Retina MacBook Pro Users Complain Anti-Reflective Display Coating is Wearing Off [Photos]

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Posted March 16, 2015 at 7:19pm by Shalom Levytam

A growing number of Retina MacBook Pro users are complaining that the anti-reflective coating on their displays is wearing off, notes MacRumors. The issue seems to affect mid-2012 to mid-2014 MacBook Pros sold after June 2012.

Numerous factors appear to cause the coating to come off including the pressure of the keys and trackpad on the display when the notebook is closed, third-party cleaning solutions, microfiber cloths, and more.

"I followed the cleaning instructions on the Apple website: a lint free cloth and a small amount of water," writes MacRumors forum member wj2. "Was trying to remove a mark in the corner of my screen and a shiny scratch appeared on the bezel. It grew in size and it looked like the coating on the bezel was coming off like everyone is saying. Started happening at the top of my display by the camera also. I looked it up and stumbled across this same forum and realized that it was a problem that I should take up with Apple."

As is typical with these types of issues, customers have had varying success with getting their displays fixed. Some have had the device covered under AppleCare while others have been told that cosmetic damage is not covered under warranty and are being asked to pay hundreds for the repair.

On the Apple Support Communities and MacRumors forums the issue has received over 90,000 views and 400 responses. Dozens of users submitted pictures of their damaged Retina MacBook Pros in March to a Facebook group created to discuss the problem.

Check out some photos below and let us know if you've experienced any similar issues in the comments. You can follow iClarified on Twitter, Facebook, or RSS for updates.

Retina MacBook Pro Users Complain Anti-Reflective Display Coating is Wearing Off [Photos]

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Francis Anthony - March 19, 2015 at 2:16pm

Just cancelled my order for a Macbook Pro Retina. Apple would not give me any guarantee that this problem has been resolved with the 2015 model. They just said not to touch the screenb with greasy fingers and that if it did happen, then the fault would be mine. That is not good enough.

9c324de - March 17, 2015 at 1:46pm

Hmmm, I have Mid 2012 MacBook Pro Retina (15") for 3 years without single problem. 50% of time MBPr is in closed clamshell mode and 50% in normal open mode. So far I've cleaned the screen up to 10 times with glass cleaner and always with a soft, lint-free cloth.

Luis Carvalho - March 17, 2015 at 11:11am

I had the same problema, but with less drastic effects. It's starting to be a inconvenient when I start to see a movie in dark places... My main problema is that I bought the macbook in US and now I'm in Brazil. In the US a new display is 699 US dollars!!! In my country is 1500 US dollars... That's sucks!

Vee - March 17, 2015 at 6:54am

I’ve got a Retina MBP Mid 2014. Using it for 7 months and haven’t got any issue like the one reported. I hope not to face anything like.

VolkanD - March 17, 2015 at 6:09am

I faced also this problem and give to Apple Service. They replaced the screen free of charge

OurApple.7 - March 17, 2015 at 2:02am

Yeah, Mine is starting too.... Even if I cleaned it, It would show the same but lightly...

RWR - March 17, 2015 at 1:15am

I clean my screen every week (sometimes every other week) with 3rd party cheap products or windex. When stuff like this happens, I find a dry cloth and buff that out. Just looks like people don't know how to clean it correctly, or aren't adding a lot of pressure. (Retina, Mid 2012)

loser10q - March 17, 2015 at 6:40am

You do realize that windex eats up that layer right?

RWR - March 17, 2015 at 2:58pm

Yes. The point is that while that happens to me, it's just a layer on the screen. I've yet to see this look extremely bad in person

DLE - March 16, 2015 at 9:14pm

Yes I got this too, cleaned it always with the apple cloth and water per apple's instructions. Retina screen looks like crap after this happens and considering we paid a big premium for that screen this is not a good deal.

hiitsjan - March 16, 2015 at 9:00pm

We set up a website for people with this issue: http://www.staingate.org Join us, register your laptop, and help us taking this further...

Red Dawg - March 16, 2015 at 8:42pm

Stop cleaning your macs with bleach.... lol

tim33 - March 16, 2015 at 7:40pm

my screen is fine but you can see where the keys touch the display....

Guest - March 16, 2015 at 7:38pm

And unlike most company I'm sure Apple will replace it for FREE.