Significant light leakage, few light botches on sides/corners - defective?

Same problem here,

returned the unit today for an exhange with a new unit at the nyc 5th ave apple store.

looked at it in the store and couldnt really tell since it was fairly bright in there but got to work and it took it into a dark room, same problem just different areas. maybe alittle better than the first one.

im not sure at this point what i want to do. I can live with it for a while until apple officially addresses it or return it again for maybe another defect?

see im the type who is so ocd about perfection on materialistic items.. its a problem i have and this ipad2 doesnt help my situation lol. i didnt enjoy waiting on line for 2 hours but i think my decision to just take my money back was the smartest choice at this point. I will just hold onto the money until i hear about some units that dont have this issue which should mean apple corrected it globally.... until then ill just have to deal with my iphone4...

Don't bother returning it for a swap -- the new unit you get will have the same problem. This is clearly a manufacturing defect. If Apple doesn't want to admit that -- fine. From all the people I've asked that bought the ipad2 -- they ALL have this problem. Even the floor models have this problem in the apple and best buy stores. Ask one of the sales people to take it into the restroom or another dark area and test the floor model for yellow blobs at the edge of the screen -- There's a 99% chance they WILL be there. If you think you're going to get one that doesn't have this "feature" -- think again. If you are unsatisfied with this whole entire ordeal like I am, take it back for a refund, and either wait for them to fix this, aknowledge there IS a problem, or just don't buy it again.

Two other points:

1.) For all the people saying this isn't a major problem or to just "Deal" with it -- please stop. Maybe you think this kind of quality is acceptable for a $700+ product, but clearly the majority if people do NOT. *The Xoom, Galaxy Tab, and other tablets do NOT have this problem!*

2.) For anyone claiming that it's getting better due to rubbing or just plain usage -- please post before and after pics. Just saying it is getting better is not good enough, sorry. Both of mine did NOT get better with usage or rubbing.

Also I think we have the best theory of what's causing the problem -- the screen is glued down too tightly and the points where you're seeing yellow blobs are points where the glass is pushing too hard on the display. This is just speculation, but it makes sense. Go ahead and push down on one of the areas and you will see it get bigger in size, and the color of the deformity remains the same. If this IS the case -- this will NOT get better over time. It's glued down with a bonding agent -- it's not going to come unbonded by rubbing it (lol).

Also for those speaking of quality controll and such -- remember where and who is manufacturing these devices -- they're all made in China by Foxconn (even though Apple loves to print it's designed in California on the back (lol)). Foxconn is not a company known for it's quality work...but then again, my Verizon CDMA iPhone4 and my original 1st Gen iPad both are of good quality and have no problems at all.

Agree 100% with NiqueXyZ. I know a bunch of people who are on their 3rd or 4th ipad2 and the problem is the same. And yes, on the floor models as well. this is not an isolated defect. I believe most ipad 2s have this problem, and those who aren't reporting it just don't know they have it yet. I myself am on my 2nd.

Rubbing does not help. Time will not help. This isn't about glue needing time to evaporate. This is a manufacturing defect that will not fix itself over time.

My advice is to wait a while until this is addressed by apple and fixed models come out.

Hi Everyone - I'm sorry to hear about all of the problems you are having. I've never posted here before, but I just wanted to thank you all for sharing your experiences. I have been wanting an iPad for several months, but I waited because of the rumors of iPad 2 release. I'm not one to wait in line on release day, so I wasn't able to get one on Friday. Since then I've been reading the reviews and comparisons by people posting online. I was planning to get a 64MB black AT&T anyway, so I decided to get an iPad 1 at a discount. I figured the $150 price reduction made it worth it for me to skip the camera and faster processor. Some day, when they get the issues worked out or maybe when they release 3 or 4, I can get a newer one. So thanks again for sharing and helping me make that decision. I really hope all of you can find a resolution to these issues.

Fedex just dropped mine off today. It has a tiny amount of light leakage that I can only find if it's pitch black in the room. Hopefully it doesn't get any worse.

I'm sure Apple will address this if it doesn't go away. The Ipad 1's did the same thing.

Just an update for anyone that cares.... Apple Store called me today to let me know the replacement is in. Went and picked it up and I'm happy to report the new one is MUCH better! Is has a small amount of bleed but it's definitely within acceptable. Only downfall is this one has a dead pixel. I'm ok with that though so I'm definitely keeping this one.

Thanks Apple for the quick service!

Is this really true?

"The Ipad 1's did the same thing."

*Light Leak Update* :

Went to Apple Store today, and they Looked at my iPad and said Yes its a issue and they are ordering my a NEW one, They said I should have it in a few days. So I Hope the NEW one the get my is better or Near Perfect. That's why I purchase Apple Products in the fist place. (For their Superiority) So when I Drop $800 on a Product; Yes I don't want any problems! and if something arises its fixed!
My Next Purchase will Probably be Around $2600 (MBP) if all goes well.

I will post here when I get my replacement.

Same thing they told me...they offered me a 32gb 3G in the meantime if I wanted one, but mine is 64gb 3G so I told them I'd wait...they said they will call me when another 64gb 3G comes in...as far as I'm concerned the longer the better as they are probably tweaking the manufacturing process right now to fix the issue.

I bought my iPad 1 in May of 2010 and had no light leakage issues and haven't heard of any on the original....

Well said... I returned mine.

I ordered mine on 3-11 in the early morning but it hasn't shipped yet. While I wait I am getting rather worried about these screen problems. It's hard to say what percentage of people have them, but from this forum it seems like everyone does! Mine is engraved, so does that mean I can't exchange it/they won't repair it if it's defective?

Nope doesnt matter. Even if it is engraved, if there is a defect then they have to replace it.

I'm getting my third tomorrow bc of this issue, I will try a different store... Wish me luck!