Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Consumer Reports Finds New iPad Gets Warm, Can't Charge Under Heavy Loads
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Ask the guy who just got caught lying about Apple's Foxconn workers, it brings great attention to them! CR will do this every time, after they saw the attention they got over "Antennagate". They will be trying every time they can to say negative things about Apple for attention. Nobody smart really pays much attention to their reports anymore. They're useless IMO!
Mine's going back
I'm returning my new iPad. My beef wasn't the heat issue but the weight. I have some repetitive strain injury issues with my arms/hands and the extra weight was very noticeable. Add to that the fact that it will never be able to get 4G when Europe eventually rolls it out, in addition to the charging issues and heat, and I came to the conclusion a few days ago that I preferred my iPad2 (which I had recently swapped for a new one because of some light bleed and in preparation for an eBay sale).
Don't get me wrong, I am an Apple fan and still own every version of the iPhone there has ever been but I think Apple is missing Steve already. Yeah, the screen is nice but at the cost of going backwards in what for me are key areas.
I'm going to write a blog about my experiences and subsequent decision tomorrow for the mag I work for recommending that if you already own an iPad 2 you give this iteration a miss, especially if you live in Europe and you do a lot of reading/viewing on the device when you're lying down in bed, as I do.
Here's to hoping 'iPad4' gets the weight back down, further improves on the battery technology and has a eurocentric version for 4G... and within the year.
Also, the courier is meant to ring me within two business days to arrange pick up according to the Apple site blurb but there has been no call...
I'm returning my new iPad. My beef wasn't the heat issue but the weight. I have some repetitive strain injury issues with my arms/hands and the extra weight was very noticeable. Add to that the fact that it will never be able to get 4G when Europe eventually rolls it out, in addition to the charging issues and heat, and I came to the conclusion a few days ago that I preferred my iPad2 (which I had recently swapped for a new one because of some light bleed and in preparation for an eBay sale).
Don't get me wrong, I am an Apple fan and still own every version of the iPhone there has ever been but I think Apple is missing Steve already. Yeah, the screen is nice but at the cost of going backwards in what for me are key areas.
I'm going to write a blog about my experiences and subsequent decision tomorrow for the mag I work for recommending that if you already own an iPad 2 you give this iteration a miss, especially if you live in Europe and you do a lot of reading/viewing on the device when you're lying down in bed, as I do.
Here's to hoping 'iPad4' gets the weight back down, further improves on the battery technology and has a eurocentric version for 4G... and within the year.
Also, the courier is meant to ring me within two business days to arrange pick up according to the Apple site blurb but there has been no call...
Who rechargers their iPad while playing Infinity Blade?
It's a handheld device, who uses it plugged in? I recharge it overnight, so it's ready to use the next day. I assume that's how most people use it.
Seems more like typical CR nitpicking than a serious design fault to me.
It's a handheld device, who uses it plugged in? I recharge it overnight, so it's ready to use the next day. I assume that's how most people use it.
Seems more like typical CR nitpicking than a serious design fault to me.
And I think both of you are reading way to much into the report. In this case both things stated were facts. Consumer reports does not seem to be raising any real issues over it other than stating facts.
Warmer is fine. 116 degrees is really not going to burn anyone. Yes it is warm but not to the point of burning skin or causing any damage.
As for the charging part. Big deal under heavy load the charger can not run both the device and charge. Just FYI you should never run say your laptop with out its battery in their because under max power demand it can often times need more power than just the external power can provide so it pulls the remaining power from the battery.
Cell phones in general crossed the point of pulling more than 2.5W a while ago (USB charger) which mean under load car chargers could not keep up with the demand.
Either way people are just clearly wanting to bash Consumer reports after Apple made the design flaw in the iPhone 4.
Who rechargers their iPad while playing Infinity Blade?
It's a handheld device, who uses it plugged in? I recharge it overnight, so it's ready to use the next day. I assume that's how most people use it.
Seems more like typical CR nitpicking than a serious design fault to me.
+1
Charge it every night, won't be a problem the next day. Pretty simple if you ask me. No different than a phone or a notebook.
But how are pilots now going to be able to play Infinity Blade on trans-oceanic flights and still have juice to view the landing maps?
It does get noticeably warm under strenuous use. Anything graphics intensive, even downloading a sizable amount of content to the device will cause it to heat up.
It takes about 4-5 hours to charge under ZERO use, when in sleep mode. I have been charging mine overnight fine to 100%, but I find that I cannot charge 20% of the device in 2 hours time, a full charge takes about six hours to do.
It takes about 4-5 hours to charge under ZERO use, when in sleep mode. I have been charging mine overnight fine to 100%, but I find that I cannot charge 20% of the device in 2 hours time, a full charge takes about six hours to do.
OK I call BS on anyone who says this iPad is noticeably heavier or thicker than iPad 2. I'm sorry I just don't buy it. Honestly if you didn't know it was slightly thicker/heavier would you really notice the difference from iPad 2?
And what's with all this I want my cake and eat it too nonsense. You want retina display, faster processor/graphics, LTE but yet you want it in an even thinner and lighter design with a battery that lasts even longer and a back that is cool to the touch. I mean come on, let's get real here.
And what's with all this I want my cake and eat it too nonsense. You want retina display, faster processor/graphics, LTE but yet you want it in an even thinner and lighter design with a battery that lasts even longer and a back that is cool to the touch. I mean come on, let's get real here.
You have it backwards. They can make a hardware change that will allow a higher rate of charge (subject to limits on the iPad connector) and they can supply a higher watt charger. The iPad will then charge under extreme use but the temperature problem will get much worse.
The temperature issue is a matter of physics and even Apple can not ignore the laws of physics. The more power you put into a device = the more heat that needs to be dissipated. There is little they can do unless they add an internal fan and cooling ducts.
It's all about owning and not about using. This is the consumerist philosophy. I'm planning keeping my Macbook until 2014. Maybe I'll add a SSD drive until then, increasing its lifespan.
It's good that Apple brings revised products every year, but doesn't mean I have to buy them. Personally, I don't think I need upgrading a product before it gets one or two generations older. So, if I owned an original iPad, I wouldn't think about upgrading prior to iPad 4.
Problem is CR comes out with this, all the tech blogs pick up on it, then Reuters, AP, NY Times, WSJ, USA Today, etc. and pretty soon it does turn into a "gate", even if the majority of users aren't experiencing any issues.
Yep, that's basically what I said on my Post, the one you replied to, but it charges very slowly.
Apple wouldn't be Apple if they wouldn't adjust the temperature of the iPad to the temperature of your hands (roughly 95F)
Under normal usage, this should actually be somewhat accurate.
Under normal usage, this should actually be somewhat accurate.
Last edited:
Ok, well that's what they do and its clearly stated in their reviews and methodology. If all you're looking for is the best stuff, they give you that information as well, its just not in their simplistic rankings. Rather odd attitude you have here.
Really???! To sort out the heat you either have to make holes in the case or a way to dissipate the heat (major case redesign) or you turn down the CPU, which is easier (via software update), but Apple is selling this on being quicker, so not likely to happen.
Who rechargers their iPad while playing Infinity Blade?
It's a handheld device, who uses it plugged in? I recharge it overnight, so it's ready to use the next day. I assume that's how most people use it.
Seems more like typical CR nitpicking than a serious design fault to me.
Ditto.
Does CR point out all of the good aspects of the device or only the bad?
You'd expect the charger that comes with the device to be able to charge it ok. All you've done is told us that your third party car charger isn't as good as the Apple one.
Its a good thing we can't actually hear some of these people, only read their words.
But difference here is the heat issue is a so what. It is a straight fact and very clear about it. It is a so what and the tech blogs will treat it as such.
The power one I would say good chunk of the tech blogs will report it as a fact.
Consumer report here put out straight facts. No if and or buts about it. It was a straight fact. There is no way to make is subjective at all.
Now I do see the Apple appoligist trying to cover it up but hard to get around straight facts and for the most part they are meh at best.
Laptops have been that way for a while. Also the Apple iPad is not the only tablet that drains while connected to the charger and running graphical games and what not.
Don't count on a firmware fix. I'm on an early 2011 15" MacBook Pro with 1 GB dedicated graphics and it drains the battery during heavy use even though the charger is connected, just like the new iPad apparently does.
Apple might just end up promoting it as a security feature of their current generation hardware as the devices surely would turn you into bacon should they actually get the power they need to run the components in them at full speed
I love using OS X and iOS, but Apple's battery-powered hardware gets my personal "Overpriced PoS" award for 2011-2012