macbook pro 15 unibody lcd panel free sample

Affected devices were sold between October 2016 and February 2018. Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider will service affected MacBook Pro units, free of charge.

To identify your computer"s model and to see if it is eligible for this program, choose Apple () menu > About This Mac. Eligible models are listed below.

Please choose one of the options below for service. Your MacBook Pro will be examined prior to any service to verify that it is eligible for this program.

Note: If your MacBook Pro has any damage which impairs the service, that issue will need to be repaired first. In some cases, there may be a cost associated with the repair.

The program covers eligible MacBook Pro models for 5 years after the first retail sale of the unit or 3 years from the start date of this program, whichever is longer.

For each step in the disassembly process, put the different screws into different shotglasses. Don"t leave the screws lying around your desk unless you are a pro.

In the following steps, you will use a heat gun to soften the adhesive securing the outer black border around the underside of the front glass panel to the display. The area the adhesive is applied to is shown in red in the second picture.

Due to the heat applied, it is normal for a layer of condensation to develop on the inside of the glass panel and/or the outside of the LCD. It can be removed with glass cleaner once the glass is separated from the display.

This is the 15 Inch LCD for the MacBook Pro Unibody 15". This is the LCD only. This does not include hinges, casing, display cables, glass screen cover, etc...If you have a cracked LCD or dark black blotches on your display, this is the only part you need. Apple does not manufacture LCD panels. They use several different manufacturers. The panels we sell are the same manufacturer and part number that originally went into the Macbook Pro Unibody. It will be the same quality and type currently in your system. The matte version LCD is interchangeable with the glossy LCD. However, the Hi-Res and the Low-Res version are not interchangeable. There are two available resolutions for this product. The Hi-Res options are for the Core i5 and Core i7 models with the higher resolution screen.

The MacBook Pro is a line of Mac notebook computers by Apple Inc. Introduced in January 2006, it is the higher-end model of the MacBook family, sitting above the consumer-focused MacBook Air. It is currently sold with 13-inch, 14-inch, and 16-inch screens, all using variants of Apple M-series systems on a chip.

The first-generation MacBook Pro used the design of the PowerBook G4, but replaced the PowerPC G4 chips with Intel Core processors, added a webcam, and introduced the MagSafe power connector. The 15-inch model was introduced in January 2006; the 17-inch model in April. Later revisions added Intel Core 2 Duo processors and LED-backlit displays.

The second-generation model debuted in October 2008 in 13- and 15-inch variants, with a 17-inch variant added in January 2009. Called the "unibody" model because its case was machined from a single piece of aluminum, it had a thinner flush display, a redesigned trackpad whose entire surface consisted of a single clickable button, and a redesigned keyboard. Updates brought Intel Core i5 and i7 processors and introduced Intel"s Thunderbolt.

The third-generation MacBook Pro was released in 2012: the 15-inch in June, a 13-inch model in October. It is thinner than its predecessor, made solid-state storage (SSD) standard, added HDMI, and included a high-resolution Retina display. It eliminated Ethernet and FireWire ports and the optical drive.

The fourth-generation MacBook Pro, released in October 2016, adopted USB-C for all data ports and power and included a shallower "butterfly"-mechanism keyboard. On all but the base model, the function keys were replaced with a touchscreen strip called the Touch Bar with a Touch ID sensor integrated into the power button.

Another revision to the fourth generation was released in November 2020; it was the first MacBook Pro to feature an Apple-designed system on a chip, the Apple M1.

The fifth-generationM1 Pro or M1 Max chips, they are the first to be available only with an Apple silicon system on a chip. This generation re-introduced MagSafe, function keys, and some other elements that had been removed from previous models.

Alongside the redesigned fourth-generation MacBook Air, Apple rereleased the fourth-generation MacBook Pro to include the Apple M2 chip. The model features the same chassis, albeit with changes to the system audio: speakers compatible with Spatial Audio and a headphone jack with support for high-impedance headphones.

The first-generation MacBook Pro used the design of the PowerBook G4, but replaced the PowerPC G4 chips with Intel Core processors,iSight webcam, and introduced the MagSafe power connector. The optical drive was shrunk to fit into the slimmer MacBook Pro; it runs slower than the optical drive in the PowerBook G4 and cannot write to dual-layer DVDs.Intel Core 2 Duo processors, and LED-backlit displays, and 17-inch did in 2008.Nvidia Geforce 8600M GT video cards"Penryn" cores while adding multi-touch capabilities to the trackpad.

Both the original 15- and 17-inch model MacBook Pro computers come with ExpressCard/34 slots, which replace the PC Card slots found in the PowerBook G4. Initial first-generation 15-inch models retain the two USB 2.0 ports and a FireWire 400 port but drop the FireWire 800,802.11a/b/g.802.11nBluetooth 2.1.

Models of the MacBook Pro built from 2007 to early 2008 (15") / late 2008 (17") using the Nvidia 8600M GT chip reportedly exhibited failures in which the GPU die would detach from the chip carrier, or the chip would detach from the logic board.

On October 14, 2008, in a press event at company headquarters, Apple officials announced a new 15-inch MacBook Pro featuring a "precision aluminum unibody enclosure" and tapered sides similar to those of the MacBook Air.optical disc drive slot from the front to the right side, similar to the MacBook. The new MacBook Pro computers had two video cards that the user could switch between: the Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT with either 256 or 512 MB9400M with 256 MB of shared system memory.DVI port was replaced with a Mini DisplayPort receptacle.

The unibody-construction MacBook Pro largely follows the styling of the original aluminum iMac and the MacBook Air and is slightly thinner than its predecessor, albeit wider and deeper due to the widescreen display.multi-touch gestures.inertial scrolling was added, making the scrolling experience much like that of the iPhone and iPad.

During the MacWorld Expo keynote on January 6, 2009, Phil Schiller announced a 17-inch MacBook Pro with unibody construction. This version diverged from its 15-inch sibling with an anti-glare "matte" screen option (with the glossy finish standard) and a non user-removable lithium polymer battery.

At Apple"s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 8, 2009, it was announced that the 13-inch unibody MacBook would be upgraded and re-branded as a MacBook Pro,polycarbonate MacBook in the MacBook line.color gamut.FireWire 800 port and all except the 17-inch models would receive an SD card slot.ExpressCard/34 slot.Kensington lock slot was moved to the right side of the chassis.

On April 13, 2010,Intel Core i5 and Core i7 CPUs were introduced in the 15- and 17-inch models, while the 13-inch retained the Core 2 Duo with a speed increase.1680 × 1050) was announced as an option for the 15-inch models.Nvidia GeForce 320M graphics processing unit (GPU) with 256 MB of shared memory, while the 15- and 17-inch models were upgraded to the GeForce GT 330M, with either 256 or 512 MB of dedicated memory.

Thunderbolt technology, Sandy Bridge dual-core Intel Core i5 and i7 (on the 13-inch model) or quad-core i7 (on the 15- and 17-inch models) processors, and a high-definition FaceTime camera were added on February 24, 2011. Intel HD Graphics 3000 come integrated with the CPU, while the 15- and 17-inch models also utilize AMD Radeon HD 6490M and Radeon HD 6750M graphics cards. Later editions of these models, following the release of OS X Lion, replaced the Expose (F3) key with a Mission Control key, and the Dashboard (F4) key with a Launchpad key. The chassis bottoms are also engraved differently from the 2010 models.serial bus platform can achieve speeds of up to 10 Gbit/s,USB 3.0 specification, 20 times faster than the USB 2.0 specification, and up to 12 times faster than FireWire 800.

On June 11, 2012, Apple showcased its upgraded Mac notebooks, OS X Mountain Lion, and iOS 6 at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in San Francisco.Ivy Bridge processors and USB 3.0 ports, and the default RAM on premium models was increased to 8 GB.macOS, from Mac OS X Lion 10.7 through macOS Catalina 10.15.

Early and late 2011 models with a GPU; 15" & 17"; reportedly suffer from manufacturing problems leading to overheating, graphical problems, and eventually complete GPU and logic board failure. A similar but nonidentical problem affected iMac GPUs which were later recalled by Apple. This "will repair affected MacBook Pro systems, free of charge". The program covered affected MacBook Pro models until December 31, 2016, or four years from original date of sale.

The third-generation MacBook Pro was released in 2012, marketed as the "MacBook Pro with Retina display" to differentiate it from the previous model:USB 3.0, added an additional Thunderbolt port, added HDMI, and included a high-resolution Retina display.iOS device and is the first Macintosh notebook to not have its model name visible during normal use.Ethernet, FireWire 800 ports, but Thunderbolt adapters were available for purchase,Kensington lock slot,PowerBook 2400c, MagSafe port, dubbed the "MagSafe 2".

The Retina models also have fewer user-accessible upgrade or replacement options than previous MacBooks. Unlike in previous generations, the memory is soldered onto the logic board and is therefore not upgradable. The solid state drive is not soldered and can be replaced by users, although it has a proprietary connector and form factor.pentalobe screws and cannot be disassembled with standard tools. While the battery is glued in, recycling companies have stated that the design is only "mildly inconvenient" and does not hamper the recycling process.

The initial revision includes Intel"s third-generation Core i7 processors (Ivy Bridge microarchitecture).802.11ac Wi-Fi.4K video output via HDMI was added but limited the maximum number of external displays from three to two.

On March 9, 2015, the 13-inch model was updated with Intel Broadwell processors, Iris 6100 graphics, faster flash storage (based on PCIe 2.0 × 4 technology), faster RAM (upgraded from 1600MHZ to 1866MHZ), increased battery life (extended to 10 hours), and a Force Touch trackpad.5120 × 2880 displays.

In June 2019, Apple announced a worldwide recall for certain 2015 15" MacBook Pro computers after receiving at least 26 reports of batteries becoming hot enough to produce smoke and inflict minor burns or property damage. The problem affected some 432,000 computers, mostly sold between September 2015 and February 2017. The company asked customers to stop using their computers until Apple could replace the batteries.

In September 2019, India"s Directorate General of Civil Aviation said MacBook Pro computers could dangerously overheat, leading the national carrier Air India to ban the model on its flights.

Apple unveiled fourth-generationheadquarters on October 27, 2016. All models, except for the baseline 13-inch model, featured the Touch Bar, a new multi-touch-enabled OLED strip built into the top of the keyboard in place of the function keys. The Touch Bar is abutted on its right by a sapphire-glass button that doubles as a Touch ID sensor and a power button. The models also introduced a "second-generation" butterfly-mechanism keyboard whose keys have more travel than the first iteration in the Retina MacBook. The 13-inch model has a trackpad that is 46% larger than its predecessor while the 15-inch model has a trackpad twice as large as the previous generation.

All ports have been replaced with either two or four combination Thunderbolt 3 ports that support USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 and dual DisplayPort 1.2 signals,macOS on MacBook Pro blacklists (prevents from working) certain classes of Thunderbolt 3-compatible devices.graphics processing units (eGPU) was added in macOS High Sierra 10.13.4.3.5 mm headphone jack; the TOSLINK functionality of older-generation MacBook Pro computers has been removed.

Other updates to the MacBook Pro include dual- and quad-core Intel "Skylake" Core i5 and i7 processors, improved graphics, and displays that offer a 25% wider color gamut, 67% more brightness, and 67% more contrast. All versions can output to a 5K display; the 15-inch models can drive two such displays. The 15-inch models include a discrete Radeon Pro 450, 455 or 460 graphics card in addition to the integrated Intel graphics. The base 13-inch model has function keys instead of the Touch Bar, and just two USB-C ports. The flash storage in the Touch Bar models is soldered to the logic board and is not upgradeable, while in the 13-inch model without Touch Bar, it is removable, but difficult to replace, as it is a proprietary format of SSD storage.

On June 5, 2017, Apple updated the line with Intel Kaby Lake processors and newer graphics cards. A 128 GBCoffee Lake quad-core processors in 13-inch models and six-core processors in 15-inch models, updated graphics cards, third-generation butterfly keyboards that introduced new symbols for the control and option keys, Bluetooth 5, T2 SoC Chip, True Tone display technology, and larger-capacity batteries. The 15-inch model can also be configured with up to 4 TBDDR4 memory and a Core i9 processor.Radeon Pro Vega graphics. On May 21, 2019, Apple announced updated Touch Bar models with newer processors, with an eight-core Core i9 standard for the higher-end 15-inch model, and an updated keyboard manufactured with "new materials" across the line.macOS Catalina added support for Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, and HDR10 on 2018 and newer models.Pro Display XDR at full resolution.

The 2019 MacBook Pro was the final model that could run macOS Mojave 10.14, the final macOS version that can run 32-bit applications such as Microsoft Office for Mac 2011.

A report by AppleInsider claimed that the updated "Butterfly" keyboard fails twice as often as previous models, often due to particles stuck beneath the keys.class action lawsuits were filed against Apple regarding the keyboard problem; one alleged a "constant threat of nonresponsive keys and accompanying keyboard failure" and accusing Apple of not alerting consumers to the problem.

The fourth-generation MacBook Pro received mixed reviews. The display, build quality, and audio quality were praised but many complained about the butterfly keyboard; the little-used Touch Bar; and the absence of USB-A ports, HDMI port, and SD card slot.

On May 4, 2020, Apple announced an updated 13-inch model with the Magic Keyboard. The four Thunderbolt port version comes with Ice Lake processors, updated graphics, up to 32 GB of memory and 4 TB of storage, and supports 6K output to run the Pro Display XDR. The two Thunderbolt port version has the same Coffee Lake processors, graphics, and maximum storage and memory as the 2019 two Thunderbolt port models.

On November 10, 2020, Apple introduced a new 13-inch MacBook Pro with two Thunderbolt ports with a brand new Apple M1 processor, directly replacing the previous generation of Intel-based 2020 baseline 13-inch MacBook Pro with two Thunderbolt ports. The M1 13-inch MacBook Pro was released alongside an updated MacBook Air and Mac Mini as the first generation of Macs with Apple"s new line of custom ARM-based Apple silicon processors.Wi-Fi 6, USB4, and 6K output to run the Pro Display XDR,4K displays.image signal processor for higher quality video.

On October 18, 2021, Apple replaced the high-end 13-inch and 16-inch Intel-based MacBook Pros with 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros,M1 Pro and M1 Max, Apple"s second ARM-based systems on a chip and their first professional-focused chips. Apple addressed many criticisms of the previousfunction keys in place of the Touch Bar, an HDMI port,SD card reader, MagSafe charging, and a higher base memory. Other additions include a Liquid Retina XDR display with thinner bezels and an iPhone-like notch, ProMotion variable refresh rate, a 1080p webcam, Wi-Fi 6, 3 Thunderbolt ports, a 6-speaker sound system supporting Dolby Atmos, and support of multiple external displays.

Apple on January 17, 2023 announced the new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro featuring M2 Pro and M2 Max, Apple’s next-generation pro silicon that brings even more power-efficient performance and battery life to pro users. With M2 Pro and M2 Max — the world’s most powerful and efficient chip for a pro laptop — MacBook Pro tackles demanding tasks, like effects rendering, which is up to 6x faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Pro, and color grading, which is up to 2x faster.

These new models feature a thicker and more-squared design than their Intel-based predecessors. The keyboard features full-sized function keys, with the keyboard set in a "double anodized" black well.Titanium PowerBook G4 produced from 2001 to 2003.

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After looking at the performance of Apple"s M1 Pro SoC powering the new MacBook Pro 16, and beyond reviewing the laptop itself, there"s another interesting component in this laptop that"s worth looking into, and that"s the mini-LED 120Hz display. So today we"re going to take a closer look at what Apple is doing with their brand new screen.

As you"re fully aware, we have a lot of experience testing and reviewing displays, however we mostly cover gaming monitors not laptop displays, so this is going to be a little different. We"re going to run through some tests and provide our thoughts on how good this display is as someone that looks at lots and lots of displays each year.

There are two versions of the new MacBook Pro and we"ve got the 16-inch version, although the 14-inch model"s display is very similar just smaller and with a different resolution. Apple calls this particular display a "Liquid Retina XDR display" which is typical Apple marketing speak. If I translate this into what Apple actually means, they are giving you a high resolution full array local dimming mini-LED LCD with true HDR functionality.

If we dive deeper into the specs, the 16.2-inch panel has a resolution of 3456 x 2234 which continues Apple"s tradition of using non-standard resolutions across their line-up. Apple doesn"t disclose the exact technology used here, but it"s an LCD panel which appears to be IPS-like in design. The backlight has 10,000 mini-LEDs for impressive zone density at this size, allowing for a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1 and peak brightness up to 1,600 nits in the HDR mode on paper.

As for refresh rate, Apple are offering up to 120Hz with adaptive sync, which they"ve rebranded into "ProMotion" although this sort of functionality has been available for many years now in other laptops and displays. The combination of everything though is a first, and the only rivals to this sort of panel are the latest wave of 4K OLED panels seen in a few high-end Windows laptops.

The MacBook Pro"s display is a wide gamut display with 99% coverage of the DCI-P3 color space. That"s an excellent result for any creator looking to produce content in that gamut. This also means perfect sRGB coverage, so if you"re designing web content, creating SDR videos, or working with wide gamut HDR videos then Apple is providing you the tools to do that.

Unfortunately the performance outside these gamuts is not great, specifically what"s missing is Adobe RGB coverage which is relevant for photography work. Due to covering P3 fully we do get over 90% Adobe RGB coverage, but it"s missing the top range of greens that differentiate Adobe RGB from other color spaces, so this laptop isn"t suitable for that sort of work. Apple also knows this, because they don"t provide an Adobe RGB color profile, while you do get various P3 and Rec. 709 profiles.

Where the MacBook Pro"s display ends up in terms of color gamut is typical for a modern "creator" laptop, the majority of top-end laptop displays have really good coverage of sRGB and P3. Where it falls a little short is in that Adobe RGB coverage, and a competing display like the Samsung OLED you get in devices such as the Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED does offer a wider color gamut with full Adobe RGB coverage. That"s not to say the MacBook Pro"s gamut is bad or anything, it"s just not as wide or as versatile as I"ve seen.

Where the display is extremely impressive is in its color calibration, and this is helped significantly by macOS doing a much better job of color management than Windows. The various color profiles included by default work across far more apps in macOS than they would on Windows and this is one area where Windows needs a bit of an overhaul.

If we look at the options provided in the MacBook Pro"s display settings, you"ll find quite a few options including Apple Display and Apple XDR Display presets, along with a decent array of creator focused modes for gamuts like BT.709, sRGB and P3. Apple also offers True Tone and Night Shift functionality, which some people might find useful but ultimately hurt color accuracy. I"ve disabled True Tone for testing.

When looking at the default Apple Display profile, performance is pretty good by default. When displaying sRGB content in this mode, it"s quite likely color management will activate in the app you"re using to display the content correctly and accurately, instead of oversaturating it up to the full P3 gamut of the screen. When looking at saturation sweeps as an example, we find excellent deltaE performance, and good results in ColorChecker as well, especially around skin tones which are crucial to get right.

Based on this you should probably just leave your MacBook in the Apple Display mode for everyday use as it"s accurate enough for sRGB content and will also let you benefit from wide gamuts where needed. The performance in the Apple Display XDR mode is similar as well for SDR content, so that"s an option if you want to also use HDR at times.

If you want even better color accuracy, Apple"s included profiles might be for you. For example, the built-in sRGB mode is even better at displaying sRGB content, with accuracy equivalent to performing a full calibration yourself.

I suspect the reason why this mode is better than the default mode is that it"s specifically tailored to showing sRGB content, rather than the more general default mode that is designed for use in multiple scenarios. Color management is hard and creating specific modes for each gamut is generally the best approach, so it"s great Apple has done this for you.

There is a downside to these modes, and that"s locked brightness. Now technically each of these color specifications do stipulate a brightness level for mastering: sRGB is 80 nits, DCI-P3 is 48 nits and Rec. 709 is 100 nits - and the MacBook Pro gets this right.

However that limits the usefulness of these modes for viewing content, where the mastering brightness level is less relevant and your ambient conditions are more important. I"d like to see a brightness override toggle, so that each of these modes is still useful for mastering, but can also deliver the best accuracy for watching other content. That would improve the versatility of the display and give you the ability to fine tune accuracy beyond the already very good default mode.

In the regular Apple Display mode for viewing SDR content, I measured peak brightness at around 520 nits, with a variable black level. Bizarrely, the MacBook Pro appears to change its black level limit in the SDR mode depending on the ambient light conditions, even with True Tone disabled. In a lit room, the black level was capped to 0.02 nits, delivering around a 26,000:1 contrast ratio.

In any case, the mini-LED backlight is active at all times, even in SDR content, to improve the contrast ratio in SDR scenes. There are so many zones here that it"s unlikely you"ll spot much blooming in practice, I found it negligible for SDR use even in tricky desktop apps with harsh edges between light and dark areas. The dimming algorithm is tweaked nicely to avoid this situation and there are simply more than enough zones to prevent lingering issues. This sort of attention to detail is what I"d love to see more in the standalone monitor space, along with higher zone counts, of course.

In the HDR mode, brightness is extremely impressive. There"s no major difference between sustained and peak brightness, so there"s no automatic brightness limiter that activates after a short period to dim the screen in intensely bright scenes. Brightness is as high as 1670 nits at small window sizes, and over 1500 nits at 50%, before dropping to around 1150 nits for a full screen sustained white window. That"s impressive, although it does come with a corresponding increase to power consumption, so running the display at over 1000 nits all the time isn"t advisable on battery.

This performance also destroys basically any other LCD based monitor I"ve looked at before. On the standalone monitor side, it"s virtually unheard of right now to see LCD zone counts higher than a couple of thousand. This limits worse case contrast to around 12,000:1 in the case of the 2,000-zone Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 with VA technology, or just 4,000:1 in a checkerboard test.

Apple choosing to use 5-10x the zone count massively improves the achievable contrast ratio in tricky situations and I"d say this amount of zones - and the density of zones - is what is required as a minimum for the best HDR experience with an LCD panel. Even Apple"s own ridiculously overpriced Pro Display XDR doesn"t compare as it has a paltry 576-zone backlight and it was criticized at launch for poor blooming compared to professional level HDR mastering displays. The MacBook Pro"s display will be far better for producing HDR content, aside from the small size.

So from one perspective it"s easily one of the best LCD-based HDR experiences I"ve seen, but on the other hand it isn"t a self-lit panel like an OLED which is completely free of blooming and in some situations OLED still delivers better HDR. Of course, OLEDs have other drawbacks such as lower brightness levels and the risk of burn in so I can understand why Apple would opt for LCD instead. Besides this one complaint though the HDR experience is excellent, especially for a laptop.

Unfortunately there is a major drawback to the Liquid Retina XDR display used on the new MacBook Pros, and that"s the motion performance. While it"s nice to see Apple upgrade the refresh rate to 120Hz compared to the 60Hz they were using previously, the display being used here doesn"t have the appropriate level of response times to keep up with that 120Hz refresh rate. The panel is actually very, very slow, which is a disappointment.

I was hoping to provide a full breakdown of motion performance using the standard graphs we use for monitor reviews... until I realized that my response testing tool doesn"t work on macOS and even creating one graph manually to a decent level of accuracy with all the transitions would have taken an entire day.

In a full black to full white transition, gamma corrected as per our current test methodology, the MacBook Pro"s display is exceptionally slow, taking nearly 100ms to complete this rise. Even if we apply exceptionally generous tolerances and only measure 60% of the total transition time, it still takes 39ms to transition, which is one of the worst results I"ve ever measured.

This is exacerbated by using a combination of IPS-like LCD technology, and an always-active mini-LED backlight, noting that both the LCD layer and mini-LED need to change to transition fully.

Luckily full transition fall times aren"t as horrific, though still reasonably poor at over 15ms even with our very generous 20% tolerance. The real transition time is more like 35ms, so less than half that of the rise time, but far slower than most other LCDs out there. The best laptop grade OLED panels can perform these transitions in under 2ms with the same test conditions, making them an order of magnitude faster.

I tested a few more transitions of varying degrees and typically the MacBook Pro would fall between 20 and 40ms, though luckily there is no overshoot to speak of. When viewing UFO test results, you can see the product of these horrific response times: a substantial blur trail behind moving objects. Even though the panel can feel somewhat smooth to use because it has a moderate refresh rate of 120Hz, the actual clarity in motion is terrible and this impacts the usefulness of the higher refresh rate.

Right next the MacBook Pro we have the Aero 15 OLED"s panel which has half the refresh rate at just 60Hz, but massively faster response times. You"ll see here that even though the MacBook Pro"s display is twice as fast in refresh rate, the extremely slow response behavior limits motion clarity to more like a 60Hz monitor or worse. The level of smearing is insane and I"m not sure how a modern LCD could end up this slow, Apple really should have experimented with some sort of overdrive.

Now, all Apple fans are probably sitting here annoyed that I"m criticizing the display for motion performance because the MacBook Pro isn"t a gaming laptop. And they"re right, it"s not a gaming laptop. But motion performance is relevant beyond gaming, it impacts things as basic as scrolling through websites or even watching videos. Fast moving video content like sports is affected due to slow transition times, and scrolling through text can show really bad ghosting trails, especially with white text on a black background. But really anything on this display that moves, especially stuff that moves fast, can quickly become a blur fest.

There is no doubt that the MacBook Pro"s Liquid Retina XDR display is excellent for content creation. It has perfect P3 color gamut coverage and outstanding factory calibration, with particular attention to detail paid to multiple color specifications for mastering.

Apple provides many different profiles that are all above average to great in terms of accuracy, and this should provide peace of mind that if they are using this display in one of those color spaces, everything is looking correct as it should. macOS also helps here, thanks to superior color management than Windows.

The Liquid Retina XDR display has impressive HDR specifications and performance. A mini-LED backlight zone count of 10,000 is the star of the show in this respect, significantly reducing blooming compared to other LCD-based HDR monitors, and providing exceptionally high brightness. The level of performance is good enough for both enthusiast level mastering and HDR playback, so the MacBook Pro is a great device for video editing on the go when you also factor in its overall performance.

A few nitpicks aside, the major downside to the display is motion performance. This display is exceptionally slow even for an LCD, despite packing a 120Hz refresh rate. This affects areas including web browsing and any work with text as you scroll through content, and blur trails can be visible across a wide range of use cases, not just gaming. It"s not bad enough to negate the benefits you get elsewhere, but Apple needs to put a lot of work into optimizing how quickly their panels transition. I also feel the lack of HDMI 2.1 on the MacBook Pro is a bit puzzling, going HDMI 2.0 for external monitors (in addition to Thunderbolt) is a bit annoying.

Now comes the ultimate question: is this the best laptop display ever, as Apple claims it is? That will depend on your perspective. Evidently, if you"re buying a high-performance laptop for gaming then no, but the MacBook Pro is clearly not suited nor aimed at gamers. But if we put that aside and ask about the best display for content creation and productivity, we think Apple has a solid claim to that throne.

The only real competition right now are OLED panels, which come with their own set of strengths and weaknesses. There are a few other mini-LED laptop options on the Windows side, like the screen you get in the Acer Predator Helios 500, but that display only has 512 zones, not the 10,000 on offer here. So it"s a battle between the MacBook and the OLEDs you see in products like the Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED.

The reasons to get an OLED display over this LCD would be in terms of its self-lit pure HDR experience with zero blooming, significantly faster response times for better motion clarity, and wider color gamut allowing for accurate work in the Adobe RGB color space as well as P3 and Rec.709. However, the drawbacks are also significant, including a 60Hz refresh rate limitation with current 4K offerings, the risk of permanent burn in, and significantly lower brightness. Actual implementations we"ve seen also lack the calibration Apple is offering.

On the balance of things, I"d prefer to get the Liquid Retina XDR in the new MacBook Pro than an OLED, especially for color-accurate content creation, and the HDR experience is close enough to OLED that I can forgive very minor blooming on occasion. I wouldn"t say Apple is miles in front with this screen, but it"s certainly very impressive and calling it the best display for production work is justified.

There have been a number of issues with Apple’s MacBook models over the years. In some cases Apple has service programs where it will fix your MacBook for free, in other cases the Macs have been recalled by Apple due to safety issues.

reports of cracked screens from M1 MacBook owners. Some users have claimed that the screen of the computer has inexplicably and all of a sudden cracked. Reports have been shared on

Certain MacBook Pro models have been banned from flights following Apple’s recall of certain models sold between September 2015 and February 2017. Some of these MacBook Pro models are fitted with batteries that “may overheat and pose a fire safety risk,” according to Apple.

The US Federal Aviation Administration has alerted airlines to the recall. This means that if you are flying to or inside America, you won’t be able to take a recalled MacBook Pro on as carry-on luggage, nor will you be able to check it in as cargo.

Various airlines managed by Total Cargo Expertise, including TUI Group Airlines, Thomas Cook Airlines, Air Italy, and Air Transat, have implemented a complete ban on these laptops, with employees told: “The 15in Apple MacBook Pro laptop, sold between mid-2015 and February 2017 is prohibited on board any of our mandate carriers.”

Laptops that have replaced batteries won’t be impacted, according to a TUI spokesperson who spoke to Bloomberg. We assume that you would need to prove that the battery replacement has taken place.

It’s not only the 15in MacBook Pro that is affected by a battery issue. Apple has also indicated that the battery inside the 13in MacBook Pro can also expand – although this is considered less of a risk than the 15in issue.

The no fly ban relates to Apple’s 20 June 2019 voluntary recall of some 15in MacBook Pro units which contain a battery that may overheat and pose a safety risk, according to the company.

In a press release the company stated that: “Because customer safety is a top priority, Apple is asking customers to stop using affected 15-inch MacBook Pro units.”

website) suggests that a component in certain 13in MacBook Pro may fail “causing the built-in battery to expand”. That sounds a bit concerning, but Apple says it is not a safety issue.

If you own a 15in MacBook Pro unit purchased between September 2015 and February 2017 – known as MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) – it may be part of the battery recall. You’ll be able to identify whether it’s included in the recall by the serial number which can be found by clicking on the Apple Logo and choosing About This Mac.

here to find out if you are eligible to the battery replaced. Enter your computer’s serial number on the program page to see if it is eligible for a battery replacement. If you are the switch will be free of charge.

As for the 13in MacBook Pro, the issue is with non-Touch Bar units manufactured between October 2016 and October 2017. You can enter your serial number on Apple’s

The specifics of the problem are unclear, but Apple’s solution seems to be to replace the logic board. While Apple doesn’t have an official program for this issue, it should replace the logic board for free if its personnel determine that it is affected by the issue. This should be the case for four years from the purchase date – so it could run until 2022.

As of May 2019 Apple has been running a backlight service program for 13in MacBook Pro purchased between October 2016 and February 2018. This includes the MacBook Pro from 2017.

The problem was caused by a flex cable that is too short. MacBook Pro models manufactured after 2018 are unaffected because a longer flex cable was used.

Apple extended the service program, so that it is valid for five years from the original purchase date or three years from the service program’s start date (May 21, 2019), whichever is longer.

The problem was related to the design of the keyboard of these MacBook laptops. The so called Butterfly design meant that dust could get trapped under the keys causing keys to stop working. The problem was that the whole keyboard needed to be replaced to rectify the problem.

After a lot of complaints Apple started a service program in which it would replace affected keyboards free of charge. There is more information about this program on Apple’s

If you Mac qualifies then Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider will repair the keyboard for free, either by replacing a few keys or the whole keyboard.

Non Touch Bar models of the 13in MacBook Pro sold between June 2017 and June 2018 could be affected by an issue with the SSD that might cause you to lose valuable data.

Apple has stated that “a limited number of 128GB and 256GB solid-state drives (SSD) used in 13in MacBook Pro (non Touch Bar) units have an issue that may result in data loss and failure of the drive.”

The issue applies to 13in MacBook Pro units sold between June 2017 and June 2018. Apple has emailed those with affected models – assuming that they were registered with Apple.

Shortly after the 2016 MacBook Pro got into users’ hands, reports of loud crackling and popping noises through the speakers started to appear on community forums. It was initially thought that, the noises only occurred if the user boots into Microsoft Windows using Boot Camp. However, one Macworld reader has commented that:

“I have a 2017 MacBook Pro and I had speakers replaced 2 times due to them popping. And I had not installed Windows, it all happened in MacOS. So it is 100% a hardware issue and not Boot Camps fault.”

Some users even reported that their MacBook Pro speakers were permanently damaged by the noises when Windows was booted, which subsequently meant the speakers no longer worked then they booted back into macOS. The right speaker in particular seems to be affected in this way.

“The crackling noise is noticeable after a few minutes whilst listening to audio files or YouTube type of websites,” claimed one Reddit poster who had his new MacBook Pro replaced and found that the issue remained. He suspects that it’s the drivers. Other posters suspect that it’s a firmware issue.

You could also ensure that headphones are attached via the 3.5mm audio jack before using Boot Camp to boot into Windows, as this will avoid the MacBook Pro’s speakers being used. The crackling/pops will not be heard in the headphones. Notably, users affected by the issue report that simply turning the volume control down has no effect; the loud crackling and pops continue.

A “small percentage” of MacBook Pros sold between February 2011 and December 2013 experienced issues with distorted video and out-of-the-blue system restarts. The problems affected 15in and 17in MacBook Pros from 2011 and 15in Retina MacBook Pros produced from 2012 to early 2013.

2011 MacBook Pro had complained about video issues for years before Apple addressed the issue with a recall. Some MacBook owners even filed a class-action suit against Apple, alleging problems with the AMD graphics chips and the lead-free solder that connects the GPU to the MacBook’s logic board were responsible for video problems and system failures.

In a memo distributed to Apple Stores in June 2018, Apple wrote that it had “identified a specific population of MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017, Two Thunderbolt 3 Ports) units requiring both solid state drives and the main logic board to be replaced when either has a functional failure,”

noted in a hands-on review (warning: includes significant bad language!) that some USB-C adapters not only slowed down his 13in non-Touch Bar 2016 MacBook Pro but also appeared to slow or entirely kill the MacBook Pro’s Wi-Fi connection. The adapters worked perfectly with a Dell laptop.

Meanwhile, Mac developer Khaos Tian has not only discovered that some third-party Thunderbolt 3 docks don’t work with the new 2016 MacBook Pro but even

Buying only Apple’s own USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 adapters is the obvious solution. Buying third-party adaptors or docks will probably be cheaper but, as Apple says, only those certified by Apple are guaranteed to work – and there’s still relatively few of those.

Apple might provide a future update to macOS Sierra to include support for non-compatible USB-C/Thunderbolt hardware but knowing Apple like we do – and coupled to the fact they have their own range of adapters – we wouldn’t hold our breath waiting for a fix. To be honest, if you’re affected then we reckon it’s best to bite the bullet and get new Apple-approved adapters.

Reports of failing MacBook Pros have been flooding in since 2013, with many owners of 2011 models with AMD graphics suffering from system crashes and hardware problems that have been described as “critical”. After a long wait, Apple finally announced a repair programme, and we’ve got all the details here. For coverage of similar programmes covering MacBooks and other Apple products, read our guide to

On its support page, Apple revealed it has determined “that a small percentage of MacBook Pro systems may exhibit distorted video, no video or unexpected system restarts”.

The products initially included in the repair program were the 15in and 17in MacBook Pro models manufactured in 2011, and 15in MacBook Pro with Retina models manufactured from Mid 2012 to Early 2013. TheMacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011), MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2011), MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2011) and MacBook Pro (17-inch, Late 2011) and theMacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2012) and MacBook Pro (Retina, 15 inch, Early 2013). However, with the program only lasting four years kit is now too late to qualify for the repair.

The problem, first emerged in February 2013 and escalated throughout 2014 as more and more owners of the affected models began to experience issues. While playing games, watching HD video or performing another graphics-intensive task, users have witnessed their displays distorting, or sometimes going completely blank. Rebooting the machine temporarily resolves the issue, but it almost always returns.

Eventually, many users found that their MacBook boots to a blue or grey screen. Currently, the only permanent resolution is to get a replacement logic board, but that can prove quite costly without Apple Care. It’s believed that overheating is to blame for the issue.

Some of the readers who’ve been in touch have said that Apple has replaced their 2011 MacBook Pro’s logic board thanks to Apple Care, with some customers even claiming to have had their logic board replaced multiple times.

offered replacement hard drives for iMacs containing 1TB Seagate hard drives that have been known to fail, replacement MagSafe adapters, iBook logic board replacements back in 2004, and, most recently, a MacBook Air

If your Mac is eligible for repair, you’ll now need to back up your Mac laptop and then bring it to an Apple Retail Store or Apple Authorised Service Provider. An Apple technician will then run a diagnostic test to verify eligibility, and let you know how long it’ll take to repair.

Note, however, that if there is other damage to your MacBook Pro that “prevents the repair” such as a cracked screen, they’ll charge you for the replacement of that. Aside from that, though, the repair program is completely free (and so it should be!).

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Before we proceed: If you’re facing intermittent horizontal lines at the bottom of your display, it’s not flexgate. Your MacBook has a faulty T-CON board. Read all about it here: MacBook Pro: Horizontal lines on Screen? 2016-2017 Model

This design flaw primarily afflicts the MacBook Pro 2016 and 2017 models. Both 13 inch and 15 inch models are affected.A1707 - MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016-17, Touchbar model)

Up until 2015, the MacBook display controller or logic board used to be tucked inside the hinge cover at the bottom of the display. It was part of the “lid”, so the wire connecting to it ran inside the hinge cover and was never moved or disturbed.

The flex/ribbon contains multiple cables. Usually the backlight cable gives way first, causing various backlight related faults. The damage progresses in stages:When the cable hasn’t broken but just some connection lines are worn off, it manifests as the stage light effect.

Step 2: Quietly introduce a “fix” in the subsequent model. Apple discreetly increased the length of the flex cable in 2018 model MacBooks. Just by ~2mm. This would reduce the stress on the cable, thereby reducing chances of damage. Thus Apple tried fixing an issue they hadn’t acknowledged in the first place. Note: Jury is still out on whether this fix solves the problem or just delays the eventual failure. In our experience at Fixxo, 2018-19 models continue to face flex cable issues, however not in as large numbers.

Step 3: Introduce a replacement program. Finally, Apple couldn’t ignore the public backlash anymore and introduced a free display replacement program.

But wait ..  this program is valid onlyfor “13-inch MacBook Pro 2016 model”, however it is amply clear the design flaw actually impacts both 13-inch and 15-inch variants of 2016 as well as 2017 models. Well..

If yours is a 13-inch MacBook Pro 2016 model, and the purchase date is between October 2016 and February 2018, you’re eligible for Apple"s free display replacement program. Congratulations! Take it to an Apple Authorized Service Provider. There are a number of fake AASPs around, careful!.

If your MacBook isn’t eligible for the program, you’ll unfortunately need to get a paid display replacement. It isn’t cheap. A reputed non-Apple vendor may be your best bet.

Well, the cable is integrated into the screen, so it cannot be swapped out. So, the standard resolution offered is to replace the entire display panel.

At Fixxo, however, we have recently launched the flexgate repair service. We extend the backlight flex cable by micro-soldering a small piece of replacement cable onto it. It is a highly specialized and sensitive repair. So far, the results have been very encouraging, and we"ve managed to save our clients a ton of money. By the way, this is also the change that Apple basically introduced in its 2018 MacBooks.

At Fixxo, you may even consider buying a used display panel salvaged from other dead MacBooks. It’s 100% genuine and quite cost-effective. Contact Us to discuss.

By just about every metric you can come up with, Apple"s transition to Apple Silicon on the Mac has been a success. The M1 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro put up performance and efficiency numbers that were hard to believe, at a price point that instantly placed Apple at the top of every "best entry-level creator laptop" list on the Internet.

But for many of the professional creatives in the audience – people whose livelihood depends on the performance and reliability of their computer – the M1 was just a taste.

With the release of the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros and the M1 Pro and M1 Max SOCs at their core, Apple has finally addressed our audience"s needs by moving in two directions simultaneously: the company has undone the unpopular design decision that have plagued the MacBook Pro since 2016, while sending performance-per-watt into the stratosphere. We"ve been testing and benchmarking the M1 Max MacBook Pro for over a month, and all I have to say is buckle up: The superlatives in this review are about to get completely out of hand.

For this first review of the new Apple Silicon Macs, we"re testing out the flagship M1 Max 16-inch MacBook Pro – the most powerful laptop in Apple"s current lineup. We hope to test some of the M1 Pro models in the coming months, but for now, this is what Apple sent over on launch day.

On the bright side, this gives us a chance to test the high water mark for performance for an Apple laptop. Any other Mac on the market should, in theory, perform worse than the computer we"re testing today. On the not-so-bright side, this is one of the most expensive laptops money can buy, putting it out of reach for many prospective buyers.

That said, after running all of our benchmarks both on- and off-battery, and comparing the MacBook Pro against two of its closest competitors in both price and specifications, there is no question about it: you are getting what you paid for. The price is, dare I say it, justified. Not because there"s an Apple logo on the back of the lid, but because this laptop can do things that no PC on the market can match.

First and foremost, the new 16-inch MacBook Pro is noticeably thicker than the last Intel model. It"s also somewhat "retro" looking, replacing the sharp edges of the past few models with rounded corners for an aesthetic that harkens back to the old plastic MacBooks or the 17-inch MacBook Pro that was discontinued after 2011.

Another benefit of the larger size is the larger keyboard, which trades the Touch Bar for a row of full-height function keys and a full-sized Touch ID button. Not much else to say about the keyboard – it"s otherwise identical to the excellent "Magic Keyboard" on all the most recent MacBooks. The same goes for the massive glass trackpad, which is still among the best on the market in any laptop.

The previous 16-inch MacBook Pro already had arguably the best sounding speakers of any laptop on the market, and this model only improves on that. Whatever Apple"s engineers are doing to get such a full sound profile out of laptop speakers, it"s light years ahead of the competition. Every other set of laptop speakers sound tinny and small next to the MacBook Pro, including otherwise excellent speakers like the ones in the Dell XPS 17.

As for the camera, Apple combines Full HD resolution with some AI trickery to produce surprisingly good image quality for your Zoom meetings. It"s not quite ready to replace your dedicated 4K webcam, and Apple"s AI algorithms do a bit more skin smoothing than I personally prefer, but it"s a huge step up from the 720p cameras in the vast majority of laptops on the market.

We have a lot of ground to cover with this display, but here"s the TL;DR: this display"s combination of 120Hz refresh rate, exceptional HDR performance, phenomenal color accuracy, and brilliant integration of all of the above into a seamless user experience makes the "Liquid Retina XDR" technology inside the new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros the best option on the market for anyone who regularly switches between HDR and SDR workflows.

Similar to the display used in the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, the monitor in the new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros is made up of a color-accurate IPS LCD panel that sits in front of a special backlight made up of 10,000+ miniLEDs arranged into over 2,500 individually controlled local dimming zones. This allows the screen to hit an incredibly bright 1000 nits typical brightness across the whole display and 1600 nits peak brightness on smaller patches for a limited time.

The "Liquid Retina XDR" display inside the new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros is the best display on the market for anyone who switches between HDR and SDR workflows.

This exploded view shows the miniLED backlight, diffusion layers, and LCD panel that make up the Liquid Retina XDR display inside the new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro.

Panel gamut is good, but not industry-leading. The latest OLED displays and LCD panels used by some of Apple"s competitors offer better AdobeRGB coverage with equal or better Delta E. In our testing, we measured 99% coverage of DCI-P3 and 85% coverage of AdobeRGB with a maximum Delta E 2000 of 1.85 when the MacBook Pro was set to "Apple XDR Display" mode in the Settings.

Panel gamut is good, but not industry-leading. The latest OLED displays and LCD panels used by some of Apple"s competitors offer better AdobeRGB coverage with equal or better Delta E.

Using the fine-tune feature, I simply input the un-calibrated white point coordinates from my colorimeter under "measured" and the D65 CIE coordinates under "target," set my target luminance to 150 nits, and instantly the primaries and luminance of the reference mode both corrected themselves.

It"s great to have this kind of control over a laptop display. Most PC laptop"s I"ve tested don"t give you any such control, and if they do it requires fiddling with RGB gains inside of a proprietary piece of display software until you hit the appropriate chromaticity coordinates – a daunting prospect for anyone who isn"t already familiar with color space.

The last impressive bit of tech inside the Liquid Retina XDR display is Apple"s ProMotion adaptive refresh rate technology. Microsoft is working on something similar, but nothing on the Windows side is close to matching this kind of seamless experience... at least not yet.

Apple made some pretty big claims about the performance of the M1 Max SOC at their keynote, with some impressive (but vague) charts comparing this chip against the most powerful Intel CPUs and NVIDIA GPUs you can get inside a PC laptop. According to Apple, the M1 Max can just about match the performance of these components while consuming a fraction of the power, allowing the new MacBook Pros to run at full speed even on battery.

To test this claim, we put the M1 Max MacBook Pro 16 up against two of the computers it"s actively competing against in the PC space: the MSI Creator 17 and the Dell XPS 17.

We obviously wanted to know how much performance dropped (or didn"t) when the computer were on battery, but we also kept track of how much battery each benchmark chewed through from start to finish. This should give us a sense of how realistic it is to use any of these machines on battery – if importing, editing, and exporting 100 high-resolution Raw files demolishes a full charge, you probably won"t ever wander very far from an AC outlet.

For our Lightroom benchmark, we import 100 copies of the studio scene image from the 20MP Canon EOS R6, the 47MP Nikon Z7 II, the 61MP Sony a7R IV, and the 100MP Fujifilm GFX 100. This benchmark always takes the longest, simply because Lightroom is the most poorly optimized. You can learn more about thatin our Lightroom Classic vs Capture One Pr