Apple MacBook Pro Models with Touchbars Are Facing Display Issues

• Apple MacBook Pro models that were released between 2016 and 2018 are facing display issues.
• Users are complaining about uneven lighting and in some cases dead displays.
• According to experts, the issue is caused due to poor quality display cables used in the MacBooks.

A number of MacBook Pro models that released in 2016 or later are facing issues due to poor quality display cables. The issue is being dubbed “flexgate” by many, and it affects all Pro models that come with touchbars. The affected Apple laptops show signs of uneven lighting, and in some cases, the displays completely died for some users.

The issue was examined by repair website iFixit, who were the first to highlight the issue. The flex cables included in the Apple MacBooks are extremely fragile and are prone to malfunctioning. The cables are placed around the display controller board and opening a MacBook’s display causes the cables to tear over time with regular usage. The backlight cable gets damaged first, and over time the entire display cable gets damaged.

Image Courtesy of iFixit

The list of affected MacBooks includes Apple’s 2016, 2017 and 2018 lineup of MacBooks that come with touchbars. Models that are from 2016 or newer come with a newer display cable which is far less durable than the one that was included in older models. The issue takes time to develop, and it could be anything between a few months to years before you are forced to head to your nearest Apple care.

Users whose MacBooks are older than a year will not be able to get a free repair unless they own an AppleCare+ plan.  The repairs can cost upwards of $600, but there have been reports of people who received free or discounted repairs. There is no consistent policy from Apple that dictates if users can claim free repairs similar to the one that was introduced due to faulty MacBook keyboards.

The number of users who have been affected by the issue is currently unknown, but there have been quite a few complaints on the official Apple forums as well as the Support Communities. The company has not responded to the issue officially, and it remains to be seen if any resolution is offered to affected consumers.

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