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Question: Why isn't Microsoft acknowledging the new Surface Pro 2017 display backlight bleed defect and ignoring its customers after the launch of the product? When will they solve the problem? Because all of the units have the defect and replacing it at the Microsoft store is not a viable solution at the moment.
My new Surface Pro 2017 core i7 8GB (lot 1722) has backlight bleed on the whole bottom edge and left side of the screen. You don't normally notice it in landscape mode because the black taskbar hides it, but if you read a white background fullscreen article in portrait mode it's pretty obvious with one side of the screen being brighter than the other side.This light bleed is most noticeable in the colours blue and white and harder to see in black colours (which are usually used in backlight bleed tests).
The quickest way to test and see if your screen has this problem is to press CTRL+ALT+DEL and bring up the blue screen. On the bottom of the blue screen you should see a bright blue/white bar compared to the rest of the screen which is the defective light bleed. All the showcase models in the Microsoft Store I looked at had this problem. I have yet to see a new Surface Pro without this defect. Can anyone post a picture of their CTRL+ALT+DEL screen without the light bleed?
I think people who claim not to have it aren't looking close enough to notice it. Is Microsoft going to acknowledge this display defect and are they working on fixing it in future batches?
Also, if I wait more than one month to exchange my Surface Pro would I get a refurbished model or a new one? If they are going to give me a refurbished model I might as well just return this defective device and get a full refund. When we pay premium prices we expect premium quality. This defect would have been acceptable on a cheap tablet, but not a Microsoft product. Please fix the issue as soon as possible!
Tip: If you want to test your screen on different colours go to http://www.deadpixelbuddy.com/ and choose a colour then switch to fullscreen (win key+shift+enter on Edge or F11 on Chrome) and view the fabulous results and take a picture and post it here so we can prove that it's a universal problem.
I AM NOT THE SOURCE OF THE PICTURES BELOW, THEY ARE FROM REPLIES TO THIS POST OR REDDIT LINKS GIVEN BELOW. THE FIRST PICTURE (WHICH HAS BEEN USED IN TECH NEWS WEBSITES) BELONGS TOWALMART MARKETING TEAMUSER ON REDDIT! I HAVE ONLY GATHERED THEM HERE.
Subreddits discussing this topic:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Surface/search?q=backlight+bleed&sort=new&restrict_sr=on&t=month
https://www.reddit.com/r/Surface/comments/6iji8k/surface_pro_2017_backlight_bleeding_survey/
https://www.reddit.com/r/Surface/comments/6k94qe/just_bought_my_new_surface_pro_2017_i_might_be/
https://www.reddit.com/r/Surface/comments/6jggz5/is_this_light_bleed/?st=J4X9C9Y6&sh=319ae1cc
https://www.reddit.com/r/Surface/comments/6jigz0/whats_your_surface_pro_2017_lot_number_any_issues/
https://www.reddit.com/r/Surface/comments/6kv9ky/light_bleed_on_surface_pro_2017/
https://www.reddit.com/r/Surface/comments/6i8lcz/backlight_bleeding_surface_pro_2017_i5_8gb/
https://www.reddit.com/r/Surface/comments/6j8hau/picked_up_brand_new_surface_pro_i7_512gb16g_ram/
As you can see there are A LOT so do not deny the defect and claim it's a minor issue in a few models. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY MICROSOFT!
Edit: I just realized I posted the original issue as a discussion post and therefore it didn't have the requirement for it to be responded like a question, so I'm editing it so people can also click the "Me Too" button until we get an official/semi-official response from a Microsoft representative. I've also added more subreddits and pictures.
UPDATE (17/07/2017 11:25 AM GMT): The broken image links have been fixed.
**ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:**A lot of tech websites have reported the issue and especially used the first image in this post and attributed it to me. I must note that none of these images are mine and they all come from the reddit posts I linked below them. The specific top image is from the user WalmartMarketingTeam
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
Just received my i5 model with the same issue. Have a replacement being sent.
This issue is unacceptable for a product at this price. It is an unfortunate issue to have as it sullies an otherwise fantastic product.
If my replacement model has the same issue I will be forced to get a refund wait until Microsoft announces this issue has been fixed before purchasing it again / purchase a competing device.
EDIT: Received replacement. Still has light bleed. Will regretfully have to return.
Unfortunately, I am on my third replacement for the backlight bleed issue. I have the Surface Pro i5, 256GB model Although the one I currently does not have the issue as much, it still is noticeable. The Surface Pro 4s that I have had and then issued to others had absolutely no problems with the displays. I hope Microsoft finds a fix to this issue. This new Surface Pro is an otherwise awesome machine, it really is.
You've seen backlight bleed on EVERY laptop you've ever used? Please. I've got two MacBook Pros and an iPad Pro you can borrow if you want to see how an acceptable IPS panel performs on a premium device. Undetectable backlight bleed. If the Surface Pro display was as good then no one would be complaining. It's that simple.
Glad that it doesn't bother YOU, but try and refrain from talking down to people who it does bother.
You guys are incredibly conscientious to have noticed such an issue and duplicated it in the least-complimentary way.
There is a small amount of backlight bleed on every device that uses an edge backlight and that's probably the way it is.
I also agree with the gentleman who noted that the backlight bleed Is much less pronounced in person, from normal angles, and in normal lighting. You have to know that taking a picture with one pixel spacing of something with another will result in banding effects, right? You have to know that a single color screen is the most demanding way to look at a screen's performance, right?
How many of you use the night light mode, where the colors are all screwed up ON PURPOSE?
I also find it interesting that you pointed out that backlight bleed was ignored in video reviews -- that's probably because the viewers didn't perceive a problem - or it was one they'd seen in every laptop they ever used -- certainly no worse on this model than any other.
Is there a problem? Maybe, or maybe that's just the way the systems work.
I have no doubt that if you guys want to return the units inside the warranty period, they will be accepted, and to a certain extent they may replace them.
I don't think this is a big conspiracy -- I think compared to the number of users who are very pleased with the units, the users on this post are in a minority.
For me, as soon as I notice backlight bleed when I'm doing work or when I'm watching Netflix or some other normal use of the screen, then I'll complain. It hasn't happened yet.
Good luck with it. I hope you get your way and Microsoft designs a perfect product in the ultra high end so
For me, the problem is that compared to the previous generation of Surface, the backlight bleed is significantly more pronounced - take a look at the third photo in the original post comparing the two devices. Shouldn't the screen improve after a generation? I had zero display uniformity issues with my Surface Pro 3.
This has also been noted a few times, but I think it deserves to be mentioned again: there is a dark band right above the bottom edge accompanying the light bleed (which makes it look even worse). That dark band is visible when almost any light image is displayed - especially in portrait mode.
I want to know what's causing the dark band, and why the backlight bleed is concentrated along the bottom edge of the screen (yet the other three sides have the least light bleed I've ever seen on an LCD panel).
[edit] the dark band is visible along the right edge of the screen. Apparently the photo got rotated so that the dark band is on top
There is a small amount of backlight bleed on every device that uses an edge backlight and that's probably the way it is.
Regardless, it's unacceptable. I expect this sort of defect, even minor ones, in lower end devices - something I didn't pay $2000 for. When I dish out $2000 on something I'm told is premium hardware, then I fully expect it to be premium hardware
