XPS13 2015 QHD Color Uniformity

I exchanged my first two devices at the Microsoft store due to light bleed and poor color uniformity. I managed to get a device with minimal light bleed, but the color uniformity still seems poor. Light colored screens (particularly white and gray) look splotchy, especially in certain problem areas. It's pretty obvious viewing a white website like Google, or even this one.... Viewing colorful pictures looks normal for the most part, as does viewing websites with darker backgrounds.

Anybody else noticing this issue with their QHD screens? Based on the 4 XPS 13 QHDs that I've seen in person, it seems to vary a bit. Unfortunately I'd rather have to deal with light bleed than these ugly whites and grays.

http://i.imgur.com/u7TndOi.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/o47aakX.jpg

I should note that although this picture accurately shows where the discoloration is occurring, it doesn't look nearly as bad in person. The yellowing is just an artifact of the photo; the darker areas are accurate, yet more extreme in the photo.

 

Hello, I have the same problem

http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/xps-13-2015-fhd-screen-color-calibration.772466/

white backgrounds are really bad, actually I have never seen the color white on my screen, it's a mixture of white and grey always, or white + grey-ish clouds

I am still hoping the famous "auto-brightness" issue, embedded in the hardware is messing up the color uniformity, and that a bios update can fix it.

 

Interesting. Any more information on this? I haven't found it mentioned much, other than in the thread you linked.

I'd love to find out this is a software issue, but I had only really considered the possibility of hardware.

 

Check out the forum I started called white screen issue.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

p.s.

1) turn off computer
2) press D (keep it pressed in)
3) turn on your computer (power button)
4) it starts display test... where you can see all basic colors

if the issue pertains, u can exclude windows, and then it's probably either:
1) bad hardware; something specific to SHARP panels
2) auto-brightness messing up color uniformity (probably BIOS fix possible)

 

I exchanged my laptop, now I have your colour uniformity problem as well. Corners have a hint of red. I will keep this laptop and I will replace the screen under Dell's warranty in the future. For now I'm going to use to for college. Note that I have already exchanged 3 times, each with different problems.

 

now that I've seen this I can't stop noticing it on white backgrounds. It's a lot more prevalent on lower brightness levels for me. Is that how it is for you guys?

 

Pretty much. Sorry to have pointed it out...

GamerJoe and kristof1234, where did you purchase your XPS?

 

Microsoft store. But I think I'm gonna get a Macbook Pro. It's making me crazy.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

^ heh, I was also looking around for new Macbook 12 inch. The Dell XPS 13 has probably "much more inside," it just pisses me off that I need to spend so much time to get everything working...

For the record, a lot of problems are also "socially constructed." Normal people will probably not pay attention to them, but when one sees other people pointing ou t the issue, and you see them also, the neurotic in myself, starts obsessing about it... especially since it costed so much money, it HAS to be perfect... unfortunately, nothing in reality is really perfect

===
I bought my XPS in Europe (business division of Dell)

 

Does anyone NOT have it? Is it worth trying to exchange again, and again..?

If it's a production issue that they can sort out in the next few months, it wouldn't be too terrible to hold out and use warranty for a fix or a replacement down the line. I don't think the guys at the (1 hour away) Microsoft store want to see my face too many more times.

 

I'm beginning to think that life is too short.. I just unboxed my new XPS13 and. I have non-uniformity + a greyish spot near the bottom of the screen and off right of the centre. Particularly visible on white backgrounds. But I'm now getting obsessive about it... I need to stop ^^

 

Thanks for bringing this thread back up
The darkish area in the lower middle is normal I guess. Its right where a screen component is located and both of my screens had it. Other areas differ around the bottom. I suspect that some sort of led "sheet" is slightly warped on the inside due to the construction. Even though its a slight malfunction I consider it now as a normal tolerance for the xps ;-)

 

Ah, that's helpful indeed - had no idea about the screen component ^^ Thanks

As it so happens I already called Dell and asked for an exchange, so they are sending one out... If I see the same issue on the new one I guess I'll have to see what happens. Although I must say I've never seen any such defects on other ultra high res displays.

ericxps - would you mind uploading a photo of the screen showing the darkish area etc. I can't seem to capture mine on camera very well, not sure why as it's obvious when you look at the screen directly ^^

Thanks

 

I tried but can't capture it as its very subtle. I don't think that it will get any better if you let them change your screen. It's worth a try though. Please report back

 

Ah yes that's the problem I have. You can see it in real life, but on camera, it's subtle... Thanks for trying though! I will report back

 

Color and white-point uniformity issues are a characteristic of mass produced displays, especially those based on IPS technology. You will not ever find a "completely perfect" screen (depending on your expectations). If you've seen IPS screens that were "perfect", you weren't looking hard enough. It's not unique to Sharp displays, and certainly not to the XPS 13. The 1080p display will also have color, and/or white-point, and/or brightness uniformity issues to varying degrees, and every sample will vary in different ways. Some have darker corners, some have darker halves, some will have yellowish or greenish bands, some will have an overall yellow or "warm" tint, almost all will have uneven blacks and back-light bleed-through on dark screens, again, to wildly varying degrees.

I've had 2 of the 1080p models, and 1 QHD (present unit) - the first 1080 was excellent, save for a slightly darker bottom half (sold), 2nd 1080 was absolutely dreadful, overall very yellow tone, not nearly as bright, less contrast, and a much darker lower half (returned to Dell). My QHD has met my expectations, but it does have back-light bleed on the sides near the bottom (which is where i've seen it on every single QHD model i've looked at), and a slightly darker bottom half. If you exchange another several times, you may end up with a screen more to your liking, but it still will not be perfectly, 100% even, guaranteed.

And it's true, once you notice it, you can't "unnotice" it, you just have to live with it or play the exchange game in hopes of getting something better. Even MacBook Pro Retina displays have this issue, you can find literally 100's of pages of thread around the web regarding MBP display uniformity issues.

 

Well that certainly gives me confidence. Thanks for the in-depth reply! It has eased my paranoia..

I guess it's simply a case of knowing if other people experience the same problems or not, if everyone else was to say.. 'oh my display is perfect' that would be a problem. But because an imperfect display is the norm I guess we all have to live with it!

 

Ok. I received my replacement XPS 13 with QHD display yesterday. That dark 'smudge' the original one had is not there! So that's the good news. The bad news is there is a dead pixel on top left corner. So I thought to myself, I either deal with my OCD about the smallest dot on the top left corner OR I get another replacement... as kgbeezr1 said you can't "unnotice it" Any advice? Should I just deal with it and accept that out of a few million pixels one is bound to be dead...? Dell did say that if the 2nd unit wasn't to my liking I could get a full refund... but isn't life too short...

 

It's a tough one. For some reason, one or two dead pixels on hi-res displays don't bother me as much as darker areas, or areas with a different tint, although I've gotten myself to the place where I can ignore both if they aren't too severe (my present unit). It's really subjective though. If it's something that is going to annoy you, then you won't enjoy using your computer, in which case, i'd vote for exchange (or refund, then try buying another.) Trying to go to a different model or brand won't solve the issue, at least I don't think. I've had so many laptops and I have yet to see a completely perfect panel.

In truth, we get less-than-perfect displays because most people never notice, or never do anything about it even when they do. If manufacturers were getting 50% return rates you can bet quality control would tighten on displays and the samples that should really get dumped off the assembly line would get dumped. As it stands, i'd imagine the return rates are far less than 10%...big deal, Dell or Apple or Asus or whoever will simply put the unit into the refurb cycle where they still make plenty of profit, even if they have to send it out a couple times.

There's always the possibility of getting a tech to change out just your display, of course you then run the risk of other damage or getting a worse screen. None of this is probably helping, I know. Just don't settle because you don't want to be a pain or something, taking returns on defective merchandise is part of the game if a company is going to manufacture and sell goods. Of course they might tell you "one dead pixel is within industry norms" or something to that effect, but that's just lowering the bar to play to the bottom line. I actually laughed out loud at the rep when I called to return my 2nd 1080p unit that was (excessively) yellow and dim and he responded with "these issues are industry accepted norms". Poor guy was just doing his job, but it still made me laugh.

 

Yes, I totally agree with everything you've said. But I am one of those people who will always be bothered my it... which is a good or bad thing!

When I spoke to Dell today they actually said they could either offer a full refund OR send a technician out to look at it. But they said they could not offer a new replacement a 3rd time. Instead if I did want a replacement I would have to buy it again. So I'm sending it back.

Instead I've decided I'll buy myself a cheap ultrabook to see me through the next few months and wait for the Surface Pro 4 or maybe a later version of the XPS13 with Skylake...

 

Sounds like a plan. Probably better than to settle since it's a big expenditure.

The Surface Pro 4 should be interesting for sure, and I have a feeling the XPS 13 won't really change too much for quite awhile, they've found a pretty great overall design in the current model. So far i'm happy with mine, at least relative to other notebooks i've had lately.

Good luck with everything...

 

Just had a dell technician out as my QHD+ screen had a dark smudge in the lower centre, minor but enough to irritate when working on light screens. Replaced on site with a new screen and lid assembly and is perfect now. Couldn't be happier!