Right. i was giving this old smashed retina macbook. and other than an artical from ifixit or somewhere saying these displays arnt user repairable, i was intrigued.
Partly because a peer says he has one in his repair shop with an insect under the glass. I decided to tear one apart to ensure he didn't ruin his customers working panel whilst doing so.
So i set to work on my hotplate/preheater. id use this for a standard macbook pro or air to heat and loosen the adhesive holding the layer together.
Usually with a macbook pro you'd pry around the bezel and lift the glass slightly with a section cup.
I went to attack the bezel and it just came right of exposing screws!
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I then decided to remove the screen cable from the polarizer control board to prevent damage to it (this is a part worth salvaging!)
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Flipping up the control board i found more screws, at this point i was starting to think apple simply screwed the panels in.
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i then spotted the backlight cable, and popped it out its connector.
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After allot of prying and broken glass i noticed two more hidden screws. this time under the ribbons of the polarizer control board, of course covered by a appropriately placed bit of black tape!
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it was at this point i realized there was no external glass on these assemblies like there is on the older non retina pro's. instead you get some strange film protector.
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i proceeded with very little care. eventually removing the now very damaged polarizer.
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It has very similar back light layers to the macbook air.
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here is the webcam. wander if i can sell it to some poor sod on ebay?
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The conclusion is. maybe if you could buy the polarizer it could be replaced. it would need allot of care, allot of heat, and would be as difficult if not worse than a macbook air (except the lack of a belezel)
i wander if anyone's going to start repairing these in the future. Sure to me looks like a possibility with the right kit.
anyway. i thought id do it as upon research i didnt find much info on these assemblies. i hope it helps someone somewhere.
Edit: you can actually buy the polarizer by searching the model number on the control board.
Its totally do-able but it is no easier than the air assemblies.
Partly because a peer says he has one in his repair shop with an insect under the glass. I decided to tear one apart to ensure he didn't ruin his customers working panel whilst doing so.
So i set to work on my hotplate/preheater. id use this for a standard macbook pro or air to heat and loosen the adhesive holding the layer together.
Usually with a macbook pro you'd pry around the bezel and lift the glass slightly with a section cup.
I went to attack the bezel and it just came right of exposing screws!
I then decided to remove the screen cable from the polarizer control board to prevent damage to it (this is a part worth salvaging!)
Flipping up the control board i found more screws, at this point i was starting to think apple simply screwed the panels in.
i then spotted the backlight cable, and popped it out its connector.
After allot of prying and broken glass i noticed two more hidden screws. this time under the ribbons of the polarizer control board, of course covered by a appropriately placed bit of black tape!
it was at this point i realized there was no external glass on these assemblies like there is on the older non retina pro's. instead you get some strange film protector.
i proceeded with very little care. eventually removing the now very damaged polarizer.
It has very similar back light layers to the macbook air.
here is the webcam. wander if i can sell it to some poor sod on ebay?
The conclusion is. maybe if you could buy the polarizer it could be replaced. it would need allot of care, allot of heat, and would be as difficult if not worse than a macbook air (except the lack of a belezel)
i wander if anyone's going to start repairing these in the future. Sure to me looks like a possibility with the right kit.
anyway. i thought id do it as upon research i didnt find much info on these assemblies. i hope it helps someone somewhere.
Edit: you can actually buy the polarizer by searching the model number on the control board.
Its totally do-able but it is no easier than the air assemblies.
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