Apple Adds MacBook Air to List of Devices With ‘Anti-Reflective Coating Issues’

MacBook Air (2018 and newer) owners should take a careful look at their laptop screens because some units are suffering from the same anti-reflective coating issues seen on the MacBook Pro and the now-discontinued MacBook.

According to a memo sent to Apple Authorized Service Providers (via MacRumors), there’s been a change to one of Apple’s internal service documents, adding the MacBook Air to a list of laptops that have the issue. It now reads “Retina displays on some MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro computers can exhibit anti-reflective (AR) coating issues,” in which the AR coating wears off and looks like a smudge.

“Retina displays on some MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro computers can exhibit anti-reflective (AR) coating issues,” the memo states.

Apple acknowledged the problem exists on the newer MacBook Air with Retina display models in the memo, but it has yet to officially add them to its internal eligibility list. If they are added, covered devices will receive a free screen repair for 5 years following release, which currently includes the following laptops:

  • MacBook Pro (13-inch, Early 2015)
  • MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2015)
  • MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016)
  • MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)
  • MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017)
  • MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2017)
  • MacBook (12-inch, Early 2015)
  • MacBook (12-inch, Early 2016)
  • MacBook (12-inch, Early 2017)

The MacBook Air with Retina display was introduced in October of 2018. It is unclear at the moment whether the issue affects the original 2018 model or also the MacBook Air 2019 and the brand new MacBook Air 2020. As you will note, there have been no new MacBook Pros added to the list since 2017, so it’s concerning to see this popping up with newer models.

Apple began the repair program in October 2015 after some MacBook and MacBook Pro users experienced the issue on Retina displays. Apple has never posted the repair program to its website, opting instead to handle the matter on a more case-by-case basis.

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