Apple iMac screens based on the M1 chip began to deteriorate en masse – just after the warranty expired

Users of iMacs with Apple Silicon chips began to complain en masse about the deterioration of the screens two years after purchase. On the Apple Community forum, a discussion about this problem began in October 2023 and already has 17 pages of comments from dissatisfied customers.

Image source: leo.simon/Apple Community

One of the all-in-one owners conducted his own investigation and found out that the iMac screen uses a flexible cable, which should withstand a voltage of about 50 volts at maximum screen brightness, but this does not happen. As a result, the connector overheats and short circuits occur, causing black lines. This means that even after replacing the screen, the problem may occur again in a year or two if the root cause of the problem is not corrected.

Three possible versions of the problem have been put forward: a design flaw, a manufacturing defect, or the supply of components that do not meet Apple standards. Interestingly, one user reported a similar issue with an M3-based iMac purchased in May 2024. If Apple has not changed the design of the flex cable in the new generation of iMacs, then it is quite possible that the defect may appear in newer models. There has not yet been any official recognition of the defect from Apple, nor have there been any proposals to eliminate it.