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Retina MacBook Pro Users Complain of Anti-Reflective Display Coating Wearing Off

Noticed this on some rMBPs in my local Apple Store.

They were newer models than mine as well, hopefully not every device is affected :/
 
Dreamliner330 said:
Screens touching keys has been an issue for ages. I remember having scratches in my flip phone screen.

The only way to truly prevent it is to make sure nothing touches the screen when closed, but that would involve a design compromise, Apple doesn't really do that.
Click to expand...

without any pressure on the closed lid, THE SCREEN doesn't touch the keyboard..
 
I'm having the same problem on my 13" late 2012 rMBP. Compared to others it's a rather mild case, but it still annoys the hell out of me as I'm doing design work on the macbook and I'm constantly irritated by the stains.

fH85j2d.jpg
 
We have a dozen or so MacBooks at work and one of them from 2013 has done this - you can see the keys have worn the coating away :(
 
Not thinking the anti-reflective coating was nearly anti-reflective enough I installed an iVisor anti-reflection screen cover/protector on mine. So at least when I clean it I'm not actually touching most of the screen.

However I'm a bit nervous about any residue on the underside of the matte cover and what this might do to the anti-reflective coating over time. I don't really want to take it off to find out! Fortunately I don't really have to. The thing sits flush and has stayed on perfectly for the 2 years I've had it (early 2013 model)

If you use good quality iPhone/laptop screen cleaning fluid I really doubt that is what will damage the coating.

It's much more likely to be the salts and oils in grime and fingerprints that will do this over time. That's why I also try to use a cleaner that says it's anti-static and leaves a minor inert residue on the screen itself as a barrier to this grime and clean semi-regularly (once a month or so).
 
Same problem here, MacBook Pro Retina 15" Mid-2012.
Problem occurred after using it outside, on a sunshine. After using i tried to clean the screen while it was still warm, with the supplied Apple cloth, and stains started to appear. I emphasize that stains are not on the top of the screen (coating), but below the surface!
 
I thought I was an idiot when I accidentally cleaned my screen with lens cleaner and it immediately began removing the coating. I was under Apple Care at the time and was impressed that Apple replaced the screen. Now I find out that it has happened to thousands of others too. I still use iKlear on my current screen, I hope it doesn't wear off.
 
I'm on my 4th replacement screen for my 2012 rMBP. A couple of the replacements I've had to fight for, but it's disappointing that it's still happening.
 
I really want to buy my first mac but....

I'm reading a lot of bad stuff, even from people with apple care.
I'm really considering to stay away from retina displays. They're gorgeous, but it's too risky. I think i'll go for a macbook air. I spect a expensive laptop like this to last for five years at least, but i'm reading a lot of troubles with retina and it's not fair that even people who paid extra money for extra protection now have to deal with apple services saying that it's due to the normal used. Not fair at all.
Apple, i really want to switch to mac, but you are not putting things easy for me.

Cheers!!
 
mcpix said:
I thought I was an idiot when I accidentally cleaned my screen with lens cleaner and it immediately began removing the coating. I was under Apple Care at the time and was impressed that Apple replaced the screen. Now I find out that it has happened to thousands of others too. I still use iKlear on my current screen, I hope it doesn't wear off.
Click to expand...

I've been using iKlear since I bought my rMBP 10 or 11 months ago - so far no problems.
 
brianvictor7 said:
A couple of observations: I've had similarly frustrating experiences with my 2009 iMac: bad Hard-drive, bad superdrive, bad screen. Some of it was fixed under AppleCare. Some of it came out of pocket. Yes, had it been a Dell we might have fixed it ourselves, but one of the chief reasons I bought an iMac (and MacBook) was because I liked the look of the hardware. It has aesthetic value for me which few other manufacturers can match. I prefer the OS X look and feel to Windows or Chrome or even Linux.
Click to expand...

Couldn't care less about the hardware really, i bought apple because of the OS, (saying that, it was Snow Leopard , after that its all been downhill on the OS front as well)

I really wish apple would sell OSX stand alone for "PCs", that would solve my problem of wanting a stable OS on good hardware
 
iSheep5S said:
Retinagate would be a more apt name. Fingers and toes crossed but i wish i bought the MacBook Pro 'Classic'.
Click to expand...

Actually, Retinagate might be inaccurate. My friend's client just reported that she sees stains on her MacBook Air. This is getting trippy.
 
wouldn't it make sense for apple to re-apply the coating to models that aren't yet shot but susceptible and replace the lids for those that are?
 
I have a late 2013 MacBook Pro and got almost the same stains as the one on the first picture from the first message. Very annoying since I look at it every day. I hope Apple will do something about this!
 
What if you put that thin white sheet that originally comes with it between the keyboard and screen?
you think that can help?
 
Is there any idea how widespread this issue is? Will it end up affecting all rMBP?

iSheep5S said:
Retinagate would be a more apt name. Fingers and toes crossed but i wish i bought the MacBook Pro 'Classic'.
Click to expand...

If you are in Scotland then you have 5 years cover for this.
 
I joined the forum just to show that this problem is real! My Macbook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013), bought in February 2014 is loosing its coating as well (sticky note and hand for clearer view):
28refwz.jpg

nzm05l.jpg

Going to the Apple Store Amsterdam on Saturday. I already heard stories of people not getting their screen fixed, even if they had Apple Care :(
 
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iSheep5S said:
Retinagate would be a more apt name. Fingers and toes crossed but i wish i bought the MacBook Pro 'Classic'.
Click to expand...

Can everyone stop it with the naming things as "xyz-gate" ? It is not a freaking gate to/of/for anything.

So sick of calling every issue as something-gate. Have we completely run out of nomenclatures ?? :mad:
 
The article makes it sound as if the problem is a solved one (i.e. it's not happening with newer machines), but based on comments here it looks like it is not yet a solved problem?
 
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