New iPad Pro Models May Be Prone to Bending

[neutralguy]

Hey I got a question guys....

If I bought a Cadillac Escalade ESV or a Mercedes-Benz G65, both of which are the strongest, most durable SUVs in the world market... then I go and hit a freeway divider, should I blame the manufacturers for making cars that are so easy to "bend"?

Will you prefer waking up everyday morning and straightening up your car before driving out, because it's bent?

 

[iMi]

Not again... I am skeptical. I mean, Apple would have surely learned from the last time they had this problem and someone would have checked to see that the new device is not susceptible. How could this happen again?

 

[ninjadex]

Received my 12.9" today directly from China. I can hardly believe it (OK maybe I can), but there is a slight but visible bend along the longer sides, similar to the first photo but not as extreme. Right out of the box.

 

[iMEric984]

By the way, at the beginning of this article the image of Bwrin1‘s bent iPad sitting on a table is a good example of what will commonly be happening. This person isn’t manhandling the iPad - it was simply in a backpack and ended up SLIGHTLY bent. It doesn’t need to be completely bent in half or destroyed for there to be a problem. If my iPad was bent even a millimeter it’s completely unacceptable.
[doublepost=1542566904][/doublepost]


You missed the point then and don’t know what you’re talking about. Sapphire is supposed to be able to handle a level 8 harness test and it scratched at leve 6 which means it isn’t as durable as sapphire used in some android devices. It’s not supposed to scratch at level 6 so it shouldn’t even be called sapphire. What part of that do you not understand?

And we’re comparing what android devices that have a 100% sapphire lens cover??

My point is, if you purposely try to scratch the lens with a razor or whatever. It’s going to scratch. The average user who doesn’t hack his device with a razor or whatever isn’t going to have a problem. Again. Let’s throw Apple under the bus because they sold us a sapphire hybrid, instead of PURE sapphire. Which under most circumstances won’t scratch.

You’re all drama queens.
[doublepost=1542656085][/doublepost]

Well, Apple sells it as being sapphire and it is already ridiculous expensive...

It’s probably a sapphire hybrid. It will hold up just fine in most circumstances.

If it’s that expensive, then don’t buy it. Problem solved
[doublepost=1542656198][/doublepost]

The phones are ridiculously expensive. The lens cover is tiny. I’ve had genuine sapphire on $100 Chinese watches!

What this all points to is Apple being cheap, cutting costs and pushing margins into the stratosphere to compensate for flatlining demand.

Also because of profit and money obsessed CEO.

Ok, and were these same tests done on your Chinese watches to see if they scratch??

Or do you believe the manufacturer for saying that it’s pure sapphire???

That’s ok???

 

[juiz206]

Try doing that with your Macbook Pro display... I bet its fragile as hell.
[doublepost=1542656722][/doublepost]I mean... why would you buy a product that when you force bend it...it bends? So weak.

 

[iEnvy]

Try doing that with your Macbook Pro display... I bet its fragile as hell.
I mean... why would you buy a product that when you force bend it...it bends? So weak.

Because there is much profit to be made when you take an Apple device and create negativity publicity.

In other news: glass shatters and metal bends. Until another bend test with another apple product.

 

[anthogag]

Thats not the point of the video. I understand that you have to be careful with any electronic device. But the point is that this new iPad is so fragile, that bending is too easy. Much easier than earlier iPads. There is no reinforcements of any kind in the new iPad and the aluminum tin is as thick as a Coca Cola tin.
The device is designed for portable use and we all know what happens with portable devices, how careful you might be with it.

The second point of the sapphire glass used for the lens, is that it is a pure marketing selling point without harden the glass in any way. Something you expect when sapphire is used. It's a very thin coating on the glas, that doesn't do a thing!

So the new iPad may have a great processor and a great screen, but for a portable device without a back bone it will be prominent for bending. Every portable device should have some kind of firmness. Unfortunately the new iPad Pro hasn't and that the point Apple won't tell you, but those video's do!

I'm very happy those video's exist so I can make a solid decision. As long as this iPad doesn't get more firmness, it's not for me.
[doublepost=1542648081][/doublepost]
If you looked at your shiny new Hypercar, you heart pounds and you will be very careful with it. Sure there will come chips and other user traces over time... that's normal. What's not normal is that it will bend if you sit in it and that it can't with stand bumpy roads. Your Hypercar is designed for driving, but if it's stiffness can't handle your weight, it's a complete useless car.

Thank god there are regulation tests for that to prevent it to be sold or appear on the road! Unfortunately there aren't such regulations for a portable device yet. After the bending gate (of which Apple knew in front, and Apple gave those after a judge asked for those evidence), Apple should know better! But no! We had bending problems with the Magic Keyboard II and now with the iPad Pro. I'm sure they already knew before those products came to market. If not, they have a big Q&A problem. But greediness and a pure focus on money made them decide to sell it, hoping everybody will buy a new cover with it too!
[doublepost=1542648480][/doublepost]
Stupid video but it shows that the iPad Pro is definitely easier to bend. The guys fingers changed color from the pressure he made on it, something you won't see on the new iPad Pro.

Sapphire coating on the glass is for scratch resistance. “Sapphire” does not mean it is also stronger in bending.

It is hard to reinforce a very thin device, especially with aluminium.

My point is this video is stupid because it is just senseless destruction. Videos like this are not proof the new iPad should not bend like this or scratch like this. I can snap my pencil in half with minor effort. Oh my god, it should not be so easy to break a pencil. Then make it from steel. Oh my god, how will I sharpen it.

 

[Mousse]

Which will add more weight to a product that people complained about being too heavy. You can’t have it both ways.

Dunno. If the iPad goes from 1.6lbs to 1.8lbs makes it more difficult to use, then I suggest hitting the gym every once in a while.

When will Apple stop with the insane thinner mantra? The next generation iPad is gonna so thin, it bends under it's own weight. Thinner. Phfffbbbtttt.

 

[Rocko99991]

That bends ridiculously easy.

 

[LeeW]

I tried to bend my new Mac Mini, wouldn't budge, 4 good blows with a 20oz Hammer and that did it. Piece of junk, they just don't build things to last.

 

[SuperMatt]

Apple could've easily added reinforcing ridges on the inside and/or changed the aluminum composition to strengthen it. Maybe even several screwed in strips of titanium inside for extra measures. After all this is a premium product with a price tag to match. Why they didn't do it is anybody's guess, but after following the change in Apple under Tim Cooks management, I believe the only reason is cost. They want to sell as cheaply made a product as possible with the highest possible price tag, all else is secondary. Apple made far better engineered products in the past, and for cheaper, so they can (at least could) do it if they wanted to.

What would this accomplish? The bending problem is apparently isolated to people intentionally trying to break it. It is not too fragile for day-to-day use at all. This is the same as the iPhone "bendgate" - a tempest in a teapot because somebody posted a video of them breaking an Apple product on purpose.
[doublepost=1542660074][/doublepost]

The original article's damage was from a backpack, the video is demonstrating the breakage from the extreme. So the original answer is most definitely: "Yes."

I was talking about the video - if you took my quote in context, I referenced a number of things that happened in the video.
[doublepost=1542660684][/doublepost]

Physics also say there's a certain magnesium alloy that's stronger than aluminum alloy for the same weight. The Surface uses it for durability. Maybe Apple could have spent that $150/200 price increase toward a stronger metal alloy..

Believe it or not, the Surface Pro is not indestructible either.... Of course a video of an accidentally bent Microsoft product only gets about 1000 hits on youtube, unlike a video of somebody intentionally breaking an iPad.

Also, the Microsoft forums and reddit communities document plenty of bending problems with this supposedly ingenious magnesium wonder-alloy. I'm not going to link all of them but you can google it (or use bing search if you like Microsoft).

 

[dotnet]

You did not read correctly. An iPad isn’t a piece of art to be admired. It is an item to be used. There are different standards of durability for both.

Tell me about it. There are always different standards when it comes to Apple.
[doublepost=1542662709][/doublepost]

I just want the sh*t to hold up to actual professional (and careful) use and last the duration of the AppleCare+.

But then you wouldn't need AppleCare+ in the place, right?

How much are you prepared to pay for a virtually indestructible device that never fails?

 

[BarredOwl]

Tell me about it. There are always different standards when it comes to Apple.
[doublepost=1542662709][/doublepost]

But then you wouldn't need AppleCare+ in the place, right?

How much are you prepared to pay for a virtually indestructible device that never fails?

Applecare+ is not the point. I buy AppleCare+ in case I accidentally damage the device or there is a hardware problem deep into the lifecycle.

All I ask for is that it hold up to normal use. I never said at any point that I expect it to be "virtually indestructible".

A device that may (probably will) bend because I quickly shove it in my briefcase, or because someone bumps into my briefcase, is unacceptable for 1899.00 USD - especially if it has an Apple logo.

 

[jlseattle]

Any updates on bendgate? Anyone have it happen?

 

[ereddekopp]

Apple's new 11 and 12.9-inch models are its thinnest yet, measuring in at just 5.9mm, and both forum complaints and a new bend test video suggest the two devices have the potential to bend without a huge amount of force.

On the MacRumors forum, there have been a few complaints of bending from MacRumors readers. Forum member Bwrin1, for example, posted a photo of a bent 12.9-inch iPad Pro suggesting it had bent from just a weekend trip in a backpack.

The iPad Pro in question does indeed appear to have a curve to it, refusing to lay flat on a table. At the same time, YouTuber JerryRigEverything has posted a bend test video of the new iPad Pro, which indicates it has the potential to bend with a limited amount of force.

In the video, the iPad Pro snaps in half after what appears to be a moderate amount of pressure is applied to the device.

Despite the video and the forum complaint, this does not appear to be a widespread issue. There are a couple of other complaints from MacRumors readers who were seeing slight curves in their devices and received replacements or sent the tablet back, but there aren't complaints that match the complaints we saw back in 2014 with the original iPhone 6 Plus bendgate.

It's not clear if the new iPad Pro models are more or less bendable than previous devices, and bend tests are not reflective of real world usage conditions. All devices of this size will bend when enough force is applied, so it is no surprise to see the bend in the YouTube video.

If the new iPad Pro models are bending from regular use, that could be a more significant issue, and we'll need to keep an eye out for additional reports of bending to determine whether there's a serious problem with Apple's newest tablet.

Article Link: New iPad Pro Models May Be Prone to Bending

[doublepost=1542669396][/doublepost]I have a feeling this is why both cases they made fully cover the back...I think with either of the cases on it adds to the case's strength. I repair Apple products and I can honestly say across the line of all of their new portable devices...the Pro's the new Air's....they are all more fragile than their predecessors. I have seen a MUCH higher rate of damage with them. Of course I have always used Brenthaven bags with dedicated laptop/device areas to protect my laptop or iPad.

 

[farewelwilliams]

I don't get it though, why are you glad?

Who wouldn't be glad that a customer finally figures out how to fix their issues?

 

[T-R-S]

The new iPad Pro will also break if hit it hard enough with hammer.

 

[Lynxpoint]

this thread reminds me of this from a couple years ago:

 

[AFDoc]

This kind of crap irritates the poo out of me.... NO they are not "prone to bending" it's people and their stupidity that cause issues.
[doublepost=1542679810][/doublepost]

After using Apple products for almost 30 years....I am done.

I am tired of paying $3k-4k for a middling laptop, I am done dealing with phones (and now tablets) that pursue thinness over function, I am done supporting a company that doesn't even exert the effort to keep their "pro" products up to spec, and I am so over them purposely making everything non user-replaceable/upgradable while charging prohibitively expensive prices for upgrade options...

They made the iPad Pro so damn thin that the camera lens protrudes pretty far out, and they couldn't even put an audio jack on it. This is the end result, an expensive toy that bends like a piece of cardboard. What's more, his scratch tests on the display and camera lens reveal that Apple isn't even using materials of a high enough quality to be commensurate with the price.

ok see ya later.
[doublepost=1542679905][/doublepost]

Tbh, being able to snap an iPad in half with your bare hands is pretty shocking.

He took a part that would add rigidity off so it was easier to bend.... it's an electronic device not an anvil so treat it as an expensive electronic device and not an anvil and you'll be ok.

 

[hobspain]

It is not a pure sapphire crystal like on all quality watches, it's just a super thin coat of aluminium oxide on top of a glass substrate, something Apple patented. As it is not anymore scratch resistant than any gorilla glass, the only purpose for using it must be purely marketing. It's Apple after all, so no one should be surprised. Cheap to make, great marketing potential and fools people into paying extra for it (like this thread have shown several times). Apple must be proud of themselves.

Oh and don’t forget the number of people that Apple keeps entertained criticizing its products on macrumors. It’s a win-win for all!

 

[StyxMaker]

Exactly- I’m not getting one for Neil it’s strongerz

Seems to me the ‘iPhones bend’ craze faded long before the 6s was introduced.

 

[Perene]

About that old bendgate case:
https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/a3a3gg/iphone-6-touch-disease-documents

Internal Documents Show Apple Knew the iPhone 6 Would Bend

Apple publicly maintained that there were no engineering issues with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, but an internal review showed that engineering changes were necessary to prevent touch disease.

It's interesting how after so much evidence of foul play people still cannot believe this company would cut costs and do such a thing. The arrogance of Apple knows no bounds.

 

[StyxMaker]

this thread reminds me of this from a couple years ago:

Technically speaking bending the iPad is not crushing it.

My 11” iPad Pro was delivered today. It immediately went into the case I had waiting for it. I’ll let you know it it bends while I’m carrying it around in the cargo pocket of my shorts.

 

[forerunnerg34]

What apple product is not prone to bending?

 

[dilbert99]

Who wouldn't be glad that a customer finally figures out how to fix their issues?

Agreed, who wouldn't be, but as you very well know, when someone says "if you don't like it go elsewhere" they are usually being facetious.
[doublepost=1542696471][/doublepost]

Nice spin on the thoughts I was conveying.

It could be true though, I have lots of things I don't like about lots of companies.
Samsung has its skinning of android but you can do more with android than you can with iOS
Apple has its walled garden and its my way of the highway, add a dongle, remove a port but is fine for a lot of people and 'usually' just works.
Microsoft was the company that everyone loved to hate.
Google/Facebook has its privacy concerns.
And so on...
If I didn't buy from every company I had a minor or major gripe with, I wouldn't be buying any product and that would spell recession if everyone did it.

I guess I am just making the point that people making the point of if you don't like it go elsewhere isn't always the best way.