Apple's Glowing Logo Makes A Comeback: Apple has brought back the illuminated logo on its PROLED MacBook Pro, reviving a design feature associated with older Mac laptops. However, the technology behind the familiar glow has changed considerably. An iFixit teardown of the 14-inch model reveals how Apple recreates the effect alongside its tandem OLED display.
Four LEDs Power The Glowing Logo: The iFixit teardown revealed that Apple uses four LEDs positioned behind the display to illuminate its logo. A diffuser helps distribute the light, creating an even glow across the familiar Apple symbol. The arrangement replaces the older approach that relied on light passing through the display's backlighting system.
A Reflective Coating Creates The Effect: Apple has also used a reflective coating that allows the logo to function like a two-way mirror. This helps produce the illuminated appearance while keeping the display design intact. According to the teardown, the logo glows whenever the MacBook's display is switched on.
Why Apple Needed A New Approach: Older MacBook models used display backlighting to illuminate the Apple logo. The PROLED MacBook Pro uses a tandem OLED panel, which does not require a conventional LED backlight. Apple therefore needed a separate lighting arrangement to bring back the illuminated logo without relying on older display technology.
Brightness Changes With Ambient Lighting: Apple says the illuminated logo automatically adjusts its brightness according to the built-in display's brightness and surrounding lighting conditions. An ambient light sensor helps control the effect. The logo appears dimmer in darker rooms and brighter in well-lit environments, maintaining visibility without producing unnecessary brightness.
Repairing The Logo Could Be Difficult: The teardown also highlights a repair concern. The illuminated logo sits behind the tandem OLED display, making replacement difficult. iFixit's attempt to open the PROLED XDR display caused the glass layer to shatter and delaminate, damaging the OLED panel in the process.
Can Users Switch Off The Glowing Logo? Apple provides a Terminal command to disable the illumination. Users can enter sudo defaults write com.apple.CoreBrightness LEBacklightMode -int 0 and provide their administrator password. To restore the glow, they can enter sudo defaults delete com.apple.CoreBrightness LEBacklightMode in Terminal.