Could anyone with a 5k imac please do this test for me?

[IngerMan]

I tested the video again but this time I started my iMac from several hours of sleeping, and immediately put screen brightness to 1/4 or 4 clicks. Watched the 8 minute video full screen, went to picture full screen and could not see any image retention. But then I increased the brightness while on the picture and after about 10 clicks I could see a slight image retention of the banner at the bottom just like the first time I tested it being at 12-14 clicks.

This brief unscientific test would conclude That the level of brightness does not effect causing image retention but the level of brightness does effect seeing image retention.

 

[The Doctor11]

I have a 2015 5k iMac, I've never noticed any issues with image retention. I always have messages, TweetDeck, and Slack on the screen in the exact same spot. I usually use my computer at 40%-60% brightness. Using your test image I do see a very faint retention spot where TweetDeck sits.

 

[macmee]

I tested the video again but this time I started my iMac from several hours of sleeping, and immediately put screen brightness to 1/4 or 4 clicks. Watched the 8 minute video full screen, went to picture full screen and could not see any image retention. But then I increased the brightness while on the picture and after about 10 clicks I could see a slight image retention of the banner at the bottom just like the first time I tested it being at 12-14 clicks.

This brief unscientific test would conclude That the level of brightness does not effect causing image retention but the level of brightness does effect seeing image retention.

I always keep my imac at 40% to 50% brightness, so if your theory is that this is only a problem when the screen is super bright then this hasn't been my experience. I'm sure ambient light in the room where the unit is plays into it to some extent too though.
[doublepost=1485187027][/doublepost]

so far the best way I've discovered to get rid of ghost images on the LCD panel:

download this package of 1029 solid color desktop pictures. set "Classic" screensaver and point it to the directory containing the downloaded pictures. also I selected "Shuffle slide order" in order to get the colors displayed randomly. this worked way better than Apple's method of just using white as a "screensaver".

http://www.solidbackgrounds.com/download-solid-color-backgrounds.html
http://www.solidbackgrounds.com/images/files/one/1280x720-all-solid-color-backgrounds.zip

Thanks, but sadly this isn't very viable on the iMac I don't think, because it's not an occasionally occurring problem. Since any still image for even just several minutes burns in, we would have to switch to the screensaver like every 10 minutes.

 

[M3Jedi77]

Late 2014 27" iMac Retina here, usually at 30-50% brightness.

I've noticed screen retention get worse and worse the last month. If I leave a white browser window open on the screen for even 40 seconds and pull it off, it's a pretty obvious burn-in.

This SUCKS. Is there anything I can do to get a replacement panel? I have a 2nd display (Dell 5k) that sees heavier use and has no retention whatsoever.

 

[redheeler]

Late 2014 27" iMac Retina here, usually at 30-50% brightness.

I've noticed screen retention get worse and worse the last month. If I leave a white browser window open on the screen for even 40 seconds and pull it off, it's a pretty obvious burn-in.

This SUCKS. Is there anything I can do to get a replacement panel? I have a 2nd display (Dell 5k) that sees heavier use and has no retention whatsoever.

The Late 2014 Retina iMac was very problematic for me as well. If you're still under AppleCare and the issue is that noticeable, take it in and Apple should replace the panel for you. If not, then you may be out of luck unless you pay for a replacement yourself (wouldn't hurt to try and get it covered though). Good luck getting this resolved.

 

[M3Jedi77]

The Late 2014 Retina iMac was very problematic for me as well. If you're still under AppleCare and the issue is that noticeable, take it in and Apple should replace the panel for you. If not, then you may be out of luck unless you pay for a replacement yourself (wouldn't hurt to try and get it covered though). Good luck getting this resolved.

Unfortunately I don't have AppleCare for any of my products... Looks like I'm stuck with it. Its gotten so bad lately its borderline unusable.

 

[Fez Vrasta]

I opened this thread (https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/is-ghosting-normal-on-imac-5k.2040776/#post-24475424) but then I found this one

Your experience reflects what I experienced in the past years/months.

I wonder what should I do... :-(

 

[eckndu]

wtf..

are people getting this ghosting immediately or is it developed over time?

is apple bitchy about this issue or would they replace the screen no question asked? you know how a lot of manufactures say 5 or less dead pixels is not considered defective.. is Apple saying something similar, like if it's not showing ghosting within 20 minutes it's not defective?

and, I imagine I'll have to show them the ghosting in store?

 

[Fez Vrasta]

I got first my GPU replaced (for no reason) and the second time the screen.

Talking with an Apple technician I understood that they will always first try to replace the GPU and if it doesn't fix the problem then they replace the screen. Probably replacing the GPU is less expensive than the screen...

By the way with this new screen I noticed the ghosting only the first day but it was very light. Not it's been more than a month I have it and I don't notice any ghosting. Let's hope it stands long enough.

 

[Guggiman]

I experience very clear retention/ghosting on my 18 month old iMac 5K. I am shocked that Apple says that this is normal and should be expected. The image below shows the retention/ghosting from a browser window that has been open for less than 5 minutes.

 

[jlseattle]

Are you on iMac under warranty? I would be curious to see their response specifically to you.

 

[Guggiman]

I have talked to Apple Customer Service (over phone as it was bought online). They tell me that retention after only 5-10 minutes is to expected. So if I hand it in for repair, I not only have to do without my Mac for days, but will also have to pay a danish kr. 500,- (+/- $100) fee as they hand it back, having only found what Apple says is to be expected.
[doublepost=1500369198][/doublepost]- and yes, I am still under my danish 2 year warranty.

 

[MC6800]

I experience very clear retention/ghosting on my 18 month old iMac 5K. I am shocked that Apple says that this is normal and should be expected. The image below shows the retention/ghosting from a browser window that has been open for less than 5 minutes.

In your image it looks like the retention is only visible as a reflection. Is that really the case? Do you still see it in a dark room?

 

[The_MutenRoshi]

Wow. Yhis

I experience very clear retention/ghosting on my 18 month old iMac 5K. I am shocked that Apple says that this is normal and should be expected. The image below shows the retention/ghosting from a browser window that has been open for less than 5 minutes.
View attachment 708936

This is holding me back right now in buying a new iMac 27". Maybe will buy the 13" and a monitor for the desktop...

This is f***ing crazy Apple!

 

[jlseattle]

My new iMac is being delivered in a few weeks. I'll measure this and keep it in mind as I move along. I will take video of the screen working over time. If I see degradation I'll reach out to Apple and post here.

 

[Traverse]

Why not just use it and if you notice retention bring it up to Apple? I've bought a new iMac and simply use it as I normally would and have not noticed anything.

If I ran tests specifically designed to pronounce the issue of course it will appear.

 

[Guggiman]

This is a problem that started when the iMac was 16-17 month old. It only occurs when the iMac has been on for 1-2 hours, so I expect the temperature to be the source of the problem, even though the back doesn't feel any warmer than normally. The fan functions and can't be the problem.
I have talked to Apple Customer Service and explained what I experience. They say that this is normal and it is to be expected. They refer to an article on apple.com http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5455 and http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2807 that you should use the screensaver to prevent this from happening. BUT that makes no sense when the problem already occurs when the window has been open 10 minutes.
(PS: The reflection on the screen is of me taking the photo. The retention/ghosting is not a reflection and can be seen in the dark)

 

[Guggiman]

Here is a long explanation because some has talked about reflection and even about the previous being manipulated:

It is really difficult to photograph the screen, as it is emitting light (just like it is difficult to take pictures directly at a light or the sun) How the photo ends up, depends on where the camera focuses - the lighter folders, or the dark desktop.
If the camera focuses on the desktop, the retention shows up as it is seen in real life - just like the contrast between the dark desktop and the black frame of the iMac is as it is seen in real life.

So here is a couple of photos - one with correct folders but a almost black desktop and one with to light folders but correct desktop AND almost correct depiction of the retention. In real life the retention is even more noticeable.

 

[MC6800]

Here is a long explanation because some has talked about reflection and even about the previous being manipulated:

It is really difficult to photograph the screen, as it is emitting light (just like it is difficult to take pictures directly at a light or the sun) How the photo ends up, depends on where the camera focuses - the lighter folders, or the dark desktop.
If the camera focuses on the desktop, the retention shows up as it is seen in real life - just like the contrast between the dark desktop and the black frame of the iMac is as it is seen in real life.

So here is a couple of photos - one with correct folders but a almost black desktop and one with to light folders but correct desktop AND almost correct depiction of the retention. In real life the retention is even more noticeable.

View attachment 711655

View attachment 711654

Interesting. Your two photos appear to be at different angles-- was that the only thing you changed? Or was the room lighting or background changed?

I ask because if it's only visible through screen reflection, you'd solve two problems by reducing that.

 

[Guggiman]

What? The two photos are at exactly the same angel! I really don't know how you can see it differently.

The problem with RETENTION on the iMac has NOTHING to do reflection!
The retention can be seen very clearly in a totally black/dark room with NO source of reflection.

The second picture is just to show that it is difficult to photograph a monitor because it is emitting light.
The retention is still there in photo 2 - its only the camera that can not catch the screen as it is in real life.

 

[mikeboss]

image retention on the 5K panels is a fact, period. yes, its annoying. I have no experience with the panel of the 2017 iMac. maybe they were able to finally get rid of this behavior.

just use a screensaver as described in this post: #39

this will temporarily remove the ghost pictures.

otherwise, the screen is so nice to work with. I just can't switch back to non-retina anymore.

 

[MC6800]

What? The two photos are at exactly the same angel! I really don't know how you can see it differently.

The problem with RETENTION on the iMac has NOTHING to do reflection!
The retention can be seen very clearly in a totally black/dark room with NO source of reflection.

The second picture is just to show that it is difficult to photograph a monitor because it is emitting light.
The retention is still there in photo 2 - its only the camera that can not catch the screen as it is in real life.

Ok, good to know. That distict grey shading of the top image is probably a black-level difference in the camera's auto-level.

An interesting test would be to look at a pure-black screen with the lights off, since it should photograph better. (create an all black .png image, view it in Preview, and zoom to full screen)

 

[Guggiman]

There is no problem getting rid of the retention - it disappears by it self after 10-15 seconds.

The problem is that it reappears if I f.ex. have a browser window open for only 5 minutes, and then close it.

I have worked as a graphic designer for over 10 years and worked with apple monitors and iMacs the whole time. I have never experienced this problem in any way what so ever, not at work, not on my colleagues Macs and not on my 5 previous Macs, before it occurred on my present iMac.

So I don't understand why I should accept that the 5K panels are flawed with image retention in this way.
[doublepost=1501950748][/doublepost]

k, good to know. That distict grey shading of the top image is probably a black-level difference in the camera's auto-level.

An interesting test would be to look at a pure-black screen with the lights off, since it should photograph better. (create an all black .png image, view it in Preview, and zoom to full screen)

That would make no difference.

The top image shows the problem as it is in real life - retention on the panel it self.

 

[peacemind]

I have same problem and find this post. It 's very annoy when display retention.
I use imac late 2015 and now is 1 year and 8 month,The retention is get worse than month ago
and now edge of my screen is get purple color.

 

[ZMacintosh]

Hm, all of the 2017 5K iMacs I've set up or used had zero image retention. The LG Ultrafines had terrible retention and only a few 2013 iMacs had the retention, 2015 very minimal if at all. I'd say get your iMac or panel swapped.

But as the thread stated and Apple has documented that it is expected behavior on these panels. If I were to notice it during my warranty period I'd get it taken care of no need to worry about it if it can be replaced or resolved.