Macbook M2 Max screen ghosting - Opinions please.

[Itzamna]

Hi there.
I recently (2 days ago) got a M2 Max.
I know that Macbook Pro's suffer from a ghosting problem when moving windows, scrolling etc... Mine is no different... But, coming from a 2017 iMac that didn't had this, the change is really bothering me. And hurting my eyes.

First, is there anything we can do to minimize the ghosting when scrolling? That's the worse for me. It really strains my eyes.

And second, the video attached is from my computer, I don't know what normal is on this stuff. Do you guys / girls think that this is normal? Is it worse than what is expected? Better?

Thank you for your help.

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

Are you using a web browser other than Safari? If so, most of those browsers don’t know how to utilize the ProMotion I’ve noticed.

If not, you can try turning off ProMotion just for testing purposes. I’m not a fan of the MBP displays as a current gen 16” owner but your video is a little worse than normal.

 

[Alpha Centauri]

I've never noticed on my M2 Max so I tried to emulate the site location and your scrolling speed. Nothing even remotely this bad. I exclusively use Safari, if that makes a difference.

Edit: forgot to include that mine's a 16"

 

[solq]

I got an M2 Max (14”) a week ago and haven’t seen anything like this. The screen looks normal. I use Safari and Chrome.

 

[Itzamna]

Are you using a web browser other than Safari? If so, most of those browsers don’t know how to utilize the ProMotion I’ve noticed.

If not, you can try turning off ProMotion just for testing purposes. I’m not a fan of the MBP displays as a current gen 16” owner but your video is a little worse than normal.

I’m using Safari. I’ve been around this problem since yesterday. I haven’t even installed anything on the computer.

 

[Itzamna]

I've never noticed on my M2 Max so I tried to emulate the site location and your scrolling speed. Nothing even remotely this bad. I exclusively use Safari, if that makes a difference.

Edit: forgot to include that mine's a 16"

Would be asking too much if you could record it with a cellphone and send it to me so I can know the difference for when I call Apple?

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

Would be asking too much if you could record it with a cellphone and send it to me so I can know the difference for when I call Apple?

Apple is just going to tell you to make a Genius bar appointment so might as well skip all the theatrics and do that.

 

[Itzamna]

Apple is just going to tell you to make a Genius bar appointment so might as well skip all the theatrics and do that.

In my country there are no Apple Stores... The closest one is 600km from here in another country. I could go there, if that meant to solve it in the moment. But I guess that stuff must be solved in the country the computer is bought?

 

[iMacDragon]

Depending how that's recorded, it is quite likely normal as these screens have a very slow pixel to pixel adjustment time. And I don't think much can really be done about it. The biggest the contrast of what's moving the more noticeable it would be.

 

[Itzamna]

Depending how that's recorded, it is quite likely normal as these screens have a very slow pixel to pixel adjustment time. And I don't think much can really be done about it. The biggest the contrast of what's moving the more noticeable it would be.

It was recorded by just pointing the phone at the screen.
In white text on dark background (or white icons on dark background) is very visible.

And my biggest problem, that makes everything more visible, is that the ghosting part has a green tint on it. Even in dark text on white backgrounds, while the ghosting is not visible, the green tint when scrolling is.

I’m afraid of exchanging it for a new one and the new one is the same. Because if that’s the case I think it’s something unacceptable on a 4K euros machine. Today I’m going to a store that sells Apple computers (not an Apple Store) to test on a equal machine. Because as I said on the original post, I have no idea on what is normal.

 

[iMacDragon]

I meant regards the kind of exposure settings the camera had used, as this could make it look better or worse on video.

But I expect you will see the same thing on trying another machine, it's reportedly a trade off for colour accuracy vs pixel update speed, but it is indeed very poor. The pixel update is not fast enough for screen to truly update at 120hz, it's enough for the motion to feel smooth, but each frame update is not fully finished.

 

[DaSal]

Hi there.
I recently (2 days ago) got a M2 Max.
I know that Macbook Pro's suffer from a ghosting problem when moving windows, scrolling etc... Mine is no different... But, coming from a 2017 iMac that didn't had this, the change is really bothering me. And hurting my eyes.

First, is there anything we can do to minimize the ghosting when scrolling? That's the worse for me. It really strains my eyes.

And second, the video attached is from my computer, I don't know what normal is on this stuff. Do you guys / girls think that this is normal? Is it worse than what is expected? Better?

Thank you for your help.

The iPad Pro 13" with the Miniled display has the exact same ghosting problem. It's pretty bad, and it can make some games, for instance side scrolling games, completely nauseating.

It's really sad that laptop reviews nowadays are completely shallow, 1 page affair that basically just go like 'yea, it's fast and I like it, recommended!'. None of them really bother testing the laptop throroughly at all. If anyone did, they'd find that the 120hz display has major ghosting issues which make it unsuitable for, for instance, games. But it can also be irritating if you're sensitive to it.

 

[Itzamna]

Went to a store here and tested a M2 Pro 16’’ (they didn’t had a max on exhibition) and the problem is also present to similar extent. Including the green tint of the “ghost” part…

I wonder if this is also present on the 14’’…

Now I’m at a lost on what to do…

Stick with it and learn to leave with it… Return it and wait for the next iteration in the hopes they will fix it (seriously doubt it)…
Exchange for a new one hopping it comes better…

But I must say that I lost the faith on this machine. Was so freaking excited about it… ☹️

And I wonder why this isn’t bothering a lot of more people.

 

[iMacDragon]

It's unlikely to change till they move to a new display technology probably ( OLED or micro LED ), which isn't expected for at least a couple of years currently, I believe the 14" is about the same, and was about the same in M1 generation too.

 

[DaSal]

It's unlikely to change till they move to a new display technology probably ( OLED or micro LED ), which isn't expected for at least a couple of years currently, I believe the 14" is about the same, and was about the same in M1 generation too.

It’s not as prominent on the 60hz screens like the MacBook Air. To be fair I haven’t tested them or seen tests of them - I doubt the pixel response is anything amazing. However when using those the ghosting definitely isn’t as super noticeable as it is on the 120hz MacBooks.

 

[Alpha Centauri]

Would be asking too much if you could record it with a cellphone and send it to me so I can know the difference for when I call Apple?

I think you're better off to re-post unsing QT instead. Mobile ph vid resolution/ refresh of your MBP display introduces false variables.

 

[iMacDragon]

It’s not as prominent on the 60hz screens like the MacBook Air. To be fair I haven’t tested them or seen tests of them - I doubt the pixel response is anything amazing. However when using those the ghosting definitely isn’t as super noticeable as it is on the 120hz MacBooks.

True, but I was referring specifically to the pro/max lines that talking about here, it is indeed going to be probably less notable on the 60hz lines even if the refresh is similar due to trying to update it less.