Filed under: iPod Family, Troubleshooting
iPod touch dark screen problems
There are increasing reports out there about problems with the screens on the new iPod touch. Apparently many folks (including here on TUAW) are complaining that the screen is very dark and lacking in details. Above you can see a comparison on Apple Touch comparing the iPhone to the iPod touch (right). Over at the Apple Discussion boards a third-party LCD engineer weighs in with a possible answer: bad quality control in manufacturing led to an error with the anti-reflective coating. If this is right, he suggests the problem might be fixed at the factory in the near future. The upshot is simply that it may be worth waiting a bit if you want an iPod touch to see what Apple is going to do.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Ingersoll said 2:39PM on 9-17-2007
Mine went back to Best Buy over the weekend. The problem is obvious and unacceptable.
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Will Angel said 2:42PM on 9-17-2007
So, just to clarify, since they're separate threads on the ADBs, this is the same issue as the "negative blacks" thing that Engadget's been reporting, right?
(http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/15/ipod-touch-having-display-issues/)
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Ingersoll said 2:49PM on 9-17-2007
Yep, it's the same issue.
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nick said 3:11PM on 9-17-2007
I had an iPhone with a 7 series screen with the same prob and I just figured it had to do with the screen version. I had the same problem though where it would be so dark that some blacks almost looked reflective.
My new 5 series screen has worse contrast but you can make out different shades of black and stuff.
My point: iphone/ipod touch may very well share the same screen because they sure as heck suffer from the same defects.
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wei said 3:33PM on 9-17-2007
@nick:
interesting that you've had the problem in the iphone as most people have said that the iphone screen is vastly superior. it could very well be true that they do use the same screens and stevie had to swing another contract with a new manufacturer as they needed to ramp up the supply of the screen for the launch of the touch.. and that supply could be what is tainting the iphone screens now. hopefully apple is investigating it at this point and can squash the bad OEM and restore some reasonable level of quality..
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wei said 3:34PM on 9-17-2007
and by the way, i bought an ipod touch last thursday, the first day they were released.. and i can verify that this problem is not an overreaction by overzealous early adopters. the screen looks terrible and is completely unacceptable.
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Greg G said 3:43PM on 9-17-2007
The touch looks like it's at an angle in the pic, but I'll take your word for it. Does a nre iPod fix the problem, or is this on all the touches?
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Blair said 3:48PM on 9-17-2007
I've had the bad screens on two different touches. One was from the Apple store, and the other was from Best Buy. Apple better offer a replacement... and none of this refurb crap.
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ben said 4:00PM on 9-17-2007
My screen has been fine, the only issue is that the blacks are not very dark, but I think it's the same on the iPhone. Maybe I got lucky?
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rippon said 6:48PM on 9-17-2007
I too have the same issue on my 4GB iPhone which I bought immediately after the price drop. I'd put money on both devices having one screen contractor that is putting out substandard screens. Still, considering I don't really watch that many movies on it, it doesn't bother me that much.
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kulvir said 4:51PM on 9-17-2007
This is why I avoid buying the first version of new hardware. I'd rather not be an unwitting hardware beta tester.
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zunq said 5:26PM on 9-17-2007
The Ipod Touch is using a TN panel, which means the negative effect is a normal phenomenon. There is nothing defective about this type of screen. Ever see a laptop from a low angle? It does a negative image. The vertical viewing angles are always worse than horizontal. These screens are cheap to produce thus why the iTouch is inexpensive. The iPhone on the otherhand uses a technology(IPS or VA) that has even viewing angles, horizontally and vertically resulting in much better viewing experience in landscape. The person who said there is an error with the anti-reflective coating is wrong and he doesn't know what he talking about(no offense). If you ever used a PDA before you will know what I'm talking about when you try to watch a movie in landscape mode. It's an inherent property of the screen, not a defect.
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adrian said 5:31PM on 9-17-2007
Apple are losing it. They better start concentrating on engineering and quality control instead of music and video sales.
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James F said 5:39PM on 9-17-2007
Would turning up the brightness fix the problem? Also, the ipod touch has auto-brightness enabled by default. Perhaps that contributes?
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wei said 6:27PM on 9-17-2007
my second touch unit is WORSE than my first, in terms of the black video problems.. very, very demoralized right now... the press needs to.. um, press this issue so that apple will make things right
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Will Angel said 6:54PM on 9-17-2007
#13 - Turning brightness up does help ever-so-slightly, but that's like saying "my car got dented real good, but if I squint, it's OK"... not something that should be acceptable for a paying user.
My Touch does have the issue, but it isn't very bad. Certainly better than some I've seen pics of. I want to exchange it, but at this point, I'd probably just end up with a worse one and end up going back-and-forth to the RDF Orifice. Tempted just to return it and wait for the second gen.
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Mark said 7:13PM on 9-17-2007
I've noticed this too but I'm wondering if it is a BUG or FEATURE....It looks great at a 45 degree angle or so, but right on it looks not so good.
I didn't notice this at first because whenever I was viewing the screen, I was holding it at that 45 degree angle. I don't watch movies on mine, but how do people typically hold this when they do watch movies???
Also, a great way to see this clearly is the album cover for "The Black Album" by Jay-z
http://domh.hytech.org/black.jpg
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dustin said 2:17AM on 9-18-2007
"Apple are losing it. They better start concentrating on engineering and quality control instead of music and video sales."
Easy tiger, you only hear about the bad cases; with the exception of the one guy who took time to say that he got one with a good screen. That rarely happens. So just because 15 out of 17 posts said they had a bad screen doesn't mean that 88% of the iPod Touch buyers have bad screens...
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colin said 4:47AM on 9-18-2007
Hey guys settle. ok First Apple has one of the best QA available in IT I know I have been a reseller for over 20 years ... Yes they have had problems and frankly at least in Australia Apple deals with it with fast turnaround. Think about this Apple has 60% plus of the market in digital media ie ipods dont you think that there can be some that fail. Apple will resolve it garanteed colin
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Marty Pickering said 8:05PM on 9-19-2007
I just received my iPod Touch (16GB) via UPS-NDA today. I was really, REALLY nervous about the screen problem that everyone has been talking about. After all, I usually get cursed with the defective devices out there. I have a sickness that causes me to feel the need to always purchase the latest gadgets. In any case, I have syncronized all of my music, photos and several video files. I am VERY pleased to announce that my screen looks awesome! I have tried dark scenes and even played them in a dim-lit room. I have noticed a few little flaws but for the most part everything looks extremely crisp, well lit, and displays vibrant contrast (not over powering). I am SO relieved! My wife was already ticked that I spent $400 on a new toy so I didn't want her to badger me about how I should have waited for a model improvement. I have been an I.T. Technician for over 20 years and I can promise you that I am not a big fan of apple products. However, I have always liked their iPod music players and this iPod touch is an incredible invention. I would highly recommend this device to anyone looking for a remarkable media device. Of course you are limited to the 16GB of storage but I will be hard pressed to fill up this much space myself. The Touch is a bit heavier than what I thought it would be though. =o)
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