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bsmr

macrumors 65816
Oct 4, 2005
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301
Germany
MBA M1 - Front Photo. True tone on. (auto-brightness off, max. brightness on). Picture from iPhone without any long time exposure.
 

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0906742

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MBA M1 - Front Photo. True tone on. (auto-brightness off, max. brightness on). Picture from iPhone without any long time exposure.
Thanks. It is practically identical. I guess it is not just one faulty panel...
Not sure it is worth to exchange it to another one unless there are difference between batches or panels from difference vendors. What is your MBA manufacturing week?

Anyway, even that MBP in your photos does not look very good to me and I'm not sure I would want all negative things I consider with MBP vs MBA. If the panel was as good as in my previous MBP, I guess I would reconsider but otherwise MBA just feels so much nicer machine.
 

bsmr

macrumors 65816
Oct 4, 2005
1,135
301
Germany
The MBP already went back to apple (light leaks at bezels).

MBA I'm not shure. They said, that I have to return the MBA and can order a new one (extended return period until Jan. 8th - and then added two weeks time for sending it back).

Don't know, if it's a second batch, if I will order a new one.

Actually I'm not sure in ordering the MBA again... Maybe switching to the MBP (with it's sharp bezel)
 

0906742

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Hi,
Got a backlight leak on my MBA M1. Returned.
I think red/green glares are ok but not light leaks

To test: https://www.lightbleedtest.com/
OK, that leak seem pretty bad. However environment seems pretty bright so hard to say much about red tint but there seems to be hint even in this photo.

edit. OK, I saw another photo you posted in this thread: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/macbook-air-m1-backlight-bleeding.2271901/
Sure it has obvious red glow with pretty bad backlight leaks. Mine does not practically have backlight leak at all, just red glow.
 
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0906742

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Apr 11, 2018
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MBA I'm not shure. They said, that I have to return the MBA and can order a new one (extended return period until Jan. 8th - and then added two weeks time for sending it back).

Don't know, if it's a second batch, if I will order a new one.
Yeah, it is hard to say if there will be changes. Still it is pretty obvious MBA screen is not in the same league with MBP. It is not just max. nits but overall including contrast ratio.

Anyway, white and bright image uniformity is very good in MBA and obviously with this low contrast ratio it is not really suitable for watching much videos or anything like that in dark or dim room even if it was without this red glow.

Actually I'm not sure in ordering the MBA again... Maybe switching to the MBP (with it's sharp bezel)
I guess for the display, MBP will be better choice but not sure how much because the one in your photo was not nearly as good as my previous MBP 2019.
 

bsmr

macrumors 65816
Oct 4, 2005
1,135
301
Germany
I guess for the display, MBP will be better choice but not sure how much because the one in your photo was not nearly as good as my previous MBP 2019.
It was a 2 second exposure picture. It was better than my 2013 rMBP Display. That's all I can say.

The MBA is going back. I do not get along with the display.
But I don't know if I will take the MBP M1 or just wait with my old 2013 rMBP for another few months....
 

mrfish84

macrumors newbie
Nov 26, 2020
20
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OK, that leak seem pretty bad. However environment seems pretty bright so hard to say much about red tint but there seems to be hint even in this photo.

edit. OK, I saw another photo you posted in this thread: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/macbook-air-m1-backlight-bleeding.2271901/
Sure it has obvious red glow with pretty bad backlight leaks. Mine does not practically have backlight leak at all, just red glow.
Yes. It looks like all LCD screens have red glow (plus they are more visible on photos than real life)
 
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0906742

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Apr 11, 2018
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The MBA is going back. I do not get along with the display.
But I don't know if I will take the MBP M1 or just wait with my old 2013 rMBP for another few months....
If you are not in a hurry I guess it would be wiser to wait if there will be new displays next year. There are rumors about these MicroLED panels coming. Not sure they are much better in uniformity, could be even worse but they should have excellent contrast ratio.

I'm still on the fence what to do. Red glow is not an issue in bright room and light picture content is very even always which in not that common with LCD's. I like some much all other things in Air, even speakers are huge upgrade from Pro. Battery life in MBA M1 is not that wonderful in my opinion.
 

0906742

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Yes. It looks like all LCD screens have red glow (plus they are more visible on photos than real life)
Well not all LCD have that, but not sure if this model panels have this common. Of course camera makes it look even worse that how it looks really. Anyway, do you see this red glow in dark room with your own eyes? Can you see it anywhere besides black full screen image then?
 

gregpod9

macrumors 6502
Apr 27, 2007
307
91
Looks identically to my one. Even with the small brighter spot around F4-F5 key.
I may end up returning my MBA 16/512/8C GPU mainly due to its screen quality. I might be getting either the base MBP or try out the MBP 8/512 once more. Also I'm noticing that my MBA has a slight red tinted screen due to its red glow light. When I tried out the MBP 8/512, the display on it was excellent.
 

bsmr

macrumors 65816
Oct 4, 2005
1,135
301
Germany
I may end up returning my MBA 16/512/8C GPU mainly due to its screen quality. I might be getting either the base MBP or try out the MBP 8/512 once more. Also I'm noticing that my MBA has a slight red tinted screen due to its red glow light. When I tried out the MBP 8/512, the display on it was excellent.
Same for me. I tried an MBP M1 - but returned it because of light leaks around the bezel.
But the screen was better in my opinion.

Think I will reorder the MBP M1.
 

gregpod9

macrumors 6502
Apr 27, 2007
307
91
Same for me. I tried an MBP M1 - but returned it because of light leaks around the bezel.
But the screen was better in my opinion.

Think I will reorder the MBP M1.
I just reordered the MBP M1 8/512. I’m going to ship back the MBA M1 on Monday.
 

James_C

macrumors 68030
Sep 13, 2002
2,847
1,897
Bristol, UK
No red glow on my M1 MBA, brightness set to max. Sorry for the slightly grainy image, taken with an iPad.

IMG_0337.JPG
 
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James_C

macrumors 68030
Sep 13, 2002
2,847
1,897
Bristol, UK
Apple in the past has used dual sourcing for its displays. I remember back to 2012 with the first retina MBP that can suffered from an image retention problem - those that had LG displays like me had a much greater chance of seeing image retention problems that those with Samsung screens. I got my Laptop replaced and luckily the next one came with a Samsung screen. I wonder if it is the same issue here or just a bad batch of displays.
 

0906742

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Apr 11, 2018
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Also I'm noticing that my MBA has a slight red tinted screen due to its red glow light.
In which conditions you can see red tint other than black image in dark room? Do you see reddish glow in white or bright picture (like simply opening google.com on safari full screen mode)? Mine has perfect uniformity in all other but black and near black images.

Was your serial number starting with C0? What manufacturing week (serial numbers 5th character shows it)?
 

0906742

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Apr 11, 2018
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No red glow on my M1 MBA, brightness set to max. Sorry for the slightly grainy image, taken with an iPad.
Your picture is taken from "the good side" of the display and it is way too dark anyway. Please take photo straight in the middle and use some better camera to bring out detail more.

Anyway mine looks also about perfect if I look it from the angle your photo was taken!
 
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James_C

macrumors 68030
Sep 13, 2002
2,847
1,897
Bristol, UK
Ok, This was taken in a room as dark as I could make it. Lights off, door closed, blackout curtains pulled over the window. Photo was taken with a iPhone X, square to the display. Screen brightness was set to 100%.

I am using the light bleed test site.


I agree that your screens show red glow, mine is ok.


IMG_0388.jpeg


To give you an idea of how dark the room was

IMG_0389.jpeg
 
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0906742

Cancelled
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Apr 11, 2018
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613
Ok, This was taken in a room as dark as I could make it. Lights off, door closed, blackout curtains pulled over the window. Photo was taken with a iPhone X, square to the display. Screen brightness was set to 100%.

I am using the light bleed test site.
Again, photo is taken in way too bright room. You need to take it in dark room and screen must appear much lighter than in your photo (mine is also taken with iPhone X and it appears much brighter). Because based on your photo, your look like it has contrast ratio like 2-3x higher and I don't think they use 3000:1 screen in MBA's?
 

James_C

macrumors 68030
Sep 13, 2002
2,847
1,897
Bristol, UK
Again, photo is taken in way too bright room. You need to take it in dark room and screen must appear much lighter than in your photo (mine is also taken with iPhone X and it appears much brighter). Because based on your photo, your look like it has contrast ratio like 2-3x higher and I don't think they use 3000:1 screen in MBA's?

Look again I have added an additional photo that shows how dark the room was. I can't make it any darker.
 

0906742

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Apr 11, 2018
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Look again I have added an additional photo that shows how dark the room was. I can't make it any darker.
Obviously room is still pretty light and based on the screen brightness shown in your photo taken by iPhone X appears way too dark because of additional light in the room. So I take your word the screen looks perfect to you but so does mine is similar conditions. This red glow is something you notice when you use the machine in dark room a while and your eyes get to adjust to that. Just quickly going to dark room and test if for few seconds, it is harder to notice with mine too.

I'm just pointing out that comparing these photos is meaningless if they are all not taken in the same conditions.

Just a thought if you want to take a photo in similar conditions as others in this thread, do you have something like walk in close or anything that is absolutely dark place while you take a photo?
 

James_C

macrumors 68030
Sep 13, 2002
2,847
1,897
Bristol, UK
Well the original photo was taken with an iPad and at that time it was still pretty dark outside. I don't tend to edit photos or do any work in complete darknesss anyway, so to be honest if that is what you are seeing then I am not sure it is that big an issue anyway. Yes there is a small amount of light coming through the sides of the curtains, but if you look at how bright the keys are in my face on photo and yours then they are pretty similar.

All I am saying in normal working conditions I am not seeing any contrast or red glow problems.
 
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