New iMac - Stuck Pixels

[jptsr1]

They charge you 15% for exchanging it?


It took me one attempt to return it. In my experience having stuck/dead pixels on a screen is the worst thing to have. I've gone through many electronics with defects so its not the best thing to experience. My previous Android phones and MacBooks have been replaced multiple times and its such a pain to go through. If you can ignore it (which will be hard) then do so but if you want a perfect screen try another one because you paid for an expensive product and you deserve to get what your hard earned money paid for.

Looks like Best Buy got rid of the 15% restocking fee a while ago so I can return it. Since its the Holliday season I actually have until Jan 16th to do so. Not sure if I will though because I'm worried I may get one thats even worse. I'll just see if I can live with it until after Christmas and if I cant I'll return it in January. I have actually found two "anomalies" now. One is a stuck pixel and the other is something under the screen. Both are the size of a grain of salt or smaller and can only be truly seen at max brightness, with the room lights turned off, at way closer than normal viewing distances and on a black or white screen respectively. I'll post some pics. Keep in mind these are at maximum magnification on the iPhone 6s+

The first one is the black screen. The bright white dot is the curser and you can see the stuck pixel to the top left of it. The other specks are just dust on the screen.

Next is the white screen. In this one the regular curser is pointing at whatever it is under or in the glass.

This one has some text in it for size comparison.

And finally the black and white screens and their effected areas at normal viewing distance, brightness and the room lights on. Both dots are about 3/4 of the way up from the bottom edge on the right side. (sorry about my reflection in the shots)

 

[maflynn]

It took me one attempt to return it.

I'm glad you were able to resolve this.

In my experience having stuck/dead pixels on a screen is the worst thing to have.

Technically I think there are worst things to have, such as a completely non-functioning Mac

 

[Textureboy]

I'm glad you were able to resolve this.


Technically I think there are worst things to have, such as a completely non-functioning Mac

Having a non functioning iMac is pretty bad. But to have a bad screen out of the box is such a hassle IMO because of my past experience of constantly migrating my data over and then having to pack up my system and ship it out and wait for my replacement to come in. All of these things really diminish that experience when purchasing a new toy like these.

 

[jptsr1]

Having a non functioning iMac is pretty bad. But to have a bad screen out of the box is such a hassle IMO because of my past experience of constantly migrating my data over and then having to pack up my system and ship it out and wait for my replacement to come in. All of these things really diminish that experience when purchasing a new toy like these.

This is one of the reasons I'm probably gonna stick with the one I have. It took so long to get it setup the way I need it to be it would have to be something more that 2 anomalies. Not sure what the number is. Maybe 5 or 1 in the center of the screen I can see all the time. I just dread wiping the drive packing it up and lugging it back to the store. I have until January 16th to decide so I'll see how it goes.

 

[desmond2046]

I wish I never found this post!!!!! I had no clue that stuck pixels were even be an issue with I-Mac's. I went through this issue with my Sony PSP years ago and wound up taking 3 back until I got one I could live with. Anyway this thread made me take a close look at my screen and sure enough I have one. ONE FREGGIN PIXEL!!! Took me the better part of the weekend to get this thing set up how I like it and all my software installed. I just don't know if i'm willing to spin the wheel in hopes I'll get the perfect screen the next time. Plus I got it at Best Buy instead of the Apple store so I would likely have to pay a 15% restocking fee to try another one. I think i may just have to live with it. I only found this one by loading a black screen and turning off all the lights in the room. Now of course I know where it is so I can spot it with modest effort.

I completely understand your feeling! I cannot tolerate things like dead pixel, tiny car scratch, etc. At some point I even think I have OCD

 

[Textureboy]

This is one of the reasons I'm probably gonna stick with the one I have. It took so long to get it setup the way I need it to be it would have to be something more that 2 anomalies. Not sure what the number is. Maybe 5 or 1 in the center of the screen I can see all the time. I just dread wiping the drive packing it up and lugging it back to the store. I have until January 16th to decide so I'll see how it goes.

Yeah wait it out. It's so big which makes it so much more of a hassle.

I completely understand your feeling! I cannot tolerate things like dead pixel, tiny car scratch, etc. At some point I even think I have OCD

Haha my "OCD" use to be so bad. But after I went through so many replacements I would say it got better.... just a bit.

 

[kødskjold]

Does anyone have a good web app for highlighting/testing stuck or dim pixels?

 

[jptsr1]

Does anyone have a good web app for highlighting/testing stuck or dim pixels?

You can use any of the youtube "pixel fixers" and just pause it on the color you need. Here's one

I had to move it around the screen a bit to find the anomalies on my I-mac. A plain black screen works well to find brights and white or grey helps to find actual flaws like dust or scratches.

I hope you don't find anything wrong.

 

[kødskjold]

You can use any of the youtube "pixel fixers" and just pause it on the color you need. Here's one

I had to move it around the screen a bit to find the anomalies on my I-mac. A plain black screen works well to find brights and white or grey helps to find actual flaws like dust or scratches.

I hope you don't find anything wrong.

Thanks for that. I don't know what to say... the screen is beautiful and I have no stuck pixels... but there is something behind the glass (dust?). It's big enough to be visible from a proper viewing distance, and happens to be towards the top where toolbars are. Since it's dark and menu/toolbars are often lighter, it'll be pretty noticeable most of the time.

The placement could not be worse. Not sure the route I want to take on this, since it took me 2 weeks to receive the computer. No stuck pixels, minimal backlight bleed, unit made in the US. Just this one stupid smudge. Argh.

 

[jptsr1]

Thanks for that. I don't know what to say... the screen is beautiful and I have no stuck pixels... but there is something behind the glass (dust?). It's big enough to be visible from a proper viewing distance, and happens to be towards the top where toolbars are. Since it's dark and menu/toolbars are often lighter, it'll be pretty noticeable most of the time.

The placement could not be worse. Not sure the route I want to take on this, since it took me 2 weeks to receive the computer. No stuck pixels, minimal backlight bleed, unit made in the US. Just this one stupid smudge. Argh.

Not trying to sway you either way here but did you see it before you started looking for it and do you see it now without effort? For me the answer to both is no so I'm likely going to just go with what I have. Too much effort required to give it another go.

 

[kødskjold]

Not trying to sway you either way here but did you see it before you started looking for it and do you see it now without effort? For me the answer to both is no so I'm likely going to just go with what I have. Too much effort required to give it another go.

It's not distracting - but my eye moves to it when I'm clicking on a menu or tab in proximity to it. In all honesty, it's probably not a huge deal. I have little kids and I'm sure I'll have much worse on my screen and have to clean it regularly.

Thanks for your opinion.

 

[squidward]

Went through 2 BTO iMacs. First one had stuck pixels and 2nd one has unacceptable backlight bleed. Not going to try my luck with replacements. Was pretty frustrating having display issues. Will hold out until iMac redesign or MacPro refresh.