iPhone 12 Pro Yellow Screen/Tint? Display seem "Warm"? Check here first!

[javisan]

How will playing the screen lottery help? Every user reports a yellow cast or warmer display when compared to previous models to some extent, so unless Apple changes supplier somewhere down the line you’ll keep getting equal or worse displays I’m afraid.

On top of that the displays are supposed to be 6500K, correct me if I’m wrong but that’s warmer than any of the previous models, let alone an X 3 years old. Which is why a lot of people, like myself, have freaked out about it.

I’m not saying the screens are spot on by any means, but keep in mind it’s difficult to tell without the right tools. All I’m saying is at this point you’re only wasting time requesting replacements, because they’ll be no better. If you’re completely dissatisfied, return is your only option.

Maybe this’ll change by January, but given the amount of users here being unsuccessful getting a display same as last year’s, or even seeing one at an Apple Store, I think it’s unlikely this’ll be the case.

You say they are supposed to be 6500K, but based on this thread, many are not. Just from today, 2 posts are from people who actually verified the calibration and they were at ~6300-6400K.

Don’t think it is normal, it is not. Don’t settle.

 

[gtg465x]

The 12's are around ~6300k-6400k. Tested this personally and multiple online tests (eg: Displaymate) show it's not 6500k.

There are also websites and members in this thread who have measured them at 6500K, so some are better than others in terms of color temp, but even if you have one with 6500K color temp, it still might have poor RGB balance and not look good.

 

[Sparkle148]

I have a launch 12 Regular and will say that for years I have been plagued with yellow screens, greenish hue screens and washed out screens. My 12 has as close to perfect, cool, blue, bright and vibrant screen as I have ever seen over the past decade. It is very similar to the 12 Pro on the right side of your pic, if not even more “Cool”. I’ve compared mine to several displays in my local Best Buy, Costco and have EVEN requested and received an Express Replacement simply as one final comparison. My phone was cooler and more vibrant than all of them with TT and NS off. In fact, my screen was still cooler and bluer than most of them with TT enabled.
The “Poster Child” of displays DOES exist. I’m not trying to boast, rather to inform you all to not be convinced that Apple simply has intended on “Warmer” screens. Quite the contrary. I’m happy to report that my 12 Regular is proof.

Any chance you can post an image of your 12 compared to a previous model?

 

[PlaneCrazy23]

Any chance you can post an image of your 12 compared to a previous model?

Unfortunately, I can’t, because I returned my 11Pro before I joined this forum. For reference, my 11Pro always had the washed out screen with a greenish hue. Even after a couple tries at Express Replacement last year, I was never able to get the cool, vibrant, color popping screen that my wife had.
I also noticed that every 12 generation phone I viewed, this past week, all had the same greenish-blue color shift when viewed from different angles; my 12 Regular does NOT have that effect. Furthermore, I see zero color shift when viewing my 12 even when looking nearly 90 degrees off center. The cool blue, vibrancy, color pop and whites remain true and same when viewed from every angle.
The last iPhone I had where the screen was bright and beautiful was the iPhone 5. So, I’ve dealt with inferior screens for the past 6 generations up until now. I somehow got lucky with this one.

 

[Freakonomics101]

I have a feeling this is how it’s supposed to be. It’s a different manufacturer with the 12 vs 11 Pro. 11 Pro has the Samsung screen. Apple is trying to cut costs and switched to a cheaper manufacturer.

 

[theliellama]

Quietly adding the feature would be the logical thing to do, but Apple is not always logical in their actions. People complaining about yellow screens is not new, it just appears worse this year.

If Apple’s actions were driven by logic, the color calibration feature would have been added 10 years ago and by now would have saved dozens of millions of dollars in return shipping costs alone from people returning phones due to being unhappy with odd tints in the displays.

You forgot about option C: ignore the problem. Not even Macrumors will run a front page story on this. Without any pressure from the media or key people who have Apple’s ear, this will be completely ignored by Apple. That is what my logic tells me based on history.

Of course I didn't forget about option C, that's most likely what's going to happen. I was just saying if Apple was so inclined to do something about this, it will be done via a software change rather than hardware.

 

[Mattym62]

Received an absolutely PERFECT 12 PM Silver on launch day, but hate the chrome casing. Purchased a graphite 12 PM today and the display is noticeably yellowish. It’s not terrible but it’s 100% noticeable. Super frustrating.

 

[KingsBerG]

12, taken using RX100M3 at 6500K white balance. I do think the green/yellow tint is more evident at lower brightness level.

Compare with my old S9, the Samsung looks slightly red in real life.

Comparing with my original iPad Air. The 12 does look slightly yellow/green.

All photos are taken with identical white balance, ISO and shutter speed.

 

[socceryo3]

I’ve compared mine to several displays in my local Best Buy, Costco and have EVEN requested and received an Express Replacement simply as one final comparison. My phone was cooler and more vibrant than all of them with TT and NS off. In fact, my screen was still cooler and bluer than most of them with TT enabled.

Why did you get an express replacement then?

 

[callesw]

So what is the consensus?

From reading and following this thread, 12 PRO, 12 PRO Max, and 12 Mini have yellow screens.

12 seems better than all the others?

Vote with your wallets. This is an expensive item that doesn’t include a charger. And I love apple products, but this needs a statement from them already.

I bet with all the returns and rebuys, they have already destroyed the environment that “the chargers” were supposed to save.

 

[Significant1]

So what is the consensus?

From reading and following this thread, 12 PRO, 12 PRO Max, and 12 Mini have yellow screens.

12 seems better than all the others?

Vote with your wallets. This is an expensive item that doesn’t include a charger. And I love apple products, but this needs a statement from them already.

I bet with all the returns and rebuys, they have already destroyed the environment that “the chargers” were supposed to save.

If 12 is better than the rest and reports about manufacturing is to be believed, that would mean LG is doing better Samsung.

I am outside return window, so I am waiting out where this land. Hope it either can be solved by software or become acknowledged hardware defect, so I don't have to fight for repair. The phone is what I want and been waiting for, so don't really want to give it up. I accepted the high price because I expect to keep for many years and then a screen I like to look at is a big deal.

Tuning color filter is a never ending game for me. I actually had a pleasing setting tuned for true tone for some days, but always there is some condition/content that end up just not looking quite right and I start again. Coming from 6s where I never worried about that, I also don't like that I have to fiddle with that, for such an expensive phone and on paper better screen.

 

[callesw]

If 12 is better than the rest and reports about manufacturing is to be believed, that would mean LG is doing better Samsung.

I am outside return window, so I am waiting out where this land. Hope it either can be solved by software or become acknowledged hardware defect, so I don't have to fight for repair. The phone is what I want and been waiting for, so don't really want to give it up. I accepted the high price because I expect to keep for many years and then a screen I like to look at is a big deal.

Tuning color filter is a never ending game for me. I actually had a pleasing setting tuned for true tone for some days, but always there is some condition/content that end up just not looking quite right and I start again. Coming from 6s where I never worried about that, I also don't like that I have to fiddle with that, for such an expensive phone and on paper better screen.

21:15 I would take this screen in a pro max. This guy won the lottery on his 12.

Is this proof that there are good panels or are my eyes playing games? My pro max did not look anywhere near this one.

 

[fb1909]

iPhone 12 64GB from T-Mobile Germany. Serial No. FFX, Week 37. Compared to my iPad 2018. Pic taken with my DSLR with whitebalance set to 6.500k. Compared to a friends iPhone 11 it’s only slightly more yellow. Also no raised black problems. I‘m pretty happy with it.

 

[Stewdza]

Week 37 is mid August production, first batch. Can someone see if there is some fixes in new production from this month? If someone can get it, stock is empty in every country i dont know why...
Actually your iPhone seems very well.

 

[Kent viggo]

How will playing the screen lottery help? Every user reports a yellow cast or warmer display when compared to previous models to some extent, so unless Apple changes supplier somewhere down the line you’ll keep getting equal or worse displays I’m afraid.

On top of that the displays are supposed to be 6500K, correct me if I’m wrong but that’s warmer than any of the previous models, let alone an X 3 years old. Which is why a lot of people, like myself, have freaked out about it.

I’m not saying the screens are spot on by any means, but keep in mind it’s difficult to tell without the right tools. All I’m saying is at this point you’re only wasting time requesting replacements, because they’ll be no better. If you’re completely dissatisfied, return is your only option.

Maybe this’ll change by January, but given the amount of users here being unsuccessful getting a display same as last year’s, or even seeing one at an Apple Store, I think it’s unlikely this’ll be the case.

I found a 12 pro in a Apple store with a perfect screen. So playing the lottery makes perfect sense.

 

[Sparkle148]

I found a 12 pro in a Apple store with a perfect screen. So playing the lottery makes perfect sense.

Did you take a picture comparing it to an older model by any chance? What was the serial?

 

[Kent viggo]

Did you take a picture comparing it to an older model by any chance? What was the serial?

My iPhone 12 pro on the left. The good iPhone 12 pro in the store on the right.

What was fascinating is that all of the iPhone 12 displays in the store had variance. For instance there was one 12 pro max that looked horrendously low contrasty and yellow. There was also another 12 pro in the store that looked just as mine. And then I found this one. Id take it in a heartbeat.

Didnt think about the serial unfortunatley.

 

[leebroath]

Well we received 2 phones from John Lewis and Apple in the UK, but what everyone needs to do is only compare the 2 they bought and keep the best one. Don’t however compare it to the 11 pro max as it’s going to drive you up the wall.

I kept the best one out of the 2 and externally happy

 

[Sparkle148]

My iPhone 12 pro on the left. The good iPhone 12 pro in the store on the right.

What was fascinating is that all of the iPhone 12 displays in the store had variance. For instance there was one 12 pro max that looked horrendously low contrasty and yellow. There was also another 12 pro in the store that looked just as mine. And then I found this one. Id take it in a heartbeat.

Didnt think about the serial unfortunatley.

Did you check all the settings?

 

[maka344]

Well we received 2 phones from John Lewis and Apple in the UK, but what everyone needs to do is only compare the 2 they bought and keep the best one. Don’t however compare it to the 11 pro max as it’s going to drive you up the wall.

I kept the best one out of the 2 and externally happy

What about the green on blacks in low light/dark rooms?

 

[Muppetcrazy]

Recieved my Pro Max yesterday screen is so uniform blue cannot find any other defects completely flawless device....

 

[Muppetcrazy]

Received an absolutely PERFECT 12 PM Silver on launch day, but hate the chrome casing. Purchased a graphite 12 PM today and the display is noticeably yellowish. It’s not terrible but it’s 100% noticeable. Super frustrating.

Lol,done this once 4 years ago swapped out my gold perfect mint iPhone 6 for a iPhone 6 Plus after that took about 8 attempts for a perfect device without any yellow screen,dead and stuck pixels,dust inside the screen and camera lens,nicks and dents....
Not a fun experience to be honest....

 

[Mattym62]

Lol,done this once 4 years ago swapped out my gold perfect mint iPhone 6 for a iPhone 6 Plus after that took about 8 attempts for a perfect device without any yellow screen,dead and stuck pixels,dust inside the screen and camera lens,nicks and dents....
Not a fun experience to be honest....

To be honest if I didn’t compare the two, this graphite one would probably be pretty damn close to perfect, but I had them side by side in the dark last night, 75% brightness and True Tone off and on the forum could see the difference in tone on the screen. Haven’t decided if I’ll exchange this one yet. It looks a lot like my 11 pro max did. Will see if any stores even have them in stock.

 

[fb1909]

Week 37 is mid August production, first batch. Can someone see if there is some fixes in new production from this month? If someone can get it, stock is empty in every country i dont know why...
Actually your iPhone seems very well.

Mid September 😜

 

[1222394]

iPhone 12 64GB from T-Mobile Germany. Serial No. FFX, Week 37. Compared to my iPad 2018. Pic taken with my DSLR with whitebalance set to 6.500k. Compared to a friends iPhone 11 it’s only slightly more yellow. Also no raised black problems. I‘m pretty happy with it.

This 12 is looking good