Hello
I just purchased the MacBook Air M4 (15inch). Accidentally I touched with my finger the display (without
applying much pressure) and I noticed a ripple style chromatic distortion effect. Is this behavior normal? I thought that the display of the MacBook Air M4 has a glass surface (like mobile phones) and wouldn’t be so sensitive when you touch it (like the matte displays).
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
MacBook Air (M4, 2025)
Yes, this ripple effect is a normal behavior for many laptop screens, including the MacBook Air M4. While the display does have a glass surface, it is still an LCD panel underneath, which means it can exhibit temporary distortions when pressure is applied. Unlike mobile phone screens, which often use reinforced glass with touch-sensitive layers, laptop screens are not designed to be touched regularly, so they can be more sensitive to pressure.
If the ripple effect disappears quickly and does not leave any lasting marks or damage, your screen is functioning as expected. However, if you notice persistent distortions or any permanent discoloration, it might be worth checking with Apple Support to ensure there are no underlying issues.
Source: Microsoft Copilot
Yes, this ripple effect is a normal behavior for many laptop screens, including the MacBook Air M4. While the display does have a glass surface, it is still an LCD panel underneath, which means it can exhibit temporary distortions when pressure is applied. Unlike mobile phone screens, which often use reinforced glass with touch-sensitive layers, laptop screens are not designed to be touched regularly, so they can be more sensitive to pressure.
If the ripple effect disappears quickly and does not leave any lasting marks or damage, your screen is functioning as expected. However, if you notice persistent distortions or any permanent discoloration, it might be worth checking with Apple Support to ensure there are no underlying issues.
Source: Microsoft Copilot
@MichaelB10 & CoPilot are correct in this case. It was nice of @MichaelB10 to acknowledge the AI assist, very refreshing.
Touching MacBook Air screen causing ripple effect
