iPad Pro iPad Pro M1 11” charging port stopped working, Apple can’t do anything

[sviato]

My iPad Pro 11” 3rd gen stopped charging a few weeks ago (have had it for 5 years, light use - a few hours per week for browsing, occasional video or reading). I noticed the battery was around 30% and plugged it in to charge, at the top right it said “Not Charging”. I thought that was strange and was using a third party charger and then tried plugging in the Apple charger that came with it but got the same message. I tried restarting the iPad but it didn’t help. Eventually the battery ran out and the iPad died.

I took it to the Apple Store and they confirmed it wasn’t charging through USB. The customer service guy then attached it to a Magic Keyboard and eventually that charged it to 5% and it powered on. Diagnostics were run and the guy took the iPad to the back for physical inspection of the charging module - the result was that everything in the iPad is great, battery is healthy. The charging port and module show no signs of water damage or any other damage - it just stopped working was the explanation.

Apparently Apple can’t repair this and a full iPad replacement would be needed which is CAD$900. The Apple guy recommended a third party charger that charges the iPad through the back instead of the charging port.

I was pretty surprised that these components just fail and there’s no recourse. How can I can recommend an iPad to anyone if they just stop charging randomly? Has anyone had any luck getting Apple to replace devices for something like this free of charge or reduced charge?

 

[Apple_Robert]

Since the iPad was tested and came back negative, not sure why you expected Apple to repair the iPad. I am also not sure why you expect free service on a 5 year old device for which you didn't have coverage.

Sometimes devices that are mass products by the millions upon millions go bad. That shouldn't be a shock. That kind of scenario happens with every manufacturer.

In my opinion, you can try and charge it as suggested, or buy a newer iPad within budget.

 

[sviato]

Is a 5 year useful life on a device with light usage typical?

 

[bapegg]

You should get more than 5 years out of an iPad. My 2018 iPad Pro 11 is still running fine.

But as mentioned, you always have to roll the dice when it comes to how long a massed produced device actually lasts. You can take samples from a single batch and some items will last longer than others.

 

[sviato]

I’m most surprised this component, or seemingly any in the iPad, aren’t repairable. I assumed I could pay for a repair if everything else in the device is working fine, I’m shocked that Apple leaves this to a full replacement or nothing, quite poor design

 

[Bigwaff]

I’m most surprised this component, or seemingly any in the iPad, aren’t repairable. I assumed I could pay for a repair if everything else in the device is working fine, I’m shocked that Apple leaves this to a full replacement or nothing, quite poor design

Did you get any specific details related to why a full device replacement is necessary? Perhaps requires a motherboard swap which is not cost effective given the age of the device. Have you contacted any third-party repair shops to see if they are able to repair the charging port? Have you explored purchasing the exact same model/spec device on the used market?

 

[Hmm]

I think Apple typically prefers to replace devices instead of repairing them, possibly due to the labor involved.

I had the same charging port issue with a 2018 iPad Pro 11" and Apple gave me the same response. So I took it to a local ubreakifix store and they repaired the port for about $200 US. In Canada, it appears that ubreakifix is part of Mobile Klinik.

 

[sviato]

Thanks for flagging that - I’ll look into Mobile Klinik.

 

[chubbycable]

5 years is not exactly a short time, but it’s not that long either. What’s frustrating is that the entire device has to be replaced just because the charging port failed, and there’s no free repair or replacement option. That would be pretty disappointing. From my experience, charging ports are usually designed to last longer than the cables and connectors we plug into them, like USB-C or Lightning. It feels like this iPad is one of those cases where that expectation didn’t really hold up.

 

[locovaca]

The Apple guy recommended a third party charger that charges the iPad through the back instead of the charging port.

What charger is this, out of curiosity? We have an M1 that also only charges through the smart connector and we have a Magic Keyboard just for this iPad to charge, but I wanted to know what they recommended because I didn’t know of any that charged that way other than the keyboard.

 

[Davidalan]

KUXIU M30 Magnetic Smart Connector Charger for iPad Pro​

 

[brilliantthings]

Same thing happened to my iPad. Same model. Took it to a phone repair shop and the guy there fixes laptop boards etc. He fixed mine for $150 AUD. It's as good as new now. I think Louis Rossman recommends a network of repairers globally.

 

[sviato]

Ku Xiu on amazon

 

[blkjedi954]

I’m most surprised this component, or seemingly any in the iPad, aren’t repairable. I assumed I could pay for a repair if everything else in the device is working fine, I’m shocked that Apple leaves this to a full replacement or nothing, quite poor design

I do agree. There should be a repair option that doesn't involve a costly full replacement. Imagine if other manufacturers offered that as a solution; there would be an uprising. So I fully agree with your sentiment about Apple's nonviable solution.

 

[Sezel]

This is not possible by design because iPad is almost thin as the usb port itself, same thing with Airpods that's why they don't have replaceable battery or jack.

It's not like Apple is doing it deliberately but it is not that type of device. For example they have made every port/jack replaceable in the MacBook (I think starting from M4).

Not sure if same solutions can be made for other devices like iPad, iPhone etc. where charging ports are the most common point of failure.

But at least iPad has pogo pins as a workaround.