The Ultimate rMBP Image Retention Test

[fskywalker]

If my machine develops ghosting over time will have then to pursue warranty, at least I'm cover until Dec-2015. The problem is there are no warranties that will get a Samsung display in the process, may end up with another LG screen again. The other venue would be the so called class action (in another topic), if that goes through will then ask for a Samsung display.

 

[Timmy D]

Bought mine in Dec too. I wouldn't say mine is major yet. It would take un to five minutes to remove the IR. Odd thing is happening right now. I did a fresh install of 10.8.3 yesterday and now I can't replicate the the same sort of ghosting I was experiencing. I AM NOT SAYING THIS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. I am sure it's a coincidence. I will continue using the rMBP as usual to see when it returns. It will leave a faint, very faint IR on the screen and will disappear within 20 secs.

I have also read in these threads that the dock doesn't ghost. Prior to doing a fresh install of OSX I hid my dock and could still see the ghosting of my calendar and reminders apps. So, anything static on the screen will leave ghosting.

Update: I had some time this morning to take my 15" rMBP in to my local Apple store. I explained my IR issue. They performed their Image Persistence text. The text last 4 minutes. They pretty much start the test and then put the screen in a position so the checker board isn't seen. They performed it a few times and past it each time. So, no replacement at this time. They just recommended using a screen saver to "wash the pixels" before the laptop goes to sleep. Like I stated earlier it's not as bad as some of the others posting here.

 

[Alucardx03]

Quick question:

Has anyone who purchased a rMBP in the last month gotten a Samsung screen right out of the box? I purchased five different Macbook Pros for my employees over the course of three weeks from two different stores and one online, and every single one of them is an LG. I also got mine replaced due to another defect and the replacement was an LG.

 

[cvakistan]

ghosting issue

I purchased a retina MBP November 2012 (15 inch - mid 2012) and I just recently noticed a burned in web page that I had been reading for several minutes. I hadn't noticed anything prior to this point, and I use the laptop every day. I have an LG screen (apparently). I was sort of in a state of disbelief so I searched google and happened on this forum. I did the checkerboard test and I am able to see image retention/ghosting after 3 min. I didn't test any shorter periods. I called Apple and since I don't have a store close by they are having it shipped for repair. Why are they still building these machines with subpar displays? Especially if they already sporadically use a more suitable alternative?

 

[Timmy D]

I purchased a retina MBP November 2012 (15 inch - mid 2012) and I just recently noticed a burned in web page that I had been reading for several minutes. I hadn't noticed anything prior to this point, and I use the laptop every day. I have an LG screen (apparently). I was sort of in a state of disbelief so I searched google and happened on this forum. I did the checkerboard test and I am able to see image retention/ghosting after 3 min. I didn't test any shorter periods. I called Apple and since I don't have a store close by they are having it shipped for repair. Why are they still building these machines with subpar displays? Especially if they already sporadically use a more suitable alternative?

I hope they do replace yours. I took mine in this morning and they ran a 4 minute test a few time with the same result...no ghosting. the checkerboard turn to a black screen when the test was over, so they are using a black background and not a grey. Good luck. let us know what happens.

 

[johnsmith007]

Did someone already noticed ir-problem with a sja2 panel from LG?

 

[Alucardx03]

Did someone already noticed ir-problem with a sja2 panel from LG?

Good question. I'd be curious to know this as well.

I haven't seen anyone report any issues yet.

 

[johnsmith007]

As i've seen also in other forums nobody with a sja2 panel had so far problems with image retention..,? (Fingers crossed) Maybe its too early to have results but neither out of the box sja2's? Any experiences?

 

[crowbar77]

Took about 3 days, but looks like I hit the "jackpot" and got a samsung. Only difference I can notice is doesn't seem as bright as the LG, i've been using an Air for the past few days though so it could just be that.

 

[gr8tfly]

No retention. Used this test; also, tested leaving windows open on dark gray background.

As far as I can tell, perfect display - even backlight, no dead pixels, very good white point (using default factory cal).

Purchased mid-Feb.

15" mid-2012 2.7/16/768
Nov. week 46 Build

LG -LP154WT1-SJA1

 

[pedrofan]

No retention. Used this test; also, tested leaving windows open on dark gray background.

As far as I can tell, perfect display - even backlight, no dead pixels, very good white point (using default factory cal).

Purchased mid-Feb.

15" mid-2012 2.7/16/768
Nov. week 46 Build

LG -LP154WT1-SJA1

Just wait a month. Mine was like yours. No retention in the first month at all. Even with one hour checkerboard. Now It needs only 2 minutes or less to have retention. I bought it in January.

 

[Korea]

No retention. Used this test; also, tested leaving windows open on dark gray background.

As far as I can tell, perfect display - even backlight, no dead pixels, very good white point (using default factory cal).

Purchased mid-Feb.

15" mid-2012 2.7/16/768
Nov. week 46 Build

LG -LP154WT1-SJA1

15" 2012 2.6 2.6/8/512
Nov. Week 47 build.

LG-LP154WT1-SJA1.

Tried the test gr8tfly used and I had some retention but it all went away within 30 seconds. I've had this laptop since November, about 5 months now. I've also tried leaving the checkerboard on for 15 minutes and seeing the results on the darkest gray background. IR is there, but goes away, again within 30 seconds.

Is this normal? It doesn't seem to be a big issue for me, I've owned my laptop for 5 months now and I haven't really noticed any big issues with IR.

 

[lsh]

15" 2012 2.6 2.6/8/512
Nov. Week 47 build.

LG-LP154WT1-SJA1.

Tried the test gr8tfly used and I had some retention but it all went away within 30 seconds. I've had this laptop since November, about 5 months now. I've also tried leaving the checkerboard on for 15 minutes and seeing the results on the darkest gray background. IR is there, but goes away, again within 30 seconds.

Is this normal? It doesn't seem to be a big issue for me, I've owned my laptop for 5 months now and I haven't really noticed any big issues with IR.

Ditto for me. same screen, but purchased 6/12.
I guess I'll try periodically while still under apple care.

 

[Korea]

Ditto for me. same screen, but purchased 6/12.
I guess I'll try periodically while still under apple care.

Your going to try and get an exchange? Won't exchanges just be refurbished parts at this point now because Apple's updated their rMBP's?

 

[Pared3s]

No retention. Used this test; also, tested leaving windows open on dark gray background.

As far as I can tell, perfect display - even backlight, no dead pixels, very good white point (using default factory cal).

Purchased mid-Feb.

15" mid-2012 2.7/16/768
Nov. week 46 Build

LG -LP154WT1-SJA1

I have the exact same display but mine was purchased July of last year. I ran the same test and had some IR but it went away after about 5 minutes. I started to notice the IR late last year. I'm worried that it's something that will get worse over time.

 

[papashango9]

do newly manufactured models fix this? Because i am about to buy a 15" rMBP 2012 or 2013 model

 

[johnsmith007]

My LG sja2 panel is (still) fine, i've never seen others with ir-problems with an sja2 panel...

Or am i wrong?

 

[themadrussian]

Did someone already noticed ir-problem with a sja2 panel from LG?

I bought a 15" rMBP today. First one was an SJA2 LG panel. Asked for them to open another, and it was an SJA1. Third one was another SJA2. Kept the first one, as it was perfect cosmetically.

Hoping it has no issues. I have so far seen no IR/ghosting and no other issues of any kind. I've left some finder windows static for quite a while without any retention.

Curious to see if anyone posts about an SJA2 with IR. So far haven't been able to find any posts online from SJA2 owners who have the issue. Fingers crossed that LG fixed it.

 

[Brian Y]

I bought a 15" rMBP today. First one was an SJA2 LG panel. Asked for them to open another, and it was an SJA1. Third one was another SJA2. Kept the first one, as it was perfect cosmetically.

Hoping it has no issues. I have so far seen no IR/ghosting and no other issues of any kind. I've left some finder windows static for quite a while without any retention.

Curious to see if anyone posts about an SJA2 with IR. So far haven't been able to find any posts online from SJA2 owners who have the issue. Fingers crossed that LG fixed it.

Why did you ask them to open another one then?

 

[gr8tfly]

Just wait a month. Mine was like yours. No retention in the first month at all. Even with one hour checkerboard. Now It needs only 2 minutes or less to have retention. I bought it in January.

It's just about a week into month two now. I'm sure I'll notice if it does start having issues. Otherwise, there's not much I can do except enjoy it. In any event, I'm covered until 2016.

 

[themadrussian]

Why did you ask them to open another one then?

I didn't know at the time that I looked at the first one that the SJA2 was a revised screen - there is so little information out there on the SJA2 that I hadn't come across it in my pre-buying research.

While they went to the back to fetch two more, I searched for the panel model number and found out that there is a revised panel, the SJA2.

At that point, I figured to see if one of the other two was a Samsung panel, in which case I'd have taken the Samsung one.

 

[Brian Y]

I didn't know at the time that I looked at the first one that the SJA2 was a revised screen - there is so little information out there on the SJA2 that I hadn't come across it in my pre-buying research.

While they went to the back to fetch two more, I searched for the panel model number and found out that there is a revised panel, the SJA2.

At that point, I figured to see if one of the other two was a Samsung panel, in which case I'd have taken the Samsung one.

Or you could have just bought the machine and enjoyed it, regardless of what screen manufacturer it has.

 

[Alucardx03]

So I bought a rMBP about three weeks ago. It had the LG SJA-1 screen with no visible image retention. I was very happy with it. The screen was incredibly uniform, had excellent color reproduction, zero backlight bleed, and was just all around gorgeous. In fact, it was probably the best LCD screen I'd ever seen. I would have kept it had the screen not started flickering at random. On day 14, just before I was going to take it in to have it exchanged, I noticed that IR was starting to kick in.

I got it replaced and, to my surprise, got a Samsung display. However, almost immediately, I noticed that the left side of the screen is an entirely different color. Now, I'm not one of those people who complain about yellow screens-- the warmth is actually much more accurate and if it's really bothersome, it can be calibrated out in a matter of minutes. However, non-uniform screens is a real deal-breaker for me. I'm having a hard time approving designs because I can't tell if the color is accurate and it has gotten in the way of my video work.

And then, to top it off, my HDMI output works only intermittently. Definitely a hardware flaw as my previous unit worked flawlessly.

I'm starting to get frustrated with these machines. I'm going to attempt one more exchange and if that doesn't produce a reasonable result, I'll get a refund and wait a few months. I've owned five Macbook Pros since 2006 and not one of them had to be repaired, exchanged, or returned. So I'm surprised to have had such an issue here.

 

[themadrussian]

Or you could have just bought the machine and enjoyed it, regardless of what screen manufacturer it has.

I could have. But I didn't. I did research before buying the machine and wanted to know what I was buying.

What does your reply add to this thread focusing on the IR problem on some of these computers?

 

[DanWhite84]

Hi all. So I also have an LG SJA1 screen, and just now after about a month have noticed the IR issues. Not terrible horror stories like others have stated, but mainly some small ghosting of lines from where I have my web browser always up. It is visible, but not terrible, but I've never noticed it before today. I only notice it on the Apple Solid Dark Grey background, and even there is is gone in less then five, especially if screen saver kicks in or something. I can see the zebra stripes if I do the test, and checkers if I do that as well, but they go away in less than five.

I have apple care, put in a call to Apple Support, and they said that I have to take it to an apple store and have them perform the test I've read about on these forums. I don't know if I'd be able to fail their test, at least not now. If the screen ghosts worse in my warranty period, they would replace the screen with a new one or a refurbished one? If new, shouldn't I wait until they come up with a solution, since it seems that there isn't one as of yet? I will take any advice, I work with this machine everyday for detailed image manipulation and need it to be up to par. Thanks