Apple extends 13-inch MacBook Pro service program for 'stage light' issue

Apple has updated its repair program for the 2016 13-inch MacBook Pro to fix the so-called "stage light" problem, increasing the eligibility from four years to five years after the first retail sale of the unit.

Apple launched its 13-inch MacBook Pro Display Backlight Service Program in May 2019, enabling a small number of 2016 13-inch MacBook Pro users to fix an issue with the backlight of their devices. For some units, the backlight can exhibit a stage light-style effect, which the program offers to fix.

The problem of bright and dark spots at the bottom of the screen was found to be due to Apple using fragile flex cablesinstead of wire cables, as used in earlier models, which wear down over time. This can cause parts of the backlight to stop showing, or break the backlight completely.

The issue only affected a "very small percentage" of 2016 13-inch MacBook Pro units sold between October 2016 and February 2018, and not other models. Affected Macs are repaired by Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider free of charge, though if there are other detected faults that have to be repaired, the extra fixes are chargeable.

Previously, Apple defined the program as being eligible for "four years after the first retail sale of the unit." In an update to the program page on January 15 spotted by MacRumors, Apple has changed the language to extend the period.

The new terms state eligible models can be repaired up to "five years after the first retail sale of the unit or 3 years from the start date of this program, whichever is longer." As the program commenced on May 21, 2019, this means the affected MacBook units are eligible for the program until May 20, 2022, or at latest, February 2023.

Apple is in the process of dealing with class-action complaints against the company over the issue.

4 Comments

elijahg 2823 comments · 18 Years

About 3 years ago

With the abandoned butterfly keyboard, the soon to be abandoned touch bar and this stage light issue, these machines really turned out to be a bit of a lame duck. The 2015 MBPs fetch more on eBay than the 2016 ones with equivalent specs.

magman1979 1301 comments · 11 Years

elijahg said:

With the abandoned butterfly keyboard, the soon to be abandoned touch bar and this stage light issue, these machines really turned out to be a bit of a lame duck. The 2015 MBPs fetch more on eBay than the 2016 ones with equivalent specs.

What a hyperbolic and ridiculous assessment, good god...

entropys 4302 comments · 13 Years

I have a stage light about 5cm up from the home button on my 10.5 iPad Pro. Apparently it is a thing too.

magman1979 said:

elijahg said:

With the abandoned butterfly keyboard, the soon to be abandoned touch bar and this stage light issue, these machines really turned out to be a bit of a lame duck. The 2015 MBPs fetch more on eBay than the 2016 ones with equivalent specs.

What a hyperbolic and ridiculous assessment, good god...

You really think a $2000 machine with a flawed keyboard that requires the entire top case to be replaced due to one key failing - which for some people has happened 3 times, with no design improvements in the replacements, and a machine where the display flex is too fragile and *will* eventually fail is anything but a lame duck? Do explain how these things aren't actually issues? The repair extension programs only last so long, and if the computer has had light use and the keyboard/display has yet to fail, Apple won't pro-actively replace it. It may fall outside the 5 years Apple deems it should support the machine, and then you're facing a $700 bill for an entire top case or similar for the display.

Obviously the market agrees with me, otherwise they would be worth more than the older 2015 MBPs.