Skip to main content

MacBook Pro owners affected by video issues given extension

MacBook Pro 13 with Retina
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
Apple’s MacBook Pro line has long been a reference point for high-end laptop hardware — between its specs and its design, it’s a luxury product lineup with a price tag to match. That’s why it can be rather distressing for the user when their expensive device starts experiencing problems.

A raft of video errors and random reboots affecting 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pros was determined to be a large-scale problem last year. In an attempt to make up for the situation, Apple announced in February 2015 that affected customers would be entitled to repairs, free of charge.

The catchily titled MacBook Pro Repair Extension Program for Video Issues was initially set to run until February 27, 2016, or three years from the date of sale. Today, however, Apple has announced that this will be extended to December 31, 2016 or four years from the date of sale, according to a report from MacRumors.

The program is intended to cover 15-inch and 17-inch models of the MacBook Pro that were manufactured between February 2011 and February 2013. Users in doubt of whether their system is eligible for a complementary repair can use Apple’s Check Coverage tool to see whether their serial number checks out.

Users then have the option of taking their laptop to an Apple Store or an Authorized Apple Service Provider, or mailing it to an Apple Repair Center. Anyone who paid for their own repairs is advised to get in touch with Apple via its support channels to arrange a reimbursement.

The issues that prompted the creation of this program were a significant headache for Apple, and involved a class-action lawsuit being leveled against the company, as well as an online petition that gathered tens of thousands of signatures. Extending the duration of the program will hopefully make sure that any users who experience problems over the next few months can get their system sorted out.

Editors' Recommendations

Brad Jones
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Brad is an English-born writer currently splitting his time between Edinburgh and Pennsylvania. You can find him on Twitter…
Nvidia and Apple are collaborating on the Vision Pro in the most unlikely way
Nvidia revealing support for the Apple Vision Pro.

You don't normally see tech titans like Nvidia and Apple pair up, but the two companies announced at this week's Nvidia GTC 2024 that they are coming together around the Vision Pro. Nvidia is bringing its Omniverse Cloud platform to Apple's headset, allowing users to interact with objects and design directly through the Vision Pro.

The basis of support is a set of Omniverse Cloud APIs that can stream Omniverse assets to Apple's headset. Omniverse isn't running on the Vision Pro itself. Instead, designers can stream scenes made with the Universal Scene Description (OpenUSD) in Omniverse to the Vision Pro, and interact with the 3D objects natively.

Read more
The MacBook Air 15 vs. MacBook Pro 14: the easy way to decide
Apple's 15-inch MacBook Air placed on a desk with its lid closed.

Picking out a new MacBook isn't as easy as it used to be.

The hardest choice in the lineup might be between the 15-inch MacBook Air and the 14-inch MacBook Pro. Both are now offered with the same M3 chip, despite there being a $300 difference in the base models. But when similarly configured, there's actually only a $100 difference between these two laptops.

Read more
I needed to buy a new MacBook. Here’s why I bought a power bank instead
Baseus Blade 2 65W power bank for laptops kept on a green couch.

I rely on a 13-inch MacBook Pro from 2020 for most of my work. Despite its age and being a base variant model, it continues to stack up well against my expectations for all these years.

Since MacBooks are known for longevity, the fact that my MacBook Pro still holds up well a few years later shouldn't sound surprising. However, the first signs of aging recently arrived in the form of a warning about the battery's plummeting health. I was already dreading the idea of having to replace what was otherwise a perfectly good laptop.

Read more