Apple Says Some 2018 iPad Pros Ship Bent, But It's Normal and Not a Defect

[mikethemartian]

But would it surprise you to know that there are unit-to-unit variances in any mass-produced product?

I guarantee that if you sighted-down the side of several of a line of the same model of new car sitting on the dealer's lot, you'd find some units with slight imperfections.

In fact, Andy Warhol made a career (remember the famous "wall of soup labels" graphic?) of the fact that even mass-produced-to-be-identical items have slight imperfections that actually make each one of them unique.

They are called "tolerances" for a reason.

Having said that, if I got one that was too bent for my tastes, I would take it back during the 14 day "no questions asked" return period and get another one.

But they are right that this is a very difficult effect to control when a big slab/sheet of metal goes through a bunch of manufacturing steps. It's just that no other brand is held to the same standards as Apple's products.

And remember the internet amplification effect...

I would have assumed these cases are milled and not made from sheet metal.

 

[joeblow7777]

Lol. Use that method next time you get your house repainted. Good luck.

That comparison makes so little sense I’m afraid I don’t know what point you’re trying to make.

 

[mikethemartian]

Apple is honestly better off just not saying anything. A small number of iPads are bent out of the box, it’s a bad batch in manufacturing, they swap em, and life goes on. Instead, they prefer to put out statements like this. Anyway, love my new iPad Pro. Guess I got lucky.

I thought Apple’s position was that it isn’t a bad batch but normal.

 

[SDColorado]

What if it's a gift? Now I have to make sure I don't buy any family members an iPad more than a few days before they're going to open it? Makes Christmas kinda difficult.

Where this would be really problematic I think, would be if you buy from a place like B&H that doesn’t accept returns once the box is open. So if you open it up and find your iPad bent... well hope you’re OK with a bent iPad

 

[inghulent73]

Has it also occurred to you or anyone where that these could also simply be issues that affect only a small percentage of users overall?

Of course when there is a problem with your iPad, you would take photos and post it online. But at the same time, if there is nothing wrong with my iPad Pro, I am not going to create a post just to boast that my device is fine. This means that the number of people being extremely vocal about problems like this will always outnumber those who genuinely have no problems with theirs.

This can easily lead to a perception that the bending problem with the iPad is a lot more widespread than it really is.

In a nutshell, my point is yes - some iPads are coming bent out of the box. We might see more information about this in the next couple of weeks, but I believe this is more the exception than the norm. Most people will have received mint-condition iPads, are using them happily, and will continue to use them happily for a good long time to come.

In a way, it’s a little reminiscent of the "HomePod may leave marks on your table" matter from earlier this year. Apple might have legitimately screwed up, but we hardly hear of the issue these days, and it likely won’t impact Apple at all in the greater scheme of things.

Mine was curved right out of the box as well as a small bump sticking out of the back. It started to have touch issues on the 2nd week so it went back and I got a refund. (not to mention the pencil was draining the ipad battery when in standby even though the pencil was at 100%)

 

[joeblow7777]

Not sure about you, but when I get my house painted they aren’t done and don’t get paid until the job is satisfactorily completed.

Also, as was the point of my comment, you can return an iPad and buy another one. The majority aren’t bent, so likely one replacement will be sufficient. You obviously can’t return your house or the paint on the walls.

 

[MultiMan]

Apple, what has happened to you?

 

[Sevanw]

And this will continue because all of the diehards allow it to continue. You speak up with your outrage for now, but continue to buy their products. This is not the first time Apple has shown how little they care about their end product. They have all of you so convinced their user experience is second to none by miles. They have you believing their products are worth so much more than the competition while offering so much less hardware. Wake up and open your eyes. This company takes corporate greed and profit margins to a whole new level. Apple loves hearing how so many of you won't try another manufacturer for your phone, tablet, laptop, or PC because of how locked into their ecosystem you are. Absolutely insane to put all your eggs in one basket. Especially when some of those brand new eggs could come cracked out of the box, and you're told its normal. SMH.

 

[ghanwani]

Grabs MORE popcorn...

Pretty sure you meant MOAR, and not just MORE!

 

[joeblow7777]

I thought Apple’s position was that it isn’t a bad batch but normal.

The headline reads, “Apple says some...”

 

[Abazigal]

Let me get this straight. Your theory is, that it only affects a small percentage of users.

Apple says it's normal.

Which one of you is lying?

Apple says that some iPads are affected. Not all.

Their explanation also seems different from the Jerryrig video which posits that the placement of the microphone port and wireless charger weakened the overall structural integrity of the iPad.

In the meantime, what we as consumers can do is to exercise more due diligence in our purchases. I personally inspected my iPad Pro at the Apple store and ensured that it was free of defects before making payment. Anyone in the market for a new iPad Pro might want to make the little extra to do the same as well. It can save them a lot of hassle down the road.

 

[ghanwani]

Man, I thought this headline was from The Onion at first.

It’s a conspiracy to put The Onion out of business. When you can’t tell the difference between real headlines and stuff from The Onion...

 

[Abazigal]

And this will continue because all of the diehards allow it to continue. You speak up with your outrage for now, but continue to buy their products. This is not the first time Apple has shown how little they care about their end product. They have all of you so convinced their user experience is second to none by miles. They have you believing their products are worth so much more than the competition while offering so much less hardware. Wake up and open your eyes. This company takes corporate greed and profit margins to a whole new level. Apple loves hearing how so many of you won't try another manufacturer for your phone, tablet, laptop, or PC because of how locked into their ecosystem you are. Absolutely insane to put all your eggs in one basket. Especially when some of those brand new eggs could come cracked out of the box, and you're told its normal. SMH.

Is it so hard to believe that Apple products continue to work great for most of their customers? Apple isn’t exactly holding a gun to my head and forcing me to buy their products. If people continue to stick with Apple products despite their flaws, then logic goes to show that they remain superior to other alternatives, issues and all.

The grass ain’t always greener on the other side.

 

[friedkimchi]

Get a kettle of boiling water and a plunger.

That'll fix the bend in a jiffy. /s

 

[Scarpad]

ok all you posting is your iPad Pro bent, mines not, 12.9 LTE here, mine is fantastic, so c'mon lets actually hear in this thread from people that have bent iPads before you all go off half cocked

 

[IG88]

Where this would be really problematic I think, would be if you buy from a place like B&H that doesn’t accept returns once the box is open. So if you open it up and find your iPad bent... well hope you’re OK with a bent iPad

I didn't even think of B&H. Yeah, that's even worse.

 

[inghulent73]

ok all you posting is your iPad Pro bent, mines not, 12.9 LTE here, mine is fantastic, so c'mon lets actually hear in this thread from people that have bent iPads before you all go off half cocked

Mine was curved straight out of the box and I already returned it for a refund.

 

[IG88]

In the meantime, what we as consumers can do is to exercise more due diligence in our purchases. I personally inspected my iPad Pro at the Apple store and ensured that it was free of defects before making payment. Anyone in the market for a new iPad Pro might want to make the little extra to do the same as well. It can save them a lot of hassle down the road.

That's solid advice. I've never opened anything at an Apple store before. But that would take the stress out of getting an 11" for myself if I choose to at some point. I have a 10.5 right now, not truly needing an upgrade.

You said you opened it prior to payment though. I'm surprised that Apple let you do that.

 

[citysnaps]

Where this would be really problematic I think, would be if you buy from a place like B&H that doesn’t accept returns once the box is open. So if you open it up and find your iPad bent... well hope you’re OK with a bent iPad

B&H is a reputable company. I've been dealing with them for many years.

They would absolutely take it back. And of course Apple would as well.

 

[SnarkyBear]

Do you have evidence to counter their statement? If not, it could be perfectly true.

This is standard corporate crisis control. Doesn't matter if it's a dozen customers are affected or millions. The line ALWAYS is "A small number of customers..."

 

[quietstormSD]

Apple will probably charge an extra $100 for the "non-bending shipping method"

 

[Tech198]

"Apple says the bend, which can impact both sizes of the new 2018 iPad Pro models, is caused by a cooling process involving the iPad Pro's metal and plastic components during manufacturing. Apple told The Verge that the bend is not considered to be a defect."

Apple's got a excuse for just about everything don't they.... Do they carry a large sack of excuses around with them with a dollar sign on it or something?

Funny, this is the FIRST time they mentioned it too, and have been manufacturing this way for years.

 

[coolkid93]

Criticism? Loudest? Aren’t you a hypocrite. For a trillion dollar company to have this happen to a over 2k iPad maxed out is unacceptable. That’s not criticism... that’s realism. This news broke just as the iPad Pro 10.5” has a white spot in the middle of most but I guess that’s a manufacturing “defect” like you say as well.
Point being this is no accident, this is intended by design and strategy. Just like the iPhone battery throttling which turned out to be true. It’s a marketing ploy and strategy and to add on Apple care now as a necessity other than an option to your device..

They ship junk now, Steve Jobs they didn’t but this and the MacBook like well as HomePod is JUNK for the prices and the company should be ashamed of itself and so should you

I have no problem with criticism. I just think it’s overblown and it’s likely the loudest people on this site don’t even own the device. For those that have bent iPad’s, I’ve said I hope they return them and get a good one. It’s a bummer that this small manufacturing defect happened, but it happens in Apple products and it happens in other electronic devices from time to time.

 

[sdwaltz]

I normally defend Apple in every instance but uh yeah, this is totally unacceptable and a PR disaster.

Most of the complaints about the products in this site in particular are highly unwarranted and get a guaranteed eye roll from me. This? No. They are literally trying to say that a damaged product, in mass quantities, is normal. No way, Jose.

If it truly is something in the manufacturing process, FIX THE DAMN PROCESS.

Cook needs to get it together because the trend lately has not been good. Should’ve given the job to Scott Forstall...

 

[symphony]

If out of the box, no problem. Just return in the 14 day or the extended holiday return period. Then go buy another one. Suggest everyone get out Dad’s square and check level and square.

Why would Apple replace it if it’s normal?