In the case of certain problems with the backlight, Apple wants to repair the display of the MacBook Pro for a longer period of time free of charge: The manufacturer has its “service program for the display backlight of the 13 “- MacBook Pro” extended at the weekend from four to five years after the first sale of the device. This means that the first, end 2016 sold model series that would otherwise not have been included in the service program.

Uneven illumination The problem can be shown by uneven illumination of the screen in the lower area, “vertical areas along the entire lower edge of the screen” are illuminated “permanently or sporadically”, writes Apple. Affected users like to compare the symptom with classic stage lighting (stage light), where the curtain in the cinema or theater is illuminated from below with bright spotlights.

According to Apple, the service program still only covers two specific model series, the 13 ” MacBook Pro year of manufacture 2016 with two USB-C or Thunderbolt ports and the more expensive model with four USB-C ports. According to the manufacturer, only a “very small percentage of the displays” in these model series are affected. However, some owners of the 2017 he MacBook Pro report very similar screen problems, but these have so far been fixed by Apple free of charge as a gesture of goodwill.

“Fragile” flex cable as the cause According to repair service providers, the cause is a “fragile ribbon cable” in the MacBook Pro that is attached to the circuit board the display controller and is stretched taut each time the display is opened. In the course of time it comes to wear and tear and finally to material fatigue. The flex cable is firmly integrated into the display so that the entire screen has to be replaced.

Only for MacBook Pro models from year of manufacture 2018 Apple has made improvements: The ribbon cable there is two millimeters longer, as was shown during dismantling, which gives the cable significantly more space. Apple extended the cable for both the 13 “and the 15 “- MacBook Pro, although the latter has not yet been included in the service program. Several class action lawsuits have already been initiated in the USA in which Apple is accused of “knowingly concealing” the defect – and with which the manufacturer is to be forced to repair models with larger screens free of charge.

(lbe)