Lesser of two evils eh? For the sake of my sanity, I'll follow in your steps.
Sad that's it's come to this, after all, I didn't buy the iPad from the bargain bin.
-Kevin
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iPad mini rMini Image Retention Problem-Tested
- Thread starter shadowyman
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Sad that's it's come to this, after all, I didn't buy the iPad from the bargain bin.
-Kevin
Ahh seriously... I totally agree with this. I've spilt more than 500 dollars for thingy and it has all the crappy problems only a tablet out of a bargain bin could have. Maybe I got mine from the garbage bin. I am looking forward to the order I placed online to compare with mine. If they are the same, I will return both.
Sounds to me like you've had extraordinarily bad luck. As an owner of every iPhone and iPad, I've NEVER had these issues. We typically keep our phone through the subsidy and sell before upgrading. Never once have I sold an iPhone or iPad with IR. We've still got an iPad original and iPad 2. During normal, everyday tasks, we've never had that become a problem. The original iPad is now definitely showing its age but still fairs well for our 8 year old son and his 'workflow'. Mine craft, YouTube, Netflix or movies he wants to watch, and basic games, books and media he enjoys.
So that means every iPad from December onwards will have image retention issues because of sharp. Great.
I can't imagine that being the case. As their production experience and efficiency progresses, and the IGZO process continues to refine, I'm sure Apple will be working to continue improving not just IR, but extended color gamut, better contrast, brighter backlighting...this rMini for all intents and purposes is a 'gen 1' design. I bought last years rMBP and am familiar with taking the leap of faith. Mine developed IR after about 3.5 months. LG display. They replaced it within a day and a half. Sammy display. No issues since and with the improvements made to the OS as well as developer support for HiDPI displays, I couldn't be happier. Mine runs like a dream. Hang on for a bit. If there's one company that is actually worth 'betting on' with first generation products or 'updates' of significance, it's Apple. Phenomenal post purchase support and up to a year, you're covered. Bad IR, which admittedly I've never seen on an iOS device as mentioned above...will be 'fixed', replaced (if you've got a bad unit)---& most certainly improved upon as these technologies mature.
Define 'problem'. Are you seriously running this silly test for 10 minutes at full brightness? If so....that does not necessarily constitute a 'problem'. Rather a limitation on how hard you can push this display technology. Just as the CPU will throttle after being pushed over time....just as the the GPU will only provide so many FPS in your favorite shooter...all hardware has limitations.
The question is in real world usage....will you EVER see this 'issue' you've replicated in a test beyond its capabilities? With several years of iOS experience in my pocket, I'd be suspect.
Which isn't a 'good' thing. Especially considering other mini tabs have managed to 'nail' it. Display of the new HDX Kindle has now taken the 'crown' for display performance...including gamut coverage as well as achieving top marks across the board. Not that IMHO the Kindle's are a replacement for an iPad by any measure, they DID manage to put a helluva display in there.
They've reinvented a pair of industries in the past 6 years. Completely transformed the cell phone industry and developed a tablet industry that was at best a niche category owned by very few. There's a bit....no, a LOT more to their success than you're giving them credit for
As a self proclaimed 'power user' (we put 60-80 hours on our iPads a week), I can assure you it's definitely NOT a 'widespread problem' in again, 'real world usage and workflow' regardless of what you're doing with it. In fact, I'd argue non power, casual users would notice the issue a bit more (if in fact it was actually wide spread) as they use fewer apps, for longer periods of time....and traditional they use the 'stock' apps with a lot of white or off white backgrounds that would show off the retention issues more readily than those of us using third party apps and actually multi tasking and moving between productivity software with many different UIs
Go big with your storage. iPad lends itself to consumption more so than the iPhone. Videos, games, even magazines that I subscribe to....one monthly edition is 6-800mb! It's easy to fill up 16GB.
As far as which to choose. That's a bitch. I've got the original Mini and LOVE it. We use iPads for our business so we've also got 4 iPad '4's. And I just bought the Air. I'll be replacing my wife's '2' (she's not been eager to update. Doesn't see the 'retina' improvement but is now very much in live with our original Mini) with the new rMini for Christmas. To me, I've found specific uses for both. The Air and the mini. If I absolutely could ONLY own one, it would be the Air. But the mini...tough to give up. Amazing power upgrade from the previous generation (see Anand's new review), up to 500% improvements in graphics, CPU power...and obviously the display's resolution. It's an amazing year to year update.
Good luck
J
Ok, I ran this stupid test again for 5 minutes at default brightness and noticed a small amount of IR (darn OCD). I don't want to play the return/exchange lottery because I'm really happy with the unit. What I am thinking about is purchasing AppleCare which I've never done for an iPad. I hate to spend $99 for a $499 device since that's 20% cost of the unit. Is it possible to get a better deal on the price of AppleCare?
If your screen is evenly tinted (or evenly un-tinted), keep it. You'll never notice it once you start using is in a normal fashion.
As far as Applecare, it's not my thing but my GF always buys it. Neither of us have ever needed it.
It really isn't something you can cost-assess since you don't have any sense of it's real worth (i.e., the amount it reduces the cost of a repair).
I've seen deals on the regular AppleCare for MacBooks, but not for AppleCare+ for iPad.
That's what I'm going to do. I finally got a pretty even untinted screen but with the image retention.....unless it starts affecting normal usage I'm keeping it.
I'd skip AppleCare personally. If the image retention becomes an issue even later one and you can show it to the genius, I'd have to imagine they'd replace it with a refurb for you.
-Kevin
Well the 32GB would be roomy for me. Especially if I don't put any music on the iPad which I likely won't. Even so money is tight for me and the $100 difference is big for me. But I certainly would not want to regret getting the 16GB instead of the 32GB model.
I'm also considering whether to get the cellular version or not. I have an iPhone 4S and although the screen is retina and therefore nice and clear it definitely feels cramped compared to using even the rMini iPad. If I had cellular for the iPad I could that for web browsing and such. Especially for reading it'd be a more comfortable experience.
As it pertains to Air vs rMini. I love both but I've noticed upon testing out both at an Apple Store that the colours seems more vibrant on the Air then the rMini. Plus the Air seems to have a brighter display compared to the rMini. Yet I find the rMini more comfortable to hold given I don't have very big hands. It's definitely a tough choice all around.
FWIW the iPad 4 had significant image retention but it seems you guys have all forgotten about that.
Yep, it did. Image retention doesn't affect the iPad much at all, my iPad 4 failed the test on day one, but I used it for a year and never noticed it at all.
My Retina MBP 15" failed the IR test and has become worse and worse... I will actually notice it now switching to a different app, not just a grey screen.
Even THEN, I still don't really care because my Retina screen has good screen uniformity, white levels and brightness. I probably won't get a replacement screen until year 2 into my AppleCare.
There are going to be some people that feel just because it has image retention that it should be returned. I say more power to you....if you want to return it go ahead.
Me, I'm betting I will never see this in normal usage.
I did some testing last night and a lot of it is what color background you go to AFTER the retention happens. For example, one review said you might not want this if you go to type an email and there is an image of your last game on the screen. Well at least with mine, you can't even see the retention on a white background at all.....or even on the light grey areas.
If I leave the settings screen on for a few minutes, and then switch to the library view of the kindle app (which is grey) then yes....I see the retention. But honestly, I wouldn't be doing that.
It's all going to be based upon your individual usage and I say....if you see it under normal circumstances and it affects the way you use your iPad.....definitely take it back to Apple and show them. Can't imagine they'd refuse to swap it even a year in.
I'm unwilling to take the chance right now of getting an uneven tinted yellow screen.....I finally got a cooler uniform rMini and I'm happy.
I do wish there was a way to figure out the screen manufacturer (just to satisfy my geek curiosity)....it's interesting that on one of my rMinis it has no image retention but overall it warmer with a slight tint on the left. The 2nd rMini has the retention but has a uniform display that is much cooler. If I put up a solid with image, you can see the color difference between the two.
-Kevin
rMini with DLXL serial, very minor retention after 8 minutes on test at full brightness. (Couldn't wait the full 10 minutes... OCD + no patience equals OCADD). Also, no light leaks, no tint.
I'll keep it; overall, I'm very satisfied. I normally run at half brightness, and this will be mostly music and podcast playback, plus reading. Not worth playing return/exchange roulette.
I'll keep it; overall, I'm very satisfied. I normally run at half brightness, and this will be mostly music and podcast playback, plus reading. Not worth playing return/exchange roulette.
Love the OCADD!
I did one of these IR tests on my 2013 rMBP and iPad 4. Seeing the "I'm Not Responsible for Damage" warning on this particular test is enough to keep me away. Just keep Google's home screen up for a few minutes, and then switch to your devices home screen. If you see "Google", there could be a problem. My iPad 4 exhibited IR for a few minutes after doing one of the checkerboard tests, but I never saw IR in any daily use. I would suggest that people not look too deeply for problems. You'll find your wife isn't as wonderful as you thought, or your kids, job, school, and even your breath. Life isn't all that short, but it's short enough not to sweat things too much. Enjoy what was a Sci-Fi prop until recently.
Just ran the test in both my brand new mini and my old iPad 2.
Mini showed some IR all over the screen, iPad 2 was limited to about 2-3 inches in on all sides. Since apparently my iPad 2 had IR every day I used it for the last two and a half years, I've decided it's not enough of a concern. I literally never noticed a single issue and since I don't expect my usage to change, or stare at checkerboards for ten minutes at a clip, I'm pretty content.
Mini showed some IR all over the screen, iPad 2 was limited to about 2-3 inches in on all sides. Since apparently my iPad 2 had IR every day I used it for the last two and a half years, I've decided it's not enough of a concern. I literally never noticed a single issue and since I don't expect my usage to change, or stare at checkerboards for ten minutes at a clip, I'm pretty content.
DQTL (16GB black wifi model) first 4 digits of serial no.
No trace of image retention or checkerboard pattern at full brightness for 10 min.
2 min in the screen dimmed but the last 8 minutes I kept dragging the notification bar down by a few mm so the grid would be unobstructed and full brightness. Tried looking from every angle, bright room and dark and the grey screen was very uniform.
No trace of image retention or checkerboard pattern at full brightness for 10 min.
2 min in the screen dimmed but the last 8 minutes I kept dragging the notification bar down by a few mm so the grid would be unobstructed and full brightness. Tried looking from every angle, bright room and dark and the grey screen was very uniform.
My iPad 2 bit me in the arse with image retention. It developed noticeable retention after the one year warranty. If I had ran tests on it earlier I may have noticed and could have possibly prevented it through exchange. You live and learn with these expensive purchases. I'm not going to hope that it doesn't get worse because I've seen it go from unnoticeable to *quite* apparent (read URLs on lock screen after several minutes for starters) on past models.
It can be quite annoying switching from Safari to the photo library or a drawing app and having the top controls and URL readily visible across what I'm trying to view (or show others in a meeting, especially UI mockups). On my iPad 2 retention was primarily found around the outer 1-1.5" of the display.
Even out of warranty did you ever take it to Apple and ask them about it? I would hope they would help you out considering it's clearly an issue with the display and not something you did.
-Kevin
Ok guys so I thought I'd weigh in here. I ordered my retina mini 16gb space gray wifi on launch day. So I've been waiting patiently for it so get here all the while reading all the positive and negative reviews like a good apple fanboy. Now I'd like to preface this by letting you guys know, when it comes to occadd or whatever it is, I am the worst. I have returned every single iPhone and iPad I've owned for various reasons, my iPhone 4 had three replacements with home button and wifi reception issues, 4 iPad 2's with massive light bleed, iPad 3 light Bleed aed IR. iPhone 5 had a faulty camera unit and the second came out of the box with gnarly scratches and a gap between the aluminum and screen. iPhone 5s home button was intermittently responsive and the next replacement had a black splotch on the LCD right above the home button and backlight shining through the actual bezel in a dark room. What a freakin nightmare. However apple has always made it right. Now, onto my new iPad mini retina
I just received the unit and about 2hours ago I fired it up, going through my usual battery of tests,checking the body for imperfections, making sure the home button was clicky and all the hardware was functioning as it should. I got through the setup up screen and took an all black background full brightness into a dark room to check light leak etc, also ran the IR Test 3 times 8-10min each. I am very very pleased to report this unit is flawless, and I mean it can't get better than this. ZERO IR, no backlight bleed, no discoloration and honestly my color seems insanely better then the demo units I saw at the apple store as well, so after combing through the many posts about pad screens and serial numbers I'm super happy to have such a perfect unit.
My serial number is a DLXLN wifi only space gray 16gb
I just received the unit and about 2hours ago I fired it up, going through my usual battery of tests,checking the body for imperfections, making sure the home button was clicky and all the hardware was functioning as it should. I got through the setup up screen and took an all black background full brightness into a dark room to check light leak etc, also ran the IR Test 3 times 8-10min each. I am very very pleased to report this unit is flawless, and I mean it can't get better than this. ZERO IR, no backlight bleed, no discoloration and honestly my color seems insanely better then the demo units I saw at the apple store as well, so after combing through the many posts about pad screens and serial numbers I'm super happy to have such a perfect unit.
My serial number is a DLXLN wifi only space gray 16gb
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I didn't. I noticed it about a month or two after AppleCare expired. Googled around some and others didn't seem to have much luck. Should have pushed it further but lived pretty far from an Apple Store at the time. Now I only live kind of far from them. In my experience it's a toss up on whether they will help you. Depends on who you get that day. Kind of random. Didn't have much hope as around that time my grandpa was having to pay out on my old MBP to get it fixed for the nVidia graphics card failure issue (which wasn't too far beyond the extended warranty at the time). Lately the resolution of some other issues have made me think they're getting better, but I won't risk chance on a 64GB LTE model.
I think this has less to do with serial number and more to do with model (wifi vs cellular). I bought 3 rMini iPads all DLXL serials. Cellular (AT&T and Verizon) showed IR within 2 min or less, the wifi model did not. Does anyone have a cellular one w/o IR issues?