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

[UltimateSyn]

Yeah, that’s pretty insane.

 

[BigBoy2018]

What does that have to do with the fact that I commented carrying an iPad in the backpack? Others should use more caution in the sense to prevent Bending when placing it between hard objects unprotected. In your case, your iPad arrived out of the box bent, that has nothing to do with transporting in a backpack unprotected. But since Apple is claiming this is normal, perhaps you should use a case from this point forward or file a Claim to determine if they will permit the return.

Hey, 'rellentless' power... your relentless defense of Apple is falling flat.

 

[falainber]

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 have not heard of any bent Samsung devices. It looks like the reverse of what you say is true. It's not that other brands are held to low standards, it's just Apple fans standards got very low. I might expect that a $90 phone/tablet is slightly bent. A $1000+ device? Never heard of such thing in my life. Unless they are talking about imperfections measured in microns. But those would not be seen by naked eye so I do not think that's what they are talking about.

 

[jezbd1997]

I honestly thought this was an April fools joke or something, hard to believe this is what Apple has come to...
Lucky I didn't end up buying one of these

 

[Mythos99]

I admit, Apples response to this is baffling, regardless if they are telling the truth or not, it will not make the customer feel any better about a product if it is slightly bent out of the box. In the event if a customer does receive a bent iPad, then I think Apple should acknowledge the return for one that is not bent, especially being that this is not a common occurrence with past iPads until now.

I would say most Who notice the bending, have a right to question it, and I don’t think this article regarding Apples comments will appease to many customers regardless.

Well, this, and i also think, they should warn people about "issues" those products are having. I didn't know the MBP 15 2018 was so fragile, that i took it to work today, and i think it got each time i looked at it a new scratch or something.

Same goes with the iPad Pro, if i had it, i would use it as every normal guy, put it in my Backpack, go to work, university or whatever, probably not even use case, cause i hate cases, and would be wondering why it got bed over time, or somethings.

People pay a lot of money for Apple products, just be fair to those people, imo.

 

[EssModelsRule]

Yet another reason for a Mini Pro, the smaller chassis will be less susceptible to cooling, twisting and bending forces!

 

[Will.O.Bie]

So paying $1000+ for a bent iPad Pro is "OKAY" because it's a manufacturing process that's normal? For a $1000+, I was expecting it made with titanium , but for them to pass this off as normal is, truly, very insulting. It's never happened before so that leads me to believe that their QC and manufacturing process is degrading for the sake of even bigger profit margin. No wonder they're a trillion dollar company!

 

[apolloa]

A bend out of the box is a defect. Stop being cheap, Tim. Take care of your customers.

Nope, I’m afraid Timmy and co only look after themselves and their share holders these days.

 

[Chloros]

2 of the 3 iPhones I’ve owned (a 6 and 7 - all purchased new) have had a slight bend in them. It’s never been a problem for me because it’s always been slight. Why complain about something minor?

Sounds like an excuse i make when i buy something really discounted.

 

[inhalexhale1]

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.

So the manufacturing process causes the device to warp, but any concern this affects the structural integrity of the device is unfounded.

At least they came out and owned it. You know what you're getting into if you buy one.

 

[mi7chy]

It's Apple so they can get away with this.

Imagine if car manufacturers used this excuse and ship bent car frames and body parts that don't line up due to cooling process.

 

[Cashmonee]

Why does it have to get thinner each year? Does anyone really care if it’s 5.9mm thick or 7.5mm thick? I understand reducing weight, but a few mm really doesn’t matter.

No. In fact, the iPhone and iPad are both too thin. They are difficult to handle and require camera bumps that make them no able to lay flat. Making them as thick as the camera would make them much more functional.

 

[Tivoli_]

As someone has said Apple is becoming Microsoft+Apple = miCRAPple

 

[giebe]

Well I don’t see the problem. If I would buy one, which has a bend, I would just return it. No problem at all. Who will keep it for 14 days and return it later?

 

[BigBoy2018]

Nope, I’m afraid Timmy and co only look after themselves and their share holders these days.

Here's the thing: If they look after shareholders at the expense of actual customers, then eventually the shareholders get burned too. It's something that Steve Jobs understood instinctively. So all this talk about 'doing it for the shareholders' is a flawed concept. At the end of the day, everyone will lose with this approach.

 

[CordovaLark]

I bet they are already rubbing their hands together and brainstorming about a clickbait title.

Or just use Apple's exact wording regarding bent iPad's.

 

[apolloa]

Here's the thing: If they look after shareholders at the expense of actual customers, then eventually the shareholders get burned too. It's something that Steve Jobs understood instinctively. So all this talk about 'doing it for the shareholders' is a flawed concept. At the end of the day, everyone will lose with this approach.

Well Apple seems to be doing well with it so far....

 

[technorganic]

You know what, I need to draw the line here. This iPad Pro cost me $2000, it does exactly the same things as my four year old iPad which only cost me $500 at the time, and I'm too scared of being affected by one of these quality issues like I just went through with my 5K iMac because Apple support is so poor now. I think I will try a souped up windows tablet running macOS inside a VM. It's sad to see such unrealized potential with a product like iPad. Give me floating windows, mouse support, launch hardware that's built properly, and you'll get all of my money Apple!

macOS doesn't support 3D acceleration when running in a VM so it runs terribly. It's only good for using as a server and even those functions have been mostly killed off in the past year.

 

[BigBoy2018]

people keep throwing money at them, so they have to reason to stop.

Slowly but surely, the ill-will they foster will devour them. It's slowly happening with Facebook. With these huge companies, it takes time ... a lot of time. But eventually they will pay the price for burning their once loyal fan bases.

 

[burgman]

Apple Watches on display.

View attachment 811700

Hey that looks like bridges in Apple maps

 

[1144557]

I have not heard of any bent Samsung devices. It looks like the reverse of what you say is true. It's not that other brands are held to low standards, it's just Apple fans standards got very low. I might expect that a $90 phone/tablet is slightly bent. A $1000+ device? Never heard of such thing in my life. Unless they are talking about imperfections measured in microns. But those would not be seen by naked eye so I do not think that's what they are talking about.

There arent many metal back devices left for this to happen is more the reality. Glass on both sides is more rigid.

Id even expect of the $329 ipad has some flaws; its $329. Yet you hear no major issue with it. But not $800-2,000.

 

[Glockworkorange]

If this is "normal," then it's a design defect.

 

[Macalway]

They will need to adjust the return policy.

Jeesh, what a fiasco.

Their réponse to this is very bad. It shows total lack of respect for the consumer.

 

[BigBoy2018]

Well Apple seems to be doing well with it so far....

It takes time for the chicks to come home to roost, especially with a company this big and powerful. But as they lose the mind share of people like us here at macrumors, it will eventually become a critical mass ... and by then, it will be too late.
In other words, everything will look hunky dory for Apple for a while ... until that day ... when it doesn't.

 

[csurfr]

No. In fact, the iPhone and iPad are both too thin. They are difficult to handle and require camera bumps that make them no able to lay flat. Making them as thick as the camera would make them much more functional.

But the problem with that line of thinking is that my Pixel 3 XL is thinner than my iPhone XS Max and doesn't have a camera bump. . . So I feel like Apple should be able to figure that out, right?

Edit: My mistake, the pixel is .2mm thicker. That still doesn't account for the camera bump on the iPhone that Apple doesn't add to the total depth.