Apple sued over M1 MacBook display cracking

Macbook Air M1
Macbook Air M1 (Image credit: Daniel Bader / Android Central)

What you need to know

  • Apple is being used over its M1 MacBook range.
  • A new class-action lawsuit states the lineup is defective, and prone to cracking without warning.
  • The suit also states Apple has misled customers using deceptive marketing.

Apple is facing a class-action lawsuit in California over an alleged defect in its 13-inch MacBook Pro with M1 and MacBook Air with M1.

First noted by MacRumors, a lawsuit was filed against the company in California on Tuesday. The court documents note:

Plaintiffs Daphne Pareas and Daniel Friend ("Plaintiffs") bring this consumer class action for themselves and on behalf of all persons who purchased in the United States, or just in California, an M1 MacBook Air laptop or M1 MacBook Pro laptop (the "Class Laptops"), designed, manufactured, distributed, and sold by Apple, Inc. ("Apple" or "Defendant"). This action seeks to remedy violations of law in connection with Defendant's design, manufacture, marketing, advertising, selling, warranting, and servicing of the Class Laptops.

Specifically, the suit alleges these MacBooks, which are some of the best Macbooks Apple sells, come with an "inherent defect that compromises the display screen." It says this leads to black or gray bars and dead spots on the display and cracking. Notably, these cracks often supposedly occur whilst the laptops are closed, and that they are only noticed once the display is reopened. Others say the screens crack when they adjust the viewing angle.

The suit further alleges Apple has "concealed, failed to disclose, or otherwise engaged in deceptive marketing with respect to this defect."

The suit seeks a declaration from Apple that its screens are defective, and a court order holding Apple financially responsible for notifying all Class Members about the defect. Furthermore, it wants Apple to stop "further deceptive distribution and sales practices with respect to the Class Laptops, and to permanently repair the Class Laptops so that they no longer possess the Screen Defect." It also seeks financial compensation and legal expenses.

Do you have an M1 MacBook that might be suffering from similar issues? Let us know!

Stephen Warwick
News Editor

Stephen Warwick has written about Apple for five years at iMore and previously elsewhere. He covers all of iMore's latest breaking news regarding all of Apple's products and services, both hardware and software. Stephen has interviewed industry experts in a range of fields including finance, litigation, security, and more. He also specializes in curating and reviewing audio hardware and has experience beyond journalism in sound engineering, production, and design. Before becoming a writer Stephen studied Ancient History at University and also worked at Apple for more than two years. Stephen is also a host on the iMore show, a weekly podcast recorded live that discusses the latest in breaking Apple news, as well as featuring fun trivia about all things Apple. Follow him on Twitter @stephenwarwick9