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Alucardx03

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Feb 10, 2008
580
3
Just looking for a little guidance. But first, here's a little backstory…

I received my 64GB 3G iPad last Friday. Upon taking it out of the box, I noticed some nasty backlight bleeding on all sides of the device (with the right side being the worst). Immediately, I took it to the Apple store. Long story short, they replaced it with a brand new one.

I took the new one home, examined it quickly, and applied a screen protector. Later in the day, when I finally got around to using it, I noticed that the brightness was reduced to around a quarter (I think the Genius did this on purpose when I asked him to step into the back room and check the backlight in darkness). When I turned the backlight to about 50-55% (my preferred brightness), it became apparent that this iPad had the same problem, almost in the same places as the original.

Hoping that this was a fluke, I asked my dad if I could check his out. Sure enough, he has some terribly uneven backlighting as well. His is not as severe as mine, but bad nonetheless.

I called Apple and explained the situation. A day later, they called me back after speaking to the "engineers." They said that, if the backlight bleeding wasn't visible in normal room lighting, there was nothing they could do. Apparently, that's the "yardstick" they use to measure the problem. I even sent them these two photos, but they didn't change their assessment.

Anyway, I'm considering trying another exchange, but I was wondering what my odds were of getting an iPad with the same problems… I've heard many people on this forum say they've gotten perfect specimens. However, I've not seen any pictures of their flawless iPads. So, if you think you have a perfectly even backlight, please post some pictures. That will make me much more eager to return mine and eat the cost of the screen protector!
 

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I think you should just keep it. It's obvious that your not having too good of luck here. Either keep it or get a refund and wait to purchase it another day.
 
i've probably had 10 lcd screens; monitors, tvs, iphone, ipad, etc. i have never had a screen that showed NO level of bleeding to some degree or another. some were better than others, but everyone has to realize that it is a limitation of the technology. probably not what you want to hear, but it's the truth. like i said, some screens are better than others, so if you are unsatisfied go to the apple store and try again. good luck.
 
Same issue different response

My backlight bleeding on my 64gb wifi+3g was the same as you are experiencing. I called up on Sunday with the issue, was elevated to a product engineer named "Charles" and he issued a replacement request. I got the box at noon today and sent it back before the cutoff today. I should get one back on Thursday and I will let you know what the condition is.

I have found the trick with the phone support is to be super nice when you talk to them, chat with them a little bit and they will warm up to you. If you don't like what you are getting be frank with them and they have always met my needs. This is the only time that I have not gotten an advance replacement at no charge, but I didn't ask this time either.
 
It was very strange. I did just as you suggested. I was very nice to the rep, chatted a bit, and ended the conversation on a very positive note. Today, when he called, it was if something changed. He was very short, refused to explain anything, and tried to get me off the phone as quickly as he could. It was a very abrupt change.

Basically, I'm just wondering if you guys find this to be in the "acceptable" range. It gets a kittle distracting when I'm watching movies, but it's possible I'm being a little too sensitive. I don't want to be one of those people.
 
It sounds like you already are.

I'll never understand why people look for things that are wrong.

It's an iPad. It's not your soulmate. It's not even yours for life. In a year or so you know you're going to dump it for the newest model.

Enjoy your purchase. You deserve it. Stop trying to find things wrong with it.
 
Mine has minor backlight bleed, but no yellow tint or dead pixels. I've never seen an LCD with absolutely zero backlight bleed. In the case of the iPad, it's not very noticeable even on a black screen, but imperceptible to me during normal usage.
 
Wow dude that s reenact looks terrible. Mine looks nothing like that. Return that POS defect immediately.
 
I'll never understand why people look for things that are wrong.

It's an iPad. It's not your soulmate. It's not even yours for life. In a year or so you know you're going to dump it for the newest model.

Enjoy your purchase. You deserve it Stop trying to fin things wrong with it.

I'm not trying, trust me. I don't know if I'm just sensitive to this kind of thing, but it was the absolute first thing I noticed when I turned it on. My dad, on the other hand, never even noticed. I just think people have different thresholds.

It's possible I'm being over-sensitive because I paid just south of a grand for this thing!
 
Wow dude that s reenact looks terrible. Mine looks nothing like that. Return that POS defect immediately.

Would you be able to post some pictures of yours on a back screen in a dark room? I'm just looking for some frame of reference
 
Surprisingly I just checked my screen for bleeding and dead pixels.

I seem to have a perfect screen! The light bleed is extremely minimal...can't even tell really...unless you look at it for a while without blinking.

I have no dead pixels either.

I was afraid to check, but after was very satisfied.
 
Hello, new member here. I also had several problems regarding the screen as well. I had a perfect 32gb wifi but returned it for a 64gb wifi. Upon opening the 64 I found a scratch that ran top to bottom on the lcd. I exchanged that one for a new 64 that had dust and some light bleed around the left bottom of the ipad. (not as bad as yours but completely distracting)My newest one has very slight bleed and 2 stuck pixels only visible at full brightness and black background. I am very particular with my belongings but I am just going to keep it. After reading what some other members experienced I consider myself lucky.
 
It sounds like you already are.

I'll never understand why people look for things that are wrong.

It's an iPad. It's not your soulmate. It's not even yours for life. In a year or so you know you're going to dump it for the newest model.

Enjoy your purchase. You deserve it. Stop trying to find things wrong with it.

One of the dumbest things I've read.

Don't fault people for expecting something to be perfect. When you're paying $500-800 for something, it should look right. Backlight bleeding in random places doesn't look right. Now, whether that's the nature of the technology is another story. But don't be so ignorant to fault those who have no way of knowing that.
 
Hello, new member here. I also had several problems regarding the screen as well. I had a perfect 32gb wifi but returned it for a 64gb wifi. Upon opening the 64 I found a scratch that ran top to bottom on the lcd. I exchanged that one for a new 64 that had dust and some light bleed around the left bottom of the ipad. (not as bad as yours but completely distracting)My newest one has very slight bleed and 2 stuck pixels only visible at full brightness and black background. I am very particular with my belongings but I am just going to keep it. After reading what some other members experienced I consider myself lucky.

Stuck pixels will get you an automatic replacement. Why keep it?
 
Believe me I'd like to try it again but it is not visible with any other colors beside black at full brightness.( i always have it on the lowest brightness)I fear that I will get a worse one.
 
Believe me I'd like to try it again but it is not visible with any other colors beside black at full brightness.( i always have it on the lowest brightness)I fear that I will get a worse one.

Did you buy from the Apple store or Best Buy?

Once they give you a replacement, you turn it on while you're still at the store to make sure it's right. The issue of backlight bleeding is debatable. However, dead/stuck pixels require no argument at all. You keep trying until you get one that's right--all without leaving the store. You can't really lose.
 
Believe me I'd like to try it again but it is not visible with any other colors beside black at full brightness.( i always have it on the lowest brightness)I fear that I will get a worse one.

That's my fear too. Right now, I don't have any dead/stuck pixels,dust under the screen, yellowing, WiFi problems, etc. I'm worried that if I exchange it, I'll get one with no backlight bleeding, but numerous other problems.
 
I bought it at an Apple store and i did turn it on at the store but to be honest it looked perfect there. When i got home I looked thoroughly and noticed the two stuck pixels. More or less I was just looking for the light bleed issue.
 
In all of my adult life of 25 years of buying electronics from Apple, Dell, Sony, Panasonic and just about every one else I have never had an issue with dead pixels, yellowing, bleeding, stuttering or otherwise.

I have read stories in this forum of people returning their iPhones multiple times in search of perfection. And now it begins with the iPad.

I am sorry, but you ARE those people.
 
In all of my adult life of 25 years of buying electronics from Apple, Dell, Sony, Panasonic and just about every one else I have never had an issue with dead pixels, yellowing, bleeding, stuttering or otherwise.

I have read stories in this forum of people returning their iPhones multiple times in search of perfection. And now it begins with the iPad.

I am sorry, but you ARE those people.

If we're pointing out who people are... you're most definitely a troll.
 
I can't get a good picture, but there are two little spots where light bleeds through on the right side of my iPad but the spots are less than half as big as the smallest spot on yours.
 
I am pointing out the idiocy, lunacy and ridiculousness of looking for problems that are not there. The OP expressed a fear that he is one of those people after the Applw tech guy confirmed that he already is, and you defended him. So yes, in that regard I am calling you out.

Turning up your brightness to a level at which no one would do under even extreme conditions to see if there is bleeding??? Opening a box in the store and staring at "the precious?"

While the rest of are enjoying our iPads you will be obsessing over something that isn't there, much like an anorexic obsessing over fat that isn't there.

And the whole trend of calling people that aren't part of your little worry-wart brigade "trolls" is tired and transparent.
 
I am pointing out the idiocy, lunacy and ridiculousness of looking for problems that are not there. The OP expressed a fear that he is one of those people after the Applw tech guy confirmed that he already is, and you defended him. So yes, in that regard I am calling you out.

Turning up your brightness to a level at which no one would do under even extreme conditions to see if there is bleeding??? Opening a box in the store and staring at "the precious?"

While the rest of are enjoying our iPads you will be obsessing over something that isn't there, much like an anorexic obsessing over fat that isn't there.

And the whole trend of calling people that aren't part of your little worry-wart brigade is tired and transparent.

50% brightness is an extreme level? Really?
 
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