17" SR MBP Backlight Bleed -- How Much Is Normal?

[chriswg]

Hi everyone,

I've had my 17" Hi-Res SR MBP since early June, and I was just curious how much backlight bleed is normal? I know it is very common on LCDs, but my last computer had essentially zero bleed, so I'm not sure what is considered "OK." I assume mine is probably not that bad, but it is pretty noticeable when viewing movies with black bars at the top and bottom.

I took a picture to show how it looks against a black background (it is not really noticeable on other colors). It is concentrated at the bottom of the screen. There is also a little at the top, but it didn't turn out so well in the pictures. The picture was taken at full brightness. Sorry for the poor quality, but I had to do it in almost complete darkness.

So I'm really just looking to find out if this is about the same as others or if it is worse. Thanks!

By the way, please don't be rude by posting comments like, "You're too picky," etc. I am generally very accepting of small problems, but as this is my first Mac, I am just curious to learn how things compare.

 

[Burnsey]

hmmm, I suggest you put on a grey/blue background and take a photo from the side, that would show better how much backlight bleed it has. If it looks anything like this:

then that's not good.

 

[Shorties]

Hi everyone,

I've had my 17" Hi-Res SR MBP since early June, and I was just curious how much backlight bleed is normal? I know it is very common on LCDs, but my last computer had essentially zero bleed, so I'm not sure what is considered "OK." I assume mine is probably not that bad, but it is pretty noticeable when viewing movies with black bars at the top and bottom.

I took a picture to show how it looks against a black background (it is not really noticeable on other colors). It is concentrated at the bottom of the screen. There is also a little at the top, but it didn't turn out so well in the pictures. The picture was taken at full brightness. Sorry for the poor quality, but I had to do it in almost complete darkness.

So I'm really just looking to find out if this is about the same as others or if it is worse. Thanks!

By the way, please don't be rude by posting comments like, "You're too picky," etc. I am generally very accepting of small problems, but as this is my first Mac, I am just curious to learn how things compare.

I filled my screen with black video and checked mine out, I defiantly have little to none, I don't see white like it looks on yours just a slightly lighter black. Though if you only notice it when things are all black then it probably isn't that big of a deal. But to each is own.

 

[chriswg]

@ Burnsey -- Thanks for the idea, but it's not as bad as that. The rest of the backlight is even on the screen, unlike the image you posted. It's just the small area at the bottom. And it's not really visible against colors other than black.

From the poll, it seems like others have less bleeding. It doesn't really bother me THAT much, but is there anything Apple can do to easily fix something like this? It's not enough of a problem that I would send it off for a replacement display because I don't want to risk getting one with dead pixels, etc. But I'm not sure what actually causes the bleed. Is it just some lack of alignment or pressure on the display? If so, does anyone have solutions? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[chriswg]

Anyone have any advice?

 

[coogee]

I don't have any advice, I have the same as you, only I would consider mine worse, maybe twice as much against a black background, has always been like this since receiving it.

Like you, I have no idea what is acceptable or not?

 

[chriswg]

@ coogee -- Thanks for the reply. It's good to hear I'm not the only one.

Would anyone that does not have this problem mind posting a picture of their display at full brightness against a both a black and other solid color background please? I would just like to gauge how much of a difference there really is before contacting Apple. I don't have an Apple Store nearby, or I would just go compare with the floor models. Thanks to anyone that can help.

 

[Burnsey]

@ coogee -- Thanks for the reply. It's good to hear I'm not the only one.

Would anyone that does not have this problem mind posting a picture of their display at full brightness against a both a black and other solid color background please? I would just like to gauge how much of a difference there really is before contacting Apple. I don't have an Apple Store nearby, or I would just go compare with the floor models. Thanks to anyone that can help.

Unfortunately every single 17inch non HR MBP I've seen has had light bleeding at the bottom, to a point where I would consider it normal. Most have been worse than yours though (similar to the pic I posted, but only the backlight bleed not the unevenness).

 

[coogee]

@ coogee -- Thanks for the reply. It's good to hear I'm not the only one.

Would anyone that does not have this problem mind posting a picture of their display at full brightness against a both a black and other solid color background please? I would just like to gauge how much of a difference there really is before contacting Apple. I don't have an Apple Store nearby, or I would just go compare with the floor models. Thanks to anyone that can help.

I'll get back to you on that when I get back in front of my precious..

 

[chriswg]

Unfortunately every single 17inch non HR MBP I've seen has had light bleeding at the bottom, to a point where I would consider it normal. Most have been worse than yours though (similar to the pic I posted, but only the backlight bleed not the unevenness).

Thanks for the info. At least it is reassuring. Although the poll now seems a little misleading...