate a case with Apple Support, see if they’ll replace it. If not then it will probably go through the repair process.
yeah, that’s why I said Geniouses are trained to gaslight the customers if there’s not a flagrant issue. They will find a thousand excuses.
Honestly, if bought it on Amazon, you have 30 days to ask the refund. And then you’re free to get the computer directly from Apple (if you want), where it is “easier” to exchange or return during the first 14 days. Keep in mind that, if you’re in the €urozone, you probably have a minimum of two years of warranty. At least on my country, this works like this: during the first year the repairs covered by the warranty go through Apple, second and following years you rely on the store you bought it (Apple or Amazon or whatever retailer).
I noticed this last night and in an "panic" (not literally) I just said screw it and preordered the 14" M2 Pro MB Pro. I had the M1 Pro MB Pro before the Air (I wanted a smaller, lighter form factor and Midnight color). I am of the belief that I could easily end up with another messed up one so I'm just returning the Air and keeping the Pro.
I’m keeping my preorder in place for now but may consider going the replacement route before giving up.