Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Brand New 24" iMac - Uneven Backlight?
- Thread starter JD92
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I have it.
I do have this problem (I even have a thread about it) with my new iMac. I have even given it to the Genius Bar for repair, only to have it come back with the same issue even after an LCD replacement. I have now sent it to an Authorized Service Provider to see if they can fix it. I'm waiting to get it back to see if it's fixed (I have low hopes though).
I would normally accept that this is not a "pro" display, but the problem is very visible even when I'm online (where web pages are white), a very consumer level activity.
Also, I noticed that in the Apple Store, all the 24 inchers I looked at have the same issue even while I see people online post that theirs look fine.
Sadly, I did try this advice, and it didn't really help the issue. This seems like a much deeper design flaw of the iMac.
Here is a pic of the issue for those who want a visual of what it looks like (if you can't see it, click the image to see a version where the contrast is slightly increased):
I do have this problem (I even have a thread about it) with my new iMac. I have even given it to the Genius Bar for repair, only to have it come back with the same issue even after an LCD replacement. I have now sent it to an Authorized Service Provider to see if they can fix it. I'm waiting to get it back to see if it's fixed (I have low hopes though).
I would normally accept that this is not a "pro" display, but the problem is very visible even when I'm online (where web pages are white), a very consumer level activity.
Also, I noticed that in the Apple Store, all the 24 inchers I looked at have the same issue even while I see people online post that theirs look fine.
Sadly, I did try this advice, and it didn't really help the issue. This seems like a much deeper design flaw of the iMac.
Here is a pic of the issue for those who want a visual of what it looks like (if you can't see it, click the image to see a version where the contrast is slightly increased):
Ah yes that picture looks pretty much the same as what I've got here. I might try what MacAndy suggested and leave the screen running for a good few hours. It would be nice not to have to lug my new iMac all the way back to the Apple Store
If you want any hope of getting this fixed, take it to the Apple Store. Think like this: If all the iMacs in the store have been running for many many hours, then why do the still have gradients.
I have noticed that the backlight unevenness seems to get better with time. I don't really notice it at all anymore. Perhaps contact Apple about it if it's really annoying you?
That may be because you are using an iMac G4. That model probably didn't have the same issue as the Aluminum iMacs. Your issue only needed the backlight to burn in. The Aluminum iMac issue is different, sadly.
Ya, unfortunately iMacs are still on LCDs. Maybe it might be better after LED iMacs start coming out.
Don't confuse LCD with LED. The iMac uses CCFL backlights, while the Macbooks and 24 inch Cinema Display uses LED backlights. All however, use LCD. All Macs are "still on LCDs", but the iMac is still on CCFL backlights.
Also, with that said, the use of CCFL is not an excuse for this sort of thing. My 2006 Macbook Pro uses one, and its backlight is perfectly even. As are the backlights of MOST displays on the market, and very few are LED backlit. This issue literally makes the TN panel in my Macbook Pro better than the IPS panel in my iMac.
wow, that sucks.. I have to check this out next time in the apple store...
Does anyone know if the 24" LED backlit LCD has this problem too or not? I know they are backlit differently but just wonderingly if those have the problem too.
Does anyone know if the 24" LED backlit LCD has this problem too or not? I know they are backlit differently but just wonderingly if those have the problem too.
I see, thanks for clearing things up for me. So I guess Apple manufacturers are either cutting corners or Apple is just getting terrible at QC.
At home - I use an iMac G4 but at work I use or have access to the 20" and 24" 2009 iMac and I can honestly say I haven't noticed any backlight problems.
The panel in the 24" iMac is brilliant and I know that we support users who use these for professional photo editing / design. Not a single complaint!
If you're not happy with the panel the iMac has - wait until the next model?
The panel in the 24" iMac is brilliant and I know that we support users who use these for professional photo editing / design. Not a single complaint!
If you're not happy with the panel the iMac has - wait until the next model?
Hmm, how many users (who would notice this sort of thing) do you support? It's a little odd that you guys have not got one iMac with this defect, while most of the 24 inchers in the Apple Store are afflicted.
Perhaps since you actually have access to them, maybe you could set them to a solid white or "aqua blue" wallpaper, then take pictures so we can see what proper iMacs look like?
Just a rough count, but I am part of a group who supports at least 60'odd of mixed 2008 and 2009 iMac's. I've not gone looking for the problem and our users are generally very demanding - yet there have not been complaints.
When I did go out and look for the problem, I did see some - very few iMac's, perhaps 5% that did seem to be somewhat brighter in some areas of the panel than others. But once again - I really had to go and look for the problem otherwise it just wasn't visible.
The only other thing I can add is that perhaps it's a screen calibration issue not a panel fault. Our customers use the Spyder3Pro to calibrate the 2008 and 2009 iMac screens before they start working on color critical work.
Well, BTH I don't think that calibration would resolve this kind of issue. You would calibrate one portion of the screen, and then the other parts would be off due to this issue. I have personally tried the built in calibration assistant, and the results wern't much better.
Also, on our screens, you don't really have to "look" for the problem. The problem is obvious from the second you boot up the iMac, when you see the gray screen + apple logo, to when you open up Google is a moderately large window.
Again, I really want to see pics of the iMacs just so that we can see what good iMacs really look like.
This is issue is most likely LG related. LG has the worst quality control of the major LCD companies. Uneven backlights are unfortunately too common on LG IPS, even the LED models suffer this defect as well.
Well, I was able to find this thread: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=9224609
I still don't know if this issue is as bad on 24 inch LED LCD as it is with the iMac.
um, you can blame LG for crappy quality control on their IPS panels...it's not really apple's fault. Even expensive NEC (with IPS panels) monitors have that problem...
Thank you
They probably use the same LG IPS Panel as Apple and, I know for sure that HP uses these panels themselves also.