MBP 2017 / 13 TB - screen replacement

[salivan]

Replacement screen was installed on my Mac.
- First thing that is weird is that new screen feels thicker (could be just a feeling from a stiffer hinge)
- Second, in color profile even the date of the replacement screen is same as the old one. So I got an identical batch, which seems unlikely, at first I thought nothing was replaced...
- Overall screen seems to be better than previous, but still not uniform (the reason I asked for replacement in the first place).

I'm not sure if I should continue playing the screen lottery.

Can you see uniformity problems here?

 

[IngerMan]

Looks like a keeper, enjoy

 

[Painter2002]

Replacement screen was installed on my Mac.
- First thing that is weird is that new screen feels thicker (could be just a feeling from a stiffer hinge)
- Second, in color profile even the date of the replacement screen is same as the old one. So I got an identical batch, which seems unlikely, at first I thought nothing was replaced...
- Overall screen seems to be better than previous, but still not uniform (the reason I asked for replacement in the first place).

I'm not sure if I should continue playing the screen lottery.

Can you see uniformity problems here?

I can see it, although LED/LCD screen uniformity can be misleading through photos.

I have noticed slight disformities on my 2017 13” MBP monitor, but it depends on the angle and isn’t really enough to make me play screen monopoly.

Honestly my MacBook Pro has better uniformity than my Samsung 4K TV, so it’s kind of whatever to me.

 

[salivan]

I can see it, although LED/LCD screen uniformity can be misleading through photos.

I have noticed slight disformities on my 2017 13” MBP monitor, but it depends on the angle and isn’t really enough to make me play screen monopoly.

Honestly my MacBook Pro has better uniformity than my Samsung 4K TV, so it’s kind of whatever to me.

Well the middle part is only visible in photos, but lower left gradient/dark spot is pretty annoying on white websites

 

[Painter2002]

Well the middle part is only visible in photos, but lower left gradient/dark spot is pretty annoying on white websites

Yeah I have noticed it a little, especially on a webpage like Macrumors with a lot of white space, most other websites I don’t notice it because other stuff fills up and adds distractions.

But in the end it seems a gamble at best from what I’ve read, so I personally not going to bother with taking it in.

 

[salivan]

In theory they have to replace if I'm not happy right? I don't want gradients running over my screen. Much of my work involves developing user interfaces, or websites, sometimes there are bugs - I cannot see these as my screen seems to have the gradient of its own!

 

[DeanPSN]

The screen looks usually way worse in photos than it is in reality.
Looks good to me with no pink/blue colors issues.
You can return it as many times as you want, but chances to find a 100% flawless lcd are pretty slim and you will end up wasting a lot of time.

 

[pst23]

This screen looks good to me.

 

[salivan]

Wasting time is relative, I waste a lot of time being distracted by that bottom left gradient.

I highlighted dirty areas:

 

[Howard2k]

In theory they have to replace if I'm not happy right? I don't want gradients running over my screen. Much of my work involves developing user interfaces, or websites, sometimes there are bugs - I cannot see these as my screen seems to have the gradient of its own!

You will always find problems if you look hard enough.

 

[salivan]

You will always find problems if you look hard enough.

I didn't notice these issues with my previous 4 Macs :/

Even now I never looked for those issues specifically, they popped up while working.

Don't want to sound condescending, I don't know what you use your Macs for, but I use it for work 9hours a day. Little things become annoying very fast.

And yes while paying 2,5k$ for a laptop, I freakin expect it at least to have a decent screen, not looking for perfection here.

 

[IngerMan]

It sounds like you have your answer. No sense delaying, you should return it. Piece of mind will follow.

 

[Howard2k]

I didn't notice these issues with my previous 4 Macs :/

Even now I never looked for those issues specifically, they popped up while working.

Don't want to sound condescending, I don't know what you use your Macs for, but I use it for work 9hours a day. Little things become annoying very fast.

And yes while paying 2,5k$ for a laptop, I freakin expect it at least to have a decent screen, not looking for perfection here.

Hey no worries. Totally up to you. I don’t see how this could materially affect your work as described, but I’m not you. I’d just be concerned about trading one imperfection for another. Only you can determine if you’re at that point.

 

[raab]

I don't know what it is about Apple products that makes us want/demand 100% perfection but nothing is ever perfect if you look hard enough for issues.

It could be cost, or the likes, but I suffer from it too. I've already returned two 2018 MBP's and think I'll stick with my mid 2014 MBP for now.

At the end of the day, there's no point asking for our opinion on the matter because its too hard to tell from photos - they always look worse than in real life. If you're not happy, return it for a replacement.

 

[New_Mac_Smell]

Photo seems to show what you would expect. If you look directly at the centre, then the edges will appear darker. If you move to the left/right, then the opposite side will appear darker. If it's something that really bothers you, then you should look at a different laptop with different screen technology, as you'll be able to spot these 'issues' in pretty much any display if you look for them - as it's a compromise on the underlying technology.

Good luck with the endless replacements!

 

[salivan]

Photo seems to show what you would expect. If you look directly at the centre, then the edges will appear darker. If you move to the left/right, then the opposite side will appear darker. If it's something that really bothers you, then you should look at a different laptop with different screen technology, as you'll be able to spot these 'issues' in pretty much any display if you look for them - as it's a compromise on the underlying technology.

Good luck with the endless replacements!

Yes I hear that repeated endlessly on the forums.

How come I cannot find gradients or color uniformity problems on MacBook Pro 2014, or 2015 models? Underlying tech is the same IPS.

2016, 2017, 2018 batch seems to suffer the most.

 

[DeanPSN]

Yes I hear that repeated endlessly on the forums.

How come I cannot find gradients or color uniformity problems on MacBook Pro 2014, or 2015 models? Underlying tech is the same IPS.

2016, 2017, 2018 batch seems to suffer the most.

Those issues were present on all the models and not only from Apple.
All will show some minor imperfections, LCDs, OLEDs have the same issues with darker corners or pink/blue color.
If the 2014/15 models you talk about seem 100% flawless, that doesn't mean they actually are, they just pleasing your eyes and you don't notice the imperfections.

Like you was suggested before, go and get it replaced before your 14 days return expires and hopefully the new unit will please you.

PS: I'm very OCD myself and notice all the imperfections, so i understand your concern, but this 2018 unit i have seems perfect to me, so i'm very happy with it.

 

[salivan]

Those issues were present on all the models and not only from Apple.
All will show some minor imperfections, LCDs, OLEDs have the same issues with darker corners or pink/blue color.
If the 2014/15 models you talk about seem 100% flawless, that doesn't mean they actually are, they just pleasing your eyes and you don't notice the imperfections.

Like you was suggested before, go and get it replaced before your 14 days return expires and hopefully the new unit will please you.

PS: I'm very OCD myself and notice all the imperfections, so i understand your concern, but this 2018 unit i have seems perfect to me, so i'm very happy with it.

I have to go through repair, I'm past 14 days by like 3 month

 

[DeanPSN]

I have to go through repair, I'm past 14 days by like 3 month

Ouch...
They will replace the entire LCD assembly and will take couple of days, however you will have to prove them that there is an issue with LCD to get the repair.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Glad stuff like this does not bother me.

 

[salivan]

Glad stuff like this does not bother me.

Yes, most people wouldn't care. Consider this a professional deficiency. I find bugs in software and hardware, its inevitable I see these on a medium I use to debug things.

 

[Jimgpayne]

I didn't notice these issues with my previous 4 Macs :/

Even now I never looked for those issues specifically, they popped up while working.

Don't want to sound condescending, I don't know what you use your Macs for, but I use it for work 9hours a day. Little things become annoying very fast.

And yes while paying 2,5k$ for a laptop, I freakin expect it at least to have a decent screen, not looking for perfection here.

Sounds to me like you answered your own question.

 

[shansoft]

This is what you get with LG display.

Back when display still manufactured by both LG and Samsung, LG is the one that consistently have problems.
Samsung one typically are fine and rarely uniformity issue.

Now it's all just LG Display. Even other desktop monitor with LG panels from Dells all exhibit similar issues.

Such issue wasn't this widespread before. Most likely some cost cutting manufacturing process caused it.

 

[salivan]

This is what you get with LG display.

Back when display still manufactured by both LG and Samsung, LG is the one that consistently have problems.
Samsung one typically are fine and rarely uniformity issue.

Now it's all just LG Display. Even other desktop monitor with LG panels from Dells all exhibit similar issues.

Such issue wasn't this widespread before. Most likely some cost cutting manufacturing process caused it.

I remember that was a problem in 2011. I had to exchange my MacBook Air, because LG screen was noticeably worse than Samsung screen, incidentally Apple was displaying only Samsung screen Macs in their stores So it was easy to convince them that it was of an inferior quality and was exchanged on the spot. (side by side Samsung had richer colors and better viewing angles).

 

[Balders]

2018 MBP screen issues (now had 5 machines, all had screen issues in one way or another):

#1 - 3 x horizontal shadowy lines across the screen - one near the bottom, one in the middle, and the last near the top.
#2 - Pink on the left, blue on the right
#3 - Flaw in the glass panel - resulting in pressure on the screen, top right and causing a 2" vertical pinch point/shadow running down the screen from the top menu bar 3/4's of the way along the screen. Very little horizontal shadowy lines on this one however and no tint - frustrating as this would otherwise have been a perfect machine (I was concerned the glass flaw would result in a cracked screen at some point)
#4 - 3 x horizontal shadowy lines across the screen again - confirmed by multiple Apple guys in the store.
#5 - Opened in the store, pink on the left, blue on right. 1 x Apple guy saw it, 3 others didn't.

I also used a couple of 15" MBPs in the store and they had the horizontal shadowy lines to some degree (and one had the pinch point shadow too to a lesser degree).

FWIW every panel was LG.

Have now given up on playing the screen lottery and got a full refund - will likely revisit at some point in the future once I've got fed up of Windows 10...