iFixit:
The issue is fairly simple: the current generation of MacBook Pro laptops (2016–present) uses flexible ribbon cables to connect the display to a display controller board beneath the Touch Bar. These cables wrap over the board, where they’re secured by a pair of spring-loaded covers—and they’re subjected to the stress of bending with every opening and closure of the laptop. Within a seemingly short time, those cables are starting to fatigue and tear. The backlight cable is generally the first to go, producing the infamous “stage light” symptoms, and eventually giving out entirely when the laptop is opened more than about 40°.
And:
Apple opted for thin, fragile flex cables as opposed to the beefier wire cables used in previous designs that could be routed through the hinge instead of wrapped around it, helping mitigate the stress of repeated openings and closings. But the bigger problem is that, in an apparent effort to make the display as thin as possible, Apple designed the cables as part of the display, so they cannot be replaced. This means that when (not if) those cables start to fail, the entire display unit needs to be replaced, as opposed to one or two little cables—effectively turning a $6 problem into a $600 disaster.
Take the article with a grain of salt. This isn’t necessarily doom for the MacBook Pro, or even that big a deal.
But, if you do experience “stage light” symptoms, this design issue is important to be aware of. If you do run into this problem, I would definitely go into your Apple Store discussion armed with a bookmark of this article.
Yeah, clicked the link, saw it was Ifixit and sure enough, there’s the sensationalist video title in the post. /yawn.
It’s not doom. But it is an indication of the need for more sensible engineering and a rational repair policy.
Actually it was a well written article. (yes the video was over the top)
iFixit are petty good at what they do, and I would take their word for it.
Ps. Yes I had experienced stage light screen, took it to Apple store and it was fixed for free.
Oh do they mean like the stage lighting effect we had on defective MBPs over 10 years ago? It’s not a new failure pattern, despite iFixIt’s compulsion to sensationalize it as the “design flaw!”
I’d link to the very old images of this, but posts with URLs are held for moderation (even from historic commenters, sigh)
Another reason to wait out this current generation of MBP.
Maybe Jony is no longer “not distracted” by designing a building these things might start to turn around.
More sensible engineering? These exact same symptoms in defective parts have been here before. It has nothing to do with the troll narrative of “New Macs suck!” as they pitch it.
I’m thinking of the relentless priority given to “thin” over “durable” for certain parts. Is that not an issue?
Take it with a pinch of salt? Really? Apple expect people to pay an awful lot of money for these machines and less than 3 years of owning one many people are being forced to pay for a really expensive repair that is a result of a pretty bad design flaw. Just like the keyboards. I normally buy AppleCare myself but what happens after the 3 years are up? These machines feel like a ticking time bomb.
To the commenters below – yes there have been incarnations of similar issues before, I myself actually had one on a Macbook Pro about 10 years ago. However it is the accumulation of the issues with this generation combined with the cost that I think is the issue.