Bright Spot Issue - Air 3 and Pro 10.5 Comparison

[AJB1971]

I just thought I’d post a comparison image using photographs from the iFixit teardown and one from another forum member of the problems affecting the iPad Pro 10.5 displays.

The most commonly affected area of the display does appear to line up with the four connectors and these are covered by a metal plate.

iFixit has just released the teardown of the Air 3 and there are a few changes compared to the Pro 10.5.

In terms of similarities, the Air 3 uses the same basic layout as the Pro 10.5. There are four connectors to attach the display to the logic board, unlike the three used in the Mini 5, and the connectors are still covered by a bare metal shield. The new wireless module is located in the same position as the old one, just above the connectors.

As far as changes are concerned, the material used on the back of the lcd panel, above the display connectors, is now different from that used to cover the rest of the logic board. The material looks like it's the same as that used on the underside of the shielding. I'm speculating that this material is more heat resistant -

iPad Pro 10.5

iPad Air 3

The shield covering the wireless module appears to be separate from the rest of the logic board -

iPad Pro 10.5

iPad Air 3

I can't see any reason why these changes couldn't have been incorporated into later versions of the Pro 10.5, but we don't know whether they have.

Teardowns -
Pro 10.5 - https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPad+Pro+10.5-Inch+Teardown/92534
Air 3 - https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPad+Air+3+Teardown/121759

This post is taken out of the main thread concerning bright spot issues with the Pro 10.5 -
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/bright-spot-on-ipad-pro-10-5-screen.2115037/

 

[Non-Polar]

What's ****** about this situation is that Apple will not incorporate these changes into the 2017 iPad Pros. This is exactly like how Apple dealt with the display cables in the 2016-17 vs 2018 MBP's. I am seriously contemplating on selling my 2017 iPad Pro before its value drops with the bright spots appearing to get an iPad Mini. Are you saying that the less GPU intensive A12 vs the A10X and physical changes make it less likely to develop these bright spots? I also haven't seen any issues with the iPad Mini 4's as widespread as this.

Again, thanks for all your help.

 

[ivanputeraa]

What's ****** about this situation is that Apple will not incorporate these changes into the 2017 iPad Pros. This is exactly like how Apple dealt with the display cables in the 2016-17 vs 2018 MBP's. I am seriously contemplating on selling my 2017 iPad Pro before its value drops with the bright spots appearing to get an iPad Mini. Are you saying that the less GPU intensive A12 vs the A10X and physical changes make it less likely to develop these bright spots? I also haven't seen any issues with the iPad Mini 4's as widespread as this.

Again, thanks for all your help.

I already sold my 10.5 and decided to order the new mini. Better to take a non pro device with lower price + not creating any kind of unresolved problem (mbp w/ keyboard issue, ipad pro w/ bend issue)

 

[Non-Polar]

I'm so tempted to go that route. What's ironic in all of this is that the regular 2018 iPad seems to be immune to all of these issues, despite its price tag.

 

[MrMister111]

My Pro 10.5 still has AppleCare until Sep. I have the ASK and pencil 1 for it as well so the Air would be compatible for it to (I presume smart cover will work from Pro to Air as well?)

Mine doesn't seem to have bright spot issue... Yet... But I'm worried it eventually will. Knowing my luck it'll probably happen days after AppleCare expires as well.

Really thinking I should sell, say with a month or two left and maybe get the Air.

The 10.5 Pro and Air 3 are very similar. I got the Pro 10.5 originally as wanted a bigger screen over my last Air 9.7. I'd love the 11" Pro but I don't use the Pro features as such. It was screen size over the old 9.7 for me for media consumption and iCloud photo library.

I know this forum is where more people pay what's wrong that right, and I underarms people saying don't worry what's not there, but I am as it does seem a common problem that's all.

 

[AJB1971]

What's ****** about this situation is that Apple will not incorporate these changes into the 2017 iPad Pros. This is exactly like how Apple dealt with the display cables in the 2016-17 vs 2018 MBP's. I am seriously contemplating on selling my 2017 iPad Pro before its value drops with the bright spots appearing to get an iPad Mini. Are you saying that the less GPU intensive A12 vs the A10X and physical changes make it less likely to develop these bright spots? I also haven't seen any issues with the iPad Mini 4's as widespread as this.

Again, thanks for all your help.

The problem usually occurs directly over the display connectors, just below the wireless module. The A10X and A12 processors are located much further up the logic boards.

It looks to me as if most of the material on the back of the display is some type of foam padding, but on the Air 3 they've used more heat resistant material on the affected area. This material is also used on the underside of the metal plate which covers the display connectors.

Mini 5

On the Pro 10.5 it was just used on the underside of the metal shield, but it looks like Apple are now using this on the back of the display for the Air 3.

Pro 10.5

Air 3

 

[CrazyForCashews]

I'm so tempted to go that route. What's ironic in all of this is that the regular 2018 iPad seems to be immune to all of these issues, despite its price tag.

Indeed, this is the sad irony. Apple's cheapest tablet is the most reliable one.

What's even more sad and infuriating is that these 'Pro' devices ain't cheap, they cost a pretty penny and when you're spending all that dough you should expect a reliable product free from defects.

 

[AutomaticApple]

I just thought I’d post a comparison image using photographs from the iFixit teardown and one from another forum member of the problems affecting the iPad Pro 10.5 displays.

The most commonly affected area of the display does appear to line up with the four connectors and these are covered by a metal plate.

iFixit has just released the teardown of the Air 3 and there are a few changes compared to the Pro 10.5.

In terms of similarities, the Air 3 uses the same basic layout as the Pro 10.5. There are four connectors to attach the display to the logic board, unlike the three used in the Mini 5, and the connectors are still covered by a bare metal shield. The new wireless module is located in the same position as the old one, just above the connectors.

As far as changes are concerned, the material used on the back of the lcd panel, above the display connectors, is now different from that used to cover the rest of the logic board. The material looks like it's the same as that used on the underside of the shielding. I'm speculating that this material is more heat resistant -

iPad Pro 10.5

iPad Air 3

The shield covering the wireless module appears to be separate from the rest of the logic board -

iPad Pro 10.5

iPad Air 3

I can't see any reason why these changes couldn't have been incorporated into later versions of the Pro 10.5, but we don't know whether they have.

Teardowns -
Pro 10.5 - https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPad+Pro+10.5-Inch+Teardown/92534
Air 3 - https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPad+Air+3+Teardown/121759

This post is taken out of the main thread concerning bright spot issues with the Pro 10.5 -
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/bright-spot-on-ipad-pro-10-5-screen.2115037/

Interesting...

 

[Non-Polar]

The problem usually occurs directly over the display connectors, just below the wireless module. The A10X and A12 processors are located much further up the logic boards.

It looks to me as if most of the material on the back of the display is some type of foam padding, but on the Air 3 they've used more heat resistant material on the affected area. This material is also used on the underside of the metal plate which covers the display connectors.

Mini 5
View attachment 830151

On the Pro 10.5 it was just used on the underside of the metal shield, but it looks like Apple are now using this on the back of the display for the Air 3.

Pro 10.5
View attachment 830152

Air 3
View attachment 830153

Right, but my point of bringing up those processors are the heat that they produce, which seems to be the culprit, no? I don't think I've seen these issues until the A10X processor, which I'm assuming is just because of how poorly the iPad Pros manage the heat with the amount of power/heat it is producing. That's why the regular iPad 2018 doesn't have these issues, despite not having the heat pad?

Another interesting thing is that there was a reddit post (I will post it later on here) where OP had a pretty severe case of the bright spots on his iPad Pro (12.9, 2017). He was able to use a suction cup and lift the screen to have the bright spot removed. I'm not sure how long this lasted though. Does this mean that the screen is not permanently damaged from all of this direct contact and the heat that's produced in that area?

Lastly, could there be a possible DIY fix that people could use? Perhaps they could open up the screen themselves and put material similar to what Apple did with these newer models. If they also have the bright spots, they could use the suction method and hopefully this combination will severely decrease the chances of the bright spots appearing.

Just some throwing some thoughts out there.

 

[deaglecat]

So if the issue is heat related, then does an affected 10.5 pro screen permanently show a white spot, or just when working hard ?

If the former, then I am sceptical because you need quite a lot of heat to permanently damage an LCD.

 

[Non-Polar]

^ The more I think about it, I think heat is part of the equation, but not the culprit. iPads have never had good heat solutions, as well there is.... None. Unless these iPad Pros go beyond a certain threshold that iPads before have never gotten (Which I don't think is the case), I think its the change in material used for these devices, as shown in this post, to cause the already present heat buildup to lead to these bright spots.

And as shown in that reddit post (Which I will link later), I don't think this permanently damages the LCD

 

[sparksd]

Right, but my point of bringing up those processors are the heat that they produce, which seems to be the culprit, no? I don't think I've seen these issues until the A10X processor, which I'm assuming is just because of how poorly the iPad Pros manage the heat with the amount of power/heat it is producing. That's why the regular iPad 2018 doesn't have these issues, despite not having the heat pad?

Another interesting thing is that there was a reddit post (I will post it later on here) where OP had a pretty severe case of the bright spots on his iPad Pro (12.9, 2017). He was able to use a suction cup and lift the screen to have the bright spot removed. I'm not sure how long this lasted though. Does this mean that the screen is not permanently damaged from all of this direct contact and the heat that's produced in that area?

Lastly, could there be a possible DIY fix that people could use? Perhaps they could open up the screen themselves and put material similar to what Apple did with these newer models. If they also have the bright spots, they could use the suction method and hopefully this combination will severely decrease the chances of the bright spots appearing.

Just some throwing some thoughts out there.

re the suction cup -

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...pro-10-5-screen.2115037/page-25#post-27211313

 

[AJB1971]

Right, but my point of bringing up those processors are the heat that they produce, which seems to be the culprit, no? I don't think I've seen these issues until the A10X processor, which I'm assuming is just because of how poorly the iPad Pros manage the heat with the amount of power/heat it is producing. That's why the regular iPad 2018 doesn't have these issues, despite not having the heat pad?

Another interesting thing is that there was a reddit post (I will post it later on here) where OP had a pretty severe case of the bright spots on his iPad Pro (12.9, 2017). He was able to use a suction cup and lift the screen to have the bright spot removed. I'm not sure how long this lasted though. Does this mean that the screen is not permanently damaged from all of this direct contact and the heat that's produced in that area?

Lastly, could there be a possible DIY fix that people could use? Perhaps they could open up the screen themselves and put material similar to what Apple did with these newer models. If they also have the bright spots, they could use the suction method and hopefully this combination will severely decrease the chances of the bright spots appearing.

Just some throwing some thoughts out there.

It could be a combination of both heat and pressure as the screen will probably flex slightly in that area.

On iFixit’s teardown of the Pro 10.5 the metal plate covering the display connectors does seem to be higher than the shield covering the logic board. It looks slightly bowed. There’s only what appears to be a thin layer of material to separate the metal plate from the back of the lcd panel, which is also metal.

I just wanted to highlight that changes had been made to the Air 3 and that they were in exactly the same place as most people had encountered the issue on the Pro 10.5. Anything beyond that is pure speculation.

 

[ucfgrad11]

So get the Air 3 over the 2017 pro?

 

[EugW]

So get the Air 3 over the 2017 pro?

Do whatever makes you more comfortable.

The other advantage of the Air 3 is that it will likely get iOS updates for longer than the 2017 Pro. However, I bought the 2017 Pro, as it's overall a nicer iPad with ProMotion, better speakers, more RAM, and a better camera with flash. However, if Apple hadn't dropped the price on the Pro as much, I would have bought the Air 3.

$729: Canadian retail pricing of Pro (after the price drop)
$619: Canadian refurb pricing of Pro
$649: Canadian retail pricing of Air
$619: Canadian edu pricing of Air

So for me, the pricing at CAD$619 (US$462) was exactly the same between the Air and the Pro refurb. I bought the latter, but with the caveat I have a 2 year warranty, the second coming from my Amex.

 

[ucfgrad11]

Do whatever makes you more comfortable.

The other advantage of the Air 3 is that it will likely get iOS updates for longer than the 2017 Pro. However, I bought the 2017 Pro, as it's overall a nicer iPad with ProMotion, better speakers, more RAM, and a better camera with flash. If Apple hadn't dropped the price on the Pro though, I would have bought the Air 3.

I have the Air 3 but I’ve been thinking about returning it for the 2017 pro for the speakers alone. I just don’t want to wake up one day with this bright spot as my eyes are pretty sensitive and I would definitely notice it. Has the bright spot only been occurring for people who use a certain (max) brightness? I usually have my stuff on 50% only. Thanks!

 

[EugW]

I have the Air 3 but I’ve been thinking about returning it for the 2017 pro for the speakers alone. I just don’t want to wake up one day with this bright spot as my eyes are pretty sensitive and I would definitely notice it. Has the bright spot only been occurring for people who use a certain (max) brightness? I usually have my stuff on 50% only. Thanks!

I don't think we have complete enough data to say. You'll just have to accept that as a risk. For me, I've seen most who get it, get the issue between the 3-15 month period, and since I have a 24 month warranty, I'm cool with that. If you only have a 12 month warranty, that's a different decision.

But yeah, the speakers on the Pro 10.5 are great. They are lacking in the bass not surprisingly, but overall they're excellent, and better than I was expecting. Then again, i would only use the speakers 5% of the time so for me while a nice feature, it's not a dealmaker alone.

 

[AJB1971]

One other subtle change, I think, is that the plate covering the display connectors appears to have been redesigned. It now has a different finish, with lines etched into it, whereas on the Pro 10.5 it looks as if it's completely smooth. The Air 3 image was taken from the iFixit teardown video.

Air 3

Pro 10.5

It's difficult to judge on the Pro 10.5, but I can't see any lines on the plate when watching the following video. It's the 45-second mark -

 

[Trouble1]

Do whatever makes you more comfortable.

So for me, the pricing at CAD$619 (US$462) was exactly the same between the Air and the Pro refurb. I bought the latter, but with the caveat I have a 2 year warranty, the second coming from my Amex.

Does Amex warranty refurbs?

 

[oghowie]

Just bought a used / refurb 10.5" and it has the white spot. Freaking Apple should be replacing these for free at this point.

 

[EugW]

Does Amex warranty refurbs?

Amex should warranty the original manufacturer's warranty, including refurbs by the original manufacturer. Their terms do not specifically exclude refurbished items, unlike with some other credit cards. In contrast, generally MasterCard will not cover refurbished items regardless of who did the refurbishing.

However, Amex will NOT cover refurbs from third parties, for obvious reasons.

https://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/compare-extended_warranties-1273.php

However, it should also be noted that with Amex, if any of the portion of the cost of the item was not put on the Amex, they will deny an extended warranty claim. For example, if someone gives you a $100 Apple Store gift card, and you buy an iPad with it, with the rest on your Amex, you will NOT be eligible for Amex extended warranty.
[doublepost=1554324071][/doublepost]

Just bought a used / refurb 10.5" and it has the white spot. Freaking Apple should be replacing these for free at this point.

Used? From where?

 

[oghowie]

Used? From where?

Blinq.com

 

[EugW]

Blinq.com

Ouch. I avoid third party refurb sellers like the plague.

Can you get your money back?

 

[oghowie]

Ouch. I avoid third party refurb sellers like the plague.

Can you get your money back?

Yeah, their return policy is very good.

 

[MrMister111]

Just bought a used / refurb 10.5" and it has the white spot. Freaking Apple should be replacing these for free at this point.

Really. Wow looking on Apple website they state numerous tests etc etc for refurbs. That's really bad.

Where is the spot(s) ? Can you show any pics?