Apple Addresses 2018 iPad Pro 'Bending' Controversy, Says Subtle Deviations May Be More Visible Due to New Design

[dumastudetto]

What’s abuse though ? Does Apple or the customer decide, this is a problem if they bend easily .

Also I don’t agree they are the very best iPad . I believe the previous version is better value and more durable , making it a better product .

Nobody is stopping you from buying an older model if you really believe it’s a better product. The older models are readily available.

 

[Shiro_Simba]

First, grammar.

Second, read the Support Doc for yourself: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209403

You are misreading the statement . Apple is not saying they will replace bend iPads within one year. As they are not admitting there is an issue that causes bending
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Nobody is stopping you from buying an older model if you really believe it’s a better product. The older models are readily available.

I have two of them

 

[dumastudetto]

The same people complaining that Apple should replace all the iPads for free and that it should be made with a zero tolerance for variability (impossible to do) also think that the iPad Pro should cost $200.

Yes exactly. Some people are apparently living on another planet.

 

[KPOM]

i am really torn about this as i love the new ipad and want to get one (here in canada they are $1000) but don't want to get stuck with a bent ipad for the next 3-4 years

i am interested in the wifi version and i seem to be reading that the bending affects the cell version more

can anyone confirm whether or not this is correct ?

is the wifi version less prone to bending ?

Every aluminum device that has ever been made is subject to some manufacturing variability. In my experience the 11” has been just fine. I do use the Apple Smart Keyboard, which covers the back (so does the Smart Folio), so consider that if you are worried. I had the 10.5” Pro and several earlier iPads and the 11” is by far my favorite.
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You are misreading the statement . Apple is not saying they will replace bend iPads within one year. As they are not admitting there is an issue that causes bending
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I have two of them

If excessive bending is a result of a manufacturing defect they will repair or replace it.

 

[Rob_2811]

Not true. Why are you making stuff up?

I’m guessing you don’t have an engineering background and are not interested in information/data.

It is true.

Post #57 in this thread heavily implies that people have mistreated their devices and bizarrely claims that you can easily bend a MacBook Pro.

I own the latest version of the MacBook Pro and this is absolute nonsense. Clearly you've made that up.

 

[Shiro_Simba]

Every aluminum device that has ever been made is subject to some manufacturing variability. In my experience the 11” has been just fine. I do use the Apple Smart Keyboard, which covers the back (so does the Smart Folio), so consider that if you are worried. I had the 10.5” Pro and several earlier iPads and the 11” is by far my favorite.
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If excessive bending is a result of a manufacturing defect they will repair or replace it.

Sure - but Apple is not admitting a manufacturing defect . Therefore it will be misuse , even if there is a design flaw. Apple has not admitted any flaw . Therefore a bent iPad , will be for the customer to prove it was a manafacturing defect .

 

[mikethemartian]

The tolerance they quote seems to be tested when the case is put together. But do they retest the tolerance after the final assembly after all the components have been added and it goes in the box. It is possible that it gets bent during this period.

 

[317342]

You are misreading the statement . Apple is not saying they will replace bend iPads within one year. As they are not admitting there is an issue that causes bending

The support article is pretty clear and direct about what to do if you are affected. What you choose to do from there is your own business.

 

[Shiro_Simba]

Not true. Why are you making stuff up?

I’m guessing you don’t have an engineering background and are not interested in information/data.

You implied you can easily bend a 2017 MacBook Pro , don’t pretend you have an engineering background - that was complete nonsense. My 2017 MacBook Pro is a very solid laptop , which would taken unreasonable force to bend .
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The support article is pretty clear and direct about what to do if you are affected. What you choose to do from there is your own business.

Buying AppleCare + is the answer

 

[Pappychulo]

So...
...if it is bent more than 4 pieces of paper in any direction, that's not normal.
...if it is bent at-or-less than 4 pieces of paper in any direction, that is normal.
...Apple will cover it for one year under the standard warranty.
...customers may exchange or return it within 14 days after buying it.

Barring evidence to the contrary, I am not seeing corporate malfeasance.

I am seeing tools, however.

there are two things going on here. Apple is stating a micro variation and bend tolerance which is acceptable and will likely go completely unnoticed. Then there are the bends in the photographs that are surfacing which show bends an order of magnitude greater than what apple is describing.

The photos we're seeing of bends are not what apple is referring to. What seems still unclear is if these larger bends are coming out of the box like that. I actually doubt that. Im betting they get bent later with use or minor mahout of misuse.

The fact that a thin aluminum iPad CAN bend is no surprise to physics but Apple should be doing all they can to prevent the possibility if they want to keep making thinner and thinner things.

But again what Apple is talking about is not what is reflected in the images we see here.

Awesome. You doubt they come out of the box bent, me and the apple store geniuses must be wrong or insane. Multiple people here have had the same experience as me with multiple slightly bent iPads right out of the box. Nothing to argue here it is a fact. Like I have stated before, I guaranty next years iPP will not exhibit these issues. At that point I will be happy to re-hash this conversation. Just like iPhone 6 to 6s. If it was within specs, why did they upgrade to 7000 series aluminum?

 

[Rob_2811]

You implied you can easily bend a 2017 MacBook Pro , don’t pretend you have an engineering background - that was complete nonsense. My 2017 MacBook Pro is a very solid laptop , which would taken unreasonable force to bend .

I've got a background in believing what I see with my eyes, hard to imagine someone bending a MacBook Pro this easily. Bit of pressure and the device folds at 6.25

 

[citysnaps]

It is true.

Post #57 in this thread heavily implies that people have mistreated their devices and bizarrely claims that you can easily bend a MacBook Pro.

I own the latest version of the MacBook Pro and this is absolute nonsense. Clearly you've made that up.

Nope. You’re still not getting it.

Of course I made that up - that was to make a point that I could - as an extreme example. Not that it would happen out of normal use.

Jeez. Try and understand the big picture instead of trying so hard to find a gotcha moment.

I’m looking for information/data. Thus, speaking to durability and owner responsibility. I understand that’s not something that interest you. And that’s fine, I guess.

 

[Shiro_Simba]

I've got a background in believing what I see with my eyes, hard to imagine someone bending a MacBook Pro this easily. Bit of pressure and the device folds.

Exactly the video I was going to link. Absolute nonsense to compare the ease with how the iPad Pro bends to that of a 2017 MacBook Pro , which would be impossible using the same technique.

 

[Rob_2811]

Exactly the video I was going to link. Absolute nonsense to compare the ease with how the iPad Pro bends to that of a 2017 MacBook Pro , which would be impossible using the same technique.

Slow that video down to 0.5 speed and look how easily it starts to bend in the middle before he puts more pressure on it and the screen cracks.
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Nope. You’re still not getting it.

Of course I made that up - that was to make a point that I could - as an extreme example. Not that it would happen out of normal use.

Jeez. Try and understand the big picture instead of trying so hard to find a gotcha moment.

I’m looking for information/data. Thus, speaking to durability and owner responsibility. I understand that’s not something that interest you. And that’s fine, I guess.

Oh you're carrying out a survey, and there was me thinking you were just trying to make excuses. Right you are!

 

[317342]

You implied you can easily bend a 2017 MacBook Pro , don’t pretend you have an engineering background - that was complete nonsense. My 2017 MacBook Pro is a very solid laptop , which would taken unreasonable force to bend .
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Buying AppleCare + is the answer

I suppose but I think if someone was outright denied a claim under warranty, there's certainly logic in getting a second opinion elsewhere.

Personally, I have had a Genius Bar at one store deny a warranty claim for a Mac only to happily fulfill it at another or via call to AppleCare. --it happens, especially if the "genius" is new, inexperienced, or otherwise being a jerk.

 

[Shiro_Simba]

Slow that video down to 0.5 speed and look how easily it starts to bend in the middle before he puts more pressure on it and the screen cracks.
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Oh you're carrying out a survey, and there was me thinking you were just trying to make excuses. Right you are!

You can tell exactly where the next version will be reinforced. Let’s be honest , that is not a lot of force .

There is a video original iPad v new pro, they try to bend the original one , can’t ....

 

[M150]

Anyone remember the first Microsoft surface. It was a few mm thicker but made of magnesium and they demonstrated the strength by attaching wheels to it and using it as a skateboard. No concerns about that bending in your backpack.

 

[jacojac]

I suppose but I think if someone was outright denied a claim under warranty, there's certainly logic in getting a second opinion elsewhere.

Personally, I have had a Genius Bar at one store deny a warranty claim for a Mac only to happily fulfill it at another or via call to AppleCare. --it happens, especially if the "genius" is new, experienced, or otherwise being a jerk.

The first genius I had accused me of accidentally damaging the 20 day old iPad! I went around him

 

[diddl14]

This is actually not acceptable

What exactly is not acceptable? Apple's 400micron side-to-side bend specification or the fact that MacRumors uses a picture from a guy that went on a hiking trip with his iPad in a backpack and wondered how the iPad got bend?

Update: MacRumors meanwhile changed the picture. The current one is from a post where Apple replaced the iPad. From the post it's not clear when/how this specific iPad got bend..

 

[317342]

Awesome. You doubt they come out of the box bent, me and the apple store geniuses must be wrong or insane. Multiple people here have had the same experience as me with multiple slightly bent iPads right out of the box. Nothing to argue here it is a fact. Like I have stated before, I guaranty next years iPP will not exhibit these issues. At that point I will be happy to re-hash this conversation. Just like iPhone 6 to 6s. If it was within specs, why did they upgrade to 7000 series aluminum?

I think it's absolutely preposterous for anyone to claim that absolutely anything, especially mass produced consumer goods, is/was incapable of arriving defective out of the box. Warranties exist for this explicit reason.

The only doubt likely shared among many is whether people are acting in good faith with legitimate warranty claims, nothing more.

 

[farewelwilliams]

i’m guessing most people that replied to this article did not read the support document at all.

 

[Shiro_Simba]

The first genius I had accused me of accidentally damaging the 20 day old iPad! I went around him

This is what I'm worried about. The customer blamed , even if they treat the new device like the previous model .

 

[mikethemartian]

Then how come there was never an issue with previous generations of iPads?

I went to look at the iPad Pros at the local Best Buy to see how flat it was. They had the new one and one from the previous generation. The older model on display was just naked with no case. The new one on display was attached to a keyboard type case. I wonder if they partly did that to avoid it getting bent from customers trying it out.

 

[Shiro_Simba]

i’m guessing most people that replied to this article did not read the support document at all.

iPads are still bending and apple is denying an issue, we are debating it - what exactly did you read in the support document, makes you believe we have not read it ? No new news there. Or have I missed something? I may have

 

[citysnaps]

Oh you're carrying out a survey, and there was me thinking you were just trying to make excuses. Right you are!

Nope, not a survey. Why do you keep making stuff up?

It's called being an engineer and naturally curious. And needing data and information in order to make an informed judgment.

You're apparently OK thinking an iPad being in backpack was enough to cause it to bend. I'm not.