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Where are we with Staingate and how do I minimise risk of future screen delamination?

T

ToTo Man

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 22, 2008
145
1
I only just became aware of this seemingly widespread problem with rMBP screens today whilst reading about something unrelated. I just bought a brand new 2015 13.3" 2.7GHz rMBP last week, I wish I'd have known about this problem then!...

Obviously my Retina display looks perfect at the moment, but I'm concerned about what's going to happen to it in the coming months. I would welcome tips and advice on how to minimise the risk of my screen delaminating? e.g.

- Would attaching a screen protector (either plastic film or tempered glass) slow down or accelerate the problem? (I'm a fan of screen protectors, I've had a plastic film type installed on my 2011 MBA from new and it's done an excellent job protecting it from fingerprints and scratches, but I wouldn't be keen on using one on my rMBP if it's going to accelerate Staingate).

- Would placing a microfibre cloth over the keyboard and trackpad area before closing the lid help to prevent Staingate?

- Finally, if my screen does begin to delaminate, and I manage to get Apple to replace it free of charge, is it likely that the same problem will happen again, or have the replacement screens been fixed so that they won't delaminate?
 
Just place a cloth over the keyboard when you close the laptop, and you'll be fine
 
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Personally I think 'gate' should be a banned word. It's beyond annoying.

As for the screen lamination issue, I keep the paper keyboard cover my rMBP came with on when I close the lid and I purchased AppleCare.

I haven't heard anything else about this issue. Maybe it didn't affect as many users as we at MR thought.
 
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alphaod said:
The Watergate scandal was a scandal that occurred at the Watergate Hotel. It has absolutely nothing to do with water. That is why calling anything [problem]-gate is stupid.
Click to expand...

Sure, but that's what the public will always hark back to. "X"- gate. I hate it too, but if you want to go back and see what its about, that's what you have to refer back to
 
Get apple care, bam problem resolved. You might even get a new mac out of it
 
Bought it brand new, just last week? If you're already stressed out about it, then just return it, get a refund, and get something else. If the stress is manageable, then just make sure you don't eat around the system, and wash your hands every time before you start using it.

On a side note, I'm not a fan of the "staingate" term either. It's unrepresentative of the actual problem. The screens aren't being stained. The AR coating is deteriorating and coming off of them. There is no staining happening.
 
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We should call any thread that had inappropriate use of -gate a "thread-gate" scandal.
 
alphaod said:
The Watergate scandal was a scandal that occurred at the Watergate Hotel. It has absolutely nothing to do with water. That is why calling anything [problem]-gate is stupid.
Click to expand...

But staingate was a thing though back in 2012/13ish. My retina had it and apple refused to acknowledge it for the longest time.
 
David58117 said:
But staingate was a thing though back in 2012/13ish. My retina had it and apple refused to acknowledge it for the longest time.
Click to expand...

Refusing to acknowledge something and waiting to conduct proper and legal testing on something are completely different. They need to ensure it is a manufacturing defect, and trace it back to the source. If they just threw their hands up in the air when the first person complained, firstly it wouldn't be good business sense, secondly any court action down the line would look bad on them, as they hadn't taken the time to accurately assess the level of damage and make amends accordingly.

Howard2k said:
Imagine if someone stole the gates to the Gates' property. Gatesgatesgate.
Click to expand...

Gates'gate'sgate? Gate'sgates'gate? Gates'gatesgate? It would be a grammatical scandal for sure!
 
Voley said:
Get apple care, bam problem resolved. You might even get a new mac out of it
Click to expand...
I purchased it from John Lewis with standard 2 year guarantee, which I can upgrade within the next 30 days to include "accidental damage" for an additional £65.00 (but this doesn't extend the cover beyond the original 2 years). Given that I purchased it from an authorised Apple reseller and not directly from Apple, I'm assuming that if something does go wrong with the screen then I need to get John Lewis to deal with it? i.e. I can't just walk into an Apple Store and present confirmation of my John Lewis warranty and get the Apple Store to replace the screen?
 
ToTo Man said:
I purchased it from John Lewis with standard 2 year guarantee, which I can upgrade within the next 30 days to include "accidental damage" for an additional £65.00 (but this doesn't extend the cover beyond the original 2 years). Given that I purchased it from an authorised Apple reseller and not directly from Apple, I'm assuming that if something does go wrong with the screen then I need to get John Lewis to deal with it, i.e. I can't just walk into an Apple Store and present confirmation of my John Lewis warranty and get the Apple Store to replace the screen?
Click to expand...

I really wouldn't worry too much bud. As has been mentioned it was a slight issue a number of years ago, they don't carry on producing them with this defect in the knowledge they'll just come back at some point. Also you've got a 6 year warranty covering any manufacturing defects. The first 2 years JL would try to repair it, after that you'd need to go through Apple. Just enjoy your laptop, don't sweat about things that may or may not go wrong several years down the line :)
 
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New_Mac_Smell said:
Refusing to acknowledge something and waiting to conduct proper and legal testing on something are completely different. They need to ensure it is a manufacturing defect, and trace it back to the source. If they just threw their hands up in the air when the first person complained, firstly it wouldn't be good business sense, secondly any court action down the line would look bad on them, as they hadn't taken the time to accurately assess the level of damage and make amends accordingly.
Click to expand...

Back then, these forums were full of reports about it (I was one of the people complaining). There was even a website were users submitted pictures of the issue. There was even a class action lawsuit pending.

It wasn't just Apple conducting research - it was them not addressing it. It went on for over a year before they finally admitted there was an issue.
 
There is a delamination prevention protocol. Sertraline at 50-100 mg a day or escitalopram at 10-20 mg a day is very effective at preventing the worry associated with delamination.
 
BANGATE?


jbachandouris said:
Personally I think 'gate' should be a banned word. It's beyond annoying.

As for the screen lamination issue, I keep the paper keyboard cover my rMBP came with on when I close the lid and I purchased AppleCare.

I haven't heard anything else about this issue. Maybe it didn't affect as many users as we at MR thought.
Click to expand...
 
ToTo Man said:
I only just became aware of this seemingly widespread problem with rMBP screens today whilst reading about something unrelated. I just bought a brand new 2015 13.3" 2.7GHz rMBP last week, I wish I'd have known about this problem then!...

Obviously my Retina display looks perfect at the moment, but I'm concerned about what's going to happen to it in the coming months. I would welcome tips and advice on how to minimise the risk of my screen delaminating? e.g.

- Would attaching a screen protector (either plastic film or tempered glass) slow down or accelerate the problem? (I'm a fan of screen protectors, I've had a plastic film type installed on my 2011 MBA from new and it's done an excellent job protecting it from fingerprints and scratches, but I wouldn't be keen on using one on my rMBP if it's going to accelerate Staingate).

- Would placing a microfibre cloth over the keyboard and trackpad area before closing the lid help to prevent Staingate?

- Finally, if my screen does begin to delaminate, and I manage to get Apple to replace it free of charge, is it likely that the same problem will happen again, or have the replacement screens been fixed so that they won't delaminate?
Click to expand...

Didn't the program end already? You'll have to verify that first.

Personally I dislike using screen protectors because it ruins the AR qualities of the display. I use my Macs with lots of indoor and outdoor lighting from a window and it's annoying as heck to use ANY screen without AR coating.

The microfiber cloth sounds like a good idea but to be real, it's unrealistic to position said cloth every time I close my Mac. I open and close it too many times in the day.

As far as future delamination, my 2012 rMBP which I thought was immune started to delaminate in October 2015. Luckily the repair program came out the same month and I got it replaced for free. As of November 2016 I am noticing the same delamination starting. So yes, replacement screens aren't immune.
 
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Cvx5832 said:
Didn't the program end already? You'll have to verify that first.

Personally I dislike using screen protectors because it ruins the AR qualities of the display. I use my Macs with lots of indoor and outdoor lighting from a window and it's annoying as heck to use ANY screen without AR coating.

The microfiber cloth sounds like a good idea but to be real, it's unrealistic to position said cloth every time I close my Mac. I open and close it too many times in the day.

As far as future delamination, my 2012 rMBP which I thought was immune started to delaminate in October 2015. Luckily the repair program came out the same month and I got it replaced for free. As of November 2016 I am noticing the same delamination starting. So yes, replacement screens aren't immune.
Click to expand...

Maybe the screens from 2012/2013 are not the exact same in 2014/2015 rMBPs. So it would make sense you got only a new screen but with the safe flaws. Otherwise we would have seen many more people complaining of their 2014/2015 rMBPs delaminating.
 
Cleaned and checked it again. Turns out they were spit spots. So as of November 2016, the October '15 replacement screen has remained flawless.

Side note : Apple makes gorgeous hardware

30381662714_55a1ed4bdd_c.jpg
 
New_Mac_Smell said:
I really wouldn't worry too much bud. As has been mentioned it was a slight issue a number of years ago, they don't carry on producing them with this defect in the knowledge they'll just come back at some point. Also you've got a 6 year warranty covering any manufacturing defects. The first 2 years JL would try to repair it, after that you'd need to go through Apple. Just enjoy your laptop, don't sweat about things that may or may not go wrong several years down the line :)
Click to expand...

I'm embarrassed to admit I didn't know about that! Which begs the question, what's the point in paying for an extended warranty (other than to cover accidental damage)?

[doublepost=1479981806][/doublepost]
Cvx5832 said:
As far as future delamination, my 2012 rMBP which I thought was immune started to delaminate in October 2015. Luckily the repair program came out the same month and I got it replaced for free. As of November 2016 I am noticing the same delamination starting. So yes, replacement screens aren't immune.
Click to expand...
That's disappointing to hear.
 
EDIT -

After watching some youtube videos it is clear that the AR coating is on the user-facing side of the screen, not the inward-facing side, because it is evidently possible to remove the entire coating with some polishing compound and solvent, which makes the screen appearance uniform again. I'll keep my fingers crossed that my display won't have any issues, but at least I know there is an alternative to having the entire screen replaced, possibly multiple times.
 
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From what I saw on MR's new page in Oct 2015, you have one year from then (expired) OR 3 years from purchase date, whichever is longer. As long as you bought it from an Apple Authorized seller you should be good.

Though when I got mine replaced they told me the new ones were fixed. I don't know if that's true though, just what the support person told me. I still have a year and a half left of recall time so I'm not too worried.
 
ToTo Man said:
I'm embarrassed to admit I didn't know about that! Which begs the question, what's the point in paying for an extended warranty (other than to cover accidental damage)?
Click to expand...

It's arguably easier to get stuff sorted within warranty. As within the 6 years it is only manufacturing defects, so it can be difficult to prove a part failure is due to a defect. But that's why you get accidental damage protection as it's one of the few reasons to bother! Check out UK consumer law at some point, make sure you fill out that warranty card on electronics you buy too!
 
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