Few things are better than a brand-new MacBook Pro with a stunning Retina display. Few things are sadder than when that beautiful display starts to wear and crack. It’s called delamination, and has become an industry-wide problem known as Staingate.
Today, we’re breaking down everything there is to know about Staingate and delamination—from cause to solution. It’s important to note that delamination only affects Retina displays, which will explain more about in the next section.
What is a Retina Display?
The Retina display is a specific feature on Apple devices. These displays have a higher pixel density than traditional Apple displays. Since their inception, they have slowly been deployed and are now on most Apple devices that have a screen including MacBooks, iPads, and iPhones. However, all Retina displays are not created equal in that there are variations used for each type of device.
What is Delamination? What is Staingate?
Technically, delamination is a mode failure caused by repeated cyclic stresses and impact, causing layers to separate, forming a mica-like surface. Phew, glad we got that out of the way. In layman’s terms and as it applies to your MacBook, delamination occurs when the anti-glare coating on your Retina display breaks down, resulting in an awful looking display and subpar user experience. Delamination has occurred on thousands of displays. It’s become such an issue that is has its own name: “Staingate.”
What causes Delamination?
As we learned above, delamination is caused by cyclic stresses and impact. These stressors include oils and residue that break down your display’s coating. There are a couple ways this can happen. We do touch our screens, transferring the oils from our fingertips. But, this mostly happens through typing and closing your MacBook. The oils from your finger transfer to your keypad when you type and can then transfer to your screen when you close your MacBook.
How do I prevent Delamination?
Never close your MacBook again!
Just kidding. That’s clearly not the best, or realistic, prevention method. But how do you prevent your Retina device from falling victim to Staingate? The best way to prevent delamination is to regularly clean your MacBook with electronic wipes. This will free your device from the very oils and residues that break down the anti-glare coating. Don’t cherry pick this advice. Baby wipes and bleach wipes do not equal, nor will they ever equal, electronic wipes. Save those for the babies and the counters.
Not convinced? Just trust me on this one. I know firsthand what using a non-electronic wipe does to your MacBook display because I’ve made that very unfortunate mistake and have deeply regretted it. The baby wipe left an irremovable residue and film, making my display look quite sad and gross. Did I mention it was irremovable? As in my display was never the same again? (And yes, we know Apple has approved the use of bleach wipes on your iPhone—that doesn’t mean you should use them on your MacBook).
Electronic wipes are specially formulated to clean all of your electronic devices and accessories, freeing your devices of fingerprints, oils, and debris without damaging them. Our Mobile Device Sanitizing wipes are specially formulated with a 70% isopropyl alcohol solution, safe and effective for all your electronics and accessories. Plus, our customers really love them!
How do I fix Delamination?
According to Google and YouTube, there are many ways to fix a delaminated screen. But, let us save you some time—none of them really work. You need to send your device to a repair professional that can actually fix delaminated screens. AGiRepair is an industry leader that can fix your delaminated screen, restoring your Retina display to is original beauty, thus removing you from the Staingate pool.
AGiRepair is a leader in mobile device repair, offering comprehensive solutions for school districts, repair depots, and other organizations. For more information on delaminated screen repair or other repair inquires, contact us today!
