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

[furi0usbee]

Here's a novel idea... If you spend that much on a device put it in a protective case. It's not rocket science.

Here's a better idea. Create a product that doesn't need to be put in a cheap plastic case, and one that is not bent right out of the box to boot. Why would I take a product that is manufactured to look beautiful and *thin*, and then make it look cheap and thick?

 

[9081094]

That’s bull crap. The new design is simply is easier to bend. The straight edges don’t restrict bending nearly as much as the rounded out design from before. It’s not an optical illusion, it just actually bend more easily.

It’s just designed fragile and YouTube has shown us that there isn’t any structure for stiffness in it at all. For a mobile design it’s faulty by design for me.

 

[Shiro_Simba]

You can bend any device the way he bends things. Nobody is going to be bending their device in that manner.

6:40

Big difference for me here .

 

[hortod1]

Do people actually think it's possible to manufacture a product without microscopic bends?

Every product is designed with a tolerance metric. There is no such thing as a product designed with zero tolerance. This includes ultra fancy luxury products (smaller tolerances) to crappy products (large tolerance levels).

You do know that your Macbook Pro, Macs, iPhones, etc.. all have these same tolerance levels, right?

Your BMW's and Teslas also have bends in them.

There is nothing microscopic about the photo in the article.

 

[furi0usbee]

From Apple's support doc: These small variances do not affect the strength of the enclosure or the function of the product and will not change over time through normal use.

Sure, they don't affect strength or function... they just make the iPad look like a cheap piece of bent junk. But hey, it still powers on...

 

[dannyyankou]

Agreed. I foresee 2019 displaying staggering declines in customer service in regard to replacement devices. Hope I’m incorrect.

I was prepared to drop $1,200 on a new iPhone this month, but I may be rethinking that.

 

[furi0usbee]

There is nothing microscopic about the photo in the article.

Right? The original photo 400 * 30 microns at least.

 

[Enlightened Doggo]

I bet the deviation on sales isn't very "subtle" though.

 

[roar08]

Please see attached image of my 4th replacement. That they now refuse to replace. View attachment 814237

But the camera isn't flush with the body right? And isn't that on the underside of the side that shows raised in your picture? It looks like the camera bezel is lifting it up. No?

 

[Spoon!]

6:40

Big difference for me here .

The 1st gen iPad was a massive tank. It didn’t have much in it though and it was hefty and unwieldy. Having said that, Apple’s obsession with thinness is definitely causing flimsier products. There needs to be a balance of thinness and strength. One should not be used if it means sacrificing the other.

 

[9081094]

My father's 12.9 2018 pro has bent. He doesn't use it any differently than his prior iPads and isn't a power user. It is noticeable and it is visible

Not everyone has experienced this but when you do and you spent so much money on the thing you don't expect it to bend mere weeks after its launched.

The crazy thing is he uses a case!

Ultimately, and thankfully, this is a Nonissue for us as the local Apple store will swap it out at no charge when they get replacements in stock, though this may also be due to Apple Care plus.

I’m happy for you it gets swapped for free. But this should also be possible when not having Apple Care. As you’ve described it, it’s faulty by design. My guess is that Apple silently restructure the design of the iPad Pro like they did with the magic keyboard II.

 

[xnu]

Funny, I thought this was whole bunch of nothing. I just checked mine, and it does have a bend to it. I never really noticed. I feel very angry, upset and disappointed in my eyesight for not being able to perceive it before. Still love it, your mileage may vary.

 

[furi0usbee]

Because of Apple's utter disregard for quality control, Apple Care is now a necessity. Not only do you need it for their "manufacturing processes" we know about, but the ones we'll soon find out about. Shoddy manufacturing, cheap parts and zero innovation have gotten us where we are today.

 

[Shiro_Simba]

The 1st gen iPad was a massive tank. It didn’t have much in it though and it was hefty and unwieldy. Having said that, Apple’s obsession with thinness is definitely causing flimsier products. There needs to be a balance of thinness and strength. One should not be used if it means sacrificing the other.

I’m just comparing the newest iPad to previous generations I’ve owned . Durability has taken a huge step backward . I’m all for thinner, as long as battery life and durability don’t take a huge hit. And watching the video , durability looks to have taken a big hit

 

[mikethemartian]

Here's a novel idea... If you spend that much on a device put it in a protective case. It's not rocket science.

But the case makes it thicker and heavier so you lose any advantage of a thinner lighter product.

 

[BigBoy2018]

6:40

Big difference for me here .

Perfect illustration of how Apple has pursued form over function. Shame on all the myopic apple fans who defend these design choices ... At least Apple should offer a 'rugged' edition of the iPad that isn't designed to bend so easily, for us who actually care about having a little bit of durability for a product meant to be used in classrooms, out in the field, by anyone not putting it in a metal case after they daintily use in while having their afternoon tea.

 

[roar08]

Have mine. It was never moved off the desk where I unpacked it, and was definitely not handled carelessly.

The person who posted this picture hasn't answered any questions posed by other readers. There sure are a lot of people torch-and-pitchforking this "issue" and not posting any evidence of how widespread this really is, or what the *absolute* truthfulness of their circumstance is: slight bend out-of-the-box? Negligence and riding the Bendgate wave trying to get a new unit? And is it constrained to LTE devices only due to the antenna design? That's how the Apple support document reads. It's just unfortunate there's so much stupidity that it's difficult to distill it into truly objective experiences from consumers who made it past 10th grade.

 

[Shiro_Simba]

The person who posted this picture hasn't answered any questions posed by other readers. There sure are a lot of people torch-and-pitchforking this "issue" and not posting any evidence of how widespread this really is, or what the *absolute* truthfulness of their circumstance is: slight bend out-of-the-box? Negligence and riding the Bendgate wave trying to get a new unit? And is it constrained to LTE devices only due to the antenna design? That's how the Apple support document reads. It's just unfortunate there's so much stupidity that it's difficult to distill it into truly objective experiences from consumers who made it past 10th grade.

Yes they have . Maybe read the thread before a rant ?

 

[budselectjr]

I see macrumors is using that misleading and completely unrelated picture again.

The picture does NOT show a freshly-unboxed iPad.

The user who posted it on MacRumors (link) said it did NOT come bent from the factory:

​

The only bent thing here is MacRumours respect for the truth.

lol. Entirely different person and picture but nice try.

 

[trifid]

6:40

Big difference for me here .

WOW. The 2018 iPad is tinfoil! How in the world will people use this for its intended purpose of being mobile, you know putting it on bags, or backpacks? A $1000 device that's so fragile, it's a major design flaw.

I think we should stop focusing so much on how bent it comes out from factory and focus on how fragile it'll bend with normal use.

I think Apple will do the exact same thing they did after bendgate with iPhone 6, they reinforced 6s and they will do the same on the next iPad model.

 

[Mr Segundus]

If I received a $1,000+ tablet that was bent, I'd return it right away. This is a BS excuse by Apple.

 

[Shiro_Simba]

Here's a novel idea... If you spend that much on a device put it in a protective case. It's not rocket science.

So I have to pay Apple extra ?

You are better off getting AppleCare + , and get a new iPad each year if it bends for £79

 

[BigBoy2018]

The word I am describing is durability , you are trying to induce neglect .

And no, you cannot easily bend a 2017 MacBook Pro . I’ve sat on mine many times .

CORRECT. Too many apple iPad defenders keep implying you do have to sit on these iPads or do someone else extreme for it to bend. All I can do is smile knowing that their flimsy new toys will be also bent at some point and they be saying 'wtf!?!?' ... and I'll be back here saying 'told you so'.

 

[Braderunner]

That's the first time I've seen the one in the photo. That's REALLY bad. I am a little skeptical that it was like that out of the box.

 

[Compile 'em all]

People act like a case is magic shield that will somehow stop the forces of physics and reality from applying to the enclosed device. It's simply not true. Here's some of the issues cases cause:

•Apple designs their devices to cool through the body. Adding a case is adding insulation. Like you putting on a parka when you really want to keep cool on your run.
•retaining and concentrating heat in the body can, and likely will, lead to different rates of expansion in the metal, possibly causing a permanent bend.
•most cases snap on the enclosed devices and likely cause a compressing force that over time can encourage bending and warping unless the case is very, very well designed.
•different metals/alloys have different levels of 'memory' that may allow them to return to their original shape when they cool again, some do it very well some nearly not at all.
•A case is just about guaranteed to collect dust and debris between itself and the device causing micro-scratches in the surface. This happened a LOT with the colorful iPods with the anodized color cases,

I'm hard pressed to come up with any other high-cost thing in our lives that we purchase then put in a case. Not our TVs, stereos, refrigerators, cars, jewelry, etc. You'd laugh if you saw a Rolex or a gold ring in a case. Who sold us this bill of goods that a case is needed for our mobile electronics?
Fact is that if you put enough G-force through a sheet of glass it will break, enough torque on a plane it will bend, enough point pressure of metal it will dent. A case may make it harder for those levels or force to get to the device but why don't you keep it out of the case and just treat it with the care and respect that an expensive device deserves?

Because not everyone is Superman who has never dropped something on the floor?

Because some people have kids?

Comparing a Rolex or a tv to a mobile phone is utterly ridiculous. You don’t put a TV in your pocket and the Rolex has a tiny piece of glass that is literally strapped to your wrist. The amount and type of usage a smartphone gets is unique and unlike anything before.