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

[faroZ06]

I'll wait for the newer ipad or maybe even the newest ipad. By then, maybe charging will be a feature.

"I'll wait for the newer ipad or maybe even the newest ipad."
You're making it difficult to follow the forum rules.

 

[MacinDoc]

They are anything but a "media company".
But you would know that if you spent more than 30 seconds researching them.
I would trust their assessment over a paid labs testing any day of the week.


http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/aboutus/adviolation/why-it-matters/index.htm

Unfortunately, CR has had a past of creating unrealistic testing conditions in order to create the appearance of a defect in a product.

http://www.gfi.com/blog/the-consumer-reports-testing-scandal-its-far-far-worse-than-we-initially-thought/

Given that the company's income is solely from subscriptions, it is prone to sensationalizing stories in order to increase subscriptions. And the iPhone and iPad are the products out there that will generate the most buzz and the most subscriptions if viewed in a negative light by CR.

Disclaimer: I do subscribe to CR, but ignore any sensationalistic stories it publishes.
http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/feb2010/bw20100211_986136_page_3.htm

 

[faroZ06]

Unfortunately, CR has had a past of creating unrealistic testing conditions in order to create the appearance of a defect in a product.

http://www.gfi.com/blog/the-consumer-reports-testing-scandal-its-far-far-worse-than-we-initially-thought/

http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/feb2010/bw20100211_986136_page_3.htm

Given that the company's income is solely from subscriptions, it is prone to sensationalizing stories in order to increase subscriptions. And the iPhone and iPad are the products out there that will generate the most buzz and the most subscriptions if viewed in a negative light by CR.

Not just that, their whole setup is made to be unfair. They sell magazines about reviews. What's more interesting, a magazine stating the obvious, that the iPad is the best tablet, or a magazine telling you that the product you are holding right now may be defective?

But I wouldn't trust the sources you provided on the scandal, either. They are equally likely to be liars.

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Weird. Am I the only one seeing a "page 19" here when one actually does not exist? When I click on it, it takes me to page 18.

 

[Mr Fusion]

Weird. Am I the only one seeing a "page 19" here when one actually does not exist? When I click on it, it takes me to page 18.

It's a vBulletin glitch, happens to me all the time. Stay on topic.

 

[fewlio]

Anyone saying the heat is not a big deal because laptops are as hot or hotter are making a big oversight.

Notebooks are designed to be operated on a flat surface, the typical user only comes in contact with the keys. iOS devices are all touch devices that are more personal, they are designed to be constantly held and touched, in your pocket or on your lap while watching tv.

Mere warmth will be unpleasant, but it appears that after extended taxing use the device can get too hot to hold at least on the most affected part of the device.

I'm sticking with my iPad 1. iPad 2 added only superior gaming (not interested) and iPad 3 adds a lot with the amazing new screen, but due to this heating and charging issue I will wait for iPad 4.

 

[AidenShaw]

Exactly. Just based on the experiences of Macrumors posters, it seems like the issue goes away when screen brightness is 50% or lower. That CR wouldn't mention what screen brightness their iPads were set at renders their conclusions sort of useless ... and a bit irresponsible.

Not saying Apple can do no wrong, but clearly this heat issue is being blown out of proportion.

So, it's OK if an Apple product can only be used if you dim the screen to 50%?

It's a vBulletin glitch, happens to me all the time. Stay on topic.

The "bug" is that vBulletin remembers the max post count, and if the moderators or users delete posts the current count will be less than the max.

It usually sorts itself out rather quickly once new posts come in and make a new max - in the interim there are some odd behaviours on the "last" page of the thread.

 

[Callgirl]

Ipadmtoo hot?

#First world problems

 

[2IS]

Anyone saying the heat is not a big deal because laptops are as hot or hotter are making a big oversight.

Notebooks are designed to be operated on a flat surface, the typical user only comes in contact with the keys. iOS devices are all touch devices that are more personal, they are designed to be constantly held and touched, in your pocket or on your lap while watching tv.

Mere warmth will be unpleasant, but it appears that after extended taxing use the device can get too hot to hold at least on the most affected part of the device.

I'm sticking with my iPad 1. iPad 2 added only superior gaming (not interested) and iPad 3 adds a lot with the amazing new screen, but due to this heating and charging issue I will wait for iPad 4.

Except that it doesn't get too hot to hold. There's a big difference between you noticing its warmer than an ipad 2 and saying it's too hot to hold.

So you've got nothing to worry about, not only is what you said simply not true, it becomes even more of a non-issue since you don't do gaming as that's when it's warmest.

It's fine if you want to stick with the iPad 1, but don't BS yourself into sticking with it because that's all you're doing with that post.

 

[rocknblogger]

They simply reported their findings in this case. I don't see what the issue is here?

That's exactly what I was thinking. This is what Consumer's Reports does, they review a product and publish their findings. I don't understand all the smart ass comments and the hostility towards a publication that just tries to inform the consumer.

 

[fewlio]

Except that it doesn't get too hot to hold. There's a big difference between you noticing its warmer than an ipad 2 and saying it's too hot to hold.

So you've got nothing to worry about, not only is what you said simply not true, it becomes even more of a non-issue since you don't do gaming as that's when it's warmest.

It's fine if you want to stick with the iPad 1, but don't BS yourself into sticking with it because that's all you're doing with that post.

Incorrect, music and video content creation and conversion also push the device. The iPad is the future of computing and I am not going to forego content creation and simply use as a consumption a/v device.

 

[ddubbua]

I wounder what this means for the possibility of a retina MacBook air. Is the more dense display just too much power consumption for smaller portables? I think Steve would of held back till the efficency was a little better.

 

[MacinDoc]

So, it's OK if an Apple product can only be used if you dim the screen to 50%?




The "bug" is that vBulletin remembers the max post count, and if the moderators or users delete posts the current count will be less than the max.

It usually sorts itself out rather quickly once new posts come in and make a new max - in the interim there are some odd behaviours on the "last" page of the thread.

So did you leave your TV in store burn mode when you took it home, or did you calibrate it? Yes, the brightness can be turned up that high, but that doesn't mean that you should do it. Furthermore, we don't know what the other settings were, or whether anything else was running in the background.

Also, the lab in which the iPad was tested is likely shielded from outside radio signals, so if a 4G model was being tested, the antenna power would have been maxed out.

I will wait for further testing (including my own) before I form an opinion on this issue.

 

[faroZ06]

#First world problems

Yeah, people elsewhere are complaining about the weather always being hot or their burning houses being hot or that suspicious rod being too hot...

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I wounder what this means for the possibility of a retina MacBook air. Is the more dense display just too much power consumption for smaller portables? I think Steve would of held back till the efficency was a little better.

The Air uses a better power input than the iPad's USB 2.0. More maximum current.

 

[2IS]

Incorrect, music and video content creation and conversion also push the device. The iPad is the future of computing and I am not going to forego content creation and simply use as a consumption a/v device.

Since you chose to ignore the other part of the post... As an owner of an ipad 2 and an ipad 3 and a laptop, you're wrong about the temp issue. If anything a laptop on my lap is far more uncomfortable in terms of temp than my ipad has ever been. I'm not trying to convince you to buy one, but your post is nothing more than guessing on what your opinion might be if you actually used one. Unless you've got abnormally sensitive skin, its not an issue.

As to the charging issue, I know lots of people with iPads and other tablets. Not a single one charges it while they're in use. With a 10 hour battery life, people use it and charge it over night. When you get up, it has a full charge. There really is no issue. I realize this is anecdotal evidence, but I highly doubt the people complaining about charging during high usage actually find themselves in such a scenario, including yourself.

Essentially what I'm saying can be summed up into one sentence. If you're a normal human being, the only time you'll come across these issues is by reading about it on the Internet.

 

[faroZ06]

Since you chose to ignore the other part of the post... As an owner of an ipad 2 and an ipad 3 and a laptop, you're wrong about the temp issue. If anything a laptop on my lap is far more uncomfortable in terms of temp than my ipad has ever been. I'm not trying to convince you to buy one, but your post is nothing more than guessing on what your opinion might be if you actually used one. Unless you've got abnormally sensitive skin, its not an issue.

As to the charging issue, I know lots of people with iPads and other tablets. Not a single one charges it while they're in use. With a 10 hour battery life, people use it and charge it over night. When you get up, it has a full charge. There really is no issue. I realize this is anecdotal evidence, but I highly doubt the people complaining about charging during high usage actually find themselves in such a scenario, including yourself.

Essentially what I'm saying can be summed up into one sentence. If you're a normal human being, the only time you'll come across these issues is by reading about it on the Internet.

Wait, they don't charge while being used? So does it just run off of the power supply when in use, or does it also use the battery power while you are using it a lot while plugged in?

That's the part I didn't get about this iPad story.

 

[fewlio]

I use my iPad 1 plugged in often and it always charges to 100 percent regardless of how I am using it.

 

[2IS]

Wait, they don't charge while being used? So does it just run off of the power supply when in use, or does it also use the battery power while you are using it a lot while plugged in?

That's the part I didn't get about this iPad story.

I personally have not experienced the issue. I've had my ipad plugged in the last half hour just to check while using it and it is charging. I'm not doing anything heavy. Got some tunes playing, doing a bit of iMessaging and browsing FB.

I think the report pertains to heavy use like gaming. I guess there isn't enough power provided to charge and power the device under those circumstances.

 

[Kurni]

I have not, but if this is actually the case, I'm sure it'll be resolved soon with a software fix. Mine drains typically less than 10% throughout the day if I'm not using it, which is what I've come to expect with all of my iOS devices through the years sans iPhone, which does tend to drain a bit faster.

Actually my iphone doesn't drain, I will check again how fast ipad will drain throughout the day, anyway hope all the "normal" battery issues will be fixed with an update. The heat, longer charge time are acceptable, because as someone said here there are still physics laws and battery capabilities, but short battery life even with switched off ipad is not all right.

 

[elgrecomac]

The Ron Popeel "iPad-o-matic"

Spoken as fast as possible....


"Its amazing, its incredible, its evolutionary, it F%C%ing amazing!!!
Its cool (well, more on that later)!
Retina display...Check!
Great battery life....Check!
Much faster processor...CHECK!
Better camera...CHECKaROONY!
Price point no change...big CHECK!
And, for a limited time only, if you order one now it can serve as a cook top to heat up your left overs!
It can warm up your cold, crappy Starbucks coffee!
The new iPad....in the spirit of the 2008 Mac Book Pros....hot enough to burn human FLESH!!!
The new iPad....from Apple! and yes, its supposed to work that way."



P.S. I wonder when the heat protector back cover will be offered for free.

 

[2IS]

I use my iPad 1 plugged in often and it always charges to 100 percent regardless of how I am using it.

And you're on an ipad which isn't as power hungry and pretty weak so whatever you're doing with it is light weight. Still a non-issue.

 

[blackhand1001]

So did you leave your TV in store burn mode when you took it home, or did you calibrate it? Yes, the brightness can be turned up that high, but that doesn't mean that you should do it. Furthermore, we don't know what the other settings were, or whether anything else was running in the background.

Also, the lab in which the iPad was tested is likely shielded from outside radio signals, so if a 4G model was being tested, the antenna power would have been maxed out.

I will wait for further testing (including my own) before I form an opinion on this issue.

Theres no such thing as burn-in on lcd's. There's image retention although its not permanent and requires an excessively long time to happen and the backlight brightness has no effect on it.

 

[Cynicalone]

So tonight I tried watching videos and charging.

It took 243 minutes to go from 73% to 100%. While watching 2 TV shows and 1 movie in 1080p with 100% brightness. So about 9% per hour.

It never got hot, just noticeably warm.

Gaming seems to be the one sure way to kill the charging.

And who buys an iPad with a retina display just to turn the brightness down to 50%?

 

[blackhand1001]

Consumer Reports, IMO, is a total piece of crap. Companies have their hands deep within Consumer Reports' pockets, if you'd like a biased review look no further than CR. Just go out of business already or give credit where credit is due, the New iPad is amazing...The display just makes my knee's weak and all they can focus on is "it gets hot"


Last thing - When your at the top, like Apple is, everyone wants to take you down.

If consumer reports hates companies on the top so much than why do they like toyota so much? I'm a ford guy my self but consumer reports doesn't just hate the guy on top obviously.

 

[Le Buzz]

No heat problems here... not even a little. Ran the new iPad all day over the weekend, web, netflix, videos, and cool as a cucumber. I keep it at about 25% brightness which is just fine.

OTOH now, playing graphic intensive games at full brightness all day long and expecting the damn thing to remain nice and cool is just delusional.

The thing has 3 million pixels, and it's only 9 inches big. For Pete's sake, turn down your brightness a little and be realistic. Just because it has an Apple logo on it does not mean that it's going to leap 10 years ahead of current technology. What do you want? A tablet that's 2 mm thin and never gets hot even though you are playing a graphic intensive game at full brightness???

 

[Michael CM1]

When you completely tax the resources of any computing device, it's gonna warm up. The CPU on my MacBook pro would get to more than 190 degrees at times. It was sitting on a desk, like you're supposed to do, so no huge deal.

If its only 116 degrees after 45 minutes of playing a game, that's not that bad and maybe these gamers should take a break. I have only used an iPad for that much straight when reading from the Kindle app.