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Yet they still ain’t hurting. I’d like to be in that position. Darn you Cook!
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What if Samsung made a curved tablet like their TVs and it cost $1K. Would you turn it in if it laid flat?
The display on a tablet isn’t big enough to require a curve - so I wouldn’t consider it in the first place.
 



Shortly after the new 2018 11 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models shipped out to customers, some MacRumors readers found bends in their tablets. Unsurprisingly, new iPad owners were upset and disappointed to find unwanted defects in devices that cost hundreds of dollars, but according to new information from Apple, a slight bend isn't out of the ordinary.

Apple told The Verge that some 2018 iPad Pro models are indeed shipping with a "very slight bend in the aluminum chassis," which is a "side effect of the manufacturing process" that is not expected to worsen over time or negatively effect the iPad's performance "in any practical way."

bentipadpro-800x432.jpg

Image via MacRumors reader Bwrin1
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.

2018 iPad Pro models that are exhibiting this problem have it right out of the box, according to Apple, so it does not appear to be an issue that shows up over time. There were videos indicating that the new iPad Pro models bend more easily than other models, but Apple says that concerns over the iPad Pro's "structural rigidity" are "unfounded" and that it "stands by the product." Apple has not experienced higher-than-normal return rates for the 2018 iPad Pro.


The Verge suggests that those who are irritated by the bend "shouldn't have any trouble exchanging or returning" an iPad Pro at an Apple Store, but that statement likely only applies to devices that are still under the return policy. Apple typically does not replace devices experiencing issues that are not considered manufacturing defects, so it's not entirely clear if those with bent tablets outside of the return period will be able to get replacements.

Apple experienced major consumer outcry over a "bendgate" controversy with the iPhone 6 Plus, which saw that iPhone bending due to regular use. Apple rectified the problem with later iPhone models, and given the concern over the potential for a similar issue, it's no surprise that Apple is attempting to reassure customers that this is a manufacturing issue that won't worsen over time.

Despite the fact that iPad Pro models experiencing this minor bend allegedly won't end up with future problems because of it, many iPad Pro users may be unhappy with the slight cosmetic and functional problems caused by an uneven surface.

Article Link: Apple Says Some 2018 iPad Pros Ship Bent, But It's Normal and Not a Defect
[doublepost=1545358686][/doublepost]iPad Pro "Curve"... it's a feature :-(
 
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Hold on, time out. I guess I didn't say it the way I should have.. I am not happy with this, and I was trying to be critical of them for making an obvious business decision to please their CEO and shareholders, over doing the right thing for the customer. Me saying that it could be "beyond their control" was a bad choice of words. I more was thinking outloud that I can't believe they made a profit-driven decision over treating their customers with respect. Instead of doing the right thing, some design team or accountant gave an answer that wasn't liked, so they decide to play with words by saying its not supposed to happen, but it's not a defect. That is a cowardly way to approach this, and I don't think other companies would get away with it.

I was more getting to that if the fix was as simple as flipping a switch (for lack of a better example), I would expect Apple to do it, since they pride themselves in customer satisfaction. So for them to not fix this must mean it can't be fixed (too expensive, too much time, would require a re-design with new molds, etc) until the next version of iPad. Not that it literally can't be fixed, but that they won't, to make sure their sales and profits don't suffer. That stinks, and it just reeks of the greed.

If I were in the market for an iPad Pro, a bend, regardless of it not affecting usability, is unacceptable. For that amount of money, for a premium tablet, it should be to as close to perfect as possible. This is an embarrassing stance to take and I hope it sticks to them harder than any of the other apple-gate scandals. Samsung could very well be working on their next tv commercial already.

Ah, I understand. Sorry for going off earlier, I get what you are saying now, thank you for clarifying!
 
Sometimes crap happens - reasonable people get it. But Apple brings some of this grief on itself by having the bald guy blather in every keynote as to how he is an absolute amazing genius in design, manufacturing and attention to detail. Well, I hope his boss is asking him some tough questions now....
 
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What Apple, or any other company, says about their products ultimately has nothing to do with whether or not I choose to buy their products.

Do you sell your MacBook Pro and rush out to get an iPad Pro just because Apple claims it is a viable computer replacement? No, you do your research, watch online review videos, and come to your own informed decision about whether an iPad is suitable for your needs or not.

I buy Apple products, just as I buy any product from any other company out there, for one very simple reason - they work for me. I have been using an iPad to teach in the classroom since 2012, so I know that in more ways than one, my iPad Pro is better than a conventional computer.

Likewise, if my Samsung monitor was scratched, I would simply take it up with their customer support, irrespective of what their official press statement said. As it stands, Apple at least still had physical retail stores where you can seek redress for such an issue. With a company like Samsung, my options are probably a lot more limited.

I go back to my original point. Does it suck that your iPad came bent out of the box? Yes.

Is it the end of the world? Most certainly not, since you have 2 weeks to return it for a full refund, or at least take it up with their customer support. There’s a proper channel for this sort of thing, use it.

And I most certainly won’t bitch about it in an online forum.

Absolutely shocking you still miss the point everyone is making. Stop conflating your user experience with the topic at hand. People are sickened, and in disbelief that a company can charge a premium price for a product, and then turn around and tell the customer it's normal for this product to come bent brand new. Really? We are not discussing whether the product will still operate as advertised. It is not unreasonable to expect a brand new premium product to be in premium condition. But it is unreasonable for a manufacturer to say a brand new item sold at a premium price, can be bent in the box. So again, we all want our brand new expensive premium products to have premium performance, AND premium materials, premium build quality. It's not just one or the other. And there's no way you accept such a statement from any other manufacture of whatever product. So what happens when your easy to bend iPad eventually gets a bend down the road not caused by your carelessness. Now what? What happens to the display glass that starts getting stressed overtime because of the bend? What happens to resale? You getting it yet? Wow.
 
Let me be the first to say; BS.
I've had devices have a bend or develop one. A pain especially if you use them flat, in a hard case. or have connections that are impacted. No excuse for this.
Engineering failure.

Well double BS to you lol

What devices btw? I thought we were talking iPads here. Or is that a verbal failure on your part to be clear?

None of my iPads have been impacted as you describe
 
I recall a few years back there was a shortage of the black iPhones (the gloss ones) because the colour/shine/whatever was not up to the manufacturing standard that Apple expected, yet now we have devices that are bent as part of the manufacturing process and Apple considers these OK. Apple's manufacturing standards are slipping.
 
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That is one hell of an arrogant and ignorant response and a massive PR mistake.

Whats up with u guys Apple... ? Sigh
 
Just received actual apple service and had my month old bent iPad Pro 12.9 (in picture above) swapped over for a new, straight iPad.

A brand new model. The store acknowledges the issue is happening, and swapped it even though they have had no official word.
That kind of support is helpful at a store level.
Congrats to the store in Brisbane.

Now the people pulling the strings need to back their customers and stores to correct this, it will be an ongoing issue.

I actually believe they are not only coming out of the box warped but are doing so under normal use. Apple saying a batch may be bent out of the box is easier to swallow than to admit structural fault on the whole range.

So bent iPad 4weeks - swapped in store for brand new. - straight for now
 
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I recall a few years back there was a shortage of the black iPhones (the gloss ones) because the colour/shine/whatever was not up to the manufacturing standard that Apple expected, yet now we have devices that are bent as part of the manufacturing process and Apple considers these OK. Apple's manufacturing standards are slipping.
We long for the days when Steve Jobs would only accept manufacturing issues that he could blame on customers holding it wrong.
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That is one hell of an arrogant and ignorant response and a massive PR mistake.

Whats up with u guys Apple... ? Sigh
You are holding it wrong according to Saint Steve Jobs.
 
One might think that if one truly didn’t want an iPP, one wouldn’t need to work so hard at convincing others to not want one either. —shrug—
 
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Great job Apple - what a fantastic 2018...let me count the ways in no particular order:

iPhone XS Max:

Two..yes, two iPhone XS Max return and replacements before the "Genius" refused to replace it (making it #3- apparently they can refuse returns when they deem their policy to be abused)...come to find out, poor Q&A and the phone wouldn't charge via the lightning port due to a "rare issue impacting a few devices"

Device still has lack luster LTE performance even with the latest software, likely never will be fixed.

Apple Watch S4:

Was working fine until a software update bricked it...had to go through all sorts of gymnastics with customer service to get that resolved which resulted in about a week of not having a watch device. Where's the Q&A?

iPad Pro:

I noticed it being a little wobbly on a flat surface and didn't think much of it given that I was going to have it in a keyboard folio but on further inspection, yeah..it's going back. I fully expect accusations that its been bent by me, the customer but we'll see how that goes.

HomePod:

While not major, was disappointing in functionality and had the added benefit of staining my wooden table.

AirPods:

Hey those seem to work fine. Bravo.

I've had apple devices since I was a kid, Apple IIe, IIgs, Macintosh, iMac, PowerPC, MacBook Pro 2013, 2015 but yeah....the magic is gone for me as is the service (and apparently Q&A also). I don't like the android world much, but that's where I'll likely end up....probably sell what I can on eBay and get out of the walled garden. Just my perspective.
 
This is a collection of absurd comments. The human body is asymmetrical. Is that a defect too? I have a brand new 12.9" iPad Pro and yes it has an ever so slight curvature that I didn't notice until I read this article. To see it you must look at it in a way that it was not meant to be used. As far as I am concerned this iPad an exceptional piece of functionality.

Nothing is perfect is this world, and if you always demand absolute perfection in form you will be absolutely unhappy functionally until you can live a life with all its bump and bruises.
Was waiting for a comment justifying a terrible defect. Way to go man.

I just smh at someone in all seriousness saying “yeah I see a bend in my iPad. So what? Ya’ll with your standards are just expecting too much”

Expecting a straight iPad isn’t expecting too much. It’s expecting to get what you paid for
 
Absolutely shocking you still miss the point everyone is making. Stop conflating your user experience with the topic at hand. People are sickened, and in disbelief that a company can charge a premium price for a product, and then turn around and tell the customer it's normal for this product to come bent brand new. Really? We are not discussing whether the product will still operate as advertised. It is not unreasonable to expect a brand new premium product to be in premium condition. But it is unreasonable for a manufacturer to say a brand new item sold at a premium price, can be bent in the box. So again, we all want our brand new expensive premium products to have premium performance, AND premium materials, premium build quality. It's not just one or the other. And there's no way you accept such a statement from any other manufacture of whatever product. So what happens when your easy to bend iPad eventually gets a bend down the road not caused by your carelessness. Now what? What happens to the display glass that starts getting stressed overtime because of the bend? What happens to resale? You getting it yet? Wow.

Here’s the thing.

Nowhere in the article do we have a direct statement from Apple. Merely a (paraphrased) report from Theverge, and we know how they are when it comes to sensationalising matters.

As it is, all I am seeing here is a bunch of people freaking out and raising a hissy fit over what I am sure will (eventually) be a fairly minor issue.

I don’t know why Apple is so stupid as to allow a news outlet not unknown for click bait to essentially control the narrative and framing, but what’s done is done.

Though at this point, I don’t think there is anything Apple can say which can appease the rabid masses. They are all too far gone as is.
 
It will be resolved in the next release. Sort of like with the keyboard issue with the MacBook Pro / Macbook. I'll wait til the 2019 iPad Pro refresh with the problem fixed and maybe have the front facing FaceTime camera upgraded to 1080p and other enhancements.
Resolved? Using recycled aluminum? You can easily bend a perfectly straight iPad. But no, they are proud using recycled material for low quality products .
 
Here’s the thing.

Nowhere in the article do we have a direct statement from Apple. Merely a (paraphrased) report from Theverge, and we know how they are when it comes to sensationalising matters.

As it is, all I am seeing here is a bunch of people freaking out and raising a hissy fit over what I am sure will (eventually) be a fairly minor issue.

I don’t know why Apple is so stupid as to allow a news outlet not unknown for click bait to essentially control the narrative and framing, but what’s done is done.

Though at this point, I don’t think there is anything Apple can say which can appease the rabid masses. They are all too far gone as is.
Moderators please delete the above post.

There is no room for high quality rational analysis such as this on the MacRumors forum. Without blind outrage in every post, how will this website generate the sustaining clicks that are at the core of its operational mandate? Please don't let this site degenerate into a community focused on objective facts and logical debate!
 
That's exactly what I was saying but we had certain "Reviewers" and "YouTubers" rationalizing it and making excuses. Now that Apple comes out saying it everyone's upset, especially since the bent iPads come like that out of the box.

It's not acceptable, it never should be. It's not a cheap product and frankly I prefer a more durable tablet over the novelty of it being so thin. Just look at previous iPads, they were a lot more durable. I haven't owned one for a while but the iPad, 2, 4 and mini that I owned were very durable. I've tried bending the 4th gen with no luck.

People really need to be vocal when these things occur, unless you want products that break easy. It's a good idea to vocalize your complaints so the next generation of iPads don't have these issues. It's sad that we have a cultist mentality that often clouds our judgement in being critical, instead we sometimes fawn over everything Apple.
 
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This will get sorted in a class action. Hope it starts soon. When it does I’m in.

Apples audacity to charge what they are for the iPad Pro and have the gall to tell me I should accept a device with flawed aesthetic is over the top even for them.

What this means is their manufacturing process is still broken, they couldn’t scale for launch so pushed them out, it was never in control or stable, not fIxable in the foreseeable future, they can’t rework returned devices, and financial impact of accepting returns for flawed units is bigger than what they are willing to take on.

Apples prior claims about its flawless products, putting them out when it’s ready, and Jony being pedantic and waxing poetic about his designs in videos just adds ammo to the class.
How bad is the bend in your iPad? Do you have photos?
 
The circuit paths were not designed to curve like the spaceship campus. No option but to return and hunt down 2017 models.
 
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