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

[jasonefmonk]

Is it every iPad model which is bent or just a limited amount?

If you have to ask that question, this site has done a great disservice to you.

Some iPad Pros have shown up with manufacturing defects, specifically bends or warps in the aluminum chassis. How many, we don’t know, but you can imagine how even a small percentage of bad units getting out could mean a few hundred unhappy people showing up here.

Mine was and is not bent, but if it was it would be returned. Apple has explained their tolerance for the flatness of the iPad Pros and certainly almost any photo you’ve seen here is beyond acceptable.

Buy the iPad Pro if you want one without too much worry. Just look it over as it comes out of the box, if anything isn’t right, it can be returned/exchanged.

 

[jjudson]

"The new straight edges and the presence of the antenna splits may make subtle deviations in flatness more visible only from certain viewing angles that are imperceptible during normal use."

In other words, you're looking at it wrong.

 

[jjudson]

Bent from factory - an easy replace in the 1st 14 days.

Bent from normal expected usage over x months - more of an issue as Apple not likely to accept as faulty.

Puts me off buying one, but not as much as the outrageous price of them puts me off !!!

I had every intention of replacing my current Gen 2 10.5" iPad Pro when this was released. I will not be buying one now. I've even found myself playing with the Surface Pro 6 at Best Buy and wondering. The only two things that stop me right now from switching are the Surface Pro's lack of a 120hz display and LTE. If Microsoft added those tomorrow, I would buy it the next day.

The folks here caterwauling over the pic are misplacing their concerns. Bent out of the box or not, this iPad is too fragile for anyone who uses it heavily for work and travel.

 

[jukeboxaddict]

There are a lot of people saying their iPad is fine, but do you have an LTE model? That's where this is showing up most. There have been threads where it seems like small bends are more common than not for cellular 2018 iPad Pros.

what good does "my iPad is perfect!" do if it's not even the model Apple's support page is discussing?

 

[obamtl]

Apple can be so annoying with their arrogance at times. What will it cost them to say:

- We aim for our iPads to be precisely engineered.
- In the process of making millions of them, a handful do not meet this standard.
- When any customer gets an iPad below this standard out of the box, we will replace it immediately.
- We will learn from those units to ensure even fewer devices fail our highest standards so that we can continue to delight our millions of loyal customers.

End of story.

 

[KPandian1]

Wonder if Apple has already made changes to the iPads still in the production line - like a stronger alloy and better structure to address this problem.

 

[dominiongamma]

Wonder if Apple has already made changes to the iPads still in the production line - like a stronger alloy and better structure to address this problem.

Probably won’t until iPad 2019 this year

 

[gobenji]

They can justify it as much as they like. That thing is bent and I'd take it back.

 

[Shiro_Simba]

Wonder if Apple has already made changes to the iPads still in the production line - like a stronger alloy and better structure to address this problem.

I’d they make a change that makes a significant improvement like that , they risk being found out and having to recall all units beforehand.

Correction will come in the next version , like the 6s plus is my guess

 

[R10k]

I had every intention of replacing my current Gen 2 10.5" iPad Pro when this was released. I will not be buying one now. I've even found myself playing with the Surface Pro 6 at Best Buy and wondering. The only two things that stop me right now from switching are the Surface Pro's lack of a 120hz display and LTE. If Microsoft added those tomorrow, I would buy it the next day.

The folks here caterwauling over the pic are misplacing their concerns. Bent out of the box or not, this iPad is too fragile for anyone who uses it heavily for work and travel.

I’ve seen one drop onto hard floor (no case) from about 1.5 metres. It made a loud smack sound as it hit the deck. It was 100% fine. Not a scratch.

I’m not saying it’s the most rugged device in the universe, but they aren’t like a single sheet of thin glass that breaks upon impact.

Time to stop whining and just use the thing as the tool it is. If you’re rough with your gear (because you mishandle things or because you work in a rough environment) just protect it appropriately like you would for anything else.

You think a Surface is some sort of rugged machine? It’ll break just like everything else.

 

[mattysouthall]

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.

But that image showing that bent iPad is not a microscopic bend at all lol.

 

[jjudson]

So...speak to durability and the responsibility of iPad owners.

Those of us who use these in a professional setting will simply not buy them if we’re concerned about durability. That’s how we’ll speak to it.

It’s up to you if you want to waste your own money.

 

[citysnaps]

Those of us who use these in a professional setting will simply not buy them if we’re concerned about durability. That’s how we’ll speak to it.

It’s up to you if you want to waste your own money.

Makes sense to me. There are plenty of other tablet manufacturers out there. Simply pick one.

Me? I'm not in the market for a tablet.

 

[R10k]

Those of us who use these in a professional setting will simply not buy them if we’re concerned about durability. That’s how we’ll speak to it.

It’s up to you if you want to waste your own money.

Every professional I personally know just buys the right tool for the job and then finds a way to protect it.

 

[dr34mc4st3r]

My iPad Pro 11” cellular is perfect. I have not seen any bent iPads so far in anywhere. So sue me.

Furthermore, the tolerance of 400 microns = 0.4mm....that’s pretty tight in my eyes. You guys ever tried measuring how wide is 0.4mm on the ruler? It’s extremely tight. I don’t understand all the fuss at all.
[doublepost=1546787215][/doublepost]

Actually we demand larger batteries and more I/O means but that’s all falling on deaf ears.

Look at the comments people are saying about the thicker iPhone XR which has phenomenal battery life.

 

[Rob_2811]

I’ve seen one drop onto hard floor (no case) from about 1.5 metres. It made a loud smack sound as it hit the deck. It was 100% fine. Not a scratch.

I’m not saying it’s the most rugged device in the universe, but they aren’t like a single sheet of thin glass that breaks upon impact.

Time to stop whining and just use the thing as the tool it is. If you’re rough with your gear (because you mishandle things or because you work in a rough environment) just protect it appropriately like you would for anything else.

You think a Surface is some sort of rugged machine? It’ll break just like everything else.

Well not exactly like everything else. Certainly doesn't seem to bend as easily as the iPad Pro

 

[Halfsnap]

Apple can be so annoying with their arrogance at times. What will it cost them to say:

- We aim for our iPads to be precisely engineered.
- In the process of making millions of them, a handful do not meet this standard.
- When any customer gets an iPad below this standard out of the box, we will replace it immediately.
- We will learn from those units to ensure even fewer devices fail our highest standards so that we can continue to delight our millions of loyal customers.

End of story.

Your post makes sense... except for the fact people pay a large premium for these things, and as such expect an equal amount of precision. Plus, I feel the real problem is how easily they bend in day to day use (in a backpack, etc.)... not the few that come bent from the factory.

Apple uses a soft aluminum shell, that they sell us as high tech material; on top of that, they make the thing way too thin. I mean... couldn't they make it as thick as the camera bump?? It would make it much stronger, as well as drastically improve battery life... and it would lie flat on a small surface like it should. Function follows form is the new standard; I returned mine after having high hopes.

 

[donster28]

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.

Tolerable to a certain degree...not when it is obvious and visible.

 

[jjudson]

Where is your data to show how many have shipped out of tolerance? I've seen <5 pictures.

Not everyone posts their problems on the internet (unless you're my wife's friends on Facebook).

Why do people think a couple photos means it's some widespread issue?

Simple, because Apple feels the need to keep defending it. They wouldn't be making defensive statements a month into this if they didn't see it as an issue. They would have made one statement at the beginning and walked away.

This is bigger than you might think.

 

[curtvaughan]

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.

If you can see the bend it isn't microscopic, and with a supposedly flat device like the iPad it would either rock or trestle like a bridge on a flat surface. That is unacceptable for a luxury product, and would qualify as being in excess of "large tolerance levels" of precision or, as you implied, a "crappy product." The larger iPad Pro starts at $999 at the low end - for prices like that, it should be possible to manufacture them without visible bends. The problem is that Ive, or whoever is responsible for the "thinner is always better" aesthetic at Apple of late, has taken form past acceptable tolerances of function.
[doublepost=1546789381][/doublepost]

Was seriously considering this gen as a replacement for my Air 2, but at this point no effing way. The curved sides on prior years was stronger and more resistant to bending and I'm not going to buy something this expensive that is prone to bending (how Apple put themselves in this position is beyond comprehension with the iPhone 6 Plus and its bending issues - not learning or remembering lessons from prior mistakes, have to make a system for that Apple Execs can't rely on people remembering anymore).

So I'm looking forward to refresh of the cheap iPad which is apparently in the que. Hopefully it'll have the prior years back with curved sides (stronger) and I'll give Apple much less of my money in the process.

I noticed that you can still purchase new 2017 iPad Pro's on Amazon at reduced prices, at least through January. I bought my iPad Pro in Nov., 2017 - not bent to date, in or out of the box. It also has a 3.5mm headphone jack. Along with my iPhone 6S+, likely my last iOS device purchase. Get 'em while they last.

 

[jjudson]

People act like a case is magic shield that will somehow stop the forces of physics and reality from applying to the enclosed device.

You know, several very intense rose-colored glasses folks here have convinced me. I should buy the new iPad, and simply put it in a better case. I'm looking at this one:

I haven't seen any reviews yet on Amazon. Do any of you have experience with this case? Will it prevent my iPad from bending?

Shoot, I think I'm going to need a new backpack, too.

 

[startergo]

I’ve seen one drop onto hard floor (no case) from about 1.5 metres. It made a loud smack sound as it hit the deck. It was 100% fine. Not a scratch.

I’m not saying it’s the most rugged device in the universe, but they aren’t like a single sheet of thin glass that breaks upon impact.

Time to stop whining and just use the thing as the tool it is. If you’re rough with your gear (because you mishandle things or because you work in a rough environment) just protect it appropriately like you would for anything else.

You think a Surface is some sort of rugged machine? It’ll break just like everything else.

Responses like this can not be from a consumer. There is no logical reason .you hold at heart Apple's interest not the consumer's interest one way or the other such responses are driven by people in bed with Apple .No consumer thinks this way .

 

[gnipgnop]

If you can see the bend it isn't microscopic, and with a supposedly flat device like the iPad it would either rock or trestle like a bridge on a flat surface.

If you can see the bend at a glance in a photo, then it isn't an example of the 400 micron tolerance used during manufacturing. Most of the bend photos that I've seen posted on web sites show iPad units that wouldn't plausibly fit into Apple's packaging, much less pass manufacturing inspections.

 

[Baymowe335]

Not everyone posts their problems on the internet (unless you're my wife's friends on Facebook).



Simple, because Apple feels the need to keep defending it. They wouldn't be making defensive statements a month into this if they didn't see it as an issue. They would have made one statement at the beginning and walked away.

This is bigger than you might think.

You’re still speculating. We don’t have much evidence.

 

[Rob_2811]

You’re still speculating. We don’t have much evidence.

Speculation is what happens on Internet forums, this is Macrumors not Macevidence.

rumour
/ˈruːmə/
noun
noun: rumor

1. 1.
   a currently circulating story or report of uncertain or doubtful truth.
   "they were investigating rumours of a massacre"
   synonyms: gossip, hearsay, talk, tittle-tattle; More
   
   

verb
verb: rumor

1. 1.
   be circulated as an unverified account.
   "it's rumoured that he lives on a houseboat"
   synonyms: said to be, reported to be; More