Skip to main content

MacBook Pro Retina Screen Replacement in Wimbledon SW19

A Wimbledon MacBook Pro had a cracked Retina display after being dropped. We replaced the full display assembly and tested brightness, colour, and hinge before return.

4 min read By PC Macgicians Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (2020)

A Wimbledon customer brought in a MacBook Pro 13-inch with a shattered Retina display following a drop. The panel was producing distorted output across the upper half. We replaced the full display assembly and confirmed graphics, brightness, and hinge function before return.

Case Summary

Device
MacBook Pro 13-inch 2020 (A2338, M1)
Problem
Shattered Retina display — cracked glass and distorted image across upper half of panel
Diagnosis
Physical impact damage to display assembly; GPU output confirmed healthy via external monitor
Fix
Full display assembly replaced; hinge tension checked and confirmed within normal range
Outcome
Factory-quality display restored; full brightness, colour accuracy, and camera function confirmed
Timeframe
Next day (display assembly sourced same day, fitted next morning)

What Was Happening

A customer from Wimbledon SW19 brought in a MacBook Pro 13-inch 2020 (A2338, M1) that had been dropped from a desk. The display had shattered on impact — the Retina glass was cracked across the upper section and the image below the crack line was distorted and partially black. The lower quarter of the screen was still producing a partial image, but the machine was not usable in that state.

The customer needed the machine for work and asked specifically whether a Retina replacement would match the original display quality, having heard that aftermarket screens vary in colour accuracy.

Our Diagnosis

Before ordering the replacement assembly, we connected an external monitor via USB-C to confirm the GPU and display signal path were healthy. The external monitor showed a clean, full-resolution image with no artefacts or colour issues, which confirmed the fault was isolated to the display assembly itself.

We also inspected the hinge mechanism. On drop-related screen damage, the hinge sometimes absorbs part of the fall impact and develops looseness or, less commonly, excessive stiffness. The hinge on this machine was within normal tension range and did not require adjustment.

On the 2020 M1 MacBook Pro, the display is a single integrated assembly — Retina glass, IPS panel, backlight, Face Time camera, ambient light sensor, and microphone are all within the display lid assembly and are not individually replaceable on this model. The correct repair approach is full assembly replacement.

How We Fixed It

We sourced a compatible display assembly for the A2338. We use OEM-specification assemblies for MacBook display work where available — the colour profile, brightness calibration, and True Tone behaviour are engineered to the machine’s display controller, and generic aftermarket panels can produce colour temperature differences that are immediately visible on a machine the customer uses daily.

The old assembly was removed by releasing the display housing and disconnecting the display cable from the logic board. The replacement assembly was seated correctly and all connectors reseated and secured. The display cable was routed in the correct path before the lid was closed.

Post-fit checks covered: brightness at all levels from minimum to maximum, True Tone behaviour, camera function (video call test), ambient light sensor response, and screen uniformity across the full panel. All passed.

The Result

The MacBook Pro was returned to the Wimbledon customer the following morning with a factory-quality display. Brightness, colour accuracy, and True Tone all matched the machine’s original output. Camera and microphone (both within the display assembly) were fully functional. The customer collected a machine that, visually, was indistinguishable from new.

MacBook Retina Replacements and Display Quality

The question this customer asked — whether a Retina replacement would match the original — is a reasonable one. The answer depends on the source of the replacement assembly.

Apple’s Retina displays are factory-calibrated to a specific colour profile at the point of manufacture. An OEM-specification replacement assembly carries the same calibration. Generic aftermarket assemblies, sourced from third-party manufacturers, can have colour temperatures that read noticeably cooler or warmer than the original, and brightness curves that differ at the lower end of the range.

For a machine used for colour-sensitive work — design, photography, video — the quality of the replacement panel matters more than it does for a machine used primarily for text and video calls. We use OEM-specification assemblies as standard for MacBook work, and will always advise which quality tier is being used.

Prevention Tips

  • Use a padded sleeve when transporting a MacBook in a bag — the display is the most vulnerable component to side-impact damage in a bag
  • Keep the machine away from the edge of desks and surfaces; most laptop screen damage from drops is from desk-height falls onto hard floors
  • If the display shows any signs of cracking or delamination, avoid opening and closing the lid until assessed — flexing a cracked panel can progress the damage

Local Help in Wimbledon SW19

We carry out MacBook screen replacements at our Putney workshop for customers across Wimbledon SW19 and SW20. Free collection is available from the Wimbledon area — about 12–18 minutes from Putney via the A3.

More Case Studies

Helpful Internal Links

Key Takeaways

  • On Apple Silicon MacBook Pros, the display is sold and replaced as a complete assembly — panel, glass, backlight, and camera are a single unit
  • External monitor testing before screen replacement confirms whether the fault is isolated to the display or involves the GPU or display cable
  • A Retina display replacement restores the machine to factory colour accuracy and brightness — aftermarket panels vary significantly in quality
  • Checking hinge tension after a drop-related screen failure is standard — the hinge may have absorbed part of the impact and should be assessed

Need Help With This Issue?

Get expert help with Screen Replacement.

Screen Replacement in Wimbledon All Screen Replacement services

Related Services

Explore more

Related Case Studies

View all

Laptop Screen Replacement in Kingston KT1

A Kingston customer's HP laptop had a flickering and partially dark display. We diagnosed a failing display cable, replaced it alongside the panel, and returned the machine next day.