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Other This years screen lottery (17, 17 pro, 17 pro max and air)
- Thread starter Furrr
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Got another GVC iPhone Air today (this time 256 GB Light Gold), but with a twist: it’s noticeably better than the previous two (one of which I still had in hand to compare side by side).
That’s thrown a spanner in the works, because I am running out of patience, energy, and probably return privileges, and now I worry that in addition to never receiving an Air with a purported Samsung panel, I might get another GVC worse than this one.
So tonight I made the executive decision to halt the hunt for a better Air screen and stick with this one.
Very disappointing that the screens are this bad.
I dug out my first-gen iPhone SE (with a top-quality IPS LCD panel by I believe Sharp) and put them all side by side with a variety of content on-screen: SE, 13 mini, Air. It’s no exaggeration to say the SE is better than the 13 mini which is better than the Air: that is, for overall image quality off-axis (they’re all great on-axis). Of course each newer display is larger and brighter, which are their own advantages. But quality has gone to hell off-axis.
So much for progress.
Anyway, I’m done. I can deal – grudgingly – with this particular Air display.
Better luck to the rest of you.
That’s thrown a spanner in the works, because I am running out of patience, energy, and probably return privileges, and now I worry that in addition to never receiving an Air with a purported Samsung panel, I might get another GVC worse than this one.
So tonight I made the executive decision to halt the hunt for a better Air screen and stick with this one.
Very disappointing that the screens are this bad.
I dug out my first-gen iPhone SE (with a top-quality IPS LCD panel by I believe Sharp) and put them all side by side with a variety of content on-screen: SE, 13 mini, Air. It’s no exaggeration to say the SE is better than the 13 mini which is better than the Air: that is, for overall image quality off-axis (they’re all great on-axis). Of course each newer display is larger and brighter, which are their own advantages. But quality has gone to hell off-axis.
So much for progress.
Anyway, I’m done. I can deal – grudgingly – with this particular Air display.
Better luck to the rest of you.
May I ask why it’s so important for you to get a Samsung panel? Do you really use the phone at that tilted angle that often?
What a hot mess. Really makes me dislike Apple that we have to go thru this frustrating cycle every release to try to find a good screen when that should be the bare minimum in our purchase. If it wasn’t for iMessage, I would’ve probably been on a google pixel by now.
This is embarrassing coming from a trillion-dollar company selling a $1,300+ product. If Apple is going to ship iPhones with subpar screens, the least they could do is offer a discount.
Just throw my data point in the mix...
Got my 16 Pro last year on release day, immediately noticed the green-blue shift when tilting the phone down which was different than the 13 Pro I was coming from. Screen looked good though dead-on so I kept it (I've never returned an iPhone before though either) and later learned how to check panel mfg and it is GVC.
Decided to try iPhone Air this week and had already been following this thread. Got a white 256gb Air on Monday at my local Apple store (we only have 1) and immediately noticed the screen seemed to have no off-axis shift. Looks great and I can't really detect any tinting or uniformity issue.
It's a G9P. So, I'm happier with the way the Air screen looks compared to my 16 Pro that I still have, and I'm glad it was first try buying. Got lucky.
Got my 16 Pro last year on release day, immediately noticed the green-blue shift when tilting the phone down which was different than the 13 Pro I was coming from. Screen looked good though dead-on so I kept it (I've never returned an iPhone before though either) and later learned how to check panel mfg and it is GVC.
Decided to try iPhone Air this week and had already been following this thread. Got a white 256gb Air on Monday at my local Apple store (we only have 1) and immediately noticed the screen seemed to have no off-axis shift. Looks great and I can't really detect any tinting or uniformity issue.
It's a G9P. So, I'm happier with the way the Air screen looks compared to my 16 Pro that I still have, and I'm glad it was first try buying. Got lucky.
Apple needs better QC on its screens. After all that’s the most controversial part of the iPhone
I’m hoping to pick up a 17 Pro Max the next time my local Apple Store has them in stock, but given all the reports of LG panel issues in the 17 Pro line (more and more reports about this on Reddit too now), how can I ensure I get a Samsung panel before opening the box?
Reddit is reporting that only 30% of Pro Maxes are receiving Samsung panels ☹️
Reddit is reporting that only 30% of Pro Maxes are receiving Samsung panels ☹️
Are there any threads discussing uniformity and pink tint, or is the off-axis color shift the only flaw a panel can have?
From today:
https://www.reddit.com/r/iphone/s/9dBShA89HT
From earlier:
From the iPhone17Pro community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the iPhone17Pro community
www.reddit.com
From the iPhone17Pro community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the iPhone17Pro community
www.reddit.com
Man, I sent back my launch day base 17 back since it had way more visible green tint then all the other LG models in the Apple Store. Now people are defending Samsung is worse since it has bad uniformity. You seriously can't win this game huh?
You cannot. So you’re best just opening the box, turning it on, and seeing if you like the way the display looks or not. There’s good and bad panels in ALL batches.
This is my experience.
I received a 17 PM on release day that had a GVC screen. I was mostly ok with it because it had very even brightness and whiteness but the bottom turned green pretty quickly with any tilt. I was inclined to keep it anyway because it was only noticeable while looking at a light colored screen but I ended up returning the phone because it was too big. So I returned it and ordered a 17 Pro to be delivered on 10/15 - 10/22. Two days later I was able to get one from the local store.
The one had a G9N screen and while it has absolutely no tilt, the lighting is not even on it. It is darker at the top and brighter at the bottom. Still, that is another thing that I would forget about with time and it was only noticeable while looking at lighter colored screens. Then 10/15 approached and I realized I hadn’t cancelled the one that was due to arrive between 10/15 and 10/20. It had already been shipped but I contacted Apple that evening and asked them to see if they could pull it and have it returned to Apple without a delivery attempt. They tried and the request to halt delivery was made about ten minutes before the phone arrived so it was too late. It sat there for a day or two and then I decided to open it and have a look.
That phone also has a G9N screen. This one is more even than the other G9N but it has a bit of discoloration when tilting. It is nowhere near as bad as the 17 PM and it is a bit more yellow than green. And the whole screen is warmer than the G9N on the first 17 Pro.
I find it interesting that the screen with the more even brightness also has some discoloration with tilting while the one with uneven brightness has no tilt. My 14 PM is the same way. It is very even but if I tilt it, it discolors a bit. I can’t get the report to see what screen type it is like I was able to with the 17 series. I tried several times and it wouldn’t work. Anyway, I think I remember reading somewhere in this massive thread that the GVC screens were more even than the G9* screens but had the tilt.
So now I am left with a decision that has to be made by Wednesday, 10/22.
I can return the first 17 Pro with the uneven brightness.
I can return the second 17 Pro that is more even but slightly warmer and with a bit of tilt discoloration.
I can return both of them and keep my 14 Pro Max for another year.
Overall I favor devices that are whiter, rather than warmer but either way, I flip True Tone on and at that point it is very hard to see a difference.
I think in the long run, either phone would be just fine because the differences and imperfections can only be seen under circumstances that I never actually have. My 14 Pro Max has been great but now that I have had a smaller phone, it feels huge and unwieldy. I do like the smaller form factor of the Pro and after having the largest phone I could get my hands on for so many years, I’ve adapted well to a smaller phone.
So I need you guys to tell me what to do. Nah, just kidding. I realize that this is a decision I need to make and it will likely come down to the flip of a coin. Either phone would be fine. I favor more even screens of course, but I also favor whiter screens. One other factor to consider is the one with the more even screen is 512GB and the other one is 256. I do not need the extra storage and it would be nice to save that $200.
Either way, I am done with this little odyssey. It was never primarily about the screen for me but more about the size and that I inadvertently ended up with two devices.
I received a 17 PM on release day that had a GVC screen. I was mostly ok with it because it had very even brightness and whiteness but the bottom turned green pretty quickly with any tilt. I was inclined to keep it anyway because it was only noticeable while looking at a light colored screen but I ended up returning the phone because it was too big. So I returned it and ordered a 17 Pro to be delivered on 10/15 - 10/22. Two days later I was able to get one from the local store.
The one had a G9N screen and while it has absolutely no tilt, the lighting is not even on it. It is darker at the top and brighter at the bottom. Still, that is another thing that I would forget about with time and it was only noticeable while looking at lighter colored screens. Then 10/15 approached and I realized I hadn’t cancelled the one that was due to arrive between 10/15 and 10/20. It had already been shipped but I contacted Apple that evening and asked them to see if they could pull it and have it returned to Apple without a delivery attempt. They tried and the request to halt delivery was made about ten minutes before the phone arrived so it was too late. It sat there for a day or two and then I decided to open it and have a look.
That phone also has a G9N screen. This one is more even than the other G9N but it has a bit of discoloration when tilting. It is nowhere near as bad as the 17 PM and it is a bit more yellow than green. And the whole screen is warmer than the G9N on the first 17 Pro.
I find it interesting that the screen with the more even brightness also has some discoloration with tilting while the one with uneven brightness has no tilt. My 14 PM is the same way. It is very even but if I tilt it, it discolors a bit. I can’t get the report to see what screen type it is like I was able to with the 17 series. I tried several times and it wouldn’t work. Anyway, I think I remember reading somewhere in this massive thread that the GVC screens were more even than the G9* screens but had the tilt.
So now I am left with a decision that has to be made by Wednesday, 10/22.
I can return the first 17 Pro with the uneven brightness.
I can return the second 17 Pro that is more even but slightly warmer and with a bit of tilt discoloration.
I can return both of them and keep my 14 Pro Max for another year.
Overall I favor devices that are whiter, rather than warmer but either way, I flip True Tone on and at that point it is very hard to see a difference.
I think in the long run, either phone would be just fine because the differences and imperfections can only be seen under circumstances that I never actually have. My 14 Pro Max has been great but now that I have had a smaller phone, it feels huge and unwieldy. I do like the smaller form factor of the Pro and after having the largest phone I could get my hands on for so many years, I’ve adapted well to a smaller phone.
So I need you guys to tell me what to do. Nah, just kidding. I realize that this is a decision I need to make and it will likely come down to the flip of a coin. Either phone would be fine. I favor more even screens of course, but I also favor whiter screens. One other factor to consider is the one with the more even screen is 512GB and the other one is 256. I do not need the extra storage and it would be nice to save that $200.
Either way, I am done with this little odyssey. It was never primarily about the screen for me but more about the size and that I inadvertently ended up with two devices.
That’s a flat out defective screen and not related to off axis shift or poor uniformity. It can happen to any phone screen.
I am visiting family and picked up another 17PM on the drive up, won’t get into details, but this one is G9N. It’s flawless and better than my G9P which is going to my dad (who couldn’t care less about screen). *Zero* off axis shift, really crisp and punchy, and screen is completely uniform. Finally. Probably the best iPPM screen I’ve owned.
I’m not glazing Samsung. Plenty of trash panels as you know. But there is a very noticeable difference between many of the LG screens and the quality Samsung screens that I’ve seen. This shouldn’t be. Not at this price point.
I picked up a silver 256GB 17 PM today with the Samsung G9N display. The screen looks perfect, battery manufactured in August, and iOS 26.0.1 was already installed out of the box.
I have a history of returning my share of iPhones for color tint or unevenness. I kept my iPhone X which had a pink line running along one edge, but looked better than most of the phones on display. My XS had a similar pink line that was not as obvious. I hated looking at that pink on the phone and fortunately my phones after that were pretty even overall. My Air has a nice white, even screen with a slight green tint on tilt, which I hadn't even noticed until it became a big deal here. I have no problem with a green tint that is only when the phone is tilted, but I sure wouldn't tolerate any pink or yellow on the phone at this point. I don't know what screen I have, but I assume it is LG because of the green tint. I love my Air and have never considered returning it.
A good LG can look quite vibrant imo
I always felt my GVC 13 mini had richer colors than my good Samsung panel 16+ side by side
Just gotta look out for green blob uneven tint is all... If you get one without that you got nothing to worry about (IMO)
Mine just has a slight green tint off axis and doesn't really bother me. My 12 mini and 13 mini however have what to me look like perfect screens. I use the mini 12 as a backup phone and the mini 13 is just to have (never used - just kept updated). An odd collectible I know. It was a nostalgic purchase at Apple the evening before it was discontinued.
Still a great device I got a refurb last summer
Keeping it on iOS 18. I like using it around the house as an iPod touch
Oh the one you found is good.
I did the check with this ...
it just loops through different colors and you can judge yourself whether it is uniform