iPad mini Regarding the iPad rMini and screen issues

[Bonaqua]

Hello everyone!

I have for a long time been reading this forums and enjoyed the myriad of helpful information and thought I'd join the forums to chime in with my own experiences with the rMini.

So, I live in Sweden, Stockholm and to what I must assume is no one's surprise we have faulty rMinis over here as well.

So, I'm up to my 11th rMini now and all but one have suffered from the image retention... and very bad cases of it as well -- just takes 10-15 seconds for ir to occur. The one that didn't suffer from ir suffered from horrendous yellowing that covered about 1/3 of the screen.

9 of the rMinis were of the F4KL variants which I have understood from methods learned in this forum to be the pegatron manufactured variant. Every single one of these besides one had ir and yellowing / light leakage. Two of them were of the other DMXL or whatever they were called variants, which were from the Foxconn production lines according to the chipmunk site.

All but one of them were manufactured between weeks 49 to 51.
Every rMini is of the cellular variant and ranging in storage sizes between 16 to 128, though most of them were of the 128 variant, but I tried (illogically) a few with less in storage density hoping that would make a difference.

I hope this information helps... I don't really lend any significance to production week/facility or storage capacity after these experiences. Just seems like there is tons of lemons out there at this moment. I honestly can't really say I'm shocked about this... the quality control seems to have gone downhill ever since the unibody macs if I just use my own experiences as a measuring rod. Never had any problems with the iPhones I've owned or the larger iPads though. Why do I keep coming back? Grass is definitely not greener on the other side when it comes to issues like these (tried both the Surface Pro 2 and Nexus 7 2013 this year and both were lemons in terms build quality(loose nexus logo and dented kickstand and severe backlight bleeding on the Surface Pro 2, and a few dead pixels on the Nexus 7); besides that I didn't really like the software experience of those devices either. I guess I keep coming back because of the stellar software and the exceptional customer service Apple offers -- and lastly to my chagrin my itunes/app library.

But boy is it frustrating nowadays to have to always open up my Apple branded boxes in fear of the quality control failing me once again, instead of the joy I used to enjoy doing so a few years back.

 

[thadoggfather]

Yikes 10 out of 11 have IR?

I'm glad my first one doesn't. I think I lucked out on this model.

iPad 3 I had to swap out like 7 times due to hideous screens. It was tedious to say the least.

I stressed to the buyer of my iPad 3 how great the screen on it is

 

[deeddawg]

In what usage circumstances did you find IR to be a problem with these eleven units?

What I'm curious about is: apart from running a test how else did you encounter IR and how did it interfere with what you were doing?

 

[Bonaqua]

In what usage circumstances did you find IR to be a problem with these eleven units?

What I'm curious about is: apart from running a test how else did you encounter IR and how did it interfere with what you were doing?

You pose a fair question. Honestly the yellowing and light leakage bothers me much more than the ir. But, in my use cases I have noticed it making my screen looking dirty, or washed out for lack of a better explanation. I mostly use it to read magazines and books which usually depending on the type used leaves noticeable artifacts on the screen. It bothers me... might not bother others but it bothers me. When the retina Macbook Pros came out I got two with LG screens before I got one with a Samsung screen, and the ir just got worse and worse over time even though LCDs are not supposed to get worse when it comes to ir; so I'm not interested in buying what is in my eyes a top of the line device spending time worrying about it getting worse... that is if the ir wouldn't annoy me which it does in my use cases. You give me a retina that doesn't produce ir after 2 minutes and it might not... but the ones I have used produce it in a much shorter timespan than that. In the end I view ir as a defect on this product and in itself not a huge one to some maybe, but in addition to the yellowing and light leakage it definitely warrants a return.

I compared my rMini to a rMini of a friend that doesn't suffer from ir and it just looked much cleaner and sharper. Something I have noticed on the last few devices is that when I start them up for the first time there are of some faint gray vertical streaks on the screen and they all turn up having ir.

 

[yoshimeow]

yeah i went through 11 ipad mini's as well.. and all were LTE/Celluar models.. Not a single one had a good screen. All had the 1/3 yellow and overall the display was just yellow and washed out compared to the bright white ones in the Apple store. I'm about to give up. All were manufactured from week 48-51 from Foxxconn and Pegatron. NO difference. All Were CRAP. Sigh...

 

[maflynn]

yeah i went through 11 ipad mini's as well.

11 wow, The first and only rMini I got was perfect.

 

[Dlanod]

11 wow, The first and only rMini I got was perfect.

Jackpot!

 

[TheSwede]

Hello everyone!
So, I live in Sweden, Stockholm and to what I must assume is no one's surprise we have faulty rMinis over here as well.

I'm also from Sweden, Gothenburg. Tons of rMinis here in the west coast with yellow screens towards the home button. I decided to go south and try my luck at the Apple Store in Helsingborg. Picked up a rMini 128gb LTE. I have a really great screen on mine. No ir or yellowing. Feel relly lucky.

I suggst you wait a moth or so and try again, maybe you'll have better luck with a more recent batch.

Good luck!

 

[Bonaqua]

I'm also from Sweden, Gothenburg. Tons of rMinis here in the west coast with yellow screens towards the home button. I decided to go south and try my luck at the Apple Store in Helsingborg. Picked up a rMini 128gb LTE. I have a really great screen on mine. No ir or yellowing. Feel relly lucky.

I suggst you wait a moth or so and try again, maybe you'll have better luck with a more recent batch.

Good luck!

This gives me hope. I might do that. Thanks for the info mate!

 

[TheSwede]

This gives me hope. I might do that. Thanks for the info mate!

Some new info from my end. I just picked up a rMini for my girlfriend, same config as mine (Silver 128gb LTE). I ordered it online from http://www.elgiganten.se
I've been keeping a close eye on this vendors inventory of this particular model and it jumped from zero (which it has been at since launchday) to 50+ on friday meaning they got a fresh batch.

The screen is awesome on this one too, It's actually even better then mine.

Production week is 51.
I could just be lucky but something tells me the newer ones are way better the early production ones.

 

[Bonaqua]

Some new info from my end. I just picked up a rMini for my girlfriend, same config as mine (Silver 128gb LTE). I ordered it online from http://www.elgiganten.se
I've been keeping a close eye on this vendors inventory of this particular model and it jumped from zero (which it has been at since launchday) to 50+ on friday meaning they got a fresh batch.

The screen is awesome on this one too, It's actually even better then mine.

Production week is 51.
I could just be lucky but something tells me the newer ones are way better the early production ones.

Thanks for the info mate. I actually got my 12th rMini this weekend from Elgiganten and it was the best so far as leakage/yellowing is concerned... almost nonexistent -- and there was no ir as well. But with my luck I wasn't surprised to find 3 dead pixels staring right back at me + what looks to be as dust/dirt under the screen in one location. Thinking about switching to the Air... though I've heard there is just as much problems with yellowing there but at least there doesn't seem to be much talk about ir on that model.

 

[samiznaetekto]

I actually got my 12th rMini this weekend from Elgiganten and it was the best so far as leakage/yellowing is concerned... almost nonexistent -- and there was no ir as well. But with my luck I wasn't surprised to find 3 dead pixels staring right back at me + what looks to be as dust/dirt under the

Dude, you're a pro! You've had them all, the iPad-exchange-wannabe's who only returned 6, 9, 11 units... You're on the 12th and no one can stop ya! Will you set the World Guinness record of most iPads exchanged, ever?

 

[Bonaqua]

Dude, you're a pro! You've had them all, the iPad-exchange-wannabe's who only returned 6, 9, 11 units... You're on the 12th and no one can stop ya! Will you set the World Guinness record of most iPads exchanged, ever?

Sigh....

 

[TheSwede]

Thanks for the info mate. I actually got my 12th rMini this weekend from Elgiganten and it was the best so far as leakage/yellowing is concerned... almost nonexistent -- and there was no ir as well. But with my luck I wasn't surprised to find 3 dead pixels staring right back at me + what looks to be as dust/dirt under the screen in one location. Thinking about switching to the Air... though I've heard there is just as much problems with yellowing there but at least there doesn't seem to be much talk about ir on that model.

That really sucks =(
I would still not recommend trying your luck with the Air. I have not seen any Air without bookspine issue. Also, It is the rMini you want so you will not be fully satisfied in the end if you choose the Air. just try again with the same vendor, I truly believe they got a good batch from their supplier.

Let me know how it goes.

 

[yoshimeow]

finally!

my 12th i[ad mini arrived today and FINALLY the screen is perfect!!!
no yellow, nice bright white and even.. I"m glad I can finally stop worrying about the screen and can enjoy my ipad now

Goood luck everyone

 

[samiznaetekto]

my 12th i[ad mini arrived today and FINALLY the screen is perfect!!!
no yellow, nice bright white and even.. I"m glad I can finally stop worrying about the screen and can enjoy my ipad now

Goood luck everyone

Are you sure? Maybe a little too optimistic? Too tired from returns? Post a pic of your 'perfect' screen here so we internet expertz make the final verdict.

 

[GoCubsGo]

Are you sure? Maybe a little too optimistic? Too tired from returns? Post a pic of your 'perfect' screen here so we internet expertz make the final verdict.

haha awesome.

OP, people like you make me wonder if I am incapable of seeing problems with iDevices.

 

[yoshimeow]

Are you sure? Maybe a little too optimistic? Too tired from returns? Post a pic of your 'perfect' screen here so we internet expertz make the final verdict.

haha yes maybe im all burned out.. but yes i'm sure... No ugly yellow transition.. I'll post some pics later.

 

[yoshimeow]

I posted some pics in this thread.. .

https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/18641302/

 

[J4B3]

For what it's worth (re: Yellow 1/3 screen issue), my 16GB rMini had the issue but it didn't affect or really bother me. Two weeks later, it seemed liked the yellowing disappeared and the display appeared much more crisp and white. In the past I would've gone through a similar effort in finding a perfect screen but got tired of investing all the time and energy when in all probability I won't even own the device in another 8 months.

Long story short, I decided I needed 32GB and I was within the Apple return period. I took the 32GB home and compared it against my 16GB, and wow...that 32GB looked just as yellow and my 16GB when I first bought it. It doesn't bother me, but I'm starting to think that maybe these (IGZO?) displays require some sort of warm-up period. Either way, I'm loving my rMini.

 

[yoshimeow]

For what it's worth (re: Yellow 1/3 screen issue), my 16GB rMini had the issue but it didn't affect or really bother me. Two weeks later, it seemed liked the yellowing disappeared and the display appeared much more crisp and white. In the past I would've gone through a similar effort in finding a perfect screen but got tired of investing all the time and energy when in all probability I won't even own the device in another 8 months.

Long story short, I decided I needed 32GB and I was within the Apple return period. I took the 32GB home and compared it against my 16GB, and wow...that 32GB looked just as yellow and my 16GB when I first bought it. It doesn't bother me, but I'm starting to think that maybe these (IGZO?) displays require some sort of warm-up period. Either way, I'm loving my rMini.

From what i've read and from my own experience i believe there are two different screen suppliers. (LG & Sharp) I dont know which is the yellow one or which is the crisper white one. But one is definitely inferior to the other.

From my experience it looks like the brighter white ones do not have the yellow tint. Although some seem to suggest these suffer more from IR issues.

The other one is the warmer color screen which suffers from the yellow tint. The yellow tint varies from screen to screen. . Some displays are really really bad and some although still yellow from the bottom 1/3 is less noticeable.

The two screens look VERY different when compared next to each other.

 

[SandboxGeneral]

11 wow, The first and only rMini I got was perfect.

Same here. I have zero complaints with mine, unless you want to count the lack of Touch ID on it. Otherwise, I'm a happy customer.

 

[yoshimeow]

Same here. I have zero complaints with mine, unless you want to count the lack of Touch ID on it. Otherwise, I'm a happy customer.

My first one had a perfect screen but it had a blemish on the chamfer edge right out of the box. I would have kept it if I had to know the trouble I'd have to endure. Right when I powered on my 2nd iPad I saw the yellow. Even asked if I could exchange my old one back. Apparently they can't do that. That was the start of my issues. 11 iPads later I finally have a good screen again. Oh and no blemish on the edge!!!!

 

[SandboxGeneral]

My first one had a perfect screen but it had a blemish on the chamfer edge right out of the box. I would have kept it if I had to know the trouble I'd have to endure. Right when I powered on my 2nd iPad I saw the yellow. Even asked if I could exchange my old one back. Apparently they can't do that. That was the start of my issues. 11 iPads later I finally have a good screen again. Oh and no blemish on the edge!!!!

Nice you finally found one you're happy with. For me, I can live with a blemish because no doubt it'll acquire some with use over time anyhow.

 

[yoshimeow]

Nice you finally found one you're happy with. For me, I can live with a blemish because no doubt it'll acquire some with use over time anyhow.

Oh I can totally live with a blemish. I totally regretted taking it back after the replacement had a yellow screen... It was my gf that convinced me. She was like well you paid for a new iPad and it was damaged out of the box. Go get a replacement. At the time I didn't even know about the screen issues...