Why does nobody talk about the micro damages in the screens of the new M-series Macbook Pro?

[t0rqx]

ALL the screens???? 😂
😂😂😂

Wouldn't Apple have a massive recall on their hands/not to mention scandal if this was so widespread? This isn't antenna gate from years back.

Ohh. I see. Maybe I'm not looking with the right lighting to see these "micro damages" because the two M-series MacBooks I've had have looked just fine.

That’s quite an accusation you are making. Care to provide some evidence?

I feel a bit, like a - no picture is no case.
Seriously, I’d love to see that on the picture, to understand what we are talking about. My family using 6 of M-series MacBooks, and if there is a need for a screen replacement to avoid future problems, I’d love to know, how to find those.
As for now, the user experience is ok. Haven’t seen any issues.

Are you referring to some reddit or Twitter thread or something?

I follow a lot of forums and Apple/tech news and have only seen (post Intel Mac) MacBook display complaints amounting to less than one or two handfuls ever since Apple dropped the M1 MacBooks all the way to now.

Seems to be about the same as pre ARM MacBooks.

My own subjective notion is that post Intel MacBook displays are on par with those on Intel MacBooks.

And iFixit certainly haven't(?) mentioned this in any of their ARM MacBook tear-downs?

Why does nobody talk about something that they would never see in a lifetime of day-to-day use? No idea.

Not to dismiss your concerns but perhaps to relativize them… if you cannot see it in use, does it really matter?

Added the pictures and links to similar threads. Mind you these are brand new units our of the box and one unit that had its screen replaced.

 

[BeatCrazy]

Just got the 4th 14/16" MacBook Pro for our household this week. None of them have any dots or damage to the screen, and I often look closely with a flashlight as I'm very particular about screen cleanliness.

The dots in those pictures looks like dried spit to me.

 

[john123]

OP is absolutely correct, although they don’t come from the factory that way. They’re just…soft and more susceptible to damage from the tiniest things. I don’t know if it’s a thinner coating or what.

For anyone who doubts this and feels like throwing money away, it’s easy to prove. Let a lightning cable end swing and hit the screen with the metal end on an M-series MBP. Now do the same with a pre-M1 screen. Just a little bit of a swing — the kind of thing you might accidentally do when packing all your stuff up to leave the office. Just a tap.

You’re gonna get a tiny dent in the first case and not in the second case.

And yes, it is annoying in everyday use, especially when the background is white.

I found out the hard way, obviously. I’ve owned laptops going back to the G3 Pismo and nearly every generation at that. I don’t know why these screens are softer or more susceptible, but they are. I did way bigger “oops” things with previous screens and had no damage.

There are tons of reports of this on various forums, so it’s real. Just because it hasn’t happened to you doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened to others.

Just gotta be more careful with the M-series laptop screens, and/or buy the AppleCare.

 

[t0rqx]

Just got the 4th 14/16" MacBook Pro for our household this week. None of them have any dots or damage to the screen, and I often look closely with a flashlight as I'm very particular about screen cleanliness.

The dots in those pictures looks like dried spit to me.

Good to hear you do a throughly inspection. No it is not dirt or dust.

 

[t0rqx]

Just got the 4th 14/16" MacBook Pro for our household this week. None of them have any dots or damage to the screen, and I often look closely with a flashlight as I'm very particular about screen cleanliness.

The dots in those pictures looks like dried spit to me.

Good to hear you do a throughly inspectation. No it is not dirt or dust.

OP is absolutely correct, although they don’t come from the factory that way. They’re just…soft and more susceptible to damage from the tiniest things. I don’t know if it’s a thinner coating or what.

For anyone who doubts this and feels like throwing money away, it’s easy to prove. Let a lightning cable end swing and hit the screen with the metal end on an M-series MBP. Now do the same with a pre-M1 screen. Just a little bit of a swing — the kind of thing you might accidentally do when packing all your stuff up to leave the office. Just a tap.

You’re gonna get a tiny dent in the first case and not in the second case.

And yes, it is annoying in everyday use, especially when the background is white.

I found out the hard way, obviously. I’ve owned laptops going back to the G3 Pismo and nearly every generation at that. I don’t know why these screens are softer or more susceptible, but they are. I did way bigger “oops” things with previous screens and had no damage.

There are tons of reports of this on various forums, so it’s real. Just because it hasn’t happened to you doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened to others.

Just gotta be more careful with the M-series laptop screens, and/or buy the AppleCare.

It is ridiculous that all units and even screen repairs exhibit the same issue.

These are custom built machines and packed in the factory. So I am curious why you are saying they do not come out the factory this way.

They are inspected when unboxed.

 

[t0rqx]

I bought 2 M3 Pro 14" MBP and both were without any defects.

Where did your units ship from? If they were custom built.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Where did your units ship from? If they were custom built.

The BTO from China and the other was stock and shipped from Apple.

 

[t0rqx]

The BTO from China and the other was stock and shipped from Apple.

You still have the shipping address from China where it left? the Built to Order one coming from China?

 

[avkills]

I was really pumped for my M3 Macbook Pro as I posted. But when I did a side by side with the MSI GE67HX which has a 240Hz 1440p OLED display from Samsung with 130% P3 Color and really great deep Blacks. Cue DJ turn table screeching halt sounds.

I ran the UFO Blur test. And It was game over for the M3 Macbook Pro display. People are in denial or dont know any better.

I just ran this on my M3 Max, and it reports 60Hz with Promotion on. So yeah the MSI is going to look smoother. Aside from this pointless test, I see no damage on my screen.

I also do not see the smearing on Best Buy's website. Have I seen faster displays, yes of course, the MSI ones we have for work have much better refresh but worse color.

Yes all BTO shipped from China.

 

[shadowbird423]

I just ran this on my M3 Max, and it reports 60Hz with Promotion on. So yeah the MSI is going to look smoother. Aside from this pointless test, I see no damage on my screen.

I also do not see the smearing on Best Buy's website. Have I seen faster displays, yes of course, the MSI ones we have for work have much better refresh but worse color.

Yes all BTO shipped from China.

We're talking about response time and not refresh rate here.

Set both displays to 60hz (and throw in your average windows laptop in that price range at 60hz as well) run the test and you'll see what we're talking about. Embarrassing in a machine this expensive.

 

[TechnoMonk]

I am not coz I never had any problem with my 16 M1 Max MBP.

 

[leman]

Added the pictures and links to similar threads. Mind you these are brand new units our of the box and one unit that had its screen replaced.

Thank you! I just checked the three Apple Silicon laptops we have at home: my older M1 Max does have a few dimples on the display, can’t see anything on the M3 machine. My partners laptop is fine too.

I think @john123 is correct with their explanation. The newer display material might be easier to damage and chip. Since these are all really minor cosmetic damages which are not noticeable under normal usage, I don’t really see this as an issue. But I understand if some users feel like this is not a premium experience they expected.

 

[t0rqx]

Thank you! I just checked the three Apple Silicon laptops we have at home: my older M1 Max does have a few dimples on the display, can’t see anything on the M3 machine. My partners laptop is fine too.

I think @john123 is correct with their explanation. The newer display material might be easier to damage and chip. Since these are all really minor cosmetic damages which are not noticeable under normal usage, I don’t really see this as an issue. But I understand if some users feel like this is not a premium experience they expected.

The biggest issue is they come like this out of the factory and new service parts.

 

[mdhaus72]

I was really pumped for my M3 Macbook Pro as I posted. But when I did a side by side with the MSI GE67HX which has a 240Hz 1440p OLED display from Samsung with 130% P3 Color and really great deep Blacks. Cue DJ turn table screeching halt sounds.

I ran the UFO Blur test. And It was game over for the M3 Macbook Pro display. People are in denial or dont know any better.

I’ve never had a problem with that on my displays. Most of those so-called “tests” don’t line up with real-world use very well. Not once in all of my use of the M1 Max and M3 Max screens have I noticed a problem.

 

[Apple_Robert]

You still have the shipping address from China where it left? the Built to Order one coming from China?

The label says Fuga.

 

[picpicmac]

People are in denial or dont know any better.

Or they don't care because it is irrelevant to them.

 

[fatTribble]

After living in my house for about 10 years I decided it was time to move a lamp. Its new location illuminated the 2 story wall in the great room. With the new lighting I could see every imperfection in that wall that had been there since construction.

Then I moved the lamp back to its original location.

 

[kimjongbill]

I’m glad I’m not the only one! I have an M1 Air and it has like three dents in the screen and it’s so weird! I wish I had it replaced when it was under warranty

 

[spiderman0616]

If you inspect anything made on earth closely enough you will find flaws. Stop worrying and get to work. These are tools.

 

[msackey]

There is a serious issue with the design of these machines. My family had several types: M1 Air - horrible keyboard marks on the screen after 1 year of light use, and barely any travel. Luckily we managed to have it exchanged.
14 M1 MBP - keyboard marks started to show up after 3 weeks of use (no travel and daily cleanwiping the keyboard).
We started to use microfibre sheets between the keyboards/screen and the issue is gone, but this is ridiculous.

Unfortunately, keyboard marks does seem to be a perennial issue with Apple laptops. I think it has to do with the small tolerance between keyboard and screen when the lid is closed.

In my personal experience, I noticed this in all Mac laptop designs I’ve owned since 2003 or so with my PowerBook G3. The issue may have arisen in my previous iBook G3 though I don’t recall. But, at least since my PB G3.

 

[john123]

Good to hear you do a throughly inspectation. No it is not dirt or dust.

It is ridiculous that all units and even screen repairs exhibit the same issue.

These are custom built machines and packed in the factory. So I am curious why you are saying they do not come out the factory this way.

They are inspected when unboxed.

Dude, most of the posts you “quoted” say they noticed it after a while — not on unboxing. R-E-A-D.

 

[t0rqx]

Dude, most of the posts you “quoted” say they noticed it after a while — not on unboxing. R-E-A-D.

This post is not about other threads. It is about the purchase concerning this thread. Please read before responding.

So here is one: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252441870?sortBy=best

 

[john123]

This post is not about other threads. It is about the purchase concerning this thread. Please read before responding.

So here is one: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252441870?sortBy=best

Stop damaging your stuff.

 

[SolarSailer120]

M1 16” Pro here, it stays on my desk and I try not to close it for fear of stuff like this. Got AppleCare but I just try not to touch the screen

FWIW, the key marks on the screen have been a thing for years sadly

 

[wolfen]

Wouldn't Apple have a massive recall on their hands/not to mention scandal if this was so widespread? This isn't antenna gate from years back.

Or "dust-gate" for that matter.
I've been using my M1 Pro, 14" since launch and I've never had a screen or dust issue.

That's not to say that they don't exist, but if you received a batch of computers, all with bad screens, I guess that you got sent a batch that wasn't supposed to go out. That's just my opinion anyway. Sucks to see it either way, for sure!