iPad Air (2024) - sound from only three speaker grilles

Summary for those worried about the sound in iPad Air

The iPad Air 13” (2024) has two speakers but four speaker grilles. The four speaker grilles are clearly marked on Apples own technical illustration (see image in my earlier comment in this thread). For some unstated reason, sound emits from three of the four speaker grilles. Not two, not four, but three. There is no sound whatsoever coming from the fourth speaker grille on the new iPad Air.

Since there is sound coming from not two, but three of the speaker grilles, I have been concerned that my iPad Air is malfunctioning. But searching the internet on this issue, I have come to the conclusion that this is not the case. Apparently, this applies to all of the new iPad Air 13” models and my assessment is that there is a (deliberate?) sound leak from one of the speakers to this third grille.

This would mean that a fourth speaker grille on the iPad Air is not there for audio purposes. That makes, at least me, somewhat disillusioned by the strategy of Apple. It would, in my opinion, be more honest of Apple to have three speaker grilles on the ipad Air, or, inform that a fourth speaker grille on the iPad is not a speaker grille but just a “grille”.

My opinion on the sound, as a whole, on the iPad Air, is that it is adequate, and I am satisfied with the audio quality.

Thanks for your reply, I am sure your intentions are the best! But did you read what I wrote?

"Apparently, the new iPad Air only has two speakers, but that does not give a satisfactory explanation to why there is sound coming from three of the four grilles."

"Alas, changing the iPads settings and contact with Apple support has not helped to solve the issue."

"This community (and Reddit) already have several threads regarding the speakers on the new iPad Air."

You write: "Don’t be fooled by your iPad Air seemingly having four speaker grilles." Now, that is what I am afraid of, that Apple has fooled me and other owners of the new iPad Air.

I have yet to see a satisfactory explanation as to why so many (all?) of the new iPad Air models only emit sound from three of the four speaker grilles.

If you did read my post, I don’t see why you twice state the obvious, that the iPad Air has only two speakers.

You write: “As to why you perceive sound to be coming from three of the "speaker

grilles" to which you refer, I cannot speculate.”

This has not got nothing to do with perception. The sound pressure emitting from the

three grilles can easily be measured using the microphone on a mobile phone.

You also write: “Apple isn't trying to fool anyone.”

I wouldn’t agree with your statement looking at Apple’s own illustration:

As I earlier wrote, I am sure your intentions are the best. My advice to you is to read, and make sure you understand, the content in other people’s posts before you reply.

You earlier wrote: “Apple isn't trying to fool anyone.” (I don't understand how you can be so categorically sure of that.) When I then submitted Apple’s own technical illustration that clearly shows four speaker grilles on the iPad Air, you did not comment on that. Instead, you wrote: “… we are assured that all such submissions are logged and forwarded to the appropriate internal teams.” That, in combination with that you all of a sudden referred to the plural “we” surely leads one to believe that you are affiliated or hired by Apple or an Apple-apologist.

If you perceive me to have been rude in my replies, I apologize.

Thanks for your reply! You seem to be a reasonable community contributor.

That being said, I don’t agree with everything you write: “Sound in a device like this is not and cannot be totally isolated from other openings …” This is not wholly true, the silence from the fourth speaker grille on the iPad Air contradicts such a statement.

Now, regarding who has been rude in this thread. In my first post I was pointing at an anomaly or a possible design flaw on the iPad Air, with sound coming from three of the four speaker grilles. A person with an open mind would think that such a phenomenon is odd. But LotusPilot did not.

When a community contributor all of a sudden uses the word ”we” without explaining who the “we” are, then it becomes majestic plural or royal we and it makes the wording belittling.

Using the word “perceive” when referring to how a member describes a physical fact is diminishing.

Categorically stating that “Apple is not trying to fool anyone” and consistently dismissing and ignoring any criticism of Apple and their products can make a person appear to be an apologist.

Apologist (noun): someone who speaks or writes in defence of someone or something that is typically controversial, unpopular, or subject to criticism.

Regards,

Thanks for coming forward as a true Apple apologist. This turning into a circular discussion is all on you.