I bought mine at BB and I'm wondering if I could return it to an Apple store for an exchange, and how long do I have until they won't accept it back. I got it on launch day.
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Backlight bleeding
- Thread starter i eversaw
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Same here. Last night I noticed the difference. My unit was nowhere like some of the images I'm seeing here so maybe minor bleeding will get better with time.
iPad 2's are more in the $300-$350 range. For parts and manufacturing that is. Don't forget R&D and Marketing as well.
And I bet a lot of them, returned for backlight bleeding, but otherwise perfect and just given a polish and packed straight back up again.
They are not going to all the trouble of taking that glass off if it's working perfect and no physical damage.
Posted this over in the Apple Discussions forum too, but I don't think it'll hurt to have another story someone might be able to benefit from...
Well, here's another data point for you all...
I purchased my black 16GB wi-fi at a Walmart on launch day (last Friday). The first thing I noticed out of the box was the leaking near the home screen button and the bottom right corner (assuming the home screen is the bottom). There was a little bit on the top right corner too but not as noticeable as the bottom.
I was approaching the 1/2 way mark with the Walmart return policy (14 days), so I was getting a little concerned and wanted to see what my options were. I booked a same day Genius Bar appointment at my local Apple Store. Brought the thing in, showed him the leaks on an iPhone sized app (with the black borders). He said, "yep, I can see it there" almost immediately and said that he'd go back and look to see if they had any in the reserve stock (meant for this kind of issue exactly, I presume...well, and DOAs and whatnot). Anyway, after a little while, he came back with a new replacement and after a little bit of paperwork, we swapped iPads.
Not all that confident that this new iPad would be the answer, I asked him if I could bring this new one back if it started showing signs of leakage too (do any NOT have leakage out there?). He said I could bring it back under warranty anytime in the next year (and it didn't seem to matter that I got mine at Walmart). I feel MUCH more comfortable with this 1-year window through Apple rather than the 8-day (and dropping) window with Walmart.
Unfortunately...the new iPad has equal or slightly worse leakage...(the long exposure seems to exaggerate the leakage a little bit, but it is DEFINITELY there)...
Aperture: f/3.5
Exposure time: 1
Lens F-Number: f/3.5
ISO: 400
At this point, I think I'm just going to hang onto this one for a few weeks and/or months to see if the issue will get any better...and if not, I guess I'll have to bring it back again...but only once supply has stabilized...for me, there's no sense in going back all the time and cutting into their iPad reserves just to gamble on the chance that the next screen is going to be better. I just feel a lot better now that I can work with Apple and not Walmart on this issue.
Well, here's another data point for you all...
I purchased my black 16GB wi-fi at a Walmart on launch day (last Friday). The first thing I noticed out of the box was the leaking near the home screen button and the bottom right corner (assuming the home screen is the bottom). There was a little bit on the top right corner too but not as noticeable as the bottom.
I was approaching the 1/2 way mark with the Walmart return policy (14 days), so I was getting a little concerned and wanted to see what my options were. I booked a same day Genius Bar appointment at my local Apple Store. Brought the thing in, showed him the leaks on an iPhone sized app (with the black borders). He said, "yep, I can see it there" almost immediately and said that he'd go back and look to see if they had any in the reserve stock (meant for this kind of issue exactly, I presume...well, and DOAs and whatnot). Anyway, after a little while, he came back with a new replacement and after a little bit of paperwork, we swapped iPads.
Not all that confident that this new iPad would be the answer, I asked him if I could bring this new one back if it started showing signs of leakage too (do any NOT have leakage out there?). He said I could bring it back under warranty anytime in the next year (and it didn't seem to matter that I got mine at Walmart). I feel MUCH more comfortable with this 1-year window through Apple rather than the 8-day (and dropping) window with Walmart.
Unfortunately...the new iPad has equal or slightly worse leakage...(the long exposure seems to exaggerate the leakage a little bit, but it is DEFINITELY there)...
Aperture: f/3.5
Exposure time: 1
Lens F-Number: f/3.5
ISO: 400
At this point, I think I'm just going to hang onto this one for a few weeks and/or months to see if the issue will get any better...and if not, I guess I'll have to bring it back again...but only once supply has stabilized...for me, there's no sense in going back all the time and cutting into their iPad reserves just to gamble on the chance that the next screen is going to be better. I just feel a lot better now that I can work with Apple and not Walmart on this issue.
They will exchange it but it will be a warranty issue, that means you can't ever return it. They have stocks just for warranty issues.
Even if people have some light bleed i don't think most people notice it is normal use.
I just called Apple Care and they put a hold on my CC and are shipping me out a new 64gb iPad for the one I've got now. I'll check the new one and if it's worse than the replacement. I'll do the whole process over again. I had to buy the Apple Care plan for $79 in order to do the advanced replacement, but I don't live anywhere near an Apple store (nearest one is 2.5 hours away) and the other option would be to take the bleeding, defective iPad to a UPS store, have them ship it to Apple and then wait. . . iPadless. . . for who knows how long. Too bad about the light bleeding. Other than that, I really love the new generation, but I'm not shelling out over $700 for something with "issues".
So from what I can tell -- scouring the web for posts like this -- I have not been able to find one person who has an iPad 2 without yellow light leak \ orbs when brightness is on full.
I've talked to friends all over the country -- and I show them the pics here -- they go "wow that sucks! but mine's not like that! Guess I got lucky" -- then I tell them to turn the brightness up and go inside a dark room -- and each and everyone one has the issue.
Based upon this evidence, I would assume that 100% of units are affected by this problem, although some clearly are worse than others. If you are OK with paying that much money for a product that is in the "yeah it has it but it's not as bad as ---" category, then go to the apple store (make appt with genius bar first) and have them go through iPad 2s until you find one that you like. They will accommodate you -- it's Apple ffs But I guess what I am saying is -- don't expect to find one that doesn't have a defective screen...because they _all_ do.
Now -- Engadget is reporting that online orders have been shipped and are arriving today: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/17/ipad-2-online-orders-start-arriving-on-doorsteps/
PLEASE -- if you ordered online and get yours soon - test for this problem -- as others have said, turn brightness up to 100%, go to blackle.com in safari, and go inside of a closet and shut the door. If you do NOT have bleeding, please take a pic. I've been dealing with Apple's executive support team and they aren't saying anything -- they won't confirm what this is or if it's gonna be fixed or when it's conna be fixed (to my disappointment)...so the only way we'll ever find out if it's fixed is if someone gets one that doesn't have the problem and posts it
I've talked to friends all over the country -- and I show them the pics here -- they go "wow that sucks! but mine's not like that! Guess I got lucky" -- then I tell them to turn the brightness up and go inside a dark room -- and each and everyone one has the issue.
Based upon this evidence, I would assume that 100% of units are affected by this problem, although some clearly are worse than others. If you are OK with paying that much money for a product that is in the "yeah it has it but it's not as bad as ---" category, then go to the apple store (make appt with genius bar first) and have them go through iPad 2s until you find one that you like. They will accommodate you -- it's Apple ffs
But I guess what I am saying is -- don't expect to find one that doesn't have a defective screen...because they _all_ do.Now -- Engadget is reporting that online orders have been shipped and are arriving today: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/17/ipad-2-online-orders-start-arriving-on-doorsteps/
PLEASE -- if you ordered online and get yours soon - test for this problem -- as others have said, turn brightness up to 100%, go to blackle.com in safari, and go inside of a closet and shut the door. If you do NOT have bleeding, please take a pic. I've been dealing with Apple's executive support team and they aren't saying anything -- they won't confirm what this is or if it's gonna be fixed or when it's conna be fixed (to my disappointment)...so the only way we'll ever find out if it's fixed is if someone gets one that doesn't have the problem and posts it
PLEASE -- if you ordered online and get yours soon - test for this problem -- as others have said, turn brightness up to 100%, go to blackle.com in safari, and go inside of a closet and shut the door. If you do NOT have bleeding, please take a pic. I've been dealing with Apple's executive support team and they aren't saying anything -- they won't confirm what this is or if it's gonna be fixed or when it's conna be fixed (to my disappointment)...so the only way we'll ever find out if it's fixed is if someone gets one that doesn't have the problem and posts it
I don't want to make light (no pun intended) of what is a problem for some people, but if you have to put the backlight up to full, look at a completely black page and lock yourself in a pitch black closet before you see any bleeding, I would say it's not really a major issue...
so from what i can tell -- scouring the web for posts like this -- i have not been able to find one person who has an ipad 2 without yellow light leak \ orbs when brightness is on full.
i've talked to friends all over the country -- and i show them the pics here -- they go "wow that sucks! But mine's not like that! Guess i got lucky" -- then i tell them to turn the brightness up and go inside a dark room -- and each and everyone one has the issue.
Based upon this evidence, i would assume that 100% of units are affected by this problem, although some clearly are worse than others. If you are ok with paying that much money for a product that is in the "yeah it has it but it's not as bad as ---" category, then go to the apple store (make appt with genius bar first) and have them go through ipad 2s until you find one that you like. They will accommodate you -- it's apple ffs
Now -- engadget is reporting that online orders have been shipped and are arriving today: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/17/ipad-2-online-orders-start-arriving-on-doorsteps/
please -- if you ordered online and get yours soon - test for this problem -- as others have said, turn brightness up to 100%, go to blackle.com in safari, and go inside of a closet and shut the door. If you do not have bleeding, please take a pic. I've been dealing with apple's executive support team and they aren't saying anything -- they won't confirm what this is or if it's gonna be fixed or when it's conna be fixed (to my disappointment)...so the only way we'll ever find out if it's fixed is if someone gets one that doesn't have the problem and posts it
+1000
This is what happens when you get cheap and use glue to hold the bezel on. On a happier note, my Moto XOOM at full brightness doesn't have this issue. I hope my iPad2 on order doesn't have it either otherwise it's going back.
I understand the nature of LCD and LED technology. I expect there to be a certain amount of backlight bleed. It's just the nature of the beast. In all three of my 1st gen iPads, there was a certain acceptable amount of this. Acceptable in that it wasn't so glaring that I immediately noticed it. The bleed from my other iPads was more diffused and less pronounced. The first thing I saw when I started up my new 64gb model was a very focused and pronounced flashlight effect coming from an area to the right of the home button. It was apparent immediately. That was with screen brightness at default (50%). It obviously became more evident at full brightness, but I don't usually keep my ithings at 100% brightness. This problem was pronounced and marked enough that I googled the term iPad 2 backlight issues and found this thread. I don't expect a pristine plasma-like completely uniform black screen, but the amount of bleed I have on this one unit is totally unacceptable. My son's new 32gb has a less pronounced amount of bleed. Also, his screen is less yellowish in hue. For the amount of money shelled out for new iPads, this shouldn't be an issue to the degree that it is. I don't expect perfection, but at least the same level of uniformity I had on my 1st gen iPad is reasonable.
I "sort of" agree, BUT...... I mean I saw this post and looked at mine during my normal everyday use and thought "Huh mine is fine." Then POW!, during a reboot when the screen is black and back-lit I noticed it in a few spots on the edges. Now when I'm watching a movie or video in letterbox with the black bars on top and bottom I can't help but notice it. So I think we should be taking extra measures to see if the problem exists.
If Apple knew of the iPhone 4 antenna issue they know about this. Are they hoping most people just don't care / notice??
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Well, much like everyone in this thread, I had the light leakage issue. The problem was I purchased my iPad at Best Buy and was wondering what Apple would do. So yesterday, I made a same day genius appointment...
I showed the genius a photo on my phone about the issue and he said "say no more, I'll take care of it". They didn't have any to replace it with in store, but he ordered me one that should be in just a few days. He said that he's been getting a lot of people coming back for the same issue, but also noted it was mostly white models?
Anyways, moral of the story: I bought mine at Best Buy, getting it replaced at Apple. Makes no difference. It seems that Apple is aware of the issue and is being lenient to replace them regardless of where you purchased
I showed the genius a photo on my phone about the issue and he said "say no more, I'll take care of it". They didn't have any to replace it with in store, but he ordered me one that should be in just a few days. He said that he's been getting a lot of people coming back for the same issue, but also noted it was mostly white models?
Anyways, moral of the story: I bought mine at Best Buy, getting it replaced at Apple. Makes no difference. It seems that Apple is aware of the issue and is being lenient to replace them regardless of where you purchased
What I wondered was if the new one was worse when I look at it could I just not take it and go home with my original?
Sigh...again with the "it's not really a major issue" opinion. I already stated that I do not accept this argument \ opinion for the simple fact that My first generation iPad DOES NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM!
Also the Xoom does not have this problem. The Galaxy Tab does not have this problem. Even the Viewsonic, Archos, and even those really cheap 99$ android tablets do not have this problem!
The blackberry playbook isn't out yet but I can bet you it won't have this problem. Same thing with the new WebOS tablets...
I know I'm speculating and being wild, but this is really pissing me off And yes, I keep the brightness at 100% all the time on my first gen iPad and my CDMA iPhone 4. I turn off auto-brightness. It's the way I prefer to view the screen. I like the way movies look on it, I like how there's no bleeding, I like the angles and I like the color.
I respect your right to have an opinion -- but I don't agree with it one bit. This is a major issue.
ZDNet just wrote another article "5 ways Apple Botched the iPad 2's Launch" http://www.zdnet.com/blog/apple/5-ways-apple-botched-the-ipad-2-launch/
Wonder why there were no pre-orders like there was with ipad 1 and iphone 4 (even cdma iphone 4)? Wonder why every store had super long lines and limited stock? No reservations or availability tracker like they had with iPhone 4?
I'm making a huge leap here but I'm going to say it's all because of this screen problem....until I hear otherwise that's what I'm going to believe. I don't really see any other reasons for all the points ZDNet made regarding the iPad 2 launch and how it went down. They know (and knew) about it -- chose to ship a majority of the defective stock that had already been manufactured to apple stores, less to target \ best buy \ walmart \ vzw \ at&t stores (BTW-- I called every AT&T and Verizon store within a 200 mile radius, none of them had or still have it -- I don't know why it was announced they would be selling them? Or maybe they just lied on the phone because they had so limited stock? Don't know) and then the rest was left for online orders.
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Totally agree with this statement. I'm sure there are units that have more "bleeding" than others, and those really should be addressed by Apple. As for me, I noticed some slight variations around my iPad's screen similar to what others on this forum have already posted pics illustrating. However, I didn't perceive this "uneveness" until I was in as complete darkness as I could be and then only after I turned the brightness up to max could I tell the lighting was a bit uneven around the borders of the screen.
Totally thrilled with my purchase and I wouldn't consider returning it unless that "bleeding" became more excessive at normal usage levels.
It's been said a few times in this thread, but I'll say it again.
If you want a unit with NO light bleeding. Return it and wait for some announcement it's been fixed.
It's pretty clear that there are no units with no bleeding given that everyone that's returned one has gotten one that still had bleeding--sometimes better than the first one they had, sometimes worst.
It seems that right now it's only worth owning one if you're ok with a getting at best a unit that has minimal bleeding that's only visible in a dark room with dark content on the screen (letter boxed video etc.).
I'm ok with that as I don't use mine in the dark and don't notice it in dim lighting in bed with the lamp on etc. I'd prefer it not be there for peace of mind I guess, but since I can't see it during my normal usage I'm not going to worry about it.
If you've got one with worse bleeding that you can see during normal usage, then definitely exchange it to get one with minimal bleeding that's not visible during normal usage. If you can't tolerate minimal bleeding, then return and give up for now as it seems they all have at least some bleeding.
If you want a unit with NO light bleeding. Return it and wait for some announcement it's been fixed.
It's pretty clear that there are no units with no bleeding given that everyone that's returned one has gotten one that still had bleeding--sometimes better than the first one they had, sometimes worst.
It seems that right now it's only worth owning one if you're ok with a getting at best a unit that has minimal bleeding that's only visible in a dark room with dark content on the screen (letter boxed video etc.).
I'm ok with that as I don't use mine in the dark and don't notice it in dim lighting in bed with the lamp on etc. I'd prefer it not be there for peace of mind I guess, but since I can't see it during my normal usage I'm not going to worry about it.
If you've got one with worse bleeding that you can see during normal usage, then definitely exchange it to get one with minimal bleeding that's not visible during normal usage. If you can't tolerate minimal bleeding, then return and give up for now as it seems they all have at least some bleeding.
If anybody has an iPad 2 without backlight bleeding PLEASE show me. I am convinced that all of them have this problem, and I want to be sure before I decide to settle for the one I have... Or I may just bring it to the Apple store in a month or 2 and hopefully the problem will be fixed.
+1
Just putting the screen on 100% hurts my eyes. Watching a Netflix movie in a dark room at about 2/3 to 3/4 brightness, I can see a bit of yellow in the upper right corner, but only if I look for it. My eye is not drawn to it because it's super noticeable.
This is why my TVs are always plasmas and not LCD's - too many imperfections in the technology.
We returned one of ours to the Apple Store. The one that had the terrible backlight bleed.
Exchanged it for a model that, while still exhibiting a little bleed, isn't remotely as bad as the one returned. If it bothers me down the road, I'll look into a better replacement then.
Suggest others who are bothered by the issue do the same.
Exchanged it for a model that, while still exhibiting a little bleed, isn't remotely as bad as the one returned. If it bothers me down the road, I'll look into a better replacement then.
Suggest others who are bothered by the issue do the same.
Well my iPad just came in the mail a couple of hours ago. And to my surprise I have no back light bleeding. It is a 16gb wifi model blk. it seems to be perfect. I was expecting a monstrosity to show up at my door but I was pleasantly surprised.