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M2 MBA backlight bleed issue? How does your monitor look?

So I returned my second M2 Air today, didn't want to do more exchanges, I compared it to my M1 and realised how bad it was, I really liked the machine and tried to ignore the issue, but when I saw how bad it was and it would show up on dark backgrounds, I wasn't going to settle for a defective display for the next 2+ years for something that costs nearly $2k AUD

I will probably try again in a couple of months, and try to keep updated with info whether Apple managed to sort it out, otherwise its a great machine

mba_display.jpg
 
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washburn said:
So I returned my second M2 Air today, didn't want to do more exchanges, I compared it to my M1 and realised how bad it was, I really liked the machine and tried to ignore the issue, but when I saw how bad it was and it would show up on dark backgrounds, I wasn't going to settle for a defective display for the next 2+ years for something that costs nearly $2k AUD

I will probably try again in a couple of months, and try to keep updated with info whether Apple managed to sort it out, otherwise its a great machine

View attachment 2047080
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definitely looks pretty rough compared to your air.
 
washburn said:
So I returned my second M2 Air today, didn't want to do more exchanges, I compared it to my M1 and realised how bad it was, I really liked the machine and tried to ignore the issue, but when I saw how bad it was and it would show up on dark backgrounds, I wasn't going to settle for a defective display for the next 2+ years for something that costs nearly $2k AUD

I will probably try again in a couple of months, and try to keep updated with info whether Apple managed to sort it out, otherwise its a great machine

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how bad does the notch look lol, lucky you bought from apple and don't have to deal with the Aussie retailers
 
mrmister said:
I was worried, but mine looks great.
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1BadManVan said:
Mine looks 98% perfect besides the one corner but I dont think any led backlight panel would be perfect and would probably end up trading for one worse lol. I like dark backgrounds so now that I know its there, I notice it a bit but thats my ocd. Has zero effect on anything im doing, I dont blast my brightness at night and you dont notice it at all during the day.
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Do you have pictures to share? How do the monitors compare to the replacement that I received (see post #27)? I have one more day left within the 14 day return period. I'm 99% sure that I'm going to keep the laptop, but there is still that 1% of me that is paranoid that I'm not getting my money's worth.
 
Do you think this one is acceptable? It annoys me but I'm unsure if I should return it. How did you return it? Just send back and order a new one or get in touch with customer support, explain and then what next? Thanks for your help in advance.

IMG_5014.jpeg
 
techguy82 said:
Do you think this one is acceptable? It annoys me but I'm unsure if I should return it. How did you return it? Just send back and order a new one or get in touch with customer support, explain and then what next? Thanks for your help in advance.

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That's barely on the edge of tolerable to me. I probably wouldn't return it unless I noticed the light bleed on full screen video or something. But I think it is bad enough that you could legitimately return it as defective.
 
techguy82 said:
Do you think this one is acceptable? It annoys me but I'm unsure if I should return it. How did you return it? Just send back and order a new one or get in touch with customer support, explain and then what next? Thanks for your help in advance.

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Try it with video material that has black bars on the top and bottom of the picture (like 2.35:1 aspect ratio movie). If you can see it there, then I would not accept it.
 
Yeah the bottom left is unfortunately too pronounced, while the top right seems like its bad its actually ok and you don't really notice it, check how bad the bottom left is to you and if its tolerable

I wonder how the panels are assembled at the factory? Is it done by robots, ie. insert LCD into enclosure or by hand? Cos it seems like it could easily be avoided if just a little more care was used, I still think its due to the uneven pressure

also, is there a way to notify Apple of this issue directly?
 
techguy82 said:
Do you think this one is acceptable? It annoys me but I'm unsure if I should return it. How did you return it? Just send back and order a new one or get in touch with customer support, explain and then what next? Thanks for your help in advance.

View attachment 2049199
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The lower left corner seems to be a common area for this particular model, its the exact spot I have on mine. It was being returned anyways because of an uneven hinge so hopefully my replacement has a more uniform backlight as well.
 
1BadManVan said:
The lower left corner seems to be a common area for this particular model, its the exact spot I have on mine. It was being returned anyways because of an uneven hinge so hopefully my replacement has a more uniform backlight as well.
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How did you start the exchange process and how is the procedure? Did you speak with someone from Apple?
 
techguy82 said:
How did you start the exchange process and how is the procedure? Did you speak with someone from Apple?
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Yup, very straight forward if you're in your return window as you can return it for whatever reason you want to. For me, I went into the apple store to speak to a manager about holding onto my current model until the new one comes in. So will have had my midnight for about a month before its finally returned since its a couple weeks out before my new build shows up. But they have a note on my account that they will accept my return late once the new ones here.

I showed them the backlight and the hinge, they seemed more concerned over the hinge being off to one side and surprised it made it through QC that way.
 
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1BadManVan said:
Yup, very straight forward if you're in your return window as you can return it for whatever reason you want to. For me, I went into the apple store to speak to a manager about holding onto my current model until the new one comes in. So will have had my midnight for about a month before its finally returned since its a couple weeks out before my new build shows up. But they have a note on my account that they will accept my return late once the new ones here.

I showed them the backlight and the hinge, they seemed more concerned over the hinge being off to one side and surprised it made it through QC that way.
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How do you do the payment? Do you have to pay for the new MacBook upfront or is this a 1:1 exchange and no payment is needed?
 
techguy82 said:
How do you do the payment? Do you have to pay for the new MacBook upfront or is this a 1:1 exchange and no payment is needed?
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In Canada, in order for me to hold on to my current one and order a new one, I had to pay upfront. Didn't matter to me since I know im getting it refunded in a couple of weeks anyways. I heard it may be different in the states based on what I was originally told my apple on the phone vs what the store told me.

Obviously if I didn't want the charge in my card for two, I just had to return this current one and be without a Mac for a few weeks but I preferred not to lol.
 
1BadManVan said:
In Canada, in order for me to hold on to my current one and order a new one, I had to pay upfront. Didn't matter to me since I know im getting it refunded in a couple of weeks anyways. I heard it may be different in the states based on what I was originally told my apple on the phone vs what the store told me.

Obviously if I didn't want the charge in my card for two, I just had to return this current one and be without a Mac for a few weeks but I preferred not to lol.
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Thank you!
 
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techguy82 said:
How did you start the exchange process and how is the procedure? Did you speak with someone from Apple?
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Here is information I posted to someone else on how to do an exchange within the 14 day return window. I didn't go through this process myself, but this is what I learned from my own experiences. I live in the US, but I believe someone in Norway had success with this approach as well.

If you're having some issue indicative of a manufacturing defect and you're still within the 14 day return window, my advice is to contact the phone number included in the email that you received confirming your order. (I've been told that this is the number that you need to call, because other Apple departments may be unable to adequately assist you.) Tell the representative that you think your unit is defective and explain why. Let them know that you're still within the 14 day return window. Tell them that you'd like to do an exchange, but that you need to keep your current unit while you wait for them to send you a new one. They may be able to accommodate that request. I'd also ask if they can make your order priority so that you won't have to wait as long for a replacement.
 
What's everyone using as a screen to display this bleed effect? Just a youtube video of total black or something?
 
jdb8167 said:
That's barely on the edge of tolerable to me. I probably wouldn't return it unless I noticed the light bleed on full screen video or something. But I think it is bad enough that you could legitimately return it as defective.
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It is not defective.

Only mini-LED and OLED can have a black background.

It doesn’t matter if you do 1000 exchanges, it will always be bad with black backgrounds.
 
Zest28 said:
It is not defective.

Only mini-LED and OLED can have a black background.

It doesn’t matter if you do 1000 exchanges, it will always be bad with black backgrounds.
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I guess this was clear. It’s only about the bottom left corner.
 
Zest28 said:
It is not defective.

Only mini-LED and OLED can have a black background.

It doesn’t matter if you do 1000 exchanges, it will always be bad with black backgrounds.
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I don't have the kind of light bleed around the corners that this one shows. I have a slight reddish tint but that's all.
 
2016 13" Macbook Pro. I tried to edit to to make it appear more like how it looks in real life, but didn't quite get there. IRL, the corners are not as orangey pink and extend to about 50% as far as they do in the picture below. Interesting to note the light leak coming from between the metal lid case and the screen. I guess it's not great, but not too bad either. I don't notice anything in normal conditions.

301690791_5434770899970668_3596517050419439692_n.jpg
 
I have ordered a second one to check and this is how it looks. What do you think? Left is old, right is new.
PS: True tone, nightshift, etc. disabled on both and using the same black picture.

IMG_5062.jpeg
 
Wow much better! Nothing severely noticeable, I would say the bottom left is slightly brighter, but nothing major, I would probably keep that

nice score
 
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