iPad Pro 12.9 Screen Light Bleed

Hi Keithiwood,

In February 2019, with 2 months left on my iPad Pro 12" Gen 2 warranty, I sent in the devices for repair with the Apple Authorised Retailer (AAR). Apple replaced my unit no question asked.

However, 9 months later the replacement unit is starting to show signs of light bleed; the bleed is on the side of the "Smart Connector" where one attach the keyboard (this is on the same side to my previous unit). This time the AAR sent me an email a couple of days later telling me the device is out of warranty and it'll cost me money to repair.

I will contact Apple Support directly when I get the device back on Thursday and we shall see what is their response.

Same over here! IPad Pro 12.9” model a1670, I purchased this 1 year 3 mo. ago brand new from the Apple store and can’t believe this is happening to my screen!! My iPad is treated so so delicately, there is literally no reason nor excuse for this to be happening. If I get a replacement thru AppleCare+, that’s cool, sure, but uh ...why should I even have to pay the $50 fee for a replacement of a defective device that already cost me over 1200 dollars just one year ago...

...not to mention the fact that a replacement of the same model poses the same defective potential....if I have them replace it for me, once my AppleCare+ runs out this July I will be stuck with a device which is probably gonna do the same defective thing to me after another mere year of usage. I really hope Apple does something about this issue...they’re gonna be losing long-term loyal customers if not..

Same here, my wife and I both purchased iPad Pro 2nd Gen in October 2017. After 7 months mine (512GB) started to show light bleed down the edge where the smart connector sits. Apple replaced it under warranty no questions asked. A few months back both my wife and I noticed that both of our iPads, my 512GB and her 256GB are showing the same light bleed. Both out of warranty now so Apple aren’t interested. We’re now looking for an upgrade to a newer model but recyclers won’t offer the full value as they consider the screen damaged and wipe c.£200 off their trade in offer. Neither unit has had a hard life, both have been well looked after and are otherwise in perfect condition. Since the early iPad’s we’ve traded up after two years and never had any push back or price reduction. This is deeply unfair as it’s clearly a quality issue where the part isn’t robust enough to stand the test of time. Apple need to do the right thing and acknowledge this as their problem.

same issue.... i had the extended warranty but unfortunately my i pad pro was 2 years and 2 months when i just took it in, they said they dont repair these and offered a replacement at around $600. they said they had no idea what the problem was but implied it was caused by my use. They said third party repair may be able to do something, wondering if anyone has had any luck with that option? I really dont want to buy the replacement just to have it happen again , 2 years is not a good life span for a $1200 product.

I went to the Apple Store in November, they were asking over €600 for a replacement. With the same Gen. 2 model, which I refused. Doesn't make sense to pay for another unit which will fail again in a few months.

Obviously the large screen and thin edge is the issue here. A hardware design oversight. We can only wait and see if someone or some organisation will take up this issue in court to seek compensation.

Same problem but when I changed the screen to the dark option, I had no issues with the white. This tells me it’s not a pixel problem; give it a try and let me know if it disappears for your unit.

Thanx, Byron

That is because in dark mode, you effectively turn off thr majority of the iPad's backlight.

All you are doing by using dark mode all the time is hiding/masking the screen backlight problem/issue.

And not everyone wants to use dark mode all the time.

Dark mode is NOT a fix for the iPad Pro backlight defect.

Especially many third party apps do not use dark mode for the entire screen, like most sketching/drawing/painting/image editing apps, notes/handwriting apps, word processing apps, PDF apps, and the like.

The backlight issue would still show up in these types of apps.

Your solution/advice doesn't fix or solve that faulty backlight issue, at all.

Sorry, but it just doesn't.

I have screen bleed down all my left hand side my iPad is 2 years old 256gb 2nd gen it started a over 6 months ago now has got so much worst I’m claiming a repair off the uk consumer law which gives u 3 years from purchase I suggest u all do the same as it’s more a common flaw than some think maybe a battery expanding issue or the glue coming off inside I’m not taking no for a answer or willing to pay any more money out so consumer law gives me some hope

Thanx for the reply. I wasn’t suggesting it’s a fix; just a way to ignore the issue. Sort of a out of sight - out of mind.

May I suggest that Steve Jobs’ (R.I.P.) Apple is no longer a trustworthy company? Look how they’re dealing with this issue (S.O.L.)

I paid over $1,100 for my 2nd gen/12.9, 512gb, WIFI & Cellular. Apple offered me a $240 trade in value for my iPad PRO towards the purchase of the 3rd gen/12.9 (same specs.) What a gip!

You’re right. You are correct. The problem with Apple is the loyalty of it’s customers. I’m an Apple fanatic since the mid 70’s with the Apple II. I purchased a CPM board for it so I could use in A-II in the office.

Thanx for your perspective.

My iPad Pro 12.9 has the same problem, so I made an appointment at the Apple Store (Covent Garden, London, UK). My iPad is just 60 days out of Apple Care (yes I should have popped in earlier). I was quoted a whopping £465 ex VAT !!

Ridiculous. That is a repair of appr 50% of the new price of the machine, 2 years after the purchase. Although having been a live long Apple fan-boy I am now seriously wondering if the steep Apple prices are indeed the value for money that I always evangelised.

My new replacement iPad arrived today said there was a hardware issue with the old one they didn’t even fix it just replaced it under the 3 year consumer law like I said earlier my iPads was 2 years old on the 17th December 2019 so guys please try and claim under the consumer law and good luck

Thanx for your response.

I think that means the backlight frames breakdown differently. It’s not the same edge. Does anyone have this problem on two or more sides simultaneously? So far everyone is reporting it as a one side problem or on one edge problem.