iPad White Bezel - Is it Really That Distracting?

[JGWolven]

Hello,

This question is more geared to those who've had a white iPad, or have gone from white to black. One of the more common things I hear is that the bezel around the white really is distracting when viewing media.. is there any truth to that? With those who have a white iPad, do you wish you had gone with the black version? Or those who have gone from white to black, have you noticed a difference when it comes to viewing anything on the device?

 

[Will2145]

I've had a white ipad 4 for about a year now and the white bezels don't distract me at all. I like the look of white ipads better

 

[HoosBruce]

having never owned an iPad I feel like I am a white iPad and black iPhone kind of guy

 

[Eckscaliber]

It is extremely distracting. I would never consider buying another white device.

 

[mhdena]

Works really well for tv

So popular they can't keep em on the shelfs

 

[Marrakas]

It's about as distracting as having a wall behind your TV.

In other words, not at all.

 

[Charliebird]

I find that fingerprints and dirt really distract me on a black bezel. For some weird reason I don't notice it so much on the white bezel so I find the white bezel less distracting.

 

[elistan]

Less distracting than a black bezel, IMO. No fingerprints, and defines the screen well. If I'm interacting with a dark rendering, I have a better idea where I can and cannot touch. Granted, I don't do much passive video watching with my iPad beyond the occasional YouTube video. Mostly it's games, email, web browsing and some utils.

 

[Macalway]

For movies with the black border, maybe

But then web borders are whitish (especially with 7) so web may look fantastic

Note: There seems to be a white bias now. I mean, BIG time

 

[wmitch]

I watched a lot of Netflix on my white iPad and never thought about it. i have the black iPhone though and the fingerprints and smudges drive me nuts!
If i get the new iPad it will def be White.

not sure if there's really 1 right answer though. Probably a matter of personal opinion.

 

[Epiphron]

yea def personal opinion. the white ipad 2 was super distracting for me especially since it reflects light. so i got a black ipad 4. i prefer to have the bezel just disappear and the screen to pop out

 

[nanogirl21]

yes

 

[sparky1234]

I bought a white iPad mini because I heard that scratches on black iPad minis were a lot more noticeable. The white bezel didn't bother me at all.

I heard someone once compare the white bezel to the margins of a book and the black bezel to the borders of a computer or TV screen (I think it was Rene Ritchie of iMore). The point being that both have their analogues in the real world.

Really, it's a matter of personal preference. For me, I think the white bezel of the iPad mini was a nice change of pace from all the black iOS devices I own and have owned in the past.

Having said that, I'll probably buy the Space Grey next, just cause it's a new colour.

 

[haruhiko]

White iPhone is fine since the bezel is small. But on the iPad it will be quite noticeable. So I went for a white silver iPhone 5s (partly because of the beautiful silvery Touch ID ring) but I'm buying a Space Grey iPad Air.

 

[joonyaboy]

White makes iOS7 look so much better, bigger even

 

[Yoohoo1231]

Not at all.

I had the black bezel on the first gen iPad and then I went with a white iPad 3 and I've honestly never noticed it.

 

[jjp007]

For me I prefer a black iPad for watching video. The white was distracting for me. I have the white iPhone 5s and. I love it as I don't watch movies on it.

 

[rui no onna]

For me it is. I normally watch at night with the lights off and the white bezel doesn't exactly blend in the background.

 

[Bokes]

I have the iPad 3 in white and a mini in white.
It's not distracting unless you think about it vs pay attention to what you're doing. If you start paying attention to looking at the border- yeah it distracts.

The white stands out most while watching video.
Anything else like reading, browsing, games...the white blends in really nice.

 

[Altis]

Just for photos and video, white makes a pretty poor border. It tends to make the screen feel smaller as a result of having the borders so clearly defined. It also just plain stands out more.

There's a reason TVs and computer monitors tend to stick with black borders and have for many years.

For other iOS 7 stuff, white is okay.

 

[GoCubsGo]

Just for photos and video, white makes a pretty poor border. It tends to make the screen feel smaller as a result of having the borders so clearly defined. It also just plain stands out more.

There's a reason TVs and computer monitors tend to stick with black borders and have for many years.

For other iOS 7 stuff, white is okay.

In your opinion. Perhaps try those words.

I've never had a black iPad but I've used one. I didn't feel like my iPad was smaller or anything of the sort. I think people have varied perceptions. You have to really use both to decide.

 

[AppleRobert]

I posted the same inquiry six months ago. Replies were 50-50. I have a white Mini and watch video in low lit rooms since then. Priceless!

 

[Altis]

In your opinion. Perhaps try those words.

I've never had a black iPad but I've used one. I didn't feel like my iPad was smaller or anything of the sort. I think people have varied perceptions. You have to really use both to decide.

Some things are scientific to the human brain. Have you noticed movies use black bars rather than white ones to constrain aspect ratio? Have you noticed how many black/dark grey TVs and monitors there are versus white/light ones? It isn't all by accident.

For watching video and photos, black is going to be better than white; however, white may or may not bother you. It will also vary depending on ambient light as well as duration of use.

 

[Freida]

for watching movies - yes, absolutely distracting. Black + black stripes is ok. White + black stripes = no no no

but go to any apple store and try them both, you will see

 

[caesarp]

Some things are scientific to the human brain. Have you noticed movies use black bars rather than white ones to constrain aspect ratio? Have you noticed how many black/dark grey TVs and monitors there are versus white/light ones? It isn't all by accident.

For watching video and photos, black is going to be better than white; however, white may or may not bother you. It will also vary depending on ambient light as well as duration of use.

It has more to do with perceived contrast ratio/black level, which is only important when doing critical viewing, such as in a home theater or perhaps a large TV. For casual viewing on a small device like an iPad, it is not very important.

On your 100 inch projection screen or 55 inch plasma/LCD, black borders may help. On a small device which is generally not used for high-end video performance, not really worth the consideration.

Heck, the only time that I generally watch entire films on my iPad is while traveling on an airplane. Talk about distractions -- the border on the iPad is the least of my issues when on a plane. Sir, do you want coffee, excuse me I need to go to the bathroom; pilot announcements, etc.