Staingate: MacBook Pro users are worried about problematic screens. Removing the anti-glare coating (screen cleaning) MacBook
In the fall of 2015, after numerous complaints, Apple acknowledged the existence of MacBook Pro displays and launched a display replacement program. Today the company extended its validity. Owners of 12-inch MacBooks and MacBook Pros released between June 2012 and October 2017 can replace the anti-glare coating on their Retina display free of charge.
Apple has not publicly announced this fact, but confirmed the information upon request from MacRumors. Tellingly, this program has not been officially announced: the company does not publish any information on this problem. But a message to partners under the Apple Authorized Service Provider program states that if there is a peeling of the coating, the MacBook screen should be replaced free of charge. If the client previously performed the replacement at his own expense, the costs must be compensated.
The screen replacement program covers all laptops manufactured within the last five years. It was decided to extend its validity until October 16, 2017.
MacBooks have a special anti-reflective screen coating that reduces reflection levels, so images look clear both at home and outdoors. The peeling of this very coating became known in March 2015. The problem is that laptop screens can “lose” the anti-glare layer, resulting in ugly spots on the screen. Not only are they unsightly, but depending on the location, they also make the device more difficult to operate.
Detachment usually occurs where the screen touches the keyboard when closed as a result of friction. Although there are photographs on the Internet in which spots are present at the edges of the screen - that is, in the area that does not touch the opposite part of the case when closed. If two years ago the website www.staingate.org collected complaints from almost 2,000 poppy growers, now the number has exceeded 9,000.
Complaints come from owners of MacBook Pros with 13- and 15-inch Retina displays. In July 2015, users replaced them with laptops with peeling displays.
In the fall of 2015, after numerous complaints, Apple acknowledged the existence of a problem with the peeling anti-glare coating on MacBook Pro displays and launched a display replacement program. Today the company extended its validity. Owners of 12-inch MacBooks and MacBook Pros released between June 2012 and October 2017 can replace the anti-glare coating on their Retina display free of charge.
Apple has not publicly announced this fact, but confirmed the information upon request from MacRumors. Tellingly, this program has not been officially announced: the company does not publish any information on this problem. But a message to partners under the Apple Authorized Service Provider program states that if there is a peeling of the coating, the MacBook screen should be replaced free of charge. If the client previously performed the replacement at his own expense, the costs must be compensated.
The screen replacement program covers all laptops manufactured within the last five years. It was decided to extend its validity until October 16, 2017.
MacBooks have a special anti-reflective screen coating that reduces reflection levels, so images look clear both at home and outdoors. The peeling of this very coating became known in March 2015. The problem is that laptop screens can “lose” the anti-glare layer, resulting in ugly spots on the screen. Not only are they unsightly, but depending on the location, they also make the device more difficult to operate.
Detachment usually occurs where the screen touches the keyboard when closed as a result of friction. Although there are photographs on the Internet in which spots are present at the edges of the screen - that is, in the area that does not touch the opposite part of the case when closed. If two years ago the website www.staingate.org collected complaints from almost 2,000 poppy growers, now the number has exceeded 9,000.
Complaints come from owners of MacBook Pros with 13- and 15-inch Retina displays. In July 2015, users petitioned to replace their laptops with peeling displays.
Many owners of MacBook 12”, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro Retina have encountered the problem of damage to the anti-glare coating of the screen. Outwardly, this looks like stains on the display, abrasions, and uneven “flaking” of the anti-reflective layer. Of course, under such circumstances, not only the image quality, but also the appearance of the laptop deteriorates significantly. Luckily, we offer a quick and inexpensive solution to this problem!
We would like to emphasize to you that you should not try to fix the problem yourself, this can lead to even greater damage!
An anti-glare layer is applied to the MacBook matrix to prevent “glare”, that is, reflection of the sun or other light sources. But for unknown reasons, Apple's factory anti-glare device turned out to be very fragile and short-lived. Most users, over time, notice keyboard fingerprints and scuffs on the screen (especially if you often carry the laptop in a bag), while for others, the transparent anti-glare layer literally begins to fall off the display in pieces. In almost any service center, you will be offered the only way out of the situation - a complete replacement of the matrix (top cover) of the MacBook, costing from $300! But there is another option, much more economical and justified!
At the BashMac service center in Kyiv, we offer a service of high-quality and fast removal (removal) of the anti-glare layer from the MacBook! In this case, there is no need to change the matrix, or even the entire screen unit. Our engineers will carefully and thoroughly remove the damaged anti-reflective coating using special technology. After this procedure, your screen will again delight you with a clean, clear picture! It is worth noting that removing the anti-glare will have virtually no effect on the image quality on a sunny day. But if you are still worried about this, then it is possible to apply a special protective film.
The cost of removing the anti-reflective layer is only 1000 UAH, and the work period is up to 2 days! Contact our Apple service and get an effective and painless solution to your screen problem!
Apple is not keen to publicize this feature. There is not a single line on the official Russian website of the company that this can be done. However, you can repair your laptop absolutely free of charge and I was able to verify this.
We are talking about a free display replacement for a MacBook.
It all started with a small spot on the screen, at first I thought that I simply hadn’t wiped the display well enough, but the spot didn’t want to come off. I had to get used to it and come to terms with it, especially since with the brightness turned up to maximum, the spot was practically invisible, sometimes I mistook it for dust when processing photos, but I got used to it. And after a few months, the spots became more numerous and it became clear that it would only get worse. They write that the friction of the keys on the display when closed affects it.
Of course, this is not yet the horror that other users have encountered, but the spots have already begun to noticeably interfere with photo processing.
Moreover, over 3 years of use, the brightness of the display has noticeably decreased and everything seemed to hint at a replacement.
Google queries on the topic “replacing the display in a MacBook Retina” yielded amounts ranging from 20 to 40 thousand rubles, depending on the service and the availability of spare parts. I don’t rule out that you can install a Chinese display cheaper, but it will still cost money, and it’s not a fact that Chinese quality can be trusted.
On the official Apple forum in a thread dedicated to the problem with anti-reflective coating there are more than 1300 comments - https://discussions.apple.com/thread/6068947?start=0&tstart=0 - it turned out that the problem is quite common.
And just recently - last October - Apple acknowledged the problem and announced a replacement program. True, all information about it was limited to non-official sites, which wrote almost the same thing - MacBooks from 2012-2014, which were released no more than three years ago, are eligible for the free display replacement program. Even on the official American website there is not a word about replacing displays with damaged anti-glare coating. So everything is done quietly and without official announcements.
After calling an authorized service center in Russia (I called DeepArtment, simply because they are close to home), it turned out that there is a program and it works! It doesn’t matter whether you have Apple Care insurance (I didn’t), whether the laptop was officially purchased in Russia or not (mine was brought from the USA) - the display will be replaced free of charge (provided that it is a problem with the anti-glare coating).
The procedure for replacing the display itself took me 2 weeks. First you need to come to the service center, where they run a special utility on the laptop that will determine whether it fits the conditions of the replacement program; if everything is ok, then the necessary spare part is ordered. While the spare part comes from the warehouse, the laptop can be used, I had to wait a week and a half for a new display. Then you will have to leave the laptop in the service center for a day, after which you can pick it up with an updated display and be happy.
The display assembly is being replaced along with the top cover, so you will have to part with the funny stickers, the warranty is 3 months. 
But we get almost half of the new laptop :)
Apple has extended its hidden Retina display replacement program for MacBook and MacBook Pro computers, which now covers all of the latest models in these series. This is stated in a memo sent this week to the company's authorized service centers.
This program has been in effect since October 2015, but unlike many other replacement programs, you will not read about it on the Apple website in the appropriate section. By the way, it’s not very clear why - whether it’s marketing, or a reluctance to admit that a nice technological solution has its own unpleasant side effect, or a banal saving on obligations.
The point is simple: over time, the anti-reflective coating of Retina displays on MacBook and MacBook Pro computers tends to wear off and peel off. It looks rather unsightly, although it does not affect the performance of the machine in any way. Of course, unless you are a photographer, designer, layout designer or video editor. Hmm, wait... Isn't this Apple's main target audience? Be that as it may, retina owners are no stranger to this type of screen.
Formally, a replacement program has not been announced, but if a user purposefully comes to the ASC and complains that this erased anti-glare prevents him from working, the display will be replaced for free, even if the warranty period has already expired or the car was purchased in another country. There really is a nuance here. It seems that all ASCs receive the same instructions from Apple for replacing displays, but they may interpret them differently. For example, the wonderful guys from BroBroLab do not accept replacement screens whose anti-glare layer has been erased as a result of the screen coming into contact with the keyboard and touchpad (see photo below). Other services take it and change it. We don't know why. But this was a lyrical digression, but now it is clear why the program is called hidden.
What's new in the latest Apple instructions:
Firstly, the replacement program has been extended into next year, which is great;
Secondly, Apple once again notes that replacement includes machines that are no more than 4 years old from the date of purchase;
Thirdly, MacBook Pro 15″ and 13″ machines from 2012 are excluded from the program, since from Apple’s point of view you could not have bought one less than 4 years ago;
Finally, the company confirms that all new MacBooks have inherited this screen problem, including kosher models with Touch Bar.
It is interesting that according to the data MacRumors, Apple has also begun tightening the screws on accepting machines under this program. In particular, in telephone conversations and chat sessions, technical support employees are prohibited from disclosing details of the replacement program, but are strongly recommended to send them to the ASC.
Let's summarize: be vigilant and know your rights! And if the anti-glare starts to wear off, then don’t keep it to yourself, ask Apple to replace the screen. Well, or bring the cars to us, we will demand for you. (And many people use this, by the way). 😉
