I realize this is an old discussion but if the OP is around, what was the outcome? After Apple replaced the MacBook, did it happen again?
I bought an M1 MacBook Air on clearance four months ago. Seemingly overnight the same sort of bluish-discoloration occurred on the surface of the display. I Googled it and this discussion popped up.
Some of the prior comments attribute this to cleaning with alcohol. However, during COVID-19 people were asking Apple if they could disinfect their devices, and Apple's cleaning doc actually does say one can use sanitizer as long as it doesn't contain bleach. (Up to 70% alcohol is OK. See:
How to clean your Apple products.)
I have always used the Zeiss lens wipes on my devices with no ill effect. (Designed to go on eyeglass lenses many of which are coated.) I have found them useful for cleaning tablets, smartphones, flat-screen TVs, older MacBooks, multiple iMacs and even direct contact on a digital camera sensor to solve the fact that I was getting dirt "orbs" in my photos — all with no ill effects.).
I was prepared to blame this on the fact that I placed an ultra-thin silicone keyboard cover over my keyboard. (I bought a case for the MacBook and it came with it. Didn't think anything of it until this happened. Now I appreciate in reading up on the issue that apparently keyboard covers aren't recommended either — even if one cleans the top of the keyboard cover to make sure there is nothing present that could scratch. Something to do with not having enough clearance when the lid closes.)
At any rate, the keyboard cover theory fell apart when I noticed that the 3" area of bluish-discoloration in the surface of the screen is over the palm-rest/trackpad (not aligned with the keyboard when the lid closes).
My screen doesn't appear to have any physical scratches. I can't see anything sloughing off, either. Also, the bluish discoloration did not appear gradually but seemed to show up overnight about a week ago. (Looks almost like there may have been impurities in the antiglare coating and that it has oxidized.)
Given that the M1 is three years old now, does anybody know if Apple ever issued any kind of program to address this issue? (Another issue I have read about with the MacBook M1s is apparently the screens have a way of just spontaneously cracking. Knock on wood that this hasn't happened, but in researching this mysterious bluish mark on my display, I also came across reports of screens breaking without any accident damage to explain it.)
Knowing what I know now, I am having some buyer's remorse that I bought a first-generation M1. (For example, I have also noticed that the WiFi antenna is the weakest I have ever seen in an Apple device. If I close too many doors between myself and my wireless router, I have almost no bars, meanwhile an iMac or iPad in the same room has full strength WiFi connectivity. (I'm thinking that this is why my M1 battery life started off great but if I spend too much time surfing the web, I lose about 25% of the advertised battery life. Even though I am not getting WiFi drops, my guess is that it consumes too much energy trying to maintain a mediocre connection depending on where I am in my house.)
I have a Genius Bar appointment next week. The question is, do I stick to the screen issue — or should I push for them to replace my MacBook Air because the WiFi and the battery life seem to be underperforming as well? (Not sure if replacing the MacBook would address this, however, if it's pretty much the consensus that WiFi performance isn't an M1 strong point. Also kind of wary of having Apple replace an M1, given the possibility of ending up with a refurb that has had years of prior use vs. just a few months worth.)
Second and final question, can anybody recommend anything that is gentler than the Zeiss lens wipes? (My problem is that every once in awhile I sneeze and those marks don't come off with a dry microfiber cloth.)
Thanks for reading! Appreciate any tips
