iPad Pro iPad Pro 10.5: deserved or undeserved reputation as a lemon product?

[Hym tix]

wrong, mine was bent, had white spot, light bleed, on par with air 2 screen distortion and vibrating speakers as worst ever, and I have had them all up to 11” pro which has been the best.

Mmmhmm. Yes, any iPad can be bent.

But no, There was no widespread concern about the 10.5 iPad having a factory defect in arriving bent or being easily bent compared to other iPads or expected durability. That was a 2018 iPad Pro issue.

Glad you got a good 2018 Pro 11” though. Enjoy it, its a beautiful machine.

 

[DragonX]

Mmmhmm. Yes, any iPad can be bent.

Yes if you apply the force strong enough anything can be bent. Even including cars, airplanes and tables. But the main issue with recent iPads that they are bent without applying any force to them. They are bent right out in the Apple Store out of the box.

But no, There was no widespread concern about the 10.5 iPad having a factory defect in arriving bent or being easily bent compared to other iPads or expected durability. That was a 2018 iPad Pro issue.

Glad you got a good 2018 Pro 11” though. Enjoy it, its a beautiful machine.

Actually 10.5 is being bent right out of the box the same way as 2018 iPad Pro. Have a look at various threads discussing people's frustration:

Is your iPad Pro 10.5 curved

My wife picked up my 10.5" iPad Pro today and I just got a chance to open it. Beautiful, however it has a definite curve more noticeable across the top and bottom, its only very slight, but if you put a straight rule across the top or bottom you can see daylight in the middle - anyone else...

forums.macrumors.com

New iPad pro 10.5 curved out of the box

Hi together, as i already mentioned in an other thread, my new iPad 10.5 wifi 256GB is slightly curved. When placing a rule on the display from the bottom to the top, there is a gap of about 1-1.5mm in the middle. The back side of the iPad has a corresponding light bump. For me, the curve is...

forums.macrumors.com

iPad Pro 10.5 Case Warped/Bent/Concave

I just received a new iPad Pro, 256 GB, Space Grey, Wi-Fi only. When looking it over, I noticed that the case is slightly curved/warped. It is quite noticeable when looking along the long edge - it's curved concave up, and might be about 1-1.5 mm or so in the middle. You can even see it in the...

forums.macrumors.com

...

There are many more, just google the issue!

 

[RevTEG]

My wife is still using her launch day 10.5 pro daily. Zero issues. I'm on these forums almost daily and this is the first time I've seen anyone even ask if the 10.5 was a lemon. Never even heard that rumor. I use a 10.5 pro to record class lessons while teaching from my 2018 12.9. Zero issues with my 10.5 either.

 

[bobsamm]

My wife is still using her launch day 10.5 pro daily. Zero issues. I'm on these forums almost daily and this is the first time I've seen anyone even ask if the 10.5 was a lemon. Never even heard that rumor. I use a 10.5 pro to record class lessons while teaching from my 2018 12.9. Zero issues with my 10.5 either.

You must of missed white spot then lol.

 

[iAssimilated]

I've had my refurb 10.5 for over two years and have had zero issues with it. Yes, the battery is not as good as it was, but still holds a great charge. The performance has simply been outstanding and screen is amazing (no white spots for me yet). I would highly recommend it for anyone looking to get an iPad at that price (just checked Apple's Refurb site... holy moly, that is a good deal)!

 

[Dualvansmommy]

The iPad Pro 10.5 inch was a phenomenal industry-leading product. It can no way be described as a lemon.

Obviously the current-gen iPad Pros take things to a whole new level, and that's where people should be putting their money, but the 10.5 is still a solid product even today.

That is my sentiment too. I bought my 10.5 iPP the year it came out, so that’s 3 or 4 years ago? And it’s still going strong for me. I use it a lot to watch Netflix in bed, during my travels, cooking from recipes in it, FT and just housekeeping with it. Don’t see any reason to upgrade it just yet, will do when it starts having issues or die on me.

 

[Ludatyk]

The iPad Pro 10.5 inch was a phenomenal industry-leading product. It can no way be described as a lemon.

Obviously the current-gen iPad Pros take things to a whole new level, and that's where people should be putting their money, but the 10.5 is still a solid product even today.

Agreed! Definitely not a lemon! However, that iPad 3 certainly was.

 

[Techmaestro]

I just recently purchase the IPP 11” and the device is flawless! I love it!! However, a couple of months ago I purchased a IPP 10.5 on OfferUp (I know, I know) that was of course out of warranty and it suffered from the well publicized white spot issue. I have tendencies toward being OCD about my stuff and that white spot drove me crazy so I sold it just the other week on OfferUp to help fund my new IPP 11“. Heck, there are people still complaining about the issue to this very day. I wouldn’t say it was a lemon but the white spot was an issue.

 

[rui no onna]

Definitely not a lemon! However, that iPad 3 certainly was.

In fairness, the iPad 3's bad only when compared to other iPads. Compared to Android tablets at the time, the iPad 3 aged better (as unbelievable as that sounds).

 

[BigMcGuire]

My wife used her iPad 10.5 Pro for several years - heavily for her PhD (Apple Pencil). I used mine for less than a year before selling it to family and getting an Air 3. Neither of us had problems with it other than coconutBattery showing excessive battery wear on both of them.

My wife and I now have 11 Pros. Absolutely beautiful amazing machine that we both hope to get many many years of use.

 

[kenshiro]

Bought since the launch day, still no problem whatsoever (knock on wood). Use it 247 for work (storyboard & screenplay).

I use a sturdy case & matte screen protector.

 

[DiCaprioAngel]

I’ve had the iPad Pro 10.5” since Christmas of 2017 and it has been great to me for the times that I’ve had it. Never had any issues with it, ran great and did everything I needed it to. I gave that to my sister when I upgraded to the 11” iPad Pro. I only upgraded because needed more storage as the 10.5” only had 256gb and my iPad became my laptop replacement since Catalina murdered my MBP after it was released. So, I say the 10.5” is a great device and I would highly recommend it! It did well for me in the years that I’ve had it and my sister loves it just as much as I did!

 

[magicschoolbus]

I have white spots on my screen 10.5, I am really disappointed in the 10.5. It's a shame because it's still very quick, but the cancerous spots on the display really take the joy out of using it.

 

[Digitalguy]

I have white spots on my screen 10.5, I am really disappointed in the 10.5. It's a shame because it's still very quick, but the cancerous spots on the display really take the joy out of using it.

Yes, for me it has even advantages over the 11 pro (mind you, I use it with the smart keyboard all the time), like touch id, lappable keyboard and lighter (with keyboard), and the keyboard folds back, and headphone jack.
But that ugly white spot prevents me from being completely in love... (although with more and more apps adopting dark mode it's less of an issue, except those damned google apps that google keeps inferior to their Android counterparts...)

 

[ayres]

i've had my 10.5 for two and half years. great device. no issues. great balance of power and battery life.

i think the most underrated aspect of the 10.5 (and the 9 inch pro) is this: 4 speakers at its price point. the current air and base model have two on one side... once you listen enough to the 4-speaker model, two just sounds strange. and the only other model with 4 speakers costs more.

 

[Digitalguy]

i've had my 10.5 for two and half years. great device. no issues. great balance of power and battery life.

i think the most underrated aspect of the 10.5 (and the 9 inch pro) is this: 4 speakers at its price point. the current air and base model have two on one side... once you listen enough to the 4-speaker model, two just sounds strange. and the only other model with 4 speakers costs more.

Agreed, I would take the 9.7 pro over the standard ipad any day because of the speakers... (despite the lack of RAM) Same for the 10.5 over the Air 3...(despite the white spot...)
I just can't go back...

 

[achappy]

I've had my 10.5" since it was released and it's easily my favorite device. It's still extremely fast, smooth and I love it with a Smart Keyboard. It did develop a white spot after about 2 years but I honestly always forget about it until I see something online. I compared it with the 11" and really saw no need to upgrade.

My wife bought a refurbished one from Apple about 6 months after me and she loves hers as well. No issues with hers.

 

[lambertjohn]

I had one for about a year and it was an excellent tablet. Sold it and got a Pro 11. Didn't like the squared edges of the Pro 11 so I sold it and got an Air 3 because it has rounded edges and feels much more comfortable in my hand. Love my Air 3! It's a faster Pro 10.5 in my opinion.

 

[BritishApple]

I’ve had my 10.5 for almost 2 years now and it’s showing zero signs of slowing down, it’s still a beast of a tablet and that 120Hz display is a dream to this day; I sometimes turn the option off and back on just to appreciate it more!

I wouldn’t call it a “lemon”, I think the iPad best suited to that badge of honour is the 3rd Gen with Retina Display, a machine that was woefully underpowered and replaced 6 months later as the 3rd gen just couldn’t push the pixels on the display (I bought both).

Reliabilty wise, the only thing I had my Pro replaced for was one of the cellular “lines” at the top of the display started to protrude from the bezel and was quite sharp, so much so that my toddler hurt her finger on it (I know, she shouldn’t have been touching it in the first place before the keyboard parents have their say).

All in all, I’m still happy with the performance and form factor and unless iOS 14 causes major issues I don’t see me upgrading for at least another 12 months or so later.

And when I do upgrade, I won’t be going for an Air or equivalent; once you use ProMotion on an iPad, you can’t go back.

 

[DragonX]

So what we have here is 28.2% of people having quality problems with the iPad.

That's 1/3 of users! Wow! Like, really, Apple?

That includes 18% of people who had display problem when their warranty unfortunately ended up (like me).

This is really sad to see how Apple is becoming a mass manufacturer of junk even worse than Microsoft in the old times.

 

[Johnny365]

I like how your statistics act like it represents every 10.5" owner.

 

[sparksd]

So what we have here is 28.2% of people having quality problems with the iPad.

That's 1/3 of users! Wow! Like, really, Apple?

That includes 18% of people who had display problem when their warranty unfortunately ended up (like me).

This is really sad to see how Apple is becoming a mass manufacturer of junk even worse than Microsoft in the old times.

That would be 1/3 of users who responded on this thread - not particularly representative of anything.

 

[DragonX]

That would be 1/3 of users who responded on this thread - not particularly representative of anything.

Well unfortunately this statistics we see is probably even worse. Because there are Apple workers who pretend they are users and actively vote they don't have any problems.

 

[sparksd]

Well unfortunately this statistics we see is probably even worse. Because there are Apple workers who pretend they are users and actively vote they don't have any problems.

Any proof on that? I’ve had my 10.5 for 2+ years without a problem.

 

[ACG12]

My wife loves her 512gb 10.5” Pro. I have the monthly Apple Care Plus plan so I’m not too worried about the white spot issue. If it shows up, I’ll go to the Apple store and have it swapped out.

I’m actually debating about selling my Air 3 and getting one. I really like the quad speakers and 120hz display.