Apple releases MacBook Pro 13 . backlight repair program

Apple to fix MacBook Pro 13 models that have backlight issues. These are laptops sold between October 2016 and February 2018. Up to four years from the date of purchase, Apple will repair if needed, free of charge.

With the introduction of the new repair program, Apple acknowledges the problems with the backlight of the MacBook Pro 13 from 2016. Users have been complaining about this since last year and the problems were known as flexgate. A petition calling on Apple to come up with a solution has been signed more than 19,000 times.

The problems consist of an odd illumination of the screen or a complete failure of the backlight. That’s due to wear and tear on the flex cable that connects the display to the motherboard, iFixit found. Apple uses a relatively short cable in the MacBook Pro 13 from 2016; new models that do not have this problem have a longer cable.

Owners of the 2016 MacBook Pro 13 affected by the issue should contact an Apple retail store for repair. Customers who have previously had their laptop repaired by Apple for a fee are eligible for a refund.