Vertical line on Apple Watch Series 4.. :(

[techno-Zen]

I'm all aboard the light bleed issue gate.. but this is a stretch - It is there literally at the 50% middle location on the OLED display but even as a picky person I don't see how this is an actual issue. I think this is just how these panels are manufactured for such a small screen
[doublepost=1540402532][/doublepost]Look at this broken display. I think it's a series 3.. This is about where it is.. so this seems normal.

 

[Craigus91]

So, for science, I went to the Apple Store today and swapped out my 44 SS/white sport band model. The replacement is MILES better. There's still a line IF you know what to look for. I had not had the experience with my first one I'd never, ever notice - and I'm picky. It's near invisible. I have to really tilt and turn the Watch to even remotely see it. Even then, it's almost a trick of the eyes to see it.

That said, this replacement Watch SS 44mm has... light bleed (for lack of a better word) toward the bottom of the screen. It's not a major deal, and I'll take it over the really annoying vertical line that was super obvious. It's only noticeable on grey (e.g. scrolling through the Settings menus) while in a dimly-lit room. Bleh. I'm done with Watches.

So yeah, I think all the 44 Watches have this line anomaly, but there's definitely a variance in how noticeable it is.

Hi All,

Just checking in with an update, I’ve been to 4 different Apple Stores this week swapping my watch in the hope of finding a line free one. I’ve had 4 replacements from separate shops and they’ve all been the same (as wide a sample rate as I can get), even the staff at the shop couldn’t believe it but after they looked at the demo models and found the same issue they’ve advised me to give it at least a month and try to exchange again because they’re making the assumption that there’s a bad batch of panels being fitted. Glad yours is looking a bit better William

 

[WilliamG]

Hi All,

Just checking in with an update, I’ve been to 4 different Apple Stores this week swapping my watch in the hope of finding a line free one. I’ve had 4 replacements from separate shops and they’ve all been the same (as wide a sample rate as I can get), even the staff at the shop couldn’t believe it but after they looked at the demo models and found the same issue they’ve advised me to give it at least a month and try to exchange again because they’re making the assumption that there’s a bad batch of panels being fitted. Glad yours is looking a bit better William

Yep, as I said earlier, I think they all have it. Some are more faint than others, absolutely. Mine is unnoticeable - I'd never notice it unless I knew what I was looking for. Mine might be so unnoticeable due to the grey boost (bleed) present. Trade-off, I suppose!

Honestly, I only swapped mine for science. I wasn't super bothered, really, though obviously you'd prefer not to have the issue in the first place.

 

[Azathoth123]

Take a screenshot. If it’s software, it will be there. If it’s the screen, it won’t. A screenshot is just a grab of the GPU output. Right?

 

[WilliamG]

Take a screenshot. If it’s software, it will be there. If it’s the screen, it won’t. A screenshot is just a grab of the GPU output. Right?

It’s not going to show up on a screenshot.

That said, it could still be a software glitch controlling the hardware.

 

[44267547]

because they’re making the assumption that there’s a bad batch of panels being fitted.

In my opinion, I don’t think it’s bad panels. I think this just might be a variation with a specific display and how it’s manufactured. Unless its corrected in the future, I suspect all the Apple Watch models will have this in some form or another, either being extreme or barely noticeable.

 

[ipaddaro]

you can see it very well if you set the watch on theatre mode and then turning on the screen with the digital crown... just turning it a little bit the lighting will increase just a little and the in certain faces you’ll be able to see it clearly.

i don’t think it is a issue, but only related with how panels are made...

 

[jags828]

I have the same line, in the same spot. I noticed it a few days ago, now it’s hard to not look for it. The new full color faces makes it stick out even more.

 

[garethjs]

The new full color faces makes it stick out even more.

Yes I completely forgot about it until I tried the new faces out today and it’s right there..

I got a gold SS which has the best brightness eveness I’ve seen on a S4. So I’m not returning this

 

[keyben85]

I don't know if it's just me, but I see a lot of vertical ligns on my screen when looking in the maps app. Is this the same issue? First saw it on the full white watch face.

 

[garethjs]

Ya that’s bad banding on your watch.

 

[keyben85]

Damn you full color watch face.
Still in my return period. But second watch already. First one had light bleed on the left side



No luck with the series 4 for now.

 

[nixx]

Series 4 44mm space grey aluminium... also have the line. Same place as everybody else.

 

[Simacca]

Same here on my 44 SG. Have to really look for it though.

It’s an OLED quirk. Doesn’t bother me tbh.

 

[Mapple86]

Noticed a small vertical line in the middle too. But only because I searched for it and only on colors which I would normals not use. Beside this, the screen is ok compared to others with problems of uniform lightning. What do you think?

 

[44267547]

Noticed a small vertical line in the middle too. But only because I searched for it and only on colors which I would normals not use. Beside this, the screen is ok compared to others with problems of uniform lightning. What do you think?

I think your display looks fairly uniform and even. I see some slight imbalance, but not enough that I would warrant a return, especially not knowing what the Next display could be like.

 

[Mapple86]

especially not knowing what the Next display could be like.

yes this is the point why I think I will keep it.
And to be honnest... I will use this thing for 2-3 years and get a new one.
I dont think that a buyer will check something like this on a 2-3 year old watch.
And if it gets worse, I can still hope to use the warranty in 10 month or so.

 

[thanosbel]

Guys i thought i was crazy until i found this thread... Just got my second apple watch and i am returning for the exact same reason. The pale-reddish vertical line. The first watch was produced on last week of August. The last one was produced on last week of October. When was yours manufactured? I used the following web page to check https://sndeep.info/en .

Did all of you have the exact problem on the exact position as sketched on the first photo attached?

 

[Alicia1]

Guys i thought i was crazy until i found this thread... Just got my second apple watch and i am returning for the exact same reason. The pale-reddish vertical line. The first watch was produced on last week of August. The last one was produced on last week of October. When was yours manufactured? I used the following web page to check https://sndeep.info/en .

Did all of you have the exact problem on the exact position as sketched on the first photo attached?

Yep, mine was in the exact same spot. Thankfully apple let me return my launch day watch 6 days past the return period. The one I have now was manufactured week 40, beginning of October and it is fine. Using that website it says the factory is in Freemont California USA which I find very hard to believe.

 

[thanosbel]

Yep, mine was in the exact same spot. Thankfully apple let me return my launch day watch 6 days past the return period. The one I have now was manufactured week 40, beginning of October and it is fine. Using that website it says the factory is in Freemont California USA which I find very hard to believe.

Yeah both of my defected watches were reported to be produced in the same factory which i really find hard to believe!!! Unfortunately even a watch from the latest week of October has the issue!!! Good for you though that you got a properly working unit

 

[44267547]

Yeah both of my defected watches were reported to be produced in the same factory which i really find hard to believe!!!

Apple has primarily one watch manufacturer, which is ‘Quanta’, that’s not hard to believe both your watches was produced in the same factory, considering they manufacture _millions_ of Apple watches. Just recently, Apple did start adding a second supplier to assist with demand, but I doubt that’s where your Apple watches were produced.

 

[n1ghtrain]

I have the exact same issue. Week 38 here.

 

[Mduncan2014]

Got my watch in Jan 2018 and just noticed vertical lines on the display. I have not dropped the watch or hit it on anything so I can’t figure out what has happened!

 

[WilliamG]

View attachment 816849 Got my watch in Jan 2018 and just noticed vertical lines on the display. I have not dropped the watch or hit it on anything so I can’t figure out what has happened! View attachment 816849

That’s a VERY different issue to the rest of this thread. Hopefully you either have AppleCare, or your January, 2018 purchase is still in the 1-year warranty period!

 

[SnyG]

Got mine on Saturday just gone and the line’s there. Barely, barely noticeable and otherwise the screen is uniform, but it’s there when I’ve got the full colour face on.