MacBook Air M1 screen burn-in and washed out display

[AdamA9]

A really weird issue just appeared on my MacBook Air M1 where the screen went really washed out and when restarting to see if it would clear the problem there is evidence of screen burn-in as a game my wife was playing remains on the screen, even after a couple of restarts it's still there now.

I've attached a photo from the third restart where the image burn is still there.

Assuming this is broken and needs to go back to Apple or is this a known issue that can be resolved?

 

[estabya]

Oof. That is definitely not normal. I’d take it into Apple.

 

[AdamA9]

Oof. That is definitely not normal. I’d take it into Apple.

Great.

 

[anubis1980]

I have seen this at work on lcd screens when they are failing. we use one of them as the IT security backup screen, it keeps the image on of whatever is displayed previously. Its def a fault and needs replacing.

 

[Quackers]

I thought modern screens couldn't do that any more.
Clearly not the case as that is very obvious.
You can still clearly see the dock.
Not right.

 

[Freeangel1]

wow. this ought to deter people from buying these M1 throw away non upgradable Macs on IOS... I mean macOS.

 

[anubis1980]

I don't think its screen burn in the standard sense, we were confused at work too, its almost like it doesn't refresh , its hard to put into words what I mean. Im no screen expert, but its not like the image has burnt on the faulty one at work, its like it can't refresh the image off the screen. I compared it to an etch a sketch that hasn't been shaken properly, so some of the last image remains.

 

[Quackers]

wow. this ought to deter people from buying these M1 throw away non upgradable Macs on IOS... I mean macOS.

Yes, one dodgy screen, throw the lot away!

I don't think its screen burn in the standard sense, we were confused at work too, its almost like it doesn't refresh , its hard to put into words what I mean. Im no screen expert, but its not like the image has burnt on the faulty one at work, its like it can't refresh the image off the screen. I compared it to an etch a sketch that hasn't been shaken properly, so some of the last image remains.

Etch a sketch 🤓

 

[roncron]

wow. this ought to deter people from buying these M1 throw away non upgradable Macs on IOS... I mean macOS.

You’d be right if this defect is widespread and Apple didn’t make it right.

But that would be unusual for Apple, so I doubt this one incident will cause people who’ve had great experiences with Apple products and customer service to jump to Windows or Chromebooks.

That is not to deny the OP’s entirely justifiable frustration at getting a defective unit after spending a lot of money for it, and the inconvenience of having to wait for a replacement. I’m very sympathetic to the OP’s frustration.

But I’m not switching to Windows because of it. Is anyone else?

 

[Quackers]

But I’m not switching to Windows because of it. Is anyone else?

Nope. I went to Ubuntu to get away from Windows!
Then I found Apple

 

[Apple_Robert]

When you return, make sure they give you a new M1. Don’t let them repair your M1.

 

[adamlbiscuit]

The burn-in is that bad I can tell the game your wife was playing is Sims 4... Using that as a metric I'd definitely get it taken in!

 

[Populus]

Is there a way to know the vendor of the screen? Probably we have Samsung and LG screens mixed... And maybe some are a bit better? I don't know if this still happens.

 

[AdamA9]

You’d be right if this defect is widespread and Apple didn’t make it right.

But that would be unusual for Apple, so I doubt this one incident will cause people who’ve had great experiences with Apple products and customer service to jump to Windows or Chromebooks.

That is not to deny the OP’s entirely justifiable frustration at getting a defective unit after spending a lot of money for it, and the inconvenience of having to wait for a replacement. I’m very sympathetic to the OP’s frustration.

But I’m not switching to Windows because of it. Is anyone else?

I have many Apple products. The reason I won't switch to anything else is customer service.

I forgot to give an update, but I called Apple, explained the issue and they arranged for a replacement for me. It won't be here until January because of stock so I'm keeping this one until the new one arrives. FWIW, the image eventually clears, but then it goes faded again, almost like the colours fade and there's too much misty white and then we have to turn it off for a while again, all the while the previous image remains 'burned' into the screen.

Very odd. I've not seen any other reported issues like this so assuming it's a small issue affecting very few people.

It's something we can live with for now, and we're getting a replacement, but yes, it's super weird.

 

[ventsie]

Same here. MacBook Air M1. The issue started appearing 3 days after the purchase. On the 4th day it was unusable. Sadly, I didn’t have OP’s luck with Apple. According to Apple, everything is fine. There are no issues with the laptop... They claim that it’s a software bug and I should just wait for it to get magically fixed in the future.

 

[ChrisChaval]

I don't think its screen burn in the standard sense, we were confused at work too, its almost like it doesn't refresh , its hard to put into words what I mean. Im no screen expert, but its not like the image has burnt on the faulty one at work, its like it can't refresh the image off the screen. I compared it to an etch a sketch that hasn't been shaken properly, so some of the last image remains.

yes, what I saw in this thread looks like shadow images, like double exposure in photography

 

[Populus]

Same here. MacBook Air M1. The issue started appearing 3 days after the purchase. On the 4th day it was unusable. Sadly, I didn’t have OP’s luck with Apple. According to Apple, everything is fine. There are no issues with the laptop... They claim that it’s a software bug and I should just wait for it to get magically fixed in the future.

If you’re sure it is not a software issue (maybe doing a full reinstall) you could ask to speak to the store manager, and if they don’t aknowledge it, you just ask for a refund. I have the new M1 MacBook Air and I don’t have that issue.

 

[Populus]

My screen is PERFECT. But I want to get the 16GB/512GB instead of the base 8/256 I have purchased, because I need more and I want to keep it many years. And honestly, I am afraid to play the lottery get a defective one, with less quality or any issue. Damn, even the colors on my MacBook Air are awesome.

 

[bentalgad]

Same problem here. got it today and already see this screen burn problem.

 

[ventsie]

Same here. MacBook Air M1. The issue started appearing 3 days after the purchase. On the 4th day it was unusable. Sadly, I didn’t have OP’s luck with Apple. According to Apple, everything is fine. There are no issues with the laptop... They claim that it’s a software bug and I should just wait for it to get magically fixed in the future.

Here’s an update from me too. The same burn-in was visible even after a complete reinstall. Apple refused to refund or replace the laptop. I managed to convince them to at least replace the screen. They did that, but I had to stay 3 weeks without a computer. The thing is that now I don’t like the laptop anymore. I feel like this isn’t my MacBook and I’m just using someone else’s laptop. It’s a pretty bizarre sensation, but I’m reminded of this every time I try to open the laptop, because the hinge is too tight and I need both hands to open it and even then it’s still quite difficult. This was my first computer from Apple and I’m not sure how I would feel about purchasing another one in the future.

 

[tis]

Here’s an update from me too. The same burn-in was visible even after a complete reinstall. Apple refused to refund or replace the laptop. I managed to convince them to at least replace the screen. They did that, but I had to stay 3 weeks without a computer. The thing is that now I don’t like the laptop anymore. I feel like this isn’t my MacBook and I’m just using someone else’s laptop. It’s a pretty bizarre sensation, but I’m reminded of this every time I try to open the laptop, because the hinge is too tight and I need both hands to open it and even then it’s still quite difficult. This was my first computer from Apple and I’m not sure how I would feel about purchasing another one in the future.

You said the issue started 3 days after you purchased the laptop. You should have just returned it, and then ordered another one. You were well within the return timeframe.

 

[williamyx]

Definitely a display/display connector issue - not software. Whoever thought it was software is tripping. Spilled water on my mac (late 2016), somehow shorted a pin and now it shows a ghosting effect similar to OP. Apple needs to own up to this and MR should bring some attention to the issue.

 

[bentalgad]

Also if i just leave the macbook on with this google search page for an hour the gray lines become a weird white, and the text looks burned.

Please try it also and write if you experience the same.

Btw - When turning "Night Shift" on it looks better (but of course it's not the way you want to work).

 

[tdfjones]

I have exactly the same issue.
I have been talking to Apple and they say post it back as I can't get to a Mac Store. Really disappointed - both the screen burn in and the washed out colours are really awful and so unlike all the other apple products I have.

 

[Antonnn]

I also have the same issue on a Macbook Air 2020. Mine is not an M1, it's an Intel.
Same exact ghosting/burn in that's also present during boot at the apple logo and the weird washed out almost like inverted colors.

It feels to me as if it's not a true LCD burn in but more of a strange hardware issue related to the display controller. It gets worse the longer you keep the laptop running.
I was playing with the "dark mode/night shift/true tone" and the inverted color settings and weird enough it fixed itself for a few minutes before it went bad again.

All the apple stores are closed in my are due to Covid so I requested a box to send it in.
They better not tell me that it's my fault. I baby every piece of tech I own.

Take a look. This is right after boot when it's not as bad as it gets. You can see the burn in both pictures.