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Does your November 2018 MacBook Pro have a flickering problem?

  • Vega 20, yes

    Votes: 42 54.5%
  • Vega 20, no

    Votes: 33 42.9%
  • Vega 16, yes

    Votes: 2 2.6%
  • Vega 16, no

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    77
I haven't seen it in a while now. Maybe one of the latest beta updates fixed it.
 
I have it on my 2019 MBP / Vega 20 -- occurs with or without display connected, in default resolution, with graphics set to intel, or Vega, occurs about 2-3 times / hour. But doesn't happen if I boot windows 10 from bootcamp...
May be too soon to tell, but with automatic graphics switched off - i.e. using Vega 20, combined with automatically adjust display brightness off, have not seen the flicker. I'm thinking that since windows 10 from bootcamp uses Vega graphics, and may not be auto adjusting brightness?? Might be why I didn't see the issue from windows.
 
May be too soon to tell, but with automatic graphics switched off - i.e. using Vega 20, combined with automatically adjust display brightness off, have not seen the flicker. I'm thinking that since windows 10 from bootcamp uses Vega graphics, and may not be auto adjusting brightness?? Might be why I didn't see the issue from windows.

Just closing the loop in case anyone is interested. I returned the 2019 MBP/Vega 20. Maybe it's a software / firmware fix that's needed, or is hardware issue (or both). I just don't want to go through it. Since I bought this 2019 MBP, rumors escalated about a 16" version, and Apple lowered the price of SSD. I had the 4TB... so suddenly my laptop was 1400 less expensive. I'm going to hold out and wait for next MBP refresh before re-ordering.
 
2018 MacBook Pro 15" i9/32GB/Vega20/1TB

No issues at all - computer has been flawless. I tested your specific request and had no flickering. For what it's worth, when I purchased the laptop the first thing I did before setting it up was an internet recovery wipe and reinstall of the MacOS. I do not know how this would have made any difference, but it is as fresh a copy of 10.14.2 you can possibly get.

I am currently exporting a larger photo edit (2,500 photos) from RAW to JPEG and have had the fans and Vega 20 going for awhile; computer even fell asleep once and I woke it back up. No issues with flickering at all.

For what it is worth, I do NOT use any type of external monitor, nor do I have one to test, so I cannot personally address anything related to that. Week 49 (December 2018) build date on mine if that matters to anyone.

From reading the reports in this thread, I will go out on a limb and say that the issue is most likely related to software. There have been no widespread complaints of everyone flickering on the Vega 20 by itself, and a majority of the occurrences all have differing triggers and results. Don't get me wrong, the GPU is the issue, but it's the software controlling it or implementing it that is the real issue.
Probably you could not detect flickering because you missed it. Or you misunderstood the definition of flickering
 
Just for update...
I took my mbp (2018 Vega 20) to apple care. They replaced nearly everything (motherboard + touchid controller) and guess what? It didn't help.
Please don't buy new MacBooks. I don't believe that Apple is not aware of this problem.
Computer bought for 3,500$ that is broken from day one and is unusable. I am a teacher and can't use this Mac because the projector disconnects every few minutes. Tried with different adapters, updated to Catalina, nothing works.

 
Just for update...
I took my mbp (2018 Vega 20) to apple care. They replaced nearly everything (motherboard + touchid controller) and guess what? It didn't help.
Please don't buy new MacBooks. I don't believe that Apple is not aware of this problem.
Computer bought for 3,500$ that is broken from day one and is unusable. I am a teacher and can't use this Mac because the projector disconnects every few minutes. Tried with different adapters, updated to Catalina, nothing works.


That sucks. I do think there are people with working Vega 20 MBPs... Question is, how many round-trip repairs will it take to end up with one.
 
That sucks. I do think there are people with working Vega 20 MBPs... Question is, how many round-trip repairs will it take to end up with one.

I agree. I teach as well and the Vega flash only affects my laptop screen, not the projector. This is not ideal, but it is manageable as while 20 - 50 people will be looking at the projector, I am the only one who sees the screen.

I use it pretty much everyday (work 5 days a week and study on the weekend), so I'm not looking forward to being without for a week or two. And I'm not convinced the apple store will try harder than 2 minutes to replicate the problem (sometimes it takes 10 - 15 mins to appear).

I haven't tried it with Catalina yet (my issue is slightly different from the video above), but I am keen to hear how others go trying to have the problem solved.
 
I agree. I teach as well and the Vega flash only affects my laptop screen, not the projector.
If I use extended display then only built-in screen flashes, but when I do something like live coding and have mirrored display, blinking screen causes projector disconnection :/
The only solution for me at the moment is to use good old mbp 2015 for classes.
 
If I use extended display then only built-in screen flashes, but when I do something like live coding and have mirrored display, blinking screen causes projector disconnection :/
The only solution for me at the moment is to use good old mbp 2015 for classes.

I seem to mirror about 50% of the time and extend the other 50%. Haven't noticed the projector ever flashing (I almost always output to VGA through the standard Apple dongle - for some reason HDMI only works for me in 1 out of the dozen rooms I teach in).

Will try to change from extended to mirror when it next flashes and report back.

What is your plan moving forward - are you planning on sending it back again at some point? I figured that 'IF' a revised design is released soon and you have continued to have such a major issue, they may replace it with the newer one or at least offer a deal to upgrade? I think I am dreaming here, but they have to have a solution for such an expensive 'flagship' device. At the very, very, very least a full refund?
 
I am afraid that when I will take it to warranty one more time with same problem, they will tell me that there is everything ok and they can't reproduce the problem. I use this Mac also for programming and final cut editing, and there is not so much to complain about (screen flashes sometimes, but it is not unusuable). I planned to buy Apple care anyway, so I will try to give it for warranty few more times until problem will be solved or machine will be replaced. I still hope that this is some software issue or maybe Apple will introduce some repair program as it is with the butterfly keyboards.
(The problem is that I use this machine almost every day and it is my workstation. Last time when I gave it to apple store I had 2 weeks holidays and I didn't need this computer).
 
I am afraid that when I will take it to warranty one more time with same problem, they will tell me that there is everything ok and they can't reproduce the problem. I use this Mac also for programming and final cut editing, and there is not so much to complain about (screen flashes sometimes, but it is not unusuable). I planned to buy Apple care anyway, so I will try to give it for warranty few more times until problem will be solved or machine will be replaced. I still hope that this is some software issue or maybe Apple will introduce some repair program as it is with the butterfly keyboards.
(The problem is that I use this machine almost every day and it is my workstation. Last time when I gave it to apple store I had 2 weeks holidays and I didn't need this computer).

I used my phone to record a video until the screen flashed, trimmed the video and used the video to show the problem at apple. They were ok with this at my apple store, perhaps it could work for you.
 
My first 2019 MacBook Pro started Flickering within the first 2 weeks I got it returned my 2nd 2019 MacBook Pro started flickering about 2 weeks ago, this morning the display died. Took it to an authorised repairer after speaking to Apple they have said that the display needs to be replaced... it’s 4 months old and the screen has gone already.... both had Vega 20 gpu’s
 
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