iPad mini rMini Image Retention Problem-Tested

[NovemberWhiskey]

32 GB Space Gray Wifi rMini:

Serial DLXL

Failed IR test. Faint checkers persist. Tested at auto brightness in a normally lit room at 1PM.

 

[JSalig]

Wrong post.

 

[KPOM]

Awesome device though. I feel bad for returning both as I hate returning open items with no defects but I hate second guessing myself even more. Sorry, Apple. May my $750 dry your tears.

I wouldn't worry too much. They have a generous return policy for a reason. People are more likely to make a big purchase if they know they aren't going to be "stuck" with it. Plus, you did buy one to keep. The returned units will be someone else's post-holiday refurb purchases. Just tell yourself that you saved two people 15%!

 

[rtomyj]

From personal experience. They set up a support page for it. Image persistence suffering screens are 'in-spec' according to apple an they said as it is 'normal' they won't replace it.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5455?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

This doesn't mean apple won't replace a product, but it means they don't have to and can refuse you, which is what happened to me in store and on the phone.

Ah I see. I would go again and be polite (maybe you were I don't know) they have feelings too #.

 

[Dlanod]

Has anyone with WiFi + Cellular models had this problem?

Yup. My 32GB cellular did.

 

[OzyOly]

Ah I see. I would go again and be polite (maybe you were I don't know) they have feelings too ��.

I wasn't overly polite when I was told on the phone to go to my nearest store, which was 50 miles away at the time, then to get there and for them to not replace the defective screen. I must have spent £100 back and forth to stores and authorised repair centres for that iMac. In the end I sold it and got a MacBook Pro, no image persistence at all, same with the Air that replaced it.

Yup. My 32GB cellular did.

Does not bode well for my iPad that I ordered on release then, if it turns up. 🙁

 

[omnious]

DM.. = China - Foxconn
DL.. = China - Foxconn

..PL = October 2013
..QL = November 2013
..XL = November 2013

So all that DMPL, DMQL and DXLX mean is that they are made by Foxconn factory and depending what they had in stock, they first used LG, then Samsung and finally Sharp screen.

I seriously doubt that serial number will include any hardware configuration. You really need to run something in iOS to determine screen maker, if anything.

 

[OzyOly]

So that means every iPad from December onwards will have image retention issues because of sharp. Great. 😡

 

[JSalig]

At least the box doesn't have to be opened before checking manufacturer.

 

[OzyOly]

At least the box doesn't have to be opened before checking manufacturer.

I think all the Samsung and LG ones will have gone by the time my cellular model arrives in December. I should have bought in store instead of ordering online. Damn...

 

[NovemberWhiskey]

DM.. = China - Foxconn
DL.. = China - Foxconn

..PL = October 2013
..QL = November 2013
..XL = November 2013

So all that DMPL, DMQL and DXLX mean is that they are made by Foxconn factory and depending what they had in stock, they first used LG, then Samsung and finally Sharp screen.

I seriously doubt that serial number will include any hardware configuration. You really need to run something in iOS to determine screen maker, if anything.

Where did you get this info?

 

[rtomyj]

I wasn't overly polite when I was told on the phone to go to my nearest store, which was 50 miles away at the time, then to get there and for them to not replace the defective screen. I must have spent £100 back and forth to stores and authorised repair centres for that iMac. In the end I sold it and got a MacBook Pro, no image persistence at all, same with the Air that replaced it.



Does not bode well for my iPad that I ordered on release then, if it turns up. 🙁

Holy **** 50 miles it is a lot. At least your done with that though.

 

[shadowyman]

I think all the Samsung and LG ones will have gone by the time my cellular model arrives in December. I should have bought in store instead of ordering online. Damn...

Mine is bought from a store and hell it has the problem.

 

[OzyOly]

Holy **** 50 miles it is a lot. At least your done with that though.

Yeah, not a lot of Apple Stores in the UK at the time. My nearest one now is 30 miles away.

Mine is bought from a store and hell it has the problem.

That's sort of good to know in one way, but I feel bad for you having to go through the trouble of a return. 🙁

 

[Smurfqq]

Ok so... having the issue in the test but not during normal use. My previous post said it doesn't matter for me but... Is it something that gets worse over time?

 

[tbolt11]

I would think that Apple would replace ones with problem displays within the 12-month warranty period. I was hoping that worse-case I get one with a sub-par display I could use it for months until they get some better quality control. I guess I'll hope for a good one otherwise I'll return until I get one without it

 

[richard371]

I left mine on the settings screen for about 5 mins and then switched to the grey screen used in the retention test and I could faintly make out some of the words etc from the settings screen. Im not sure how it will affect it in real world user or if it will get worse over time. It went bad but still not right for a device this expensive.

As far as the grid goes i start to get retention after just a minute. At 2 minutes is very obvious.

Now I know why there wasn't much of a shortage of the minis as rumored. Apple decided to go with the bad screens so they could sell as many as possible for the holidays. I assume they figured it would be more profitable and just replace the ones where people complain about it or notice the issue. Once the demand is fulfilled they will not use anymore of the screens with image retentions.

 

[OzyOly]

Now I know why there wasn't much of a shortage of the minis as rumored. Apple decided to go with the bad screens so they could sell as many as possible for the holidays. I assume they figured it would be more profitable and just replace the ones where people complain about it or notice the issue. Once the demand is fulfilled they will not use anymore of the screens with image retentions.

That's the same conclusion I've come to. I can see myself spending a lot of petrol getting to and from the apple store in the next few weeks/months exchanging iPads.

 

[Oppressed]

What's the ipad mini version and when did you order it? Was it pickup or china posted?

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Well mine has the same but still burns. I think all iPads start with the same serial anyway, what matters are the last four. Would u mind sharing what version did u get

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And for those who say, why would you torture your screen to see if it fails. We'll think about the usage pattern. Say that you love using your mini as a desk clock while it's charging. Well, you can't use it that way anymore. Because if you do, you'll have retention problem very soon.

with normal usage my cellphone burnt in after 13 months when the warranty was over. YouTube burnt in on my screen and it was disaster. Then everything started burning in and at the end it was a mess on my screen, can't see what's there anymore.

This is just not acceptable. I know how much we'd like to love our devices but faulty is faulty. No matter how we want to think them of as very good, some are not. I hope I will find a version which doesn't have this problem like some of people here.

Here a the camera shot after the screen went gray to show looks like no burn in. DLXL.

 

[mac.cali]

The rMini also failed IPX7 certification testing. I'm sending mine back.

What's IPX7? 😕

 

[bkribbs]

He doesn't. Image retention isn't covered by the warranty. In the UK we get 12 months cover for manufacturing defects, but Apple deny this is a problem.



Was there?

Yeah it was a guy dropping an air from above shoulder height on pavement I believe and the thread was about how apple needs to make their iPads survive that fall.

 

[zbarvian]

What's IPX7? 😕

Waterproofing, it's a joke. I think.

 

[ZBoater]

What's IPX7? 😕

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP_Code

IPX7 - Immersion up to 1 m of water - Ingress of water in harmful quantity shall not be possible when the enclosure is immersed in water under defined conditions of pressure and time (up to 1 m of submersion). Test duration: 30 minutes. Immersion at depth of at least 1 m measured at bottom of device, and at least 15 cm measured at top of device.

Yes, it was in jest. Just another meaningless test. 🙄

 

[mac.cali]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP_Code

IPX7 - Immersion up to 1 m of water - Ingress of water in harmful quantity shall not be possible when the enclosure is immersed in water under defined conditions of pressure and time (up to 1 m of submersion). Test duration: 30 minutes. Immersion at depth of at least 1 m measured at bottom of device, and at least 15 cm measured at top of device.

Yes, it was in jest. Just another meaningless test. 🙄

LOL. Sorry a bit slow today. I just did the test from the first post. Full brightness with auto lock turned off. Ran for 10 minutes with no problem at all. I purchased from Apple so I have till Jan 7th for the return. Hopefully nothing occurs, but I'm pretty confident Apple will take care of their customers in the event a problem does occur.

 

[richard371]

What are the first 4 letters of your serial number. Trying to see if there is a pattern.

LOL. Sorry a bit slow today. I just did the test from the first post. Full brightness with auto lock turned off. Ran for 10 minutes with no problem at all. I purchased from Apple so I have till Jan 7th for the return. Hopefully nothing occurs, but I'm pretty confident Apple will take care of their customers in the event a problem does occur.