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MBP Retina Scratched Coating
- Thread starter armanijohnny
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I am not saying that these might not be scratches, but any deposits on the glass will produce the same effect, usually from fingerprints, and spread by rubbing. The deposits produce mirror like spots or streaks on top of the coating, that resemble flaking or scratching.
I've had similar effects on the border of my late 2012 27" iMac with the anti-reflective coating. Wiping with a micro-fiber cloth only spread it and made it worse. The solution I found was to put a small dab of dish detergent on a finger tip, and gently spread it over the affected area. Then lightly wet the area with moist paper towel, and let it sit for a few minutes. After that, wipe it off with a clean micro-fiber cloth. An additional wipe may be needed after it dries.
I've had similar effects on the border of my late 2012 27" iMac with the anti-reflective coating. Wiping with a micro-fiber cloth only spread it and made it worse. The solution I found was to put a small dab of dish detergent on a finger tip, and gently spread it over the affected area. Then lightly wet the area with moist paper towel, and let it sit for a few minutes. After that, wipe it off with a clean micro-fiber cloth. An additional wipe may be needed after it dries.
WTF for real.
This is absolutely absurd
I keep on going back and forth from getting a new MBA and a Retina Pro.
It is threads like these that make me change my mind completely. I clean my Air 2-3x a day with iKlear hate little smudges and dirt and i am sure this would happen to me.
Apple has some horrendous quality control issues with the Retina Pro, too bad because I really wanted to buy one
This is absolutely absurd
I keep on going back and forth from getting a new MBA and a Retina Pro.
It is threads like these that make me change my mind completely. I clean my Air 2-3x a day with iKlear hate little smudges and dirt and i am sure this would happen to me.
Apple has some horrendous quality control issues with the Retina Pro, too bad because I really wanted to buy one
Same problem here
TLDR: MBPr screen coating is vulnerable to damage through normal use. Wipe regularly. Use protector. Or don't buy.
I have a similar problem with my 2012 retina macbook pro 15'', which is rapidly getting worse. The coating is coming off in the middle of the screen. Initially it looked like a stubborn greasy print from the spacebar. I have been wiping keyboard prints off the screen with a microfiber cloth from time to time, occasionally with the help of Hama lcd/tft/plasma cleaning liquid. I know that Apple recommends only water, but this is disingenuous, as there is no way you can get fingerprint oil from the screen with water alone, and the first thing they did at the Genius bar was wiping the screen with the similar stuff. The solution I have is free from alcohols and I've been using it for years, including on my previous macbook-pro which had an antiglare screen (i.e. no glass).
Anyway, it turned out that the worst affected area corresponds to the region between the space bar and the trackpad. But there are other spots, which are definitely from keyboard key edges. There are also several tiny holes, which I believe are described as "exploding pixels" on a couple of Apple support forum threads. It is possible that the disappearing coating started from these spots, which in turn could have been initiated by dirt particles.
I took the macbook to Apple store. I expected it to be repaired under warranty. However the guy at the genius bar told me that the problem was caused by my negligent use, and is not a manufacturing issue. I agree that it is not a manufacturing issue, but I don't think there was anything negligent about the way I use the machine. As possible reasons the genius suggested excessive pressure or rough particles trapped between the screen and the body. I am carrying my macbook pretty much every day in a soft neoprene case in my backpack, so it is exposed to some amount of pressure, but there is nothing abnormal about it, certainly less than what an aluminium body laptop should be able to withstand. As to the dirt particles, I am sure there were some as I use my MBPr pretty much non-stop in different office and home environments. But if there was a dirt particle are not big enough to be obvious I would get rid of it, and there wouldn't be anything harder than a bread crumb. There was absolutely no sand even close to the machine, ever.
I left the apple store disappointed and confused. After thinking about it for a while and reading several forum threads, I am convinced that the problem is either with the quality of the coating or the design of the MBPr. I will pay another visit to the apple store and try to explain this, but I am not sure it will help. I am afraid that I'll have to either replace the screen at my own cost (~700) or get buy a new MBPr. I'll still go for the Retina (once you get used to it there is no way back).
In any case I am a bit upset with Apple. If extra care is required for the screen to survive daily use (protector, a hard carry case, regular dusting), they should make it very clear. If this is a known problem - and I had an impression from my conversation with the Apple genius that it was - this should be covered by warranty.
Although in the future I will be much more careful, I am sure that I did nothing wrong. It's nice to see that I am not alone, and I hope that there will be enough of us for Apple to admit the problem and/or do something about it.
TLDR: MBPr screen coating is vulnerable to damage through normal use. Wipe regularly. Use protector. Or don't buy.
I have a similar problem with my 2012 retina macbook pro 15'', which is rapidly getting worse. The coating is coming off in the middle of the screen. Initially it looked like a stubborn greasy print from the spacebar. I have been wiping keyboard prints off the screen with a microfiber cloth from time to time, occasionally with the help of Hama lcd/tft/plasma cleaning liquid. I know that Apple recommends only water, but this is disingenuous, as there is no way you can get fingerprint oil from the screen with water alone, and the first thing they did at the Genius bar was wiping the screen with the similar stuff. The solution I have is free from alcohols and I've been using it for years, including on my previous macbook-pro which had an antiglare screen (i.e. no glass).
Anyway, it turned out that the worst affected area corresponds to the region between the space bar and the trackpad. But there are other spots, which are definitely from keyboard key edges. There are also several tiny holes, which I believe are described as "exploding pixels" on a couple of Apple support forum threads. It is possible that the disappearing coating started from these spots, which in turn could have been initiated by dirt particles.
I took the macbook to Apple store. I expected it to be repaired under warranty. However the guy at the genius bar told me that the problem was caused by my negligent use, and is not a manufacturing issue. I agree that it is not a manufacturing issue, but I don't think there was anything negligent about the way I use the machine. As possible reasons the genius suggested excessive pressure or rough particles trapped between the screen and the body. I am carrying my macbook pretty much every day in a soft neoprene case in my backpack, so it is exposed to some amount of pressure, but there is nothing abnormal about it, certainly less than what an aluminium body laptop should be able to withstand. As to the dirt particles, I am sure there were some as I use my MBPr pretty much non-stop in different office and home environments. But if there was a dirt particle are not big enough to be obvious I would get rid of it, and there wouldn't be anything harder than a bread crumb. There was absolutely no sand even close to the machine, ever.
I left the apple store disappointed and confused. After thinking about it for a while and reading several forum threads, I am convinced that the problem is either with the quality of the coating or the design of the MBPr. I will pay another visit to the apple store and try to explain this, but I am not sure it will help. I am afraid that I'll have to either replace the screen at my own cost (~700) or get buy a new MBPr. I'll still go for the Retina (once you get used to it there is no way back).
In any case I am a bit upset with Apple. If extra care is required for the screen to survive daily use (protector, a hard carry case, regular dusting), they should make it very clear. If this is a known problem - and I had an impression from my conversation with the Apple genius that it was - this should be covered by warranty.
Although in the future I will be much more careful, I am sure that I did nothing wrong. It's nice to see that I am not alone, and I hope that there will be enough of us for Apple to admit the problem and/or do something about it.
Attachments
top part coating of rMBP screen wearing of
same here with a 6 month old rMPB 15" !!! ..., on the top where the camera is and where most of the time my fingers are when I open the mbp ... I just tried to clean it and tried rubbing the spots of with slightly damp tissue and after trying rubbing it of it only got worse! its like you can just rub the coating right of the screen there!!
90% of the time the macbook is open, i leave it open 24hrs and I only close it when i go to a meeting or travel. it would be the only part of the screen that will get touched daily when used, but I can't have touched that part as much in half a year to irritate the coating already ?!
same here with a 6 month old rMPB 15" !!! ..., on the top where the camera is and where most of the time my fingers are when I open the mbp ... I just tried to clean it and tried rubbing the spots of with slightly damp tissue and after trying rubbing it of it only got worse! its like you can just rub the coating right of the screen there!!
90% of the time the macbook is open, i leave it open 24hrs and I only close it when i go to a meeting or travel. it would be the only part of the screen that will get touched daily when used, but I can't have touched that part as much in half a year to irritate the coating already ?!
Attachments
I just swipe with lint cloth regularly and didn't notice anything until recently I noticed there was some odd coating on main screen. See the photo below...
![Photo Jul 17, 2 41 39 PM.jpg]( "Photo Jul 17, 2 41 39 PM.jpg")
And I still have an AppleCare, should I take it to Apple store for replacement?
And I still have an AppleCare, should I take it to Apple store for replacement?
I just swipe with lint cloth regularly and didn't notice anything until recently I noticed there was some odd coating on main screen. See the photo below...
View attachment 481089
And I still have an AppleCare, should I take it to Apple store for replacement?
the answer is yes
I lost my microfiber cloth that came with my rMBP and bought a new one ; guess what ?! The new one is yellow (not black like the original) and after wiping my screen with it (only water) it had black marks all over it.. You guess it. The coat is coming off.
This is bad. Really bad.
This is bad. Really bad.
I had a similar issue going on with my now 2 week old MBPr 15 inch late 2013.. I get a replacement soon but this ain't the only issue
What about that rubber ring around the display? That should be keeping the display from making contact with the keys, palm rest, etc., shouldn't it?
I just swipe with lint cloth regularly and didn't notice anything until recently I noticed there was some odd coating on main screen. See the photo below...
View attachment 481089
And I still have an AppleCare, should I take it to Apple store for replacement?
Yes, of course, this is not normal and you want to use the warranty for which it was designed for (and you paid for).
That would be the case if the lid and screen did not flex when pressure is applied, unfortunately they do.
Dear God this is traumatising to see, especially on a £1,000-£2,500 machine.
Has anyone had any luck getting their screen replaced out of warranty?
Has anyone had any luck getting their screen replaced out of warranty?
Yeah and I heard some horror stories about after repair they got some serious problems. I don't want a new rMBP because they don't have a dGPU on some 2013 models.
I took my baby to Apple store two weeks ago for display replacement. It took 3 days to replace it and went to pick it up but noticed there was tiny ding on the top left corner on the keyboard Apple noticed it too and asked me to take it back for keyboard replacement at no cost but it takes another 4 days. I am okay with it... I got my baby back last night. Display looks perfect and new keyboard with new battery. Battery health is at 97% and Cycles at 1. Is battery health normal for new battery??
Me too 
From Mexico, in warranty but not AppleCare
Samething happened to my BRAND NEW Macbook Retina 13". It started with a yellowish mirrored spot, tried to clean it but it got worst, bigger! Now I have more sports just in the black border. I asked the guys in the Apple Store and they think that "if the machine still works, you won´t get warranty just for that" !!!!
I will try with Apple directly expecting my warrantyu covers that.
Any other "compañero" in Mexico with the same problem ??
Any advise ?
Thanks
From Mexico, in warranty but not AppleCareSamething happened to my BRAND NEW Macbook Retina 13". It started with a yellowish mirrored spot, tried to clean it but it got worst, bigger! Now I have more sports just in the black border. I asked the guys in the Apple Store and they think that "if the machine still works, you won´t get warranty just for that" !!!!
I will try with Apple directly expecting my warrantyu covers that.
Any other "compañero" in Mexico with the same problem ??
Any advise ?
Thanks
Same problem 2013 Macbook pro retina
Update: have received my rMBP back from Apple with a new screen with no marks on the screen, the technician still didn't think it was an Apple issue, he told me not to rub the screen so hard when cleaning it!!
Interestingly I watched a Genius staff member cleaning a rMBP screen with a Bausch and Lomb lens cleaning solution........
I have the same problem with my MBP retina 15", mainly top left corner where I place my thumb to lift up the screen and around the camera area.
I went to the genius bar, they said it was the coating coming off but blamed me for the issue even though I have only cleaned it as recommended. After some discussion they agreed to replace it under my Apple care warranty. I'll have to take it back during semester break, hopefully I won't have the same problem with the new screen.
My previous MBP is 5 years old and my wife is still using it, never had a problem with it. I'm a bit concerned now about the quality of the coating on my MBP retina, I clean my iPhone and iPad air with the same damp cloth with no issues
Update: have received my rMBP back from Apple with a new screen with no marks on the screen, the technician still didn't think it was an Apple issue, he told me not to rub the screen so hard when cleaning it!!
Interestingly I watched a Genius staff member cleaning a rMBP screen with a Bausch and Lomb lens cleaning solution........
I have the same problem with my MBP retina 15", mainly top left corner where I place my thumb to lift up the screen and around the camera area.
I went to the genius bar, they said it was the coating coming off but blamed me for the issue even though I have only cleaned it as recommended. After some discussion they agreed to replace it under my Apple care warranty. I'll have to take it back during semester break, hopefully I won't have the same problem with the new screen.
My previous MBP is 5 years old and my wife is still using it, never had a problem with it. I'm a bit concerned now about the quality of the coating on my MBP retina, I clean my iPhone and iPad air with the same damp cloth with no issues
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For those of you who like to know little bit more (it's from the apple web site):
...we also figured out how to reduce reflection off the front of the glass without compromising color quality. Instead of applying an antireflective coating to the glass in a conventional way, we adapted a process used on smaller surfaces like camera lenses and fighter pilots helmets. Its called plasma deposition, and it involves coating the glass with layers of silicon dioxide and niobium pentoxide so precise and so thin theyre measured in atoms. The result: astoundingly low reflection and vibrant, accurate colors.
Assuming from this article that best tool for cleaning rMBP display should be any good camera cleaning kit (you know lenspen, dust removal air blower).
...we also figured out how to reduce reflection off the front of the glass without compromising color quality. Instead of applying an antireflective coating to the glass in a conventional way, we adapted a process used on smaller surfaces like camera lenses and fighter pilots helmets. Its called plasma deposition, and it involves coating the glass with layers of silicon dioxide and niobium pentoxide so precise and so thin theyre measured in atoms. The result: astoundingly low reflection and vibrant, accurate colors.
Assuming from this article that best tool for cleaning rMBP display should be any good camera cleaning kit (you know lenspen, dust removal air blower).