iPad Air screen defect?

[Max(IT)]

The point is that, contrary to some, the iPad Air’s screen is still very flawed with general unevenness, bookspine shadow and yellow cast. I hope these problems are solved with the release of the iPad Air 2.

The point is you (like me)don't know how many iPad air are flawed.
Is it 15% of sold units ? Then we have to hope for the next version to be better.
Is it 3% of sold units ? Then Apple has nothing to solve.

A vocal minority on some forums doesn't give you reliable statistics

 

[TheWheelMan]

The point is you (like me)don't know how many iPad air are flawed.
Is it 15% of sold units ? Then we have to hope for the next version to be better.
Is it 3% of sold units ? Then Apple has nothing to solve.

A vocal minority on some forums doesn't give you reliable statistics

To further follow up on the above, all one has to do is look at this forum. Even though it seems like a lot of people are complaining about the screen issues, there are 886,482 members of this forum. Do you really think we've had complaints from even 1% (over 8,000 people) on this forum? That's more than enough evidence that these problems aren't remotely as widespread as the fear mongerers want everyone to believe.

 

[Max(IT)]

To further follow up on the above, all one has to do is look at this forum. Even though it seems like a lot of people are complaining about the screen issues, there are 886,482 members of this forum. Do you really think we've had complaints from even 1% (over 8,000 people) on this forum? That's more than enough evidence that these problems aren't remotely as widespread as the fear mongerers want everyone to believe.

Well ... Not all the 800k members owned an iPad Air, but you have the point
30-40 complainers on this forum, or even 1000 complainers on all the related technical forums, aren't a reliable statistic. Only Apple knows the defective rate of the iPad Air, and I personally don't think is higher than the average for this class of electronic devices

 

[BoneHead001]

Problems with the iPad Air are very real. For what Apple charges, I expect greatness. Every store that sells the iPad Air, (Best Buy, Target) has on display the units that show screens with overall uneveness, bookspine, and some varied degree of yellow cast. I call that a problem.

 

[TheWheelMan]

Problems with the iPad Air are very real. For what Apple charges, I expect greatness. Every store that sells the iPad Air, (Best Buy, Target) has on display the units that show screens with overall uneveness, bookspine, and some varied degree of yellow cast. I call that a problem.

And yet again, this "widespread" problem has not been reported by the media, nor has it become a firestorm of controversy among the vast majority of iPad users, which we know because it hasn't become a media firestorm.

It's not me doubting there are/were problems, but the evidence is clear that this is not an epidemic one, regardless of what any of the fear mongers here want people to believe.

 

[Max(IT)]

Problems with the iPad Air are very real. For what Apple charges, I expect greatness. Every store that sells the iPad Air, (Best Buy, Target) has on display the units that show screens with overall uneveness, bookspine, and some varied degree of yellow cast. I call that a problem.

And yet again someone speaking about "every unit in every store" non sense ....
Since most of the customers are absolutely happy, maybe the problem is in the eyes of who is looking.
If you speak about a defective unit, I'm fine, it is absolutely possible. If you speak about every unit in every store ....

 

[BoneHead001]

I NEVER SAID “every unit in every store”. I said in the stores that I mentioned, the display units showed the problematic screens. Why rely the biased media anyway? I also never said if was an epidemic either. The problem is definitely present.

 

[TheWheelMan]

I NEVER SAID “every unit in every store”. I said in the stores that I mentioned, the display units showed the problematic screens. Why rely the biased media anyway? I also never said if was an epidemic either. The problem is definitely present.

Your biased media comment is just silly. The media loves to report scandals, and if there was a mass outcry about the quality of the iPad, they would be all over it.

We all know that the problems are both real and present, but when people say that they've returned 50 iPads, or that in every store they've gone to all iPads on display were defective, or who make declarative statements that Apple needs to "improve quality control", the real world evidence (sales, reviews, lack of widespread outcry or media coverage, the vast majority of people, like myself, who have purchased iPads from more than one generation and never run into any of these "catastrophic" issues) clearly shows that the problems aren't nearly as numerous as some keep insisting. Nor, I assure you, are they any more or less prevalent in the iPad than in any other tablet device on the market.

 

[steathymonkey]

I sold my iPad 4 wifi and purchased an iPad 128gb mini with retina display. Long story somewhat short it had the book spine issue. In portrait view it was on the left, top, right. It showed as a blue/purple hue and became highly visible in low light when the brightness was set to about 33%.

I purchased/exchanged several at deferent stores and everyone had this issue. Some of them were blue/purple and some were a light brown/yellow.

Also, all of them had a yellow hue/tent going from the bottom (Home Button) half way up the screen. Some were worse than others. And some display models do not even have the yellow hue/tent going from the bottom.

It's really hard to notice these two issues in a well lit room, but in low lit room (Night) they are clear as can be if one looks for them.

So far everyone I met with an iPad Mini Retina or iPad Air and showed them how to look for these two issues are surprised they did not notice them and most end up returning the iPad (5th Gen and 2nd Gen Mini). The yellow hue/tent covering half the screen was not present on all the units, but the book spine issue was.

Also the iPad mini retina and iPad air fault cheap. The glass fault flimsy when touched. With little to no pressure I was able to push down on the glass and make cause discoloration.

The good thing is, Microcenter has been selling off all the iPad 4 32gb, 64gb, and 128gb wifi/cell version at huge discounts. I was able to purchase an iPad 4 128gb wifi/cell AT&T for $440. I will be sticking with it until Apple adds 2gb of ram and ups the build quality too iPad 2/4 levels.

 

[BoneHead001]

Your biased media comment is just silly. The media loves to report scandals, and if there was a mass outcry about the quality of the iPad, they would be all over it.

We all know that the problems are both real and present, but when people say that they've returned 50 iPads, or that in every store they've gone to all iPads on display were defective, or who make declarative statements that Apple needs to "improve quality control", the real world evidence (sales, reviews, lack of widespread outcry or media coverage, the vast majority of people, like myself, who have purchased iPads from more than one generation and never run into any of these "catastrophic" issues) clearly shows that the problems aren't nearly as numerous as some keep insisting. Nor, I assure you, are they any more or less prevalent in the iPad than in any other tablet device on the market.

The problems are indeed numerous. Some people may not notice the problems or may not even care. That does not make the screen problems barely non-existent as you claim they are. The bottom line is Apple should improve the screen quality.

 

[siraltus]

Purchased a 32GB Space Gray Retina Mini from T-Mobile a week ago, screen was perfect. Didn't check manufacturing date.

Exchanged it for a 128GB Space Gray Retina Mini, had yellow tint at the bottom, purple tint at the top. Week 52 of 2013, Pegatron.

Went to the Apple Store, specialist saw it and swapped it out for another.

The replacement has a perfectly white and even screen. Week 2 of 2014, Foxconn.

 

[Max(IT)]

Purchased a 32GB Space Gray Retina Mini from T-Mobile a week ago, screen was perfect. Didn't check manufacturing date.

Exchanged it for a 128GB Space Gray Retina Mini, had yellow tint at the bottom, purple tint at the top. Week 52 of 2013, Pegatron.

Went to the Apple Store, specialist saw it and swapped it out for another.

The replacement has a perfectly white and even screen. Week 2 of 2014, Foxconn.

Happy for you, but the thread is about iPad Air, not mini.

 

[klogg]

Hello, I have a question if anyone is willing to help. I live in a country that has no apple store,and at this moment I am in a country with apple store, so can I just walk in and say, hello I don't like the white color temp. on mine ipad and I want to replace it? If you think I can do that, how fast can it be done? i am thinking to do it before my plane. Please answer asap!

Thanks

 

[Max(IT)]

Hello, I have a question if anyone is willing to help. I live in a country that has no apple store,and at this moment I am in a country with apple store, so can I just walk in and say, hello I don't like the white color temp. on mine ipad and I want to replace it? If you think I can do that, how fast can it be done? i am thinking to do it before my plane. Please answer asap!

Thanks

Where did you buy it ?

 

[klogg]

It was bought in Hungary, I am in Sweden, what do you guys think?

 

[stenk]

I think all my screen is yellowish(or light greenish) than my iPad mini 1-st gen.
White color is not so good in compare with old mini.

Unfortunately I bought it in Apple Store- Hong Kong and warranty is valid only for Hong Kong . I live in Europe and here I don't have any chance to ask for replacement.

 

[klogg]

I think all my screen is yellowish(or light greenish) than my iPad mini 1-st gen.
White color is not so good in compare with old mini.

Unfortunately I bought it in Apple Store- Hong Kong and warranty is valid only for Hong Kong . I live in Europe and here I don't have any chance to ask for replacement.

Ok thanks for sharing, but I bought mine in Europe, and I am still in Europe, so can someone confirm that I can switch my iPad if I wish to, my iPad is in warrenty.

Thanks good people!

 

[threelions]

I went through several Air's and Rmini's but couldn't find one with a decent screen. Ended up returning them and keeping my 4 and original Mini will try again with the next lot, fingers crossed the screens will have improved as the Air and rmini are fantastic tech.

 

[stenk]

... so can someone confirm that I can switch my iPad if I wish to, my iPad is in warrenty.

Well ... just try and You will know !
What is the problem ?

 

[Max(IT)]

Ok thanks for sharing, but I bought mine in Europe, and I am still in Europe, so can someone confirm that I can switch my iPad if I wish to, my iPad is in warrenty.

Thanks good people!

If it is defective, they are going to give you a refurbished unit.
If it isn't defective and you just "don't like the colors" I highly doubt they are going to swap it with another ....

 

[ace5112]

For those that are getting good ipad units after exchanging the defective one, are you getting the good ones from new retail box exchanges or the white box exchanges (refurbished) from the Apple store/ Apple online?

I'm considering having Apple replace my ipad but worried that I will get the same issue with the replacement.

 

[hungx]

If it is defective, they are going to give you a refurbished unit.
If it isn't defective and you just "don't like the colors" I highly doubt they are going to swap it with another ....

They won't necessarily replace it with a refurbished unit. I can think of two instances where you will receive a brand new unit: right after launch or in countries that require replacements to be new (i.e. South Korea).

 

[DzR-BaM]

Well

I exchanged my Ipad air 3 times last week, all with yellow screen bleed, Got my wife a mini retina for mothers day, also yellow bleed, and first one even had dust speck under screen.

Quality control is bad

 

[Dlanod]

I went through several Air's and Rmini's but couldn't find one with a decent screen. Ended up returning them and keeping my 4 and original Mini will try again with the next lot, fingers crossed the screens will have improved as the Air and rmini are fantastic tech.

I went through many Mini Retina's around launch and gave up due to yellow screens, dust, dead pixels etc. Tried again recently and got a decent one (albeit with an oddly intermittently working home button that is so random it feels like software) which was made at the end of last year. Pity I hadn't got this one when I tried for the last time in early Jan.

There home button issue I'm hoping will go away with a future software update.

 

[bopshwop]

I am in the process of returning the 2nd iPad Air (32GB, wifi, space gray) with this problem: warm screen on the left (in portrait mode, home button on bottom) and cool screen on the right.

The serial number on the first one began with DMPL and was built by Foxconn in October of last year. The second one's serial began DMPM and was built by Foxconn in March of this year. Both, as I say, had the problem.

I haven't read the whole thread, but has it been established what serial numbers might have good screens?

Also, any way to determine the screen manufacturer short of a teardown?