The screen of my barely a year old MacBook Pro 16 M2 suddenly malfunctioned and died while I was browsing YouTube. The problem started with a black band flickering on the right side of the display. A reboot greeted me with colored bands across the screen. Another reboot from Safe Mode greeted me with black screen with a lone white line running across the display.

I submitted the machine at the nearest Apple Authorized Service Center as suggested by Apple Support. They are now quoting me a price to get the display replacement under Accidental Damage Protection (due to stress as per their diagnostics).

This machine was not subjected to stress, fire or liquids. It used to stay on the very top of everything in the drawer. Sometimes, I used to put the MagSafe charger on it but surely, that can't be the cause of accidental damage.

I'm wondering if there's any way to appeal to Apple to cover this under manufacturing defect rather than Accidental Damage. Has someone been under similar circumstances? Would appreciate any advice.