Ah, sounds like the butterfly keyboard issue. What was it 3 rev before it was finally replaced, hopefully Apple does not repeat history with this issue.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple Says 'Jelly Scrolling' on iPad Mini 6 is Normal Behavior for LCD Screens
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
The reason why it’s not obvious in landscape is because people usually don’t scroll websites or read books in that mode as it’s not a comfortable experience and second the landscape distance has more room to smooth it in a gradual manner, if that distance is shortened it would be very evident.
It’s like drawing a line on a slight slant between two points. If those points are closer in distance or will be very noticeable and the further those are apart it’s not as apparent as our eyes compensate for minor errors. Too much of an error and our eyes override that natural compensation.
Oddly enough I have a budget Samsung Android tablet from a couple years ago which is a 8.4” wide display similar to the iPad mini 6. Guess what no skewzslant (jelly) scrolling observed in portrait mode. In landscape while using to scroll through websites it’s not easily noticed unless you really really look for it and same with the skew slant (jelly) test as well. How is it that Samsung can produce a similar sized budget tablet two years or so prior with minimal observed of this “normal” effect yet Apple with all its perfection hoopla message, ship a product three times the cost and have this observed effect.
I can confirm that iPad Pro 11 (1st gen) and ipad mini 5 also has jelly effect in landscape mode, which I did not notice until now.
Mini 5 does in landscape but it’s not as obvious compared to the mini 6 in portrait mode. 11” iPad Pro does have it in landscape mode but for some reason it’s more noticeable compared to the Air 4 but less so compared to the mini 6.
Air 4 seems to be the only modern design iPad with the least noticeable effect.
I will return my iPad mini 256gb, wifi + cellular, not because of jelly Screen or Distortion, but because I have to reboot the mini every couple of days, because the screen stays dimmed for a few seconds after waking up the screen. And it is really annoying after a while. I am not willing to wait until I know whether it was a hardware or software issue. Also at this price point I expect 120hz or oled screen (even a Nintendo Switch has oled for $349). The mini has nether one of these features. I will stay with my iPad Pro 12.9" (2020) until the next iPad Pro 11" hopefully with miniLED or maybe oled comes out. Unfortunately too many compromises for an otherwise great little device with a much needed form factor.
^^^
You knew the screen is not OLED before buying, yet you still paid the price. Do you really need an iPad mini? It is not a Nintendo. If the screen stays dim after waking, then it might be defective. Take it back and replace it. What you expect at this price point is your own perception. The iPad mini is what it is, you knew that before purchasing. Why did you buy it, that is the question.
You knew the screen is not OLED before buying, yet you still paid the price. Do you really need an iPad mini? It is not a Nintendo. If the screen stays dim after waking, then it might be defective. Take it back and replace it. What you expect at this price point is your own perception. The iPad mini is what it is, you knew that before purchasing. Why did you buy it, that is the question.
That is what I thought too. No idea why Apple does this to mini 6, may be they can earn $10 more per ipad by doing this
The good news is very likely mini 6 will have big discount very soon since jelly like that is so normal lol
Sloppy engineering without testing the end product. One would think have the TCON in either position for two products during development to see how the end product would be but nah Apple just taken what it did on the Air 4 and iPad Pro and call it a day. One would think with all the attention to detail messaging Apple puts out, it would find a solution to this “normal” issue but nope what we get instead is to highlight the issue and instead pay attention to details for the volume up/down to be correct in any orientation while still mounting the front camera system in portrait view but confusing the usage to landscape, it just does not make sense.
Apple should mount the front camera in the position the product is most intended for.
How many use a largish tablet in Portrait mode vice smaller devices?
I see it on my 11” iPad Pro in portrait mode but the physical space and 120 Hz minimizes the effect, Apple let down the iPad Mini fans.
So I have an iPad Pro 12 latest model (heavy beyond belief), iPad Air (current model) and I just got the iPad mini 6.
Love the portability and size of the mini BUT the jelly scrolling is a deal breaker. It literally makes me nauseous. I even compared this to the iPad Air LCD screen and there isn’t Jelly scrolling on the Air.
So here’s the thing - Apple messed up and instead of owning the mistake they just say that is by design. I totally believe it is by design because Apple has been known to cut corners on the MINI series as a way to prove to consumers that MINI is not in their best interest (consumer). Same reason for years they crippled the iPhone Mini or smaller iPhones to prove publications were wrong.
So folks, TL;DR:
Apple states that Jelly Scrolling is normal for the iPad Mini because they choose an LCD board that could not handle the resolution in portrait mode. See for yourself at the Apple Store, compare an iPad Air and iPad Mini that both use LCD screen to see that the Air does not suffer from this issue.
EDIT: For iPad Air I do see Jelly scrolling in Landscape mode… but it isn’t as “bad” as it is on the iPad Mini… Mostly likely because I have my iPad Air further away from my face than the Mini…. But the fact that Landscape on Air is less apparent, Apple should fix these issues…
Love the portability and size of the mini BUT the jelly scrolling is a deal breaker. It literally makes me nauseous. I even compared this to the iPad Air LCD screen and there isn’t Jelly scrolling on the Air.
So here’s the thing - Apple messed up and instead of owning the mistake they just say that is by design. I totally believe it is by design because Apple has been known to cut corners on the MINI series as a way to prove to consumers that MINI is not in their best interest (consumer). Same reason for years they crippled the iPhone Mini or smaller iPhones to prove publications were wrong.
So folks, TL;DR:
Apple states that Jelly Scrolling is normal for the iPad Mini because they choose an LCD board that could not handle the resolution in portrait mode. See for yourself at the Apple Store, compare an iPad Air and iPad Mini that both use LCD screen to see that the Air does not suffer from this issue.
EDIT: For iPad Air I do see Jelly scrolling in Landscape mode… but it isn’t as “bad” as it is on the iPad Mini… Mostly likely because I have my iPad Air further away from my face than the Mini…. But the fact that Landscape on Air is less apparent, Apple should fix these issues…
Last edited:
You have me curious now, just charging up my wife’s iPad Pro 11 (Latest Model) to see if the Jelly is there…
I would say I got really nauseous using my iPad Mini 6. No lawyers needed though, just returning it. I got it to be a go between my iPad Pro 12 and iPad Air 11 as both of them are heavy with or without their "Magic Keyboards"...
I also never experience this issue on the smaller Microsoft Surface Go Tablet.....
Having just visited my local Apple store I had a blast on the iPad Mini 6 again and still cannot tolerate the jelly scroll which is very pronounced BUT when trying the iPad Pro 12.9 and 11 with M1 I could still see some jelly scroll. Not as bad as the Mini 6 but still there, 12.9 was more obvious than the 11. This has turned me off the ipads altogether!
Just load up the forums and scroll as normal.
The best screens now are the Macbook Pro 14, 16 and iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max only.
Just load up the forums and scroll as normal.
The best screens now are the Macbook Pro 14, 16 and iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max only.
You know, that you have jelly scrolling when turning your 13 Pro Max sideways? It refreshes from top to bottom, so in landscape it refreshed from left to right, which causes the jelly effect. But at 120Hz, it is very subtle
I always use my mini in portrait mode and since the mini 6 screen is way shorter in portrait mode the jelly scroll was intolerable. I kept my mini 5 that is way better.
Sadly I don't own the 13 Pro Max due to PWM. Would love a 6 Mini but would want to use it primarily in portrait.
How do you get it to do jelly scroll? I’ve been the the Apple store several times and each time tried to see if I could notice it on the minis but never have.
I simply load the MacRumors forums as there are lots of horizontal lines and text, then scroll up or down. For me I see the lines and text bending like a banana. But if you don't see it then don't worry about it. You are in a better place than me as you could own one and not be bothered by it.
FYI I'm a graphic designer by trade so spend my days focusing on visuals and tiny details. If something looks off, I can't unseen it. My obsession with detail doesn't excuse the jelly scroll from what looks to me like a cheaper LCD panel and/or controller on the Mini 6, but when I also noticed it on the much more expensive Mini LED display on the 12.9, I have to assume this is a limitation of the technology and how Apple implements it - something I had never noticed before.
Coupled with my PWM sensitive, I guess I'm out of the Apple owners club ?.
Last edited: