Microsoft could be facing a recall of the Surface Laptop 3 after multiple owners reported a crack appearing in the screen through no fault of their own.
As ZDNet reports, the crack appears either across the corner or from the bottom to the top of the display. Multiple threads of Reddit include images of the cracks and also report a crunching sound being heard both when the laptop is picked up or the lid is opened or closed.
It's unclear what exactly is causing the screen to crack, but it seems to be a problem limited to the aluminum case versions of the Surface Laptop 3. Microsoft is investigating to try and figure out what's going wrong, with a spokesperson saying, "A limited number of Surface Laptop customers have contacted Microsoft and have reported screens that have cracked through no fault of their own. We are evaluating the situation and investigating the root cause of the claims."
In a response to one of the screen crack threads on Reddit, user OligarchyAmbulance suggests the problem is caused by a lack of rubber bumper around the edges of the display. By not having one, every time you pick up the laptop the screen is allowed to flex slightly. The temporary solution to help avoid a screen crack is to use a screen protector because it fills the gap between the display and keyboard and helps prevent the screen from flexing.
Another user named ThatYouChoke explains how Microsoft made a big deal of removing a "barely visible gasket," which previously helped with metal expansion and contraction when opening and closing the lid. The gasket's removal could also be contributing to the problem and making the screen vulnerable to cracking.
If Microsoft's evaluation finds the screen cracks are caused by a design flaw then it will have to provide a solution to existing owners as well as updating the design for the production line.
Further Reading
- Surface Book 3, Surface Go 2: Spring 2020 Release Date Rumored
- AMD Ryzen 7 vs. Intel Core i7: CPU Face-Off in Microsoft's Surface Laptop 3
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- Readers' Choice Awards 2020: Laptops and Tablets
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