iPad Air screen defect?

[fat jez]

Every single air has that issue. It is because the lighting for the device is on the right side only, thus producing a brighter right side and dimmer left side. You won't find an air that does not look like that, although some are more pronounced than others.

I would agree. I've yet to get it clear in my head whether it's a limitation of the technology or a design flaw. I suspect the compromise of shrinking everything down meant the display could only be backlit on the right hand side and as such, the left hand side is dimmer. I don't think it's necessarily yellower, just dimmer, which gives the yellow impression.

Either way, it's still irritating.

 

[Chiclets66]

I went through 2 iPad airs and then gave up. Both had the screen issue that has been discussed in this thread. I checked 3 other iPad airs in the Apple store on display and they had the same issue (20-40% of the left side was darker/yellow than the right side).

I do not have OCD. Both screen issues were visible in normal light, using the calendar app, app store, browsing safari, using ibooks and reading PDFs.

For those who asked for proof of these screen problems.

1st attachment (left side was actually yellow and right side was a nice white)

2nd attached (left side wasn't yellow, but darker compared to right side which was white).

 

[sflomenb]

Every single air has that issue. It is because the lighting for the device is on the right side only, thus producing a brighter right side and dimmer left side. You won't find an air that does not look like that, although some are more pronounced than others.

I would agree. I've yet to get it clear in my head whether it's a limitation of the technology or a design flaw. I suspect the compromise of shrinking everything down meant the display could only be backlit on the right hand side and as such, the left hand side is dimmer. I don't think it's necessarily yellower, just dimmer, which gives the yellow impression.

Either way, it's still irritating.

Really? Good to hear.

 

[DJJAZZYJET]

Every single air has that issue. It is because the lighting for the device is on the right side only, thus producing a brighter right side and dimmer left side. You won't find an air that does not look like that, although some are more pronounced than others.

Mine is not too bad, but i seriously doubt EVERY iPad air is like that.
Im gonna have to check it out in the apple store.

 

[Max(IT)]

I went through 2 iPad airs and then gave up. Both had the screen issue that has been discussed in this thread. I checked 3 other iPad airs in the Apple store on display and they had the same issue (20-40% of the left side was darker/yellow than the right side).

I do not have OCD. Both screen issues were visible in normal light, using the calendar app, app store, browsing safari, using ibooks and reading PDFs.

For those who asked for proof of these screen problems.

1st attachment (left side was actually yellow and right side was a nice white)

2nd attached (left side wasn't yellow, but darker compared to right side which was white).

Proofs of what ? In my opinion those photos just proof you have an OCD because they seems to be perfectly working displays (for what a photo can show).

----------

Attachment didn't show up, heres the image.

And that is supposed to be another "faulty" display ?
Btw it's quite difficult to judge those kind of subtle defect by a low res photos on a forum.

 

[Chiclets66]

Proofs of what ? In my opinion those photos just proof you have an OCD because they seems to be perfectly working displays (for what a photo can show).

You're entitled to your opinion and so am I.

The screen for me was bad and not what I expected. The apple employee agreed. I got a refund and moved on.

 

[Jbru187]

Proofs of what ? In my opinion those photos just proof you have an OCD because they seems to be perfectly working displays (for what a photo can show).

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And that is supposed to be another "faulty" display ?

That's part of the problem. It's difficult to show someone the problem with a photo. It's not like the yellow tinting (or shadowing, however you want to describe it) is bright yellow and will stand out in a photo. It's a subtle defect that becomes annoying if you do a lot of reading. It's also annoying to have colors change when you look across part of the screen. If you don't find that distracting, then all other aspects of the screen are great.

The problem isn't the end of the world, but it's something I would expect on a budget tablet. If all the Airs have it, then that's fine. I'd be happy to know it's some limitation of the screen. I could then decide if it's worth buying another one.

I'm not sure why it's so important for some guys here to try to prove the problem doesn't exist. Maybe they are Apple employees who are taking complaints personally. I don't know.

 

[Max(IT)]

Proofs of what ? In my opinion those photos just proof you have an OCD because they seems to be perfectly working displays (for what a photo can show).

You're entitled to your opinion and so am I.

The screen for me was bad and not what I expected. The apple employee agreed. I got a refund and moved on.

The apple employee agreed because they are trained to do that and they had it exchanged even if you said your iPad was pink, because you were within the return period.

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That's part of the problem. It's difficult to show someone the problem with a photo. It's not like the yellow tinting (or shadowing, however you want to describe it) is bright yellow and will stand out in a photo. It's a subtle defect that becomes annoying if you do a lot of reading. It's also annoying to have colors change when you look across part of the screen. If you don't find that distracting, then all other aspects of the screen are great.

The problem isn't the end of the world, but it's something I would expect on a budget tablet. If all the Airs have it, then that's fine. I'd be happy to know it's some limitation of the screen. I could then decide if it's worth buying another one.

I'm not sure why it's so important for some guys here to try to prove the problem doesn't exist. Maybe they are Apple employees who are taking complaints personally. I don't know.

Based on that statement I could say the same for you: I'm not sure why it's so important for some macrumors newbie to convince people that iPad has defective screen (this thread is amazing, but the one about "image retention" is brilliant). Maybe they are Samsung employees trying hard to erode market share. 😀

 

[Jbru187]

The apple employee agreed because they are trained to do that and they had it exchanged even if you said your iPad was pink, because you were within the return period.

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Based on that statement I could say the same for you: I'm not sure why it's so important for some macrumors newbie to convince people that iPad has defective screen (this thread is amazing, but the one about "image retention" is brilliant). Maybe they are Samsung employees trying hard to erode market share. 😀

It should be a thread for those with the problem to discuss. Not for someone who believes the problem doesn't exist to look at some photos, roll their eyes and then declare everyone on the thread as crazy. Sometimes you just have to get your ego in check, realize you haven't personally experienced the problem and therefore can't comment on it.

I like the iPad and have owned previous versions and never had a problem. For my needs, I think it's the best tablet. I really don't need someone telling me I'm seeing things or have developed a sudden dislike of Apple products.

 

[runormal]

it should be a thread for those with the problem to discuss. Not for someone who believes the problem doesn't exist to look at some photos, roll their eyes and then declare everyone on the thread as crazy. Sometimes you just have to get your ego in check, realize you haven't personally experienced the problem and therefore can't comment on it.

I like the ipad and have owned previous versions and never had a problem. For my needs, i think it's the best tablet. I really don't need someone telling me i'm seeing things or have developed a sudden dislike of apple products.

amen!

 

[Max(IT)]

It should be a thread for those with the problem to discuss. Not for someone who believes the problem doesn't exist to look at some photos, roll their eyes and then declare everyone on the thread as crazy. Sometimes you just have to get your ego in check, realize you haven't personally experienced the problem and therefore can't comment on it.

I like the iPad and have owned previous versions and never had a problem. For my needs, I think it's the best tablet. I really don't need someone telling me I'm seeing things or have developed a sudden dislike of Apple products.

This is not an Apple support forum, so this thread is opened at everyone that want to participate.
And also on the apple support forum I'm free to join the thread and express my opinion.
Am I saying you are crazy ? Link me where ...
I'm just saying that most of the people here are bitching at a problem I can't see in dozens of iPads in every store I visited (not speaking about mine) all over the world (I travel a lot for work).
Btw I do believe lemons exist, and I strongly suggest to have it replaced if it is defective. In my long story of Apple user I returned a MacBook , an iPod mini, an iPod nano and I had two device replaced with refurbished units: a Time Capsule and an iPhone 4. But if you returns 3-4-5 units for the same "particular" defect, then suddenly this is not a defect anymore but it is YOU that have wrong expectation from that particular product, because there is no systemic issue on iPad air display. And most of the photos I saw in this thread are just reinforcing my conviction.

 

[KhunJay]

I agree with the above to some extent....I'd never return the same device 5-6 times for replacements.

Exchange once, max twice and then move to an alternative or wait till the problem is sorted and you feel comfortable to buy again.

I will be sitting out this generation of ipad air....I am certain it will be a great machine 2-3 years from now.

 

[Max(IT)]

I agree with the above to some extent....I'd never return the same device 5-6 times for replacements.

Exchange once, max twice and then move to an alternative or wait till the problem is sorted and you feel comfortable to buy again.

I will be sitting out this generation of ipad air....I am certain it will be a great machine 2-3 years from now.

It is a great machine right now: light, sleek, powerful.
Three days of quite intensive use and not a single crash. The screen is just beautiful, surely not worse than my previous iPad 4, but the user experience is better due to its new form factor.
I was tempted to choose a rMini, but now I have a handy device with a bigger screen.

All the issues of iPad air are relegated in this and a few other forums, where newbies signed up to complain for a faulty unit or anal people complain almost on everything (it is the same thing at every, and I said every apple new release).
There are defective units, like in every single product on the market, but the iPad air is a fantastic device.

 

[Dlanod]

I agree with the above to some extent....I'd never return the same device 5-6 times for replacements.

Exchange once, max twice and then move to an alternative or wait till the problem is sorted and you feel comfortable to buy again.

I will be sitting out this generation of ipad air....I am certain it will be a great machine 2-3 years from now.

I agree. And me too. Sorry now that I sold my iPad 4 in haste though.

 

[Max(IT)]

I agree. And me too. Sorry now that I sold my iPad 4 in haste though.

When the iPad 4 was released, one year ago, on this same forum someone started a thread like this with full of whiners bitching about "blacks changing brightness during video playback", where people keep complaining about how awful the iPad 4 display was compared to iPad 3 and so on ....
Now the forum is full of people saying how wonderful the iPad 4 display was compared to the iPad Air 🙄

It is ALWAYS the same on forum like this.

 

[Fuelflow]

There are defective units, like in every single product on the market, but the iPad air is a fantastic device.

No the iPad Air is not a great device. Perhaps your appreciation is biased because you sell in your lousy store many other cheaper devices, but an apple product that has such a widespread flaws is NOT a great device just because you see an apple on its back.
My iPhone5 has a small screen glitch I can leave with . I love it. My iPad 4 is flawless etc. come on, do you think I had in my hands five, yes FIVE Airs that had either strong yellow hue or backlighting issue, it's not being unlucky nor psychotic. It's just that the iPad Air was released with serious production problems. In time for Xmas however and that what counts for business.
You obviously have no idea what you're talking about and your claim that iPad Air is a great product is utterly ridiculous. Simply ridiculous.
Moreover it's off topic, no one said it was crap, people just try to sort the problem.
Do you need help? What is your issue dude?

 

[Max(IT)]

No the iPad Air is not a great device. Perhaps your appreciation is biased because you sell in your lousy store many other cheaper devices, but an apple product that has such a widespread flaws is NOT a great device just because you see an apple on its back.
My iPhone5 has a small screen glitch I can leave with . I love it. My iPad 4 is flawless etc. come on, do you think I had in my hands five, yes FIVE Airs that had either strong yellow hue or backlighting issue, it's not being unlucky nor psychotic. It's just that the iPad Air was released with serious production problems. In time for Xmas however and that what counts for business.
You obviously have no idea what you're talking about and your claim that iPad Air is a great product is utterly ridiculous. Simply ridiculous.
Moreover it's off topic, no one said it was crap, people just try to sort the problem.
Do you need help? What is your issue dude?

The problem is your, not mine ....
Every single review stated the iPad Air as the best device out there, or one of the best.
Every review described the iPad air screen as one of the best of the market, but since you have FIVE devices that YOU (and a bunch of whiners here) see as yellowish, the iPad air isn't a great product ?
Widespread issue ? Where is widespread ? In this and a couple of other forums ? 100-200 .... even 1000 users out of millions of satisfied owners ?
Who is ridiculous then ? 🙄

 

[bevsb2]

There is a problem with yellow screens or gradients on some Airs. I returned 3 before getting one with a good screen and I'm sorry for those that have been unable to get a screen they are happy with to date. Obviously these individuals really want the Air and don't just buy them for the fun of returning or exchanging. However I believe that the Air is a great device. It is fast and the smaller size and weight makes it a real pleasure to use. Hopefully the screen issues can be resolved in the near future so everyone buying one can enjoy it to the max.

 

[Fuelflow]

Hehe... Press media 🙂 Your numbers mean nothing, and you must be really young...Otherwise you'd know the crowd, the mass doesnt see anything and they wont complain. As far as they have an ipad with an Apple, it MUST be top notch.
Just like you're saying all the time by the way. It's not because 99% of the global customers dont say anything that there isnt a problem !

Geez, you jump in that thread with your biased affirmations, screaming and crying out loud we're all nuts, you know everything, you judge people you dont even know and I tell you what: you post way too much to be thoughtful 😉
Just relax Max, step back from your screen for a while a go get some fresh air.

 

[Max(IT)]

Hehe... Press media 🙂 Your numbers mean nothing, and you must be really young...Otherwise you'd know the crowd, the mass doesnt see anything and they wont complain. As far as they have an ipad with an Apple, it MUST be top notch.
Just like you're saying all the time by the way. It's not because 99% of the global customers dont say anything that there isnt a problem !

Geez, you jump in that thread with your biased affirmations, screaming and crying out loud we're all nuts, you know everything, you judge people you dont even know and I tell you what: you post way too much to be thoughtful 😉
Just relax Max, step back from your screen for a while a go get some fresh air.

I'm not young at all, and I'm a long time user of this forum, so isn't me the one who's judging people I don't know ...

You are speaking about very well known websites, not biased towards Apple, like they know nothing and you and your "five iPad experience" is the only truth keeper.
Take a look at the anandtech review, they went quite deep in display analysis of iPad air.
And the same website showed the weaknesses of iPad mini retina display (reduced color gamut and worse calibration).

 

[Jbru187]

This is not an Apple support forum, so this thread is opened at everyone that want to participate.
And also on the apple support forum I'm free to join the thread and express my opinion.
Am I saying you are crazy ? Link me where ...
I'm just saying that most of the people here are bitching at a problem I can't see in dozens of iPads in every store I visited (not speaking about mine) all over the world (I travel a lot for work).
Btw I do believe lemons exist, and I strongly suggest to have it replaced if it is defective. In my long story of Apple user I returned a MacBook , an iPod mini, an iPod nano and I had two device replaced with refurbished units: a Time Capsule and an iPhone 4. But if you returns 3-4-5 units for the same "particular" defect, then suddenly this is not a defect anymore but it is YOU that have wrong expectation from that particular product, because there is no systemic issue on iPad air display. And most of the photos I saw in this thread are just reinforcing my conviction.

If the problem were users just whining and complaining, then the complaints should be all over the place, but for the most part they are about the same thing. The yellow tinting on the left side. You'll find very few complaints, if any at all, about the contrast level, brightness level, color gamut etc. How is that possible?

My expectations haven't suddenly changed since using previous iPads. I bought them, the displays looked great and I moved on. I noticed the unevenness with the Air as soon as I brought up the keyboard.

 

[luckylisp]

You're entitled to your opinion and so am I.

The screen for me was bad and not what I expected. The apple employee agreed. I got a refund and moved on.

It's a shame. I'm sorry you weren't able to get a good one. For me, I can easily see the faults with both of the pics you posted. Very clear to me. For those that can't see them, be glad that it's easier for you to find iPad Air displays you are happy with then.

 

[Dlanod]

When the iPad 4 was released, one year ago, on this same forum someone started a thread like this with full of whiners bitching about "blacks changing brightness during video playback", where people keep complaining about how awful the iPad 4 display was compared to iPad 3 and so on ....

Now the forum is full of people saying how wonderful the iPad 4 display was compared to the iPad Air 🙄



It is ALWAYS the same on forum like this.

I was happy with my iPad 4 from day 1 - it was perfect first time out of the box. I've had three Air's and now given up. So I'll be skipping this gen sadly and working with my rMini which took me 4 attempts to get a decent one and my MacBook Air - which incidentally had to be replaced a couple of days after I received it due to a keyboard fault.

The Air is simply a compromise by Apple - the drive for smaller and lighter has forced screen design that is susceptible to uneven backlighting. Perhaps with the next gen they'll have sorted it.

 

[fat jez]

The Air is simply a compromise by Apple - the drive for smaller and lighter has forced screen design that is susceptible to uneven backlighting. Perhaps with the next gen they'll have sorted it.

Lighter I get, but if they had made it the same thickness as the old one, perhaps the back lighting could have been from both sides and thus more even?

I think the constant drive for smaller, smaller, smaller is leading Apple to make design compromises and remove features (i.e. no ethernet port on the retina MBP) before the technology is quite ready for them.

 

[FrankB1191]

I've defended the Air quite a bit on this forum, but did return one I bought earlier this week. One side was greenish, and the other pink. I had a pic of a white Mazda Miata, and changing the front end color only required flipping the tablet around. 😀 Two other 128GB Airs, and one 128GB rMini are fine all around.

I tried to look past the pink/green Air, but had two others that are near perfect for comparison. Displays vary, and true perfection is rare. 😉