Known fault
Staingate: the screen coating peels off
Marks that look like something is on the screen, but that will not come off. It usually starts near the camera or along the edges and slowly grows towards the middle.
What is happening
On the Retina screens from roughly 2012 to 2017 there is a thin anti-reflective layer on the glass. That layer lets go. Where it lets go you get a dull, cloudy patch that in certain light looks like grease or dirt, but that cannot be polished away. Quite the opposite: rubbing speeds it up.
The pattern is always the same. It starts where the screen touches the keyboard most when the MacBook is shut, so near the camera at the top and along the bottom edge. After that it spreads.
“For a year now the coating on my screen has been coming off. It started at the top, near the camera.”From a public forum post
What can be done
The coating can be taken off the glass fully and evenly. Then the dull cloud is gone and you have a clean, clear screen with no anti-reflective layer. What you get in return is a little more reflection in bright light. Most people find that a fair trade, because the patches bother them far more than a reflection does.
This is done by hand, in strips, with the right materials and a lot of patience. It is not done with a scouring pad, and plenty of screens have been ruined by videos online that suggest otherwise.
When it no longer helps
If the glass is also cracked, or pixels have died, removing the coating will not fix that. Then the panel itself is the issue, and we say so in advance so you do not spend money on the wrong repair.
Prices
What staingate costs.
| Work | Result | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Coating removal | An even, clear screen with no dull patches, though slightly more reflective | €149 |
| Screen replacement | Only worth it with cracked glass or dead pixels, with an original Apple part | on quote |
Questions about staingate
Was this my own fault for cleaning it wrong?
Almost never. People who did exactly what the manual said have it just as badly. It is a fault in the layer itself, which is also why Apple once ran a separate programme for it.
Will it come back?
No. Once the layer is completely gone, there is nothing left that can peel.
Does it really look good afterwards?
Yes, as long as it is done fully and evenly. Half a job shows immediately. That is why we treat the whole screen and not only the patch that bothers you.
Next step
Marks that will not come off?
Send a photo with your request and we will tell you straight away whether it is staingate or something else.