MacBook Pro Anti-Reflective Coating Repair Program Remains in Effect, But 2013-2014 Models No Longer Eligible

[turtle777]

I have a MBP early 2015. Called Apple and talked to an advisor.

First advisor said that the repair program has ended. I asked if they could check, referencing this article. She checked, and then bumped me up to a supervisor. Again, supervisor said the repair program has ended. I asked how that could be, and that this is not what the MacRumors article said. Put me on hold, and checked again.
Finally, Apple agreed to a "one time exception", and they promised to service my MBP.
Got an appointment at the genius bar tomorrow to take a look at the issue and hopefully determine that it wasn't caused by me.

So, call Apple, be nice but insist, and ask if there is anything else they can do.

-t

 

[49erRedGold]

Stopping it for 2013 models is terrible. They know it’s their shoddy coating that is the problem so as far as I’m concerned, there should be no expiry date. It isn’t like Apple has written to everybody to tell them of the repair program. Some people genuinely won’t know until now.

That's absurd. Tell that to Dell, HP, Lenovo and Microsoft. Every single one of them has outstanding problems that will not be fixed out warranty unless the customer pays.

 

[netsped]

You were able to remove all the coating in a uniform way so the screen appeared normal?

Yes. It was very damaged to begin with but after rubbing it with the wet wipes for some minutes (no more than 20) it came off leaving a pristine shiny glass. The hardest part was to remove it near the rubber gasket.

It was more reflective after this but I preferred it over the stained look it had before. Used it for 1.5 years like this and recently sold it for almost half of what I paid 5 years ago. A great alternative if Apple denies replacement.

 

[Macs4u]

That's absurd. Tell that to Dell, HP, Lenovo and Microsoft. Every single one of them has outstanding problems that will not be fixed out warranty unless the customer pays.

And with that attitude, is it any wonder that companies keep doing this? You sound the exact type of pushover that companies hope for. If you pay full price for something, it should be PERFECT.

 

[JasonCManley]

I got a look at my son's 2014 rMBP and noticed it was looking rough, this was several months ago. I didn't even bother trying to get it fixed because when I purchased it in April of 2015, I also got AppleCare+ which of course has expired.

So basically, there's nothing I can do... right?

 

[mjuwono]

Apple continues to authorize free display repairs for eligible MacBook and MacBook Pro models with anti-reflective coating issues for up to four years after the affected notebook's original purchase date, the company said in an internal memo distributed to Apple Authorized Service Providers this week.

Models that remain eligible for the repair program:

• MacBook Pro (13-inch, Early 2015)
• MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2015)
• MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016)
• MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)
• MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017)
• MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2017)
• MacBook (12-inch, Early 2015)
• MacBook (12-inch, Early 2016)
• MacBook (12-inch, Early 2017)

Apple has not added any MacBook Pro or MacBook Air models released in 2018 or later to the eligibility list at this time.

In its memo, obtained by MacRumors, Apple adds that MacBook Pro models released in 2014 and earlier are no longer eligible for the program. Most of those units should be well past the repair program's four-year coverage window, but perhaps some were sold by resellers at a later date and were still eligible until now.

Apple began this repair program in October 2015 after some MacBook and MacBook Pro users experienced issues with the anti-reflective coating wearing off or delaminating on Retina displays. Apple has never posted the repair program to its website, opting instead to handle the matter more quietly.

Over the years, the issues have led to an online petition with nearly 5,000 signatures, a Facebook group with over 17,000 members, and complaints across the Apple Support Communities, Reddit, and our own MacRumors forums. A so-called "Staingate" website was set up to share photos of affected MacBooks.

Apple's internal service guide for this issue continues to state that customers who already incurred out-of-warranty costs related to this issue are eligible for a refund, which can be initiated by contacting Apple support.

Affected customers can schedule an appointment at an Apple Store or at an Apple Authorized Service Provider on Apple's support website by selecting Mac -> Mac Notebooks -> Hardware Issues -> Display Issue. Apple advises technicians to quote customers a 3-5 business day turnaround time.

Article Link: MacBook Pro Anti-Reflective Coating Repair Program Remains in Effect, But 2013-2014 Models No Longer Eligible

I was at Apple store earlier today, brought my MacBook Pro (13-inch, Early 2015) with reflective coating flaking off. Since I bought it in June 2015, and it's beyond 4 year period for quality repair program, Apple store can only cover 50% of the cost of replacing the display.

 

[ellsworth]

For those who have received a new screen repaired/replaced under this program, what is done to prevent the coating from coming off again? Seems like for some, it's their keyboard and track-pad that are causing the coating to scratch off. I guess my main question is, what's different about the screens that are being installed by Apple?

 

[bobob]

And with that attitude, is it any wonder that companies keep doing this? You sound the exact type of pushover that companies hope for. If you pay full price for something, it should be PERFECT.

The trackball on my 1992 PowerBook Duo is sticking and Apple is now telling me that it is no longer eligible for warranty repair.

I paid "full price" for this machine and "it should be PERFECT".

FOREVER!!!!!

 

[Candlelight]

My 2013 model literally started doing this last week after I cleaned the screen.

But it's in the bezel so it doesn't annoy me.

 

[Macs4u]

The trackball on my 1992 PowerBook Duo is sticking and Apple is now telling me that it is no longer eligible for warranty repair.

I paid "full price" for this machine and "it should be PERFECT".

FOREVER!!!!!

That’s very different. This coating is a HUGE issue that Apple have acknowledged by offering a repair program. The problem is that they don’t write out to people to tell them. Therefore it should be a repair forever. Some people won’t even know a repair program exists and will be suffering in silence. Apple are keeping quiet as much as possible to save money. Ending this for 2013 models (only 6yrs ago which is Very different from your 1992 PowerBook) clearly shows that.

 

[TheTissot11]

Might be worth trying again, especially at an Apple store if you have one and quote EU consumer law repair. My understanding if there's a manufacturing issue within 6 years of purchase they have to repair it but you need to know to state that. Sometimes the Geniuses prompt you and on the website recently they've added it as a reason for repair.

Yeah, I try to argue this with the Apple Hotline support. But they didn't agree...This 6 year protection lawa in applicable in the UK and maybe Ireland. In Germany it's for two years.

 

[Macs4u]

Yeah, I try to argue this with the Apple Hotline support. But they didn't agree...This 6 year protection lawa in applicable in the UK and maybe Ireland. In Germany it's for two years.

The best thing to do is for your next Mac, buy used. Stop buying their new products. They lose out if you buy used.
I have an iPhone 11 Pro Max and Apple Watch Series 5 and both have more scratches in the 3 months I’ve had it than my other iPhones do after multiple years. I’m crazy careful with my stuff so god knows how they have happened. The new glass is definitely inferior. Won’t be buying another new iPhone and watch.

 

[redheeler]

The trackball on my 1992 PowerBook Duo is sticking and Apple is now telling me that it is no longer eligible for warranty repair.

I paid "full price" for this machine and "it should be PERFECT".

FOREVER!!!!!

My PowerBook 1400c has damage in the plastic around the hinge area, Apple should repair that as well! /s

A reasonable life expectancy for a Mac nowadays is about nine years, IMHO. According to Apple's software division it is seven years (as a minimum). Cutting off repair programs before then is planned obsolescence and very deliberate.

 

[dantroline]

I truly empathize with those who have damage like this. Looks horrible!

The worst thing is that the "fix" is another possibly defective coating. So in one of my worst laptops I just got rid of the anti-reflective coating entirely using regular window cleaning cloth (Windex FWIW) with excellent results. Not a recommendation but just saying it's possible to do.

I'd probably go for the replacement screen at first as apparently not all the screens came from the same manufacturer and had a slightly different process, such that the failure rate was less.
[automerge]1576915833[/automerge]

Apple replaced the display on my mid-2012 MacBook Pro under this program. I immediately installed a Moshi iVisor on the replacement display and recently removed it and the screen was still as-new. I know many members prefer not to use such protectors but I work in dusty environments and sometimes outdoors and highly recommend them.

Good idea. On the other hand I would happy settle for an extra millimetre of machine thickness for a more robust display surface if that was what it takes to get a mobile device that can survive treatment ever so slightly more rough than crystalware. We know it's achievable, just take a look at the iPad.

 

[redheeler]

For those who have received a new screen repaired/replaced under this program, what is done to prevent the coating from coming off again? Seems like for some, it's their keyboard and track-pad that are causing the coating to scratch off. I guess my main question is, what's different about the screens that are being installed by Apple?

Nothing. The issue can and does reappear on the replacement screens. My 2012 Retina had a display replacement for staingate in 2016 and there are keyboard marks visible on the replacement.

It was the same with the 2011 MBP GPU issues. I don't have personal experience with this, but I did see plenty of complaints about the replacements failing just as the originals did.

 

[Tech198]

I wish I still had my Macbook Pro (Early 2015) model again, just so i could get a free repair.

 

[limo79]

I had this issue for my rMBP late 2013 model (bought in July 2014) and I went to Apple authorised reseller and called the Apple hotline in July 2019. They were unwilling to fix it citing the 4 year duration policy. It sucks because it's not my fault, it's the fault of Apple and I would very much want to keep using my MacBook which is otherwise working great. A display repair costs around 600 Euro as told by Apple Store guy in Munich.

I had similar experience with faulty NVIDIA GPU. They denied repair because according to Apple requirements when G86 GPU is faulty then the external monitor output MUST work which is a total absurd from HW engineering standpoint (especially that you never know which BGA connections will crack under a GPU core die). I lost several weeks to explain root cause contacting Apple directly (local store kept my laptop few days doing nothing). Finally I gave up because at Apple imperfect and bad test procedure is more important than all engineering knowledge. I was angry not because they just do not want to repair it but because they just do not want to listen technical arguments and if you work in the same dept like Phil Schiller at different company from top 100 you have some idea of what you talking about. It was not serious and Donald Trump is more opened for Greta than Apple for people! This was one of the worst experience using warranty and best service I had in Samsung. Finally I replaced GPU chip on my cost at local BGA repair shop (€70) with full success. To conclude: it is nothing new that they create / write repair requirements to cut significant percentage of repairs.

 

[lah]

I had no idea this program until recently. I had a 13in MBP from mid-2014 that had a slight defect on the screen but wasn’t too bad, barely noticeable actually. I bought a new MBP in June of this year and traded in the old 2014 for a nice credit. Received the new one, shipped out the old laptop in the provided box and a few weeks later I get an email saying that my trade-in value was a third of what I was quoted because of this screen issue. Unfortunately I moved out of the country so no way I could decline the revised quote and get my laptop back, so I just accepted it and called it a loss. A week later I actually hear about this screen replacement program from some random tweet on twitter and after researching it, my laptop would have qualified.I was pissed to say the least.

 

[Tech198]

That’s very different. This coating is a HUGE issue that Apple have acknowledged by offering a repair program. The problem is that they don’t write out to people to tell them. Therefore it should be a repair forever. Some people won’t even know a repair program exists and will be suffering in silence. Apple are keeping quiet as much as possible to save money. Ending this for 2013 models (only 6yrs ago which is Very different from your 1992 PowerBook) clearly shows that. But I guess you know this and are just one of the many trolls that would deny the sun is yellow.

Even Amiga systems started that "yellow" color over time... so nothing can ever be perfect.

 

[EsbenMr]

My 2018 15” has the same problem, some of the keys are visible in the coating.
The authorised repair place denied to replace it. What are my options?

 

[CrazedVW]

[automerge]1576958306[/automerge]

My 2018 15” has the same problem, some of the keys are visible in the coating.
The authorised repair place denied to replace it. What are my options?

Call Apple Support and plead your case. The way it sounded to me when I called them was that they were aware this was still an issue

 

[badawat]

Yeah, I try to argue this with the Apple Hotline support. But they didn't agree...This 6 year protection lawa in applicable in the UK and maybe Ireland. In Germany it's for two years.

I'm wrong! 6 years England & Wales, 5 years Scotland and 2 in Germany... a good example of England & Wales having higher standards whilst in the EU... yet apparently we can't make our own laws...

Apple Products and Consumer Laws in the United Kingdom

Rechtsabteilung - Apple-Produkte und deutsche Verbraucherschutzgesetze - Apple

 

[mjuwono]

I have a MBP early 2015. Called Apple and talked to an advisor.

First advisor said that the repair program has ended. I asked if they could check, referencing this article. She checked, and then bumped me up to a supervisor. Again, supervisor said the repair program has ended. I asked how that could be, and that this is not what the MacRumors article said. Put me on hold, and checked again.
Finally, Apple agreed to a "one time exception", and they promised to service my MBP.
Got an appointment at the genius bar tomorrow to take a look at the issue and hopefully determine that it wasn't caused by me.

So, call Apple, be nice but insist, and ask if there is anything else they can do.

-t

Please, let us know, how it turned out. I have the same problem.

 

[CarpalMac]

Somehow, despite coming to this website almost every day, I did NOT know about this program. I really don't remember seeing anything about this issue. My bad...

As the owner of a early 2013 MBP whose screen looks very similar to the photo in the article above, it sucks that I am no longer eligible for a program that was apparently fairly secret...

Same. Yet they clearly know what devices I own as when I log into the support site it tells me what I have.

They also know my contact details and they are very quick to use them to tell me that I can buy iPads and Macbooks as Christmas present for people....

 

[Colpeas]

Okay, these are fairly old machines and only a very few of them would actually still qualify, given the 4-year condition. What puzzles me more is that 2018-2019 models are not included in this program.

I have a 15 month old 2018 15” Pro, that has just begun to exhibit the same issue, yet the service told me that the only option for me was a out-of-warranty repair (costing somewhere in the area of $1000). Apparently my bad, I bought a newer model, which isn’t eligible for an extended coverage, even though it’s affected as badly as the older ones. So bassically if I decided to save some money and bought an outlet 2017 Pro, I’d be safe for years to come, but this so, I am now stuck with a crap of a $3000 device. Way to go, Apple