iFixit Explains iPad Mini 'Jelly Scroll' Issue in Teardown Video

[ericinboston]

1)I think this issue is a terrible defect no matter how someone wants to try to defend it.

2)You have 15 days (some retailers give you 30) to return it to Apple. MOST LIKELY you will notice this within 15 days. Return it. Show Apple that you won't tolerate defects.

3)Heck, everyone here should get a few friends and family and go out and buy these defective iPad Minis...open them, use them for a day, then return them clearly stating the jello problem. When Apple starts seeing Mini returns by the truckloads, Apple will concede defeat.

 

[fromsixtozero]

My samsung tab s3 from 2017 with OLED does exactly the same thing in portrait mode. I don´t think they did a recall, so Apple probably won´t as well.

 

[iLLUMI]

It’s just a cheaper display which Apple decided to use for the iPad Mini. That pretty much sums it up.

Ahh, I think the article clearly states that the jelly scroll problem is due to the position of the controller board.
Therefore not a "display" issue but a "controller board" positioning issue.

 

[DMG35]

There's two things to "love" here: on one side Cook tells the customers to .... off.
On the other side there's a whole bunch of die-hard Apple fans saying that it's not really an issue. In the year 2021, a product from a supposedly grade A company fails at the one specific feature that is the very core of the product - the screen - and they say it's okay. Lord have mercy...

I don't know that anyone is saying its ok. I think what people are conveying is that in order for this "jelly effect" to be seen its being shown in slow motion videos. If it was that big of an issue I don't think that slow motion would be needed to show the effect of it on the device.

 

[Substance90]

Not acceptable for a $500 device.

Just curious about all the people downvoting this comment - do you think that this is acceptable for a $500 device?

 

[DMG35]

Just curious about all the people downvoting this comment - do you think that this is acceptable for a $500 device?

It literally has 3 downvotes. Most people agree this isn't acceptable.

 

[usagora]

1)I think this issue is a terrible defect no matter how someone wants to try to defend it.

Totally disagree. While this LCD screen characteristic may be a minor annoyance to some people, it's not preventing anyone from using their iPad as designed. A "terrible" defect would be something that cripples the device in some form, not just a mere aesthetic "I don't like how it looks" kind of thing.

 

[patsfan83]

1)I think this issue is a terrible defect no matter how someone wants to try to defend it.

2)You have 15 days (some retailers give you 30) to return it to Apple. MOST LIKELY you will notice this within 15 days. Return it. Show Apple that you won't tolerate defects.

3)Heck, everyone here should get a few friends and family and go out and buy these defective iPad Minis...open them, use them for a day, then return them clearly stating the jello problem. When Apple starts seeing Mini returns by the truckloads, Apple will concede defeat.

A site entirely devoted to Apple fans has 180 posts on this topic. Don't think they will notice those returns.

 

[fromsixtozero]

It is clearly visible even without slow motion, it´s just better visible on a video that way.

 

[ericinboston]

Totally disagree. While this LCD screen characteristic may be a minor annoyance to some people, it's not preventing anyone from using their iPad as designed. A "terrible" defect would be something that cripples the device in some form, not just a mere aesthetic "I don't like how it looks" kind of thing.

Mmmm, ok, we can debate "terrible" being too strong of an adjective depending on ones feelings. I would not call this defect "aesthetic" or "I don't like how it looks". This defect is easily noticeable and when we compare it to the 10+ years of iPad models and refreshes; this Mini stands out as a problem. Period. As many people here and elsewhere have stated, I too would not tolerate this defect given the 10+ years of past models without this defect and the pricetag.

I strongly beg to differ your "using their iPad as designed". I don't recall any of Apple's marketing and advertising about how gorgeous the display is stating we now have to deal with the jello effect. For your reference, I will quote directly from: https://www.apple.com/ipad-mini/

• Stunning all around.
• iPad mini is meticulously designed to be absolutely beautiful.
• 
  
• The 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display features True Tone, P3 wide color, and ultralow reflectivity, making text sharp and colors vivid, wherever you are.
• 
  
• And with up to 80 percent faster graphics, iPad mini lets you immerse yourself in whatever you do. Use realistic brushes to create a watercolor, experience unreal AR, and play graphics-intensive games.
  
  
  
  
  Nothing about jello in that list, is there? Lastly, it starts off saying "New all‑screen design". Mmmm, to me, that might be the problem. If it's a new, all-screen design, then that means it's a new design...and since this screen problem didn't exist in the past, I would say it's because ot the new screen design.
  
  
  

 

[usagora]

Mmmm, ok, we can debate "terrible" being too strong of an adjective depending on ones feelings. I would not call this defect "aesthetic" or "I don't like how it looks". This defect is easily noticeable and when we compare it to the 10+ years of iPad models and refreshes; this Mini stands out as a problem. Period.

But it IS aesthetic and it's also not a "defect". Others have posted videos showing the effect in other devices as well - just to different degrees depending on the particular screen. It has to do only with how the display looks as you're scrolling, right? Is it preventing you from scrolling effectively? No.

I strongly beg to differ your "using their iPad as designed". I don't recall any of Apple's marketing and advertising about how gorgeous the display is stating we now have to deal with the jello effect. For your reference, I will quote directly from: https://www.apple.com/ipad-mini/

• Stunning all around.
• iPad mini is meticulously designed to be absolutely beautiful.
• The 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display features True Tone, P3 wide color, and ultralow reflectivity, making text sharp and colors vivid, wherever you are.
• And with up to 80 percent faster graphics, iPad mini lets you immerse yourself in whatever you do. Use realistic brushes to create a watercolor, experience unreal AR, and play graphics-intensive games.
  
  Nothing about jello in that list, is there? Lastly, it starts off saying "New all‑screen design". Mmmm, to me, that might be the problem. If it's a new, all-screen design, then that means it's a new design...and since this screen problem didn't exist in the past, I would say it's because ot the new screen design.

No, there's nothing there about the "jello" effect that some customers have decided is an issue whereas many others do not believe it's an issue or even notice it.

 

[ofarlig]

But it IS aesthetic and it's also not a "defect". Others have posted videos showing the effect in other devices as well - just to different degrees depending on the particular screen. It has to do only with how the display looks as you're scrolling, right? Is it preventing you from scrolling effectively? No.

Yes, you are correct that it doesn‘t stop you from scrolling, but did you buy an iPad just to scroll? I bought my iPad to be able to read the words on it, and it is stopping me from scrolling and reading at the same time, which makes it a lot less usable.

 

[Chlloret]

1)I think this issue is a terrible defect no matter how someone wants to try to defend it.

2)You have 15 days (some retailers give you 30) to return it to Apple. MOST LIKELY you will notice this within 15 days. Return it. Show Apple that you won't tolerate defects.

3)Heck, everyone here should get a few friends and family and go out and buy these defective iPad Minis...open them, use them for a day, then return them clearly stating the jello problem. When Apple starts seeing Mini returns by the truckloads, Apple will concede defeat.

That would be a good plan IF there was a problem? But there is not? The new mini is out for what, two weeks? I got my prelaunch one on the 18th and the regular once on the 24th. Every tester worldwide played with it before the embargo ended on the 21st. Nobody noticed something. But even IF there is a "wobble" visible under slomo, what exactly is the problem? What is "defective"?

 

[usagora]

Yes, you are correct that it doesn‘t stop you from scrolling, but did you buy an iPad just to scroll? I bought my iPad to be able to read the words on it, and it is stopping me from scrolling and reading at the same time, which makes it a lot less usable.

I haven't seen a single real-time (not slow-mo) video showing where this would make it impossible or even hard to read while slowly scrolling

 

[ofarlig]

I haven't seen a single real-time (not slow-mo) video showing where this would make it impossible or even hard to read while slowly scrolling

It is very hard to capture it properly on video, my device had it way worse than any of the videos I have seen would indicate.

 

[Jensend]

If you want to eliminate this scrolling, buy an OLED. Right now, that’s the only way to make sure it isn’t there. This “issue” isn’t limited to Apple. All LCD’s exhibit this as that is how they are refreshed.

Nope, OLEDs do the same thing.

My current fleet of Air 4, Mini 5, and Air 2 do not exhibit this issue, I would have noticed.

LOL

1)I think this issue is a terrible defect no matter how someone wants to try to defend it.

A dead pixel is a defect.
On the other hand, this iPad mini is working exactly as it was designed to work. You may not like their design choice, but that does not make it a defect. I suppose you could have a defective design, but I’d only call it that if it made the device more fragile—more likely to break quickly or lose performance/quality over time, like the butterfly keyboard.

Just curious about all the people downvoting this comment - do you think that this is acceptable for a $500 device?

I don’t think a 60Hz display is acceptable on a $500 touch device, so I won’t be buying one. Other people may not find the scan skew acceptable. They shouldn’t buy one. But to act like it’s an outrage and that it shouldn’t be acceptable to anyone, or even most people, is silly.

 

[usagora]

It is very hard to capture it properly on video, my device had it way worse than any of the videos I have seen would indicate.

Well I can't claim I own that particular iPad myself or used it in person, but others on this forum do or have and say it's not hindering their use of the iPad in any way.

 

[ofarlig]

Well I can't claim I own that particular iPad myself or used it in person, but others on this forum do or have and say it's not hindering their use of the iPad in any way.

Like with most things, everyone’s different so some people can’t see the difference between 120 Hz and 60 Hz either, some people cannot read text that is moving at all, and so on. How people perceive it will differ between individuals, and it is also possible that there are different screen manufacturers where some are worse than others (although all while have it to some degree).

What we can see by actually testing the display (via a scan skew test for example) is that there seems to be a larger effect than on other iPads and especially than on the Mini 5.

 

[Realityck]

I don’t think a 60Hz display is acceptable on a $500 touch device, so I won’t be buying one. Other people may not find the scan skew acceptable. They shouldn’t buy one. But to act like it’s an outrage and that it shouldn’t be acceptable to anyone, or even most people, is silly.

Just a FYI, the IPad Air 4 and the previous IPad mini 5 utilize 60 Hz displays. It’s par for the course unless you go Pro.

 

[florian_g2]

Android had it already 4 years ago😤

OnePlus says ‘jelly’ scrolling effect on OnePlus 5 is normal

The Verge is about technology and how it makes us feel. Founded in 2011, we offer our audience everything from breaking news to reviews to award-winning features and investigations, on our site, in video, and in podcasts.

www.theverge.com

 

[l0stl0rd]

I haven't seen a single real-time (not slow-mo) video showing where this would make it impossible or even hard to read while slowly scrolling

this is real-time

 

[Chlloret]

this is real-time

Seriously? THAT is what all the fuss is about? Are you joking? There are real Problems, I mean REAL Problems that make iOS15 close to unusable right now and THIS is a problem? Boy. Get your priorities right.

 

[usagora]

this is real-time

I've seen that one and others. Clearly has no effect on screen readability, and he's even scrolling much faster than you would if you were scrolling and reading at the same time.

If someone wants to claim theirs is "much worse" than that, then they really need to post a video. "It doesn't show well on video" comes across as a cop-out to me and a convenient way to make one's assertion irrefutable (at least online). If that were really the case (or at least to a degree that made a significant difference), you would think iFixit or others would give that disclaimer.

 

[Realityck]

I've seen that one and others. Clearly has no effect on screen readability, and he's even scrolling much faster than you would if you were scrolling and reading at the same time.

On a mini 5 the text of looking at this thread posts tends to become a bit unfocused as you scroll at that speed, only when you stop does it sharpen. I also tend to scroll in large steps with finger swipes. I will visit the campus today to compare.

 

[svish]

That explains it. Other than that, it was interesting to see the internals of the new iPad mini