Keyboard indentations on screen

[bill-p]

Again. Sigh...

I've had my 14" MacBook for a bit over a month now. This was a problem I was hoping Apple would have solved by now, but no, no such luck. Keyboard indentation still shows on the screen because there is just so very little clearance when the MacBook is in clamshell. And to think the new 14" and 16" even got thicker than the last models.

Luckily I have a screen protector, so it won't damage the screen, but for those who don't have a screen protector, I'd say... be very careful. Your screen may end up with the whole keyboard indented on it at some point. I have seen this before with all previous MacBook generations since 2016. It will eventually warrant a screen replacement from Apple.

 

[Cornflakesla]

Again. Sigh...

I've had my 14" MacBook for a bit over a month now. This was a problem I was hoping Apple would have solved by now, but no, no such luck. Keyboard indentation still shows on the screen because there is just so very little clearance when the MacBook is in clamshell. And to think the new 14" and 16" even got thicker than the last models.

Luckily I have a screen protector, so it won't damage the screen, but for those who don't have a screen protector, I'd say... be very careful. Your screen may end up with the whole keyboard indented on it at some point. I have seen this before with all previous MacBook generations since 2016. It will eventually warrant a screen replacement from Apple.

I was afraid of this. Sigh.

What screen protector are you using?

 

[Furfural]

My first 14 inch unit had a tall space bar and was leaving marks on the screen into the second week of ownership. I brought it in for replacement. 10 days later the replacement unit started to show the same space bar marks on the screen. I'll place a piece of kimwipe or thin tissue on top of the space bar as I close the clamsheel from now on. Thought Apple should have worked this problem out with this generation but nope.

 

[bill-p]

I was afraid of this. Sigh.

What screen protector are you using?

This one:

Supershieldz (3 Pack) Designed for MacBook Pro 14 inch (M3 / M3 Pro / M3 Max / M2 Pro / M2 Max / M1 Pro / M1 Max) Screen Protector, High Definition Clear Shield (PET)

Our screen protectors are made from Optical Grade Crystal Film which are custom cut to ensure a perfect fit every time. Constructed in five layers; a scratch resistant surface polymer, a hardened protective mask to prevent deep cuts damaging your device and finally a patented silicone gel that cr...

www.amazon.com

 

[VineRider]

14" Pro here - no marks on screen that I can see on mine. Bought it on launch day.

 

[NoBoMac]

I use these.

Kuzy 3 Pack Premium Microfiber Cleaning Cloth for Electronics - Lint Free Glasses Cleaning Cloth - Eyeglass Cleaning Wipes - Camera Lens Wipes - TV and Laptop Screen Cleaning Cloth - Extra Large

Kuzy 3 Pack Premium Microfiber Cleaning Cloth for Electronics - Lint Free Glasses Cleaning Cloth - Eyeglass Cleaning Wipes - Camera Lens Wipes - TV and Laptop Screen Cleaning Cloth - Extra Large

www.amazon.com

But I'm also careful to not let weighty items crush my MBP. My laptop backpack has a padded sleeve dedicated for laptops. And the laptop sits in a padded sleeve that I put into it (backpack is made for 15-16" laptops). When in my messenger bag, again, in the sleeve and not overloading the bag.

 

[Sanpete]

The screen protector makes it more likely you'll see marks, because of its thickness and softness.

 

[rodrigezlopez]

Very strange. Didn't have screen marks on my MPB Pro 13" 2016, MPB Air 2020 and new MPB 16" 2021. Am i just lucky or It caused by pressure on lid in some scenarios?

 

[bill-p]

The screen protector makes it more likely you'll see marks, because of its thickness and softness.

I noticed faint marks even without the screen protector. It seems any pressure on the lid will cause this.

Very strange. Didn't have screen marks on my MPB Pro 13" 2016, MPB Air 2020 and new MPB 16" 2021. Am i just lucky or I caused by pressure on lid in some scenarios?

Pressure on lid. I sometimes put things on top of the lid when the device is in clamshell, and also the laptop compartment in my messenger bag is a bit tight.

But the thing is... I do this to my work laptop (HP Zbook) as well and that one is just fine.

 

[Cornflakesla]

The screen protector makes it more likely you'll see marks, because of its thickness and softness.

Yes, I can live with some marks on the screen as long as I know they're not permanent... With screen protectors I know I can periodically switch them out. But it drives me nuts that my current machine has permanent marks on it.

And it's not that I'm being especially rough with my machine. It goes into my padded backpack daily, and granted, while the backpack may lay horizontally (meaning the rest of the backpack's weight is on top), it's never more than a couple of pounds at most. And I honestly don't feel I'm being ridiculous or unreasonable with how I'm transporting my machine.

 

[BreakYurAnkles]

Yes, I can live with some marks on the screen as long as I know they're not permanent... With screen protectors I know I can periodically switch them out. But it drives me nuts that my current machine has permanent marks on it.

And it's not that I'm being especially rough with my machine. It goes into my padded backpack daily, and granted, while the backpack may lay horizontally (meaning the rest of the backpack's weight is on top), it's never more than a couple of pounds at most. And I honestly don't feel I'm being ridiculous or unreasonable with how I'm transporting my machine.

I guess that's why Apple offers Apple(you gotta pay us to)Care+ your peace of mind. ?

 

[Cornflakesla]

I guess that's why Apple offers Apple(you gotta pay us to)Care+ your peace of mind. ?

Yep... and purchased. Like a sucker.

 

[Natzoo]

I see this on my 16" m1 also, no screen protector and no stress on the display. It just sits on my desk for the most part.

 

[BreakYurAnkles]

Yep... and purchased. Like a sucker.

Luckily for me and most others that buy used.

That fear of breaking and paying the (double?) Apple tax is strong enough that almost every used Apple product I buy 2nd hand has AppleCare+ coverage left on it.

I used to work at best buy and our warranty sales/attachment rate wasn't ever this high. Apple certainly has a cash cow in their warranty and services segment.

 

[Sanpete]

Yes, I can live with some marks on the screen as long as I know they're not permanent... With screen protectors I know I can periodically switch them out. But it drives me nuts that my current machine has permanent marks on it.

Funny how that works, though. I understand the feeling, but if the screen protector makes it so you end up seeing more marks instead of fewer most of the time, it's an odd result to prefer.

 

[bill-p]

Funny how that works, though. I understand the feeling, but if the screen protector makes it so you end up seeing more marks instead of fewer most of the time, it's an odd result to prefer.

It's not. If I end up seeing marks one way or another, I might as well see the marks with the knowledge that they are not actually damaging the screen underneath in any way, so I can either leave them there or wipe them off.

If they're on the screen long term, there's a very real chance of permanent damage. This has happened before.

 

[BreakYurAnkles]

I honestly think that its the oils from our fingers that get onto the screen from the keyboard. I personally have had the marks on my screen from the keys. Once I see them too many times (I always wipe off the marks every time I see them OCD I know) I will wipe down my keyboard with 90% rubbing alcohol and no more marks for a while. I use my laptop in many environments and the imperfections drive me nuts. I always have a screen cleaning cloth with me.

I heard somewhere that the screen delamination "stain gate" was because of the oils from our fingers eating away at the anti-reflective coating.

I have a 2015 MBP 15" that I got in mint condition a few months ago and has no screen imperfections or delamination . I swear the previous owner either never used it (only 146 charge cycles on the original battery) or they used it plugged in most of the time on a desk with external keyboard and mouse.

 

[Sanpete]

It's not. If I end up seeing marks one way or another, I might as well see the marks with the knowledge that they are not actually damaging the screen underneath in any way, so I can either leave them there or wipe them off.

If they're on the screen long term, there's a very real chance of permanent damage. This has happened before.

Yes, I understood that. But it remains that you're likely to end up seeing more marks more of the time with a screen protector, unless you change it frequently.

 

[Cornflakesla]

Luckily for me and most others that buy used.

That fear of breaking and paying the (double?) Apple tax is strong enough that almost every used Apple product I buy 2nd hand has AppleCare+ coverage left on it.

I used to work at best buy and our warranty sales/attachment rate wasn't ever this high. Apple certainly has a cash cow in their warranty and services segment.

I honestly think that its the oils from our fingers that get onto the screen from the keyboard. I personally have had the marks on my screen from the keys. Once I see them too many times (I always wipe off the marks every time I see them OCD I know) I will wipe down my keyboard with 90% rubbing alcohol and no more marks for a while. I use my laptop in many environments and the imperfections drive me nuts. I always have a screen cleaning cloth with me.

I heard somewhere that the screen delamination "stain gate" was because of the oils from our fingers eating away at the anti-reflective coating.

I have a 2015 MBP 15" that I got in mint condition a few months ago and has no screen imperfections or delamination . I swear the previous owner either never used it (only 146 charge cycles on the original battery) or they used it plugged in most of the time on a desk with external keyboard and mouse.

Oh that’s interesting (about the oils). Never considered that. Always just figured they were scratches. Perhaps this means with regular cleaning the problem can be avoided.

 

[bill-p]

Yes, I understood that. But it remains that you're likely to end up seeing more marks more of the time with a screen protector, unless you change it frequently.

Well, sure. But that's what I'm saying: either way, marks will show. It's just a matter of cleaning more often or less often. The thing is, without the screen protector, the risk of damaging the screen is real, and this has happened to me many times before with previous generations. With the screen protector, there is pretty much zero chance that the screen can get damaged unless by a very sharp and hard object getting stuck on the keyboard somehow.

The tradeoff is really between whether you want to risk damaging the screen, or just let the screen protector get destroyed and change it out when it's too hard to see the screen. I'd rather change a screen protector every year versus changing the whole screen.

 

[bill-p]

Oh that’s interesting (about the oils). Never considered that. Always just figured they were scratches. Perhaps this means with regular cleaning the problem can be avoided.

It's not the oil. One of my previous MacBooks actually got the shape of the trackpad indented on it as well. The whole shape... and I'm pretty sure there's no way I slide my fingers around the edges of the trackpad every single day.

It's just that the screen gets pressed on to the bottom deck and the coating is too thin to withstand this over the long term.

Also, if you are not careful while cleaning the screen, you can "clean away" the coating as well. Trust me... been through 2 MacBooks already with this exact same problem. If anyone needs repair receipts as proof, I can find them in my email inbox. It is very sad and pretty much unacceptable that this is still a problem in 2021. Apple even made the new MacBooks thicker but they did not improve clearance between the screen and the bottom deck.

Edit: here you go. That's a post showing the 2018 MacBook with the shape of the trackpad and the bottom of the keyboard. That's not finger oil. The coating wore away from having to touch the whole bottom deck. Either that or the owner of that MacBook never touched their keyboard but they rubbed their oily fingers on the palm rest every time before they closed the lid.

 

[Lobwedgephil]

Interesting, have used MacBook Pro's forever, and never had this on mine. I don't use a screen protector though, and don't apply pressure on it when closed.

 

[jabbr]

I haven't actually experienced this on either my 2017 MBP or 2020 MBA. Hope I don't on the 14"

Any screen protector is going to get closer to the keys than the screen itself.

 

[throAU]

Had it on my 2015 13"
Had it on my 2020 Air

Yup, still happens on my 2021 14"

is what it is I guess. The 13" still got 5+ years without any staingate in that area so will see how it goes.

Suspect its more apparent if you use the built in keyboard (its finger oils) - if you're usually at a desk with external keyboard probably notice it less.

Also likely more likely if your MBP goes into a backpack, etc.

 

[ssl0408]

I noticed this at the top of the screen on a new MacBook Pro that I've had for 5 days. Also had this on my old MacBook Pro. Thanks to one of the posts, I ordered one of those cloth keyboard covers so I hope that will help.