The Ultimate rMBP Image Retention Test

[B...]

crap, is there another way to tell the panel I have?

I ran the command with the command box and got a huge document of info?

Why does it really matter? If you find you you have LG, you'll invent problems with it through the placebo effect. Do you see IR in regular use? If so, return it to Apple and get the screen replaced. If not, then it doesn't matter what brand screen you have as long as it works.

 

[cosmicjoke]

just got a refurb 2.6ghz 16gb ram 512gb ssd for $2289 and it has an lg screen, ran test for exactly 14 mins and went back to the grey screen, very fine grid lines of image retention heh

meh, dunno if it really bothers me, how much worse does it get over time?

 

[nealh]

Why does it really matter? If you find you you have LG, you'll invent problems with it through the placebo effect. Do you see IR in regular use? If so, return it to Apple and get the screen replaced. If not, then it doesn't matter what brand screen you have as long as it works.

Good point. Thanks.

However, I am curious as I get a refurb 13in 2.9ghz/512. I like to know what I have, but I agree with your opinion. I dont think I will even run the IR test

 

[ferkrum]

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.

I've got a LG display (LP154WT1-SJA1) with clear retention problems. I've phoned Apple Support (Brazil) a few minutes ago and they've stated there's a "retention behaviour" for the Retina displays, and sent me 2 links on how to avoid retention on Apple displays (http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5455?viewlocale=pt_BR).

That is definitely not the issue. There's a hardware defect here.
As I've seen on previous threads, some were unlucky enough to receive another LG screen in exchange. I've been in an authorised support centre and they ask for 7 days to perform the test and THEN say if are eligible to ask for an exchange.

As for now I'm considering two options:
1. Taking my MBPr to an authorised centre outside the country (i'll be travelling in a month time), since it seems to be quicker in other places (same day, or two?). I've bought Apple Care too.
2. Thinking of a possible REFUND. Though I don't really know for how long can you ask for. Bought this machine on Sept-2012.
Anybody knows about this ?

Apple tried to say it is "normal" to have certain retention on IPS retina display (retention shown on attached images). I cannot accept this excuse on such expensive machine. IF it would have the possibility of having this problem I wouldn't have paid this amount of $ for this equipment. Would have stuck with the non-retina option, much cheaper and almost same tech specs...

thank you all for the attention,
regards,

ferkrum.

 

[Brian Y]

I've got a LG display (LP154WT1-SJA1) with clear retention problems. I've phoned Apple Support (Brazil) a few minutes ago and they've stated there's a "retention behaviour" for the Retina displays, and sent me 2 links on how to avoid retention on Apple displays (http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5455?viewlocale=pt_BR).

That is definitely not the issue. There's a hardware defect here.
As I've seen on previous threads, some were unlucky enough to receive another LG screen in exchange. I've been in an authorised support centre and they ask for 7 days to perform the test and THEN say if are eligible to ask for an exchange.

As for now I'm considering two options:
1. Taking my MBPr to an authorised centre outside the country (i'll be travelling in a month time), since it seems to be quicker in other places (same day, or two?). I've bought Apple Care too.
2. Thinking of a possible REFUND. Though I don't really know for how long can you ask for. Bought this machine on Sept-2012.
Anybody knows about this ?

Apple tried to say it is "normal" to have certain retention on IPS retina display (retention shown on attached images). I cannot accept this excuse on such expensive machine. IF it would have the possibility of having this problem I wouldn't have paid this amount of $ for this equipment. Would have stuck with the non-retina option, much cheaper and almost same tech specs...

thank you all for the attention,
regards,

ferkrum.

Three points to note.

1. *some* image retention is normal.
2. You won't get a refund on a 7 month old machine.
3. TBH, you say you have clear image retention issues - yet I see you've got the background from the image retention test up. Have you honestly noticed this in real use - or do you just notice it when you put up a grey screen you would never normally have up.

----------

No tricks. I told them I wanted a Samsung display and that I was willing to continuously return and purchase the computer until I got a Samsung display. The employee went to the back, spoke with his manager, who told him that he could open two more machines to check without needing to return or exchange the machine.

If I were really adamant, I could have returned the machine for a refund and kept buying new ones until I found one, but they probably would have been upset. And eventually I'd have run out of credit.

I figured that since it was an SJA2 panel, I'd give it a shot. I've had it now for almost two weeks and all remains quite well.

They do not repackage them - they actually send them back to Apple, who sells them as refurbished machines, because they have been opened. So I actually helped two people get a very nice discount



Yes, I ordered the standard 2.7 GHz / 16GB / 512GB model (ME665LL/A).

With that attitude I'd have just given you your money back and banned you from the store. Massive sense of self-entitlement.

 

[ferkrum]

Three points to note.

1. *some* image retention is normal.
2. You won't get a refund on a 7 month old machine.
3. TBH, you say you have clear image retention issues - yet I see you've got the background from the image retention test up. Have you honestly noticed this in real use - or do you just notice it when you put up a grey screen you would never normally have up.

----------



With that attitude I'd have just given you your money back and banned you from the store. Massive sense of self-entitlement.

Hello Brian,

I have noticed the problem when normally using the system. Casually I use that grey background by default, so i've noticed the retention without loading the image retention test. I can't see where you've noticed that image, btw (is it the one with the safari bar up? have you noticed the "forums.macrumors.com" on that image?).

Also I don't understand why you're judging this attitude as a "massive sense of self-entitlement". I see this place as one to exchange common experiences with an issue related to a malfunction of a display. Why would you need to draw your opinion stating that a user should be banned from the store? I can't see this happening on a Apple Store.

Apart from that, I'm thankful to your reply.

sincerelly,
ferkrum.

 

[B...]

Hello Brian,

I have noticed the problem when normally using the system. Casually I use that grey background by default, so i've noticed the retention without loading the image retention test. I can't see where you've noticed that image, btw (is it the one with the safari bar up? have you noticed the "forums.macrumors.com" on that image?).

Also I don't understand why you're judging this attitude as a "massive sense of self-entitlement". I see this place as one to exchange common experiences with an issue related to a malfunction of a display. Why would you need to draw your opinion stating that a user should be banned from the store? I can't see this happening on a Apple Store.

Apart from that, I'm thankful to your reply.

sincerelly,
ferkrum.

He wasn't talking to you when he said "massive sense of self-entitlement". He was responding to "themadrussian" who had previously said he forced Apple employees to allow him to open up the rMBPs before leaving the store to see what screen it had, because he would just return the computer again and again if he did not get the planel he wanted.

 

[ferkrum]

He wasn't talking to you when he said "massive sense of self-entitlement". He was responding to "themadrussian" who had previously said he forced Apple employees to allow him to open up the rMBPs before leaving the store to see what screen it had, because he would just return the computer again and again if he did not get the planel he wanted.

humm.
ok.
since it was from a previous post i got it wrong.

thanks for clearing that.
cheers.

 

[fskywalker]

I cant seem to run the command in the first post on my 13in model?

I opened a terminal window and pasted(ioreg -lw0 | grep \"EDID\" | sed "/[^<]*</s///" | xxd -p -r | strings -6 ) it in there and hit enter nothing showed up.

What am I doing wrong?????

No options known to check screen manufacturer on the 13 rMBP, but have not hear yet of complaints on IR on that model; time will tell.

 

[Brian Y]

He wasn't talking to you when he said "massive sense of self-entitlement". He was responding to "themadrussian" who had previously said he forced Apple employees to allow him to open up the rMBPs before leaving the store to see what screen it had, because he would just return the computer again and again if he did not get the planel he wanted.

Yep, that wasn't aimed at you .

 

[cosmicjoke]

story time guys... so i returned my refurb 2.6/16gb ram/512gb ssd w/ lg sja1 panel that showed clear signs of image retention....

talked to a guy about buying a new 2.7/16/512 but was very frank about wanting a samsung panel or at least a revision 2 lg one....

so told him my theory about trying one out with as late of a production week as possible, as i had noted some people getting lg rev. 2 panels built in march of this year.... and we were trying some website to determine an unopened one's production week but the chipmunk site was lagging and being unresponsive...

so he was like well, let's just crack one open and see... but he didn't have long enough finger nails lol, he asked another employee and that guy was like "wait, you want a samsung screen right? we have a system for determining what panel it is without even opening, we're not supposed to do it but we'd rather do that than have you open up 6 or 7 of them" and then he goes behind the door in the back and produces another and is like here, this is it..
after buying it, in store i open it up and double check to make sure it really is a samsung and has no other problems and inded it is and it's gorgeous, no dead/stuck pixels, very uniform screen, bright - the colors probably don't pop quite so much as the lg screen but yanno, this one passed the mothaf'n image retention test!

anyways fwiw this was the pioneer place store in portland, or - if you keep bugging them about it maybe one of them will help you get what you really want without the drama.

 

[joecirca79]

I just got my 2.8ghz i7 back from the apple store after 2.5 days. I purchased my retina mbp almost exactly 2 months ago and it came with a samsung SSD and LG display. Never did any IR tests, just used it for photo work and general use. Two months later...I suddenly noticed IR all over the place. Went from watching a stream on CNN to another webpage and saw text and lines everywhere. The screensaver also managed to burn in for over 20 minutes. Took it to the apple store and they ran the 4 minute hardware test and it was barely noticeable, but genius said they would replace it anyway. He also noted that all replacements were now samsung displays. Picked it up today, and double checked using terminal and indeed, i no longer have an LG. Pretty happy actually that i got to keep my samsung SSD. Will see how it goes after a couple months of use.

 

[IGregory]

I just got my 2.8ghz i7 back from the apple store after 2.5 days. I purchased my retina mbp almost exactly 2 months ago and it came with a samsung SSD and LG display. Never did any IR tests, just used it for photo work and general use. Two months later...I suddenly noticed IR all over the place. Went from watching a stream on CNN to another webpage and saw text and lines everywhere. The screensaver also managed to burn in for over 20 minutes. Took it to the apple store and they ran the 4 minute hardware test and it was barely noticeable, but genius said they would replace it anyway. He also noted that all replacements were now samsung displays. Picked it up today, and double checked using terminal and indeed, i no longer have an LG. Pretty happy actually that i got to keep my samsung SSD. Will see how it goes after a couple months of use.

You should be fine. I've had my retina (Samsung) since Aug. 2012. I'm still loving it.

 

[fskywalker]

I just got my 2.8ghz i7 back from the apple store after 2.5 days. I purchased my retina mbp almost exactly 2 months ago and it came with a samsung SSD and LG display. Never did any IR tests, just used it for photo work and general use. Two months later...I suddenly noticed IR all over the place. Went from watching a stream on CNN to another webpage and saw text and lines everywhere. The screensaver also managed to burn in for over 20 minutes. Took it to the apple store and they ran the 4 minute hardware test and it was barely noticeable, but genius said they would replace it anyway. He also noted that all replacements were now samsung displays. Picked it up today, and double checked using terminal and indeed, i no longer have an LG. Pretty happy actually that i got to keep my samsung SSD. Will see how it goes after a couple months of use.

If all replacement screens are Samsung, that is definitely a good sign; lets see what others report here.

 

[Mabyboi]

Took my retina 2.6/16/256 with an LG display in yesterday with IR issues, ran the test in store and couldn't see it the first time. I had him run the test a second time and we could definitely see the IR. The machine is about 6-7 months old, they are replacing the screen without any problems.

Hopefully I get a Samsung display like others are reporting!

 

[Mabyboi]

Great! Keep us posted

Just picked up my retina, beautiful Samsung screen was installed. I am more than happy with how this turned out!

 

[pedrofan]

I bought my 15 rMBP (2,6 512gb 8gb LG screen) in late January, a week later the left usb started to nadomly disconnect.
I took it to my reseller and tryed to fix it, but I told them that it was a week old computer and I wanted it to be exchanged. Finally I got it exchanged because it had a faulty logic board..

In march, the new one started to present image retention and GPU throttling problems. I took it again to the store and they sent it to apple to be repaired. It took TWENTY DAYS, AND THEY ONLY CHANGED THE LOGIC BOARD. They told me that it had a faulty logic board and Apple just exchanged it for a new one, and that was the problem of the image persistance also. In front of them I opened the computer and made a 2 minutes retention test that was positive (I was so angry in that moment since I had to wait for twenty days and they didn't fix anything). So after all they sent it again to apple...

I received it in April, finally with a Samsung screen, and a new logic board.

But now the computer is randomly disconnecting the wifi in OSX...

This computer is the worst and more expensive piece of **** I have bought.

 

[NostalgiaLane]

Has anyone got a link to the test Apple run or an equivalent test?

Thanks.

 

[Badrottie]

my new 15" rMBP Mid 2012 with Samsung display has no IR.

 

[B...]

Has anyone got a link to the test Apple run or an equivalent test?

Thanks.

First page of this thread.

 

[skim1999]

After reading this thread, I'm not sure if I Gould get a rmbp or not. Suggestions?

 

[fskywalker]

Are you looking for a 13 or a 15 inch rMBP? On the 13 you cannot tell if you are getting a Samsung or a LG screen, but on the 15 you can through the script given at the beginning of this thread.
Apparently 13 inch retinas are fine, but time will tell; the LG's 15 inch retinas with the 01 screens are at risk, the newer 02 screen seems to be ok, but again time will tell.

 

[Timmy D]

Took mine in for the second time. First time was maybe six weeks ago. That time they did their test a few times and told me to turn on my screen saver since everything was within the norm. Today I told them that testing it with the black screen they wouldn't see anything. I explained that almost all their apps have some sort of grey background and you could see it. He didn't even look. He did the diagnostic test to make sure everything else was one but never looked at ghosting or IR. took my rMBP and said it would be ready in 3 days. I noticed he put on his sheet that he was able to create ghosting lol I guess it depends on how cool the genius tech is before they'll replace! So fingers crossed

 

[D3TSURA]

I have a long history with image retention on the retina. I ordered it the day it was announced and about after a month I started to notice IR. I called Apple and they told me to send it in. When I got it back the replaced the logic board and not the display which obviously didn't fix the problem. I called them right after I got it back and they told me to send it in again. This time after about a week they sent it back with a note saying that the IR was within spec so they wouldn't be doing anything. I spent about 2 more weeks talking with someone from Corporate Executive Relations.

I realized that my only choice was to take it into an Apple Store and I might have some luck in getting them to replace the display. After about 40 min of talking to the Genius he agreed to replace the display but unfortunately I got another LG so the problem was not fixed. At that point I figured that I'd just wait and see approach.

Fast forward to today and I happened to check this thread and saw that if the display failed a screen test then they would replace it. I had a slight problem though. I tried running the checker board test at home a few times before I went for my appointment and if i had the background set to black I could not make out the IR but if I lightened it ever so slightly I could see the IR. I figured I would take my chances and if they said no then I would try to get them to replace it on account of there being a dead pixel right in the middle of my screen.

When I got there they were busy as usual and after I checked in I took a seat at the Genius Bar to wait to be seen. I figured I would set the background to dark gray and opened a few windows while I waited. After about 5 minutes the Genius that was helping the person next to me said he saw my notes and could help me while the other persons machine was being restored. He took a look at the screen and as soon as I moved one of the windows he told me he'd go ahead and have them replace the display. He didn't even bother running the screen test. As he wrote up the work order he mentioned that he also has a rMBP with IR and that he's been meaning to get his fixed as well so I think thats the main reason he didn't run the test. I'm now hoping that when I get it back this time it'll be fixed.

For now I am using my old uMBP while the retina is being fixed and after almost an entire year of IR issues it almost seems strange to look at the display and not see any IR.

 

[Timmy D]

just got mine back from Apple. I should have known the second I saw the screen that they installed a Samsung...time to calibrate. Did look to see and I do in fact of a LSN = Samsung screen. The tech told me that's all they have been using to replace IR/Ghosting LCDs...