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

I didn't know about this program until I read this article yesterday. I've had this issue for ages -- on an Early 2015 MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch), the earliest generation on the list. So I went to the Genius Bar today in Taipei and... they said they wouldn't cover it. Because it's not a functional problem, only cosmetic. :( Not sure if there's anything else I can do.

FYI I asked how much it would cost if I wanted to fix the problem, and they gave me a quote for NT$16,751 (about USD $550).

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wippetywu said:
I didn't know about this program until I read this article yesterday. I've had this issue for ages -- on an Early 2015 MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch), the earliest generation on the list. So I went to the Genius Bar today in Taipei and... they said they wouldn't cover it. Because it's not a functional problem, only cosmetic. :( Not sure if there's anything else I can do.

FYI I asked how much it would cost if I wanted to fix the problem, and they gave me a quote for NT$16,751 (about USD $550).

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This can’t be true. Show them the recall. Contact customer service
 
I manage a fleet of (60) 15” rMBP’s—45 are 2014 and 15 are 2015. We have already had Apple repair over 15 of the 60, with 2 of them being repaired in November 2019 (since we bought them new around 3-1/2 years ago, or even after that.) I call Apple Enterprise Support, explain the issue, mention delamination, and request mail-in repair service. They can’t always find the name of the service, but that may be by design. Their supervisor can help you.
 
It kinda stinks that you have to be constantly vigilant to all the different recalls and such for $1,200+ computers that are only a few years old. If it's problem enough to be a recall, just publicly tell people. Or contact the last person the device is registered to in an Apple account.

Apple could do better. First in quality control and in customer care follow up.

I think maybe Tim focused to much on minimizing supply chain costs and not enough on quality control. Either way, these issues are simply unacceptable from such a mature product. We're not talking the first generation Core Duo MPB's here...
 
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Colpeas said:
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
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I do agree it's crap your machine is not included. It's for reasons like these I always bite the bullet and purchase AppleCare.
 
I had mine replaced twice now. I was expecting them to say something like there's a limit of 1 fix per notebook, but they replaced the screen the second time without hassle. What I was more surprised about though was that the first replacement went bad after only 2 years, meaning they had not made any changes to the anti-reflective coating process.
 
I called them over a year ago after hearing about this and was told it wasn’t covered. Now I hear about it was all along and no longer available makes me upset. It’s an old laptop I have laying around but would have been nice to have the screen fixed.
 
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I had this repair done for my 13" 2014 MBP. I now have a 2015 and the screen on that one seems fine. I was a bit worried at first after I bought it used and wiped the screen once I got it home. Seems to be okay. Just be careful what type of cloth you use. I was using a mircofiber cloth which was leaving streaks but then I used my Radtech keyboard cover and that worked a lot better. I'm keeping an eye on it though.
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monroerr said:
They have kept the issue quiet, but does that mean going forward on any new MacBooks this will no longer be a problem? I had my early 2015 MacBook Pro screen replaced about two years ago. I am waiting for the same to happen with my 2017 MacBook 12 inch. I am so careful cleaning now (use only distilled water and soft cloth), but it is very difficult to keep a shiny screen without being able to be slightly more aggressive in your cleaning.
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What kind of soft cloth are you using? I want to get one but I'm very cautious as to which one I get.
 
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There's really nothing you can do to prevent the problem, as I explain in my video below:


(I put a microfiber cloth over my keyboard before shutting the lid, but the problem still happened.)

My video sadly has more Thumb-downs than Thumb-ups because saying anything that is perceived to be "negative" against Apple, even if it is factually true, upsets Cupertino worshippers. And I say this as an Apple product fan since the 1980s. I am just not a "Apple is infallible" worshipper. I prefer tell the truth like it is. And of course, I give Apple feedback on the matter too. I can only hope they will improve the anti-glare coating in the future to be more robust.
 
The program is still active. I just took a 2017 15“ MBP in last week. Told the guy about the screen delamination issue (and keyboard issues) and they took it in without any discussion. It’s out of the 1 year warranty.

I’m surprised that the 2018 and later models aren’t included in the program though. Newer Macbook Airs as well as they all seem like they have the same screen coating. I haven’t had any issues with my 2018 15" MBP yet, but I have been using a microfiber cloth between the keyboard and screen.
 
I have read this site at least weekly for over 10 years, but this is my first posted comment. I have to say that this is really outrageous and counter to the build quality that has made me a Mac loyalist for over 2 decades. I have an early 2015 13-inch MBP that has this very issue. Only in the last 18 months has the screen begun to deteriorate significantly.

Again, I read this site and others quite frequently but missed this program completely. And more generally, unless one checks sites like this and others religiously, how can one know about a program Apple offers on the DL? I stupidly believed that this issue was unique to only my MBP because I generally expect better build quality from Apple. I now regret not bringing it in earlier.

I brought my MBP to the Apple store yesterday to check eligibility, and they confirmed that it was ineligible because it was outside of the 4 year purchase window. Here's the disturbing part: I tried sending in this very 2015 MBP for $ towards a new 2019 iMac this past spring (within the 4 year purchase window) and it was rejected due to 'Delaminating or Worn Display Coating.' This means that Apple knew about this issue and specifically avoided telling me while I could still do something about it. Unbelievable.

Finally, this a very specific & obvious production flaw on Apple's part. Why should a deteriorating retina screen only be acceptable for free repair within a 4 year window? Especially when this is not caused by normal user 'wear & tear.' Apple products are premium products that should be of the highest build quality. Does that only mean 4 years now? I still have my 2008 MBP and it runs like a champ. What's going on with Apple these days? This is infuriating. I will be sending a letter to Apple and notifying the change.org group. If I get any meaningful updates or responses, I will post it.
 
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netsped said:
Just regular wet wipes, the ones to clean babies or your hands.. I read somewhere that they had to be the ones with alcohol. Bought the cheapest I could find and I just rubbed them against the screen with a little of force.

In my case it was very fast, maybe because it was a very bad case of "staingate".

Found this video, did it the same way.

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Thanks for the info, I'll give it a try. I tried the Listerine Cool Mint trick but after rubbing away for about an hour, with hardly anything to show for it, I gave up.
 
mooger83 said:
I have read this site at least weekly for over 10 years, but this is my first posted comment. I have to say that this is really outrageous and counter to the build quality that has made me a Mac loyalist for over 2 decades. I have an early 2015 13-inch MBP that has this very issue. Only in the last 18 months has the screen begun to deteriorate significantly.

Again, I read this site and others quite frequently but missed this program completely. And more generally, unless one checks sites like this and others religiously, how can one know about a program Apple offers on the DL? I stupidly believed that this issue was unique to only my MBP because I generally expect better build quality from Apple. I now regret not bringing it in earlier.

I brought my MBP to the Apple store yesterday to check eligibility, and they confirmed that it was ineligible because it was outside of the 4 year purchase window. Here's the disturbing part: I tried sending in this very 2015 MBP for $ towards a new 2019 iMac this past spring (within the 4 year purchase window) and it was rejected due to 'Delaminating or Worn Display Coating.' This means that Apple knew about this issue and specifically avoided telling me while I could still do something about it. Unbelievable.

Finally, this a very specific & obvious production flaw on Apple's part. Why should a deteriorating retina screen only be acceptable for free repair within a 4 year window? Especially when this is not caused by normal user 'wear & tear.' Apple products are premium products that should be of the highest build quality. Does that only mean 4 years now? I still have my 2008 MBP and it runs like a champ. What's going on with Apple these days? This is infuriating. I will be sending a letter to Apple and notifying the change.org group. If I get any meaningful updates or responses, I will post it.
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hey,


send an email to Tim Cooks email. A executive customer service rep will likely reach out (not always) and sometimes they will grant a one time exception and fix it for free. I always plead that im a loyal apple customer and have bought many products and they will check your apple ID to see how much you have bought from them. Sometimes they will do this as a courtesy even though its outside the 4 year window. Just explain that you were very disappointed that this issue appeared and it was after the 4 year window and now to get it fixed it will cost you $$$ out of your own pocket and you think highly of apple products and were very disappointed that your laptop faced this issue . if your lucky they will fix it for free. they will do a mail in option.
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rgbrock1 said:
Thanks for the info, I'll give it a try. I tried the Listerine Cool Mint trick but after rubbing away for about an hour, with hardly anything to show for it, I gave up.
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I gave up on trying to remove a really bad one that apple wouldnt fix for free. 50% off it came off but the rest is like tough as nails and wont come off. I tried everything and even used rubbing alcohol.
 
netsped said:
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.
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Very good to know. I have a 2015 I bought secondhand with just a touch of coating wear along the edges. I’m going to try for replacement but good to know there’s a plan b if that doesn’t work.
 
ok, so I have one year more to go...
for now there is no problems, cleaning it with dry fiber cloth only (not apple one)
I am planning to upgrade next fall to 16 inch mbp! Hope mine will go strong till that time!
 
MvdM said:
So they make iPads that are touched every time you use them and keep the coating and the screens of MacBooks are hardly touched and lose their coating. How is this possible?
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I was seriously thinking the same thing. This antiglare coating on MacBooks is junk. I alway put a screen protector on my screens to avoid this issue as the keyboard easily scrapes/scratches this coating as well... but yet, the iPad Pro doesn't have issues with its antiglare chipping off... perhaps Apple should consider something similar or that goes behind the glass instead being exposed.
 
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JDW said:
There's really nothing you can do to prevent the problem, as I explain in my video below:


(I put a microfiber cloth over my keyboard before shutting the lid, but the problem still happened.)

My video sadly has more Thumb-downs than Thumb-ups because saying anything that is perceived to be "negative" against Apple, even if it is factually true, upsets Cupertino worshippers. And I say this as an Apple product fan since the 1980s. I am just not a "Apple is infallible" worshipper. I prefer tell the truth like it is. And of course, I give Apple feedback on the matter too. I can only hope they will improve the anti-glare coating in the future to be more robust.
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JDW, dude. Just a thought:

Not sure that any MBP is able to cool properly when running with the lid closed -- as it is unable to expel its internal heat to free air. Even more so in your use case, because you are driving an external display with the GPU tasked even further, resulting on more heat.

It is more likely than not that you, unwittingly, caused the screen to be peppered with particles emitted by the two fans (the one on the left is the most critical) and as a result it shows the pepper-like dents on your screen that is at the margins, where the microfiber is not blocking the flow.

What you show as a result, may be your own doing.

[BTW, I am no Apple acolyte, so do not peg this reply to me blindingly protecting the illusion that Apple, in its quest for the mighty dollar, has our backs -- because it is seldom so.]
 
Great job Apple for keeping this a secret. Half of my MBP 15'' 2015 screen is without anti-reflective coating now and I can't fix it. At the Genius Bar they told me the secret-repair program works for 4 year counting from the activation day. I'm 3 months late simply coz I didn't know about this program. You made a factory issue and you pretend that you want to fix it but you never make the program official.
 
nikvist said:
Great job Apple for keeping this a secret. Half of my MBP 15'' 2015 screen is without anti-reflective coating now and I can't fix it. At the Genius Bar they told me the secret-repair program works for 4 year counting from the activation day. I'm 3 months late simply coz I didn't know about this program. You made a factory issue and you pretend that you want to fix it but you never make the program official.
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I have (2) 2015 MacBook Pro 13” computers, both have the anti-reflective coating that is delaminating. I am a few months outside the 4 year period. Before I took the computers into the Apple Store I first called Apple support. I ended up speaking to a senior level advisor who gave me a one time exception to have both computers repaired.

Try calling Apple Support and speak with a senior level advisor.
 
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I went to the Apple store and they told me that they do not have this program and that the information from MacRumor are false. I showed them this article and the listed MacBook pro eligible and mine is MacBook Pro 15" Mid 2015. They told me none of this is true. Anybody else had the same answer?
 
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