Consumer Reports Finds New iPad Gets Warm, Can't Charge Under Heavy Loads

[0098386]

I'll wait for the next iPad, once they smooth over these problems. Getting warm I can deal with, getting hot would bother me and not charging under heavy load? That's kind of a deal breaker.

My old and dying DS stopped charging whilst playing. Can't tell you how annoying that became.

 

[TallManNY]

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I'll put my 2 cents in...

At work we have an iPad demo, and just having it on all the time prevents the battery from charging. When I came in, it was dead. It charged 2% over 3 hours. I still love the product, but this isn't looking good. There's no more Steve to put on a determined face and sugar coat the problem.

I love both Steve and Apple, btw.

If it charged 2% over three hours of not being used, you have a broken iPad. I haven't had any charging issues. It is slow, but I know the battery is gigantic. It also drains very slow. Charging overnight is easy and also only needs to be done only every few days. Mobile devices are not supposed to be in the on state all the time. That is what "desk top" devices are for (and I include laptops in that category).

 

[wallysb01]

.. got a tan from .... holding it. It was warm enough to melt butter!!

Yet another amazing set of features that comes with the all new iPad! Tanning, butter melting, all while playing your favorite games and emailing. What will they think of next!

 

[Irock619]

Tim Cook clearly stated in his key note that tablets are post PC. His plans for Apple includes phasing out computers all together. If tablets are considered to be the next "computer" in a post PC world, then we can expect to have many more problems. Over time they will be perfected and everybody will forget how many problems the iPad used to have.

 

[Performa]

113 degrees F is COOL compared to my MacBook Pro

My MacBook Pro gets up around 180-190 degrees F. Not THAT'S hot.

 

[TallManNY]

I'll wait for the next iPad, once they smooth over these problems. Getting warm I can deal with, getting hot would bother me and not charging under heavy load? That's kind of a deal breaker.

My old and dying DS stopped charging whilst playing. Can't tell you how annoying that became.

By the time it became annoying, your DS probably only had a few hours of playing in it with a full "charge" (I'm assuming its battery had degraded significantly by the time this became a problem). The iPad gives you a 10 hour continuous usage window to fit in a little charging love. It is not intended to be your main computer or TV, so when you are using those (or god forbid not doing something with an electronic device), plug your iPad in. I really don't think this could be a problem in any sort of normal usage pattern.

 

[DeathChill]

I am truthfully confused here. Why is it a huge deal if the iPad is unable to continue charging the device while running one of the most demanding apps available? I don't find this to be a huge deal breaker, as some here seem to be saying.

I tried playing Infinity Blade II for about 15-20 minutes while plugged in and my charge did not drop (though it was already at 100%). I am running it at 60% brightness. Next, I'll run down the battery a bit and try and see if it charges up while playing.

The warmth concern I could understand, if the hottest it gets is considered "not especially uncomfortable", then I'll be fine.

 

[thesiren]

My MacBook Pro gets up around 180-190 degrees F. Not THAT'S hot.

really? did you even read your post before hitting "submit"? proofread, people. Come on.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

That's some pretty bad power supply in your laptop, then. I mean, I can plug a MacPro into the same outlet and don't need a battery. Or a fridge.

Umm MacPro is not a laptop. You are confusing outlets with the power bricks.

Also all Apple laptops have a battery in them at all time.

Does not change the fact at mac possible demand it can and will exceeded max output from the brick. Laptops address this by pulling extra demand from the battery. It with the short spikes.

If you do not have a battery in it often times the CPU running in a lower power mode and has a lower power.

 

[tigres]

Still loving mu iPad 1. No joke- the form factor rules all IMO.

 

[farkingdom]

Will it actually cause any harm under higher temperature? I don't think so, I think the iPad itself should be able to withstand high temperatures.

 

[Cory Bauer]

What about the picture frame feature?

I'm curious, if one were to place the iPad in the dock Apple sells and use the picture frame feature on the new iPad, would it drain battery instead of charging? Would it charge at all?

 

[TheBronx]

I am truthfully confused here. Why is it a huge deal if the iPad is unable to continue charging the device while running one of the most demanding apps available? I don't find this to be a huge deal breaker, as some here seem to be saying.

I tried playing Infinity Blade II for about 15-20 minutes while plugged in and my charge did not drop (though it was already at 100%). I am running it at 60% brightness. Next, I'll run down the battery a bit and try and see if it charges up while playing.

The warmth concern I could understand, if the hottest it gets is considered "not especially uncomfortable", then I'll be fine.

I don't think it's a deal breaker either, but I can understand why people would be upset if their device doesn't charge. But like you mentioned, often when I'm playing Infinity Blade for 6 Hours straight D) I wonder why my iPad won't charge hehe (or not...hehe). It's obviously a little overblown.

As for the temperature, yep it would be a big deal if it actually got so hot you couldn't hold it, but this is another example of people going crazy for no reason hehe. It's just not that big a deal!

 

[shompa]

Tim Cook clearly stated in his key note that tablets are post PC. His plans for Apple includes phasing out computers all together. If tablets are considered to be the next "computer" in a post PC world, then we can expect to have many more problems. Over time they will be perfected and everybody will forget how many problems the iPad used to have.

Tablets/Phones will be powerful enough for 90%+ of computing.
Soon many will have faster phones/tablets then their 3-4 year old desktop PC.

Bluetooth keyboard + Airplay/HDMI to large screen and you can do almost everything.

BTW. Apple could with little engineering enable Xgrid on their iOS devices. Many have many iOS devices.
If an App is CPU intensive like video rendering, why not enable Xgrid. Even devices like AppleTV could put in CPU time.

 

[stiwi]

Your charging it wrong.

+1

And those complaining about heat are holding it wrong.
Use The New iPad like presented here and the heat distribution problem to your hands are solved

Ps. Just kidding, I am also complaining about the heat but some kids here compare that it still runes cooler than MBP. Well, thanks for notcing Holding New iPad reminds me of my Samsung Galaxy S which gets same hot under heavy load. In Singapore such additional heat generated by the device in already year round hot and wet country is simply unacceptable.

 

[shompa]

I'm curious, if one were to place the iPad in the dock Apple sells and use the picture frame feature on the new iPad, would it drain battery instead of charging? Would it charge at all?

Photo slideshow does not draw full load.
So it will charge without problem.

 

[twoodcc]

To defend Apple - other systems modify the charging characteristics based on the input source.

A couple of my Dell laptops are able to communicate with the power brick and figure out what to do.

With one laptop I ordered the "airplane adapter" from the Dell site along with the laptop.

It actually shipped with a Targus adapter that works fine - except that the Dell laptop can't talk to it, and falls back to a "power only" mode. When I'm connected to seat power, the adapter will supply all power needed for the laptop - but it won't charge.

A later order of the same laptop came with a Dell-branded airplane adapter (airplane + AC) that the laptop (even the older one) recognized and would both play and charge on the plane.

...except on Cathay Pacific business class, where the current draw would shut down the seat port. On Cathay, I needed to reboot the laptop with the second core disabled until the battery was charged.

Apple should, however, clearly explain the situation so that users will understand when their shiny toy won't charge. (And, in particular, if under any circumstances it won't charge while connected to the Apple-supplied power-brick Apple should fix that post-haste.)

i'm sure it's different for each power source, but if you use the brick that came with the iPad, i think it should charge. or like you said, apple should state what it's supposed to do

 

[Cory Bauer]

Photo slideshow does not draw full load.
So it will charge without problem.

Thanks! But will it charge slower?

 

[shompa]

1- Walk into any Apple Store.

2- Pick up any iPad on display.

3- Notice how none of these models show 100% battery, most are between 50-75% ...but yet they have always been plugged in.

I never use my iPad tethered so it's a non-issue for me, but an understandable issue for those who do.

I will be very impressed if Apple can address this with a software update without affecting performance.

...it's these moments that I miss seeing an email reply from Steve Jobs posted here to some random customer who emailed him... I wonder what his reply for this issue would have been....

Steve would never have allowed this kind of solution from Apple.

Apple is doing every mistake like they did when Steve left last time. The problem is that it will be hard to reinstate Steve this time.

The A5X SoC is a desperate SoC. A last minute filler since TSMC could not produce enough A6s. A redesign of A6 to Samsung nodes takes about 6 month, and not even they have 28nm online.

The A5X is a mess. Its huge. Almost the size of a dual core Sandy Bridge. It cost Apple 5 times more to manufacture A5X then Tegra2 and more then twice the cost of Tegra3. And Tegra3 biggest drawback is its price and that its a huge SoC. But A5X is TWICE as large.

The whole thing about ARM is 10mm2 CPUs. Somehow A5X is almost 170mm2, most of the area Graphics cores. Apple even had to put the extra memory in an odd place.

This will lead to a strange problem. The Iphone will have a faster SoC then Ipad. How will Apple explain that?
Or will Apple continue with their Post Jobs world and do a SoC bump on the Ipad? The A6 will be much cheaper for Apple to produce. I think its a huge chance for a SoC bump.

Apple could have solved this mess by buying its own Foundry and not have to be dependent on TSMC/Samsung/GloFo. It would have cost less then 1 dividend.

We have seen the turning point of Apple. Just like in 1985.
Its sad, because there is no competition at this point. Not if I want elegance, great designed hardware and innovation.

 

[kimhill]

I found that if I use it while plugged in (standard 10W charger), the iPad will charge, but at a very low rate (<5% per hour). I'm talking about general use- not an Infinity Blade session. In practical terms, you can't expect to charge it while in use. You can maintain your current charge level, but that's about it. It would take several hours to boost the charge by any meaningful amount.

This is a non-trivial reduction in functionality.

 

[shompa]

Will it actually cause any harm under higher temperature? I don't think so, I think the iPad itself should be able to withstand high temperatures.

Higher temperature = higher failure rates.
Still only 33 celsius.

Its not like computers like Dell XPS 1730 that had 90+ celsius. (I got huge burns on my legs. Sweden is a socialist country so I got the medical expenses payed by dell. Less then 100 dollars. No compensation. Dell RuleZ)

 

[tjb1]

Energy Consumption > Energy Supply = Drop in Battery %

Its quite simple and does not mean anything is wrong...

 

[JAT]

Umm MacPro is not a laptop. You are confusing outlets with the power bricks.

Also all Apple laptops have a battery in them at all time.

Does not change the fact at mac possible demand it can and will exceeded max output from the brick. Laptops address this by pulling extra demand from the battery. It with the short spikes.

If you do not have a battery in it often times the CPU running in a lower power mode and has a lower power.

My god. I actually said, "pretty bad power supply". That is what I said. My post has not been altered, feel free to read it again to find these words. My use of "supply" instead of "brick" really should not disturb you this much.

Desktop computer: has power supply. Laptop computer: has power supply. If your power supply is not providing the laptop with enough power, that is a bad design. My examples were 2 devices that do not have battery "backup" for the power supply, yet draw MORE power than any laptop without troubles. (assuming THEY are designed well) Here is my next example:

Any floor heater, draw: 1500w, I forget the amps, maybe 7-10? NO battery. Same original power source: 15a, 120v outlet.

Therefore, your power supply sucks. Scientific method.

 

[AppleScruff1]

You know what?

This is why they should use FireWire!!! I mean, it's not used by a lot of people, but I wish it was the main standard. USB is garbage, and you can't rely on it to charge something that's almost a PC (as well as transfer data).

One day, USB 2.0 will fail to deliver the performance required for modern computers. Internet bandwidth is becoming more scarce as more people use it, while flash memory is becoming cheaper rapidly, so the cloud will really only be used for small data (especially on cellular data). Eventually, USB 2.0 will not be fast enough to transfer the data to the devices. Companies will hopefully go to FireWire/LightPeak. The whole reason they use USB 2.0 is because it is just so common.

For people to switch to bigger storage capacities, you just need to produce bigger flash memory. For people to get more bandwidth, the whole backbones of the networks must be rebuilt. If they upgrade it, even newer technology will not be applied until much later. Companies cannot afford to keep using slow USB.

What about USB 3? It's not slow.

]Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (compatible; MSIE 9.0; Windows NT 6.1; Win64; x64; Trident/5.0; .NET CLR 2.0.50727; SLCC2; .NET CLR 3.5.30729; .NET CLR 3.0.30729; Media Center PC 6.0; .NET4.0C; .NET4.0E))



Stay with the first line - necrophilia isn't cool.

LOL!

 

[joelvega125]

May it become a reality.

Since I'll be playing Angry Birds a lot on my new iPad, I'll make up my mind if it gets too hot for me. A larger battery under heavier strain will produce more heat so that doesn't seem like a real flaw.

but not being able to charge under such a heavy load? Now that is something to fix. If it is a widespread issue, I do hope Apple sorts this out.

Guys...it was designed to NOT charge under heavy loads. Safety for the device and you.