This is a hard and full on repair! Replacing an cracked LCD on a 2021 MacBook Pro Model number A2442 and 2023 MacBook Pro model A2779.
This particular example and the photos are from A2779 model bu the process is identical for A2442.
Why is it so hard? The LCD display is paired with the logic board via two ICs. For the LCD to work correctly it needs to have original LCD chips installed to it. To access the chips, the original LCD needs to be taken off, the chips are located on the under side of the LCD.
There are two chips that need to be transferred, the bigger one, display timing controlled and the smaller one, only 8 pin so probably eprom. We are not 100% sure of their exact role, heavily guarded secret, the schematic we have for the display does not show what they are.
The smaller of the two ICs is so small it tends to fly off from the board in the process of being removed from the original LCD because of hot air flow used to hear it up. This is a trap for young players, if you lose this chip on the floor, you might never find it again. If you don’t find it, you are in trouble, no way to make the display work again.
Once the ICs have been removed and re-balled, they are installed to the new LCD display. Tip: use ceramic tweezers as the smaller chip can crack easy from pressure.
The surrounding area is best protected by the copper foil to shield the rest of the LCD flex from the heat.
Very time consuming procedure but the result is a much cheaper LCD repair than the Apple authorised display replacement.
Is the cost justified? We think so.
The MacBook model A2442 is part of the Apple MacBook Pro lineup, specifically referring to the 14-inch MacBook Pro introduced in October 2021. This model is notable for its significant design and performance improvements over previous generations. Here are the key features and specifications of the MacBook Pro A2442:
Design and Display:
- Screen Size: 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display.
- Resolution: 3024 x 1964 pixels.
- Brightness: Up to 1000 nits sustained, 1600 nits peak (HDR content).
- Refresh Rate: ProMotion technology with adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz.
- Bezels: Thinner bezels compared to previous models, with a notch at the top housing the 1080p FaceTime HD camera.
The MacBook model A2779 refers to a 14-inch MacBook Pro released in 2023. This model features Apple’s M2 Pro and M2 Max chips, offering significant improvements in performance and efficiency. Here are the key specifications and features:
Specifications:
- Display: 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with a resolution of 3024 x 1964 pixels, supporting up to 1000 nits of sustained brightness and 1600 nits peak brightness for HDR content.
- Processor: Options for M2 Pro and M2 Max chips. The M2 Pro includes a 12-core CPU and a 19-core GPU, while the M2 Max can be configured with up to a 38-core GPU.
- Memory: Starts at 16GB of unified memory, configurable up to 96GB with the M2 Max.
- Storage: Begins at 1TB SSD, with options to configure up to 8TB.
- Connectivity: Features three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI port, an SDXC card slot, and a MagSafe 3 charging port.