2018 MacBook Pro display coating??

[fischersd]

Did a search - didn't see anything quite the same as this. Just got my 2018 MBP 15" back from Apple 4 days ago and the display (coating?) is already showing signs of wear. I'm pretty damn meticulous about using a micro-fibre cloth to keep the display clean as well as the keyboard, so no dust is trapped in there to damage it.
(and, yep, I've worked in tech for about 25 years, including hardware support at IBM) - when I resold my 2008 17" MBP it was flawless - like new even.

Some of these marks, you can actually feel with your finger. And this is only 4 days from picking it up??

So, I have to ask - anyone else seeing this? Apple just replaced the display as well as the top case - the "Genius" at the store here in Vancouver said it was actually bent (to which I asked - how the hell does that happen, as it's led a very sheltered life between hotel rooms and the laptop knapsack that I lug it around in - and never set down casually).

(Yep, not a great photo - but hard to catch the imperfections in the display without a strong light source).

Purchased from an Apple store on July 16th - so just approaching 5 months old.

 

[317342]

Unless it truly bothers you, keep it clean, and leave it alone. Otherwise, take it to Apple and ask them to make it right. You have a warranty bc Apple cannot guarantee perfection, nor should anyone expect it.

If it makes you feel any better, I’ve owned several Apple portables, going back to the Lombard and the 270c. Absolutely none were ever 100% perfect (really, what is?). My current machine is a 2017 15” MacBook Pro. The screen is beautiful but if I look at it while it’s off I see all the dust, spots, oils, etc. I’ve cleaned it and find I have a minor horizontal 0deg line of missing top coat that is absolutely impossible to see unless I have the screen completely off and look at a direct point of light reflecting on that spot. If that’s my only issue, and it doesn’t affect my usage, I’m happy. The only thing of which I have a healthy expectation of perfection is the customer service.

 

[leman]

Looks like regular old dirt to me?

 

[fischersd]

...Yeah, the rub is that they already did replace the screen. This replacement screen was only 4 days old at the time of that photo and already exhibiting more of the same symptoms.
I figured if it was a problem with the screens, the problem would be more of an epidemic.

 

[SDColorado]

...Yeah, the rub is that they already did replace the screen. This replacement screen was only 4 days old at the time of that photo and already exhibiting more of the same symptoms.
I figured if it was a problem with the screens, the problem would be more of an epidemic.

I had to have the screen on my 2013 MBP replaced 3 times. I always babied it, used nothing but water and a microfiber cloth to clean it, put one across the keys if I was packing it to put in a bag. It didn't seem to matter. I was hoping that issue was long behind the MBP's.

 

[fischersd]

Turns out it's a common issue (on chat with Lita from Apple Support at the moment)

"...we have received similar reports of the display’s Antireflective Coating starting to rub off or delaminate. What we can do is set up a Genius Bar appointment for the local store as the display must be further inspected and they will be able to review all available options."

I'll let you guys know if they replace the display yet again, or if they send me packing, saying that "it's normal"

 

[maxgts]

I wonder if this would keep the anti-reflective coating from getting damaged:
https://www.radtech.com/products/screensavrz-macbook-pro-keyboard-cover

 

[IngerMan]

I have both on my 13" and 15" from 1st week of use. I have the TB version where it only covers the KB not the entire screen. But I have had no issues while using these.

 

[SDColorado]

I wonder if this would keep the anti-reflective coating from getting damaged:
https://www.radtech.com/products/screensavrz-macbook-pro-keyboard-cover

That’s what I was using for my 2013 after the first replacement, it seemed to help but not prevent another incident and display replacement.

 

[seb119]

My 2018 MBP is 2 months old and has had very similar issues. A few days ago my screen looked just like yours, loads of little white specs. I sat for a few minutes lightly going over the marks in circular motions with a dry microfibre cloth and they eventually went away. As for finger prints though, I've found they're much more likely to leave behind a blue tinge after cleaning.

Try lightly going over the screen with the microfibre cloth for a few minutes and see if what you're left with is bearable. Other than that, we're best not touching these screens. Ever. No matter how clean we think our hands are. The coating is just too fragile.

 

[racz41]

Here's my experience on my 2018 13" MBP,

Woke up one morning there was a small circular residue on my screen but I closed my laptop before sleeping, wiped it using a wet micro fiber cloth it went away but it left a blue tint where the residue was, tried cleaning it again but the blue tint wont go away, it is only visible on direct light. I tried cleaning it over and over again and ended up with a scratching my screen. Very frustrating since my laptop was only 5 days old back then and I babied this laptop since this is expensive hardware.

I love the screen on this laptop but it is very very sensitive.

Correct me if im wrong but I think the 2018 screen is the same as the 2017 model, which means we should also be covered in the staingate repair program

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"I'm pretty damn meticulous about using a micro-fibre cloth to keep the display clean as well as the keyboard, so no dust is trapped in there to damage it."

The LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO is be "cleaning the surface of the display" with a cloth -- ANY cloth -- again and again and again.

I write that seriously.

The surface of the display has a VERY THIN "sprayed on" anti-glare coating, and that is perhaps the weakest component of the entire laptop.

Almost anything that touches it is going to degrade it and begin the wear process.

Your goal should be to "touch the display surface" as little as possible.
Be particularly careful with your fingers when opening the lid.

If there's dust on it, just lightly "dust it away" with your cloth (no pressure).

If something gets on the surface that won't dust off, use a moist cloth and as little pressure as possible... then repeat the "dusting".

Works for me (for the past 2 years with a 2015 MBP).

 

[Martius]

OP wrote:
"I'm pretty damn meticulous about using a micro-fibre cloth to keep the display clean as well as the keyboard, so no dust is trapped in there to damage it."

The LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO is be "cleaning the surface of the display" with a cloth -- ANY cloth -- again and again and again.

I write that seriously.

The surface of the display has a VERY THIN "sprayed on" anti-glare coating, and that is perhaps the weakest component of the entire laptop.

Almost anything that touches it is going to degrade it and begin the wear process.

Your goal should be to "touch the display surface" as little as possible.
Be particularly careful with your fingers when opening the lid.

If there's dust on it, just lightly "dust it away" with your cloth (no pressure).

If something gets on the surface that won't dust off, use a moist cloth and as little pressure as possible... then repeat the "dusting".

Works for me (for the past 2 years with a 2015 MBP).

Or maybe put the laptop back into the box and just look how beautiful the box is...

Just kidding, I do it the same, but it's kind of ridiculous. I know those laptops are not meant to be used as those rugged laptops, but it shouldn't be an issue to use good microfiber cloth to clean the screen. I also have 2015 MBP: my display is ok, just few marks. I use microfiber with just a few drops of water on it (be careful with the water). Before I start to clean the display, I use an air blower for lenses to get rid of all the particles that could scratch the surface.

 

[SDColorado]

Or maybe put the laptop back into the box and just look how beautiful the box is...

Just kidding, I do it the same, but it's kind of ridiculous. I know those laptops are not meant to be used as those rugged laptops, but it shouldn't be an issue to use good microfiber cloth to clean the screen.

That coating is really fragile for a mobile computing device. I am surprised Apple doesn't recommend cleaning it only with deionized water and a cleaning cloth handspun from the finest vicuna wool. Apple being Apple, we are probably cleaning them wrong.

 

[_Kiki_]

Apple should stop use this type of coating on the screen, there is no similar problem on PC Laptops, problem with coating started 6 years ago when Retina model arrived and still isn't solved

the best screen cleaner is isopropanol, not water, water leaves only smudges and not sufficient amount of water with particles can scratch the screen, also too much water can do liquid damage to the logic board

 

[racz41]

Seeing how sensitive these screens are, might as well place a clear screen protector. I know that this might add glare or degrade the screen but if you want to keep your screen in tip top shape I don't think we have a choice.

Some say this might peel the anti glare coating off but I haven't seen any reports of that yet.

 

[Ron21]

From my experience, it's all luck of the draw in terms of how well your display coating was applied or cured.

I've had a MacBook where I sprayed various glass cleaners like windex directly on the display and used paper towels to clean and nothing ever happened to the coating.

On the other hand, I've had one MacBook which I basically only used a microfiber cloth to clean and the coating started to come off..

I've also seen a colleague's MacBook with a screen that seemed like it was never cleaned and the display coating was completed peeling off.

But perhaps this is caused by the oils from the keyboard and using some type of cleaner actually preserves the coating?

So I think that is why Apple offer the easy replacement if you have this issue.

 

[chscag]

I'll let you guys know if they replace the display yet again, or if they send me packing, saying that "it's normal"

Let us know, but it would be great if they will replace the entire machine. I'm sure they're not going to send you away without either replacing the display again or the entire machine.

 

[fischersd]

They did replace the display again. With any luck the issue won't come back. (you would think they'd try to identify which stock has the problem and try to isolate it).

*fingers crossed* that's the end of it.

 

[khalidshehaab]

I have buy mac book pro 2018 with 32GB of Ram and 4Tb SSD .
so i want to know if the problem of coating is fixed in the new mac book pro 2018 i want to know if the problems is repeat that i sell my mac book pro
because i bought it in $4999 so i want if the problem is not fix i want to sell it because this is my first mac that i buy and we dont have any Apple Store in our Country .
Please give some good suggestions ):

 

[R.Stoychev]

It's fixed, but on the newer ones it really depends on how you clean the display. Use only microfibres and NO windex or something like that.

 

[khalidshehaab]

when cleaning the screen there will come some scarthches . some people say that screen protecter will kill the retina display is screen protecter bad or good ??

 

[R.Stoychev]

if you clean it with soft microfibre cloth everything will be fine, due to the fact that the new mbp is so thin, screen protector is overkill and may damage in some way your laptop.

 

[khalidshehaab]

Thank U brother

 

[puma1552]

It's fixed, but on the newer ones it really depends on how you clean the display. Use only microfibres and NO windex or something like that.

Is it though? Is there a post or something you can link to documenting that Apple acknowledged it and fixed it?

I just bought a new sealed mid-2015 the other day which definitely was prone to that issue, but it was manufactured in July of this year; I would like to think if Apple fixed it, they made this fix on the assembly line for the remaining 2015 models they continued to sell through June of this year?

In any case, I decided to buy a RadTech keyboard cover/screen saver. I'm concerned about keys contacting the screen and damaging it. It's nice because it covers the keyboard while also fitting well within the bounds of the display seal so the display still shuts just as it normally would and doesn't have any pressure or anything from trying to close on the microfiber:

OP, not sure if they ship to Afghanistan but I would look into something like this. Here is the link:

screensavrz-macbook-pro-keyboard-cover