White spots on iMac screen 21.5"

[MikFed87]

Hi

My 21.5" iMac mid 2010 model has several strange spots on the screen.

There are about 5 or 6 spots (about 1 cm in size) near the bottom of the screen. They can only be seen if something white or very bright is displayed.

I believe the first one could be come about a year ago, and now there are a few more.

It is not dirty on the glass, but in the screen itself. I have attempted to clean it but it made no difference.

Since I just replaced the glass (got broken during a HDD upgrade), I am worried that AppleCare might not cover this problem.
However, it seems more like a problem inside the screen rather than a scratch.

Could anyone please tell me if this is a common problem/how it can be fixed?

Thanks very much

(Picture attached of one of the spots - It looks much worse in real life but I couldn't get the camera to picture it properly)

 

[tyche]

Since you've taken the screen off, it could simply be dirt on the other side. One reason not to take these things apart unless you have a very clean room.

 

[Epikuros]

I have this exact same thing on the new iMac 21.5", I haven't opened the screen or anything. Any update on what it might be? I can't tell you for sure if it was here when I got it or if it just 'appeared' though.

 

[LCD]

I have this exact same thing on the new iMac 21.5", I haven't opened the screen or anything. Any update on what it might be? I can't tell you for sure if it was here when I got it or if it just 'appeared' though.

I returned one of the first bto 2012 iMacs in early December with what sounds like a similar display problem. I could also more easily see the 1/16" diameter smudge on a white background. I was the first to post about this problem behind the 2012 21.5" iMac screens in a MacRumors forum after I joined for that reason in mid December and was disappointed that it was ignored by the community.

So I got a 2012 Mini with a 23" IPS monitor after I received a replacement with one bright pixel and I had too many problems with the display on my last iMac. A year and a half after buying it new in March 2006, vertical lines started covering the screen and 5 years later, the computer still works fine but the display turned off.

 

[WilliamG]

I have this exact same thing on the new iMac 21.5", I haven't opened the screen or anything. Any update on what it might be? I can't tell you for sure if it was here when I got it or if it just 'appeared' though.

I can't tell you for sure what it is, but my 2009 iMac 27", just under 3 years into ownership, a few months ago developed a white streak in the screen just like the one in the first post. It's very odd, but I've no idea what it is. Just like the first post, it looked like it was "in" the screen, not under the glass or on the surface of the LCD panel.

 

[Epikuros]

Well, at least these 'smudges' aren't dead pixels, since they change colour and are pretty much invisible on anything other than white or bright colour backgrounds.

So far then it is not so much a functional issue as an 'OCD' issue since once you see them you can't exactly un-see.

It is however worth keeping an eye on what these are, as I'm having a feeling more people will get these.
Right now I only have one of these things, if more start appearing I will definitely be contacting Apple and see what they have to say.

 

[Epikuros]

The only problem really, since it doesn't bother me personally that much, is that if I'm ever selling this thing, would it reduce the price significantly? I'd have to mention it since this is the sort of thing that could drive other people crazy. Maybe its worth contacting Apple for that reason?

 

[heyjessej]

I just noticed one on my new late 2012 21.5 inch too. Same position basically, bottom left. It doesn't really bother me, just annoying and one of those OCD things. What you see it, you can't un-see it. I got mine in December but haven't gotten AC yet. Tempted to bring in to the store...but not sure if it's worth it yet.

 

[one1]

It's clearly not a pixel issue going on the last pic. It's the actual screen physically. If you have ever put pressure on an LCD from behind you'll see the same thing. It appears as though when they are making these panels some of them are set in a way they get pressure against that area of the LCD and cause a defect. I have an iPad I can show you the exact same thing on and it is one that the LCD was replaced on and the motherboard connector puts pressure on the LCD and shows a white spot.

Here's my iPad with the same issue of pressure applied from the back.

 

[Serban]

So its normal right?

 

[IEatApples]

… Just got the exact same thing on a brand new (late 2013) 21,5 iMac …
Not much I/we can do about it then?

 

[Cigarman]

White spots

I had the same issue on a 2011 imac. I took it to the apple store and they installed a new screen. I now have the new "thin" 27in imac and I have the same issue. Gonna wait till after xmas to take it to the apple store.

 

[PAMac]

I have an iMac with exactly the same white spot, tried to do fix it with those rapidly flashing screens that are supposed to fix dead or stuck pixels but saw no results. Where you able to solve this issue?

I just noticed one on my new late 2012 21.5 inch too. Same position basically, bottom left. It doesn't really bother me, just annoying and one of those OCD things. What you see it, you can't un-see it. I got mine in December but haven't gotten AC yet. Tempted to bring in to the store...but not sure if it's worth it yet.

 

[Fatigue]

these are all pressure spots which basically means something is hard pressed against the screen or the panel itself, it's not something you can fix yourself, although i have read that supposedly a suction cup on the back of the panel can fix it. sounds risky even more considering that tearing a mac for the sake of a white spot is stupid. i have not tried that myself.
other "fix" i have read myself is rubbing sround the spot in circular motion (or in whatever shape it its.
technically this would make it worse since you are compressing the screen even more.