2020 MacBook Air — Flexgate Issue? Black Lines on Display from Flex Cable Wear

My questions:

• Has Apple acknowledged this issue in newer models, ...

All Apple service programs are described on this page: Apple Service Programs - Apple Support

... or offered any repair assistance out of warranty?

Please refer to Obtaining service for your Apple product after an expired warranty - Apple Support.

• Why can’t Apple provide a flex cable-only repair, especially when the issue seems to be due to a design limitation?

Only Apple can answer that question. Did you ask them, or is that an assumption on your part?

You have three choices:

1. Have Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider repair the laptop.....If it is an Intel model, then I personally would not spend any money on it for multiple reasons. The money spent on repairs is much better put towards a new laptop.
2. Live with it and/or use an external display
3. Use a different laptop

FYI, while I saw this issue a lot with the 2016 & 2017 MBPro models, and a bit less with the 2018 models, and much less with the 2019-2020 Intel models. I personally do not like the design because it exposes a very delicate easily damaged cable to the end user & the elements....debris builds up there & cleaning it off can potentially damage the cable. I know debris does get caught between the frame & the data cable & the protective covering....sometimes quite a lot of debris. Unfortunately this is a design Apple has chosen. If you buy a Mac you have to live with it & accept it.

snehil160 wrote:

After researching, I believe this is due to a flex cable failure, similar to the known Flexgate issue that affected earlier MacBook Pro models. In my case, the problem seems clearly tied to the wear of the display cable due to normal usage (opening/closing the lid). The display works fine at certain angles, but malfunctions as the lid is opened wider.

Sounds like a bad flex cable.

This is extremely frustrating, especially since I have taken good care of my MacBook and have not dropped or damaged it in any way.

That flex cable can be damaged since it is somewhat exposed to the user. If you look closely at the display below the Bezel, you will see a plastic cable which guards the actual cable beneath it. It could be damaged if someone pokes at the spot where the cable & its covering is expose. Even a build up of debris can get caught beneath the cable where opening & closing the Display can cause chaffing & possibly eventual damage. It is definitely a week point.

I understand that Apple doesn’t offer a flex cable-only replacement and instead quotes for an entire display assembly, which is unreasonably expensive for a cable that costs just a few hundred rupees.

My questions:•

Has Apple acknowledged this issue in newer models, or offered any repair assistance out of warranty?

• Why can’t Apple provide a flex cable-only repair, especially when the issue seems to be due to a design limitation?

If you actually look at the Display Assembly you will see it is not really possible to replace the display cable. While some third parties have performed a hacked repair, it is very crude & not very pretty. I don't know if it would even hold up for long since that does have some slight movement when opening & closing the lid.

FYI, Apple has not had a repairable Retina Display Assembly since 2012. The last Apple laptop that could be repaired by a non-authorized tech was the non-Retina 2012 model (I was able to remove the glass from them to replace all of the items in the non-Retina Display Assembly....few techs actually did this since it was a tricky skill to learn). Apple has not allowed authorized techs to repair (aka take apart) any laptop display since the 2010 white MacBooks.

snehil160 wrote:

It’s a MacBook Air M1 (2020). Should I get it repaired by a third-party technician?

An official repair by Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider makes the most sense at this time.

Mac Repair and Service - Apple Support