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

I have had 3 iPad 2's. All of which had this issue. And I just sent the 3rd in for "repair" and the status currently says "Product replacement pending (29-Mar-2011)"

But here are the photo albums of all 3 I have had so far:

https://picasaweb.google.com/talormanda/IPad2IssuesIPad1#

https://picasaweb.google.com/talormanda/IPad2IssuesIPad2#

https://picasaweb.google.com/talormanda/IPad2IssuesIPad3#

And now for the videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaDCvO9qkyg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DENGpPhVGh8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIm5e_0skyg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIXubW2gg4I

Gotta love it, right?

Absolutely awful. I am much happier with the money in my bank whilst I wait for Apple to resolve this. Ipad 1 was nothing like this.

This is shoddy and unacceptable for such a premium product.

What you call "scrambling" display, was that iPad 2 running iOS 4.3 or 4.3.1?

I believe that those weird lines displayed were corrected with version 4.3.1.

I replied to a similar post on another thread but I have the same issue with my black 64gb 3G iPad 2 which I ordered online. The leaking is the issue is a little bit less than yours but I was equally irate by the fact that I spent $830 on a device with a bleeding backlight. I made an appointment with an apple genius on Sunday and, after the issue was reluctantly acknowledged, I was advised to do an exchange since I am still within the 14 day return policy. Since the store, and all surrounding stores, seem to be sold out of my particular model, I was told to call daily to check up on it. So far no luck but luckily mine is also in perfect working order.

This post by domitron did strike a chord with me though:

"Light leaks and stuck/dead pixels are old problems associated with LCDs. I heard about them 6 years ago, and I am sure they are as old as LCDs. Stuck/dead pixels are far less common today than they were 5 years ago, so I assume the public outcry was so great that companies actually did something to reduce the problem (cleaner labs probably). The fact that dead/stuck pixels became commonly mentioned in warranties and what constituted a "broken" display demonstrates how much in the spotlight that particular problem as become.

Light leaks are a little more elusive because under 98% of display conditions they are not apparent. That's probably why they public outcry is less and they still show their ugly head to wildly varying degrees. The two iPad 2s I have played with in conditions that would enable me to confirm light leaks, both showed them. I also see that online either the people without the problem are very quiet or everyone has the problem who cares to look. At this point I would not hold your breath that a replacement unit would not have the same issue, and by returning your iPad you do risk getting one with a worse light leak and/or stuck/dead pixels.

Having said that, the only way Apple will care to fix a problem this slight is if they get enough returns to make it worth their time. I am betting that this problem will get fixed because Apple users are a pretty picky lot, but it'll be several months down the road. Right now Apple is far more concerned at filling the inventory pipe than anything of this nature."

Check out the other thread that discusses this issue, you may find more helpful info: http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=13294718#13294718

Just got an iPad 2 today and it has significant backlight bleed. My original iPad's screen is flawless, I expect the same from the newer version. Going in for an exchange tomorrow.

That was with 4.3. The video was shot before 4.3.1 was released and I don't have either of those iPad 2's anymore so I cannot test it now.

Sylo wrote:
I can understand people's frustration regarding this matter, but is it effecting your enjoyment? I have had light bleeding on my first iPad and I'm now on my second iPad 2 but this still has issues with light bleeding.

The thing is at this time you have two choices, either return it and get your money back or ride it out until they get better units in stock which will probably be at the end of the year after they have released in other countries. I personally I'm going to keep mine because apart from the light bleed the iPad works perfectly!!

I agree with you on that one! My Ipad works perfectly. All the apps work, it doesn´t crash,.... Still I rather would have one without that extra light on my screen. And if that means I will get a new one in two months, than I will wait for it. And in the meanwhile I will use this one. Now if the store tells me that they will take this one and I will have to wait x weeks. than I will keep this one and take my extra insurance and change it in two months, when I am sure the new batch will arrive.
But what bothers me the most, is that there are a lot of people with this problem, and than Apple doesn´t solve it. They use more the strategy of "change it until the customer gets bored and won´t change it more or until his garranty stops". Why is that?. It is my first Apple product

I just got a new one from Apple Care on Friday. It is the absolute worst screen I have ever seen in my life. The replacement doesn't need a dark room to see the backlight bleeds! It is so bad that there is no black. Just varying shades of gray with yellow spotlights around all 4 sides.

Apple received mine back yesterday so it is time to call them to send me out my second replacement. I would like to wait until they have new units available but this one is just too bad to live with.

The guy I talked to Thursday said that I was the first person he had talked to with this issue. Lol. I bought Apple Care so they would send me the new one. Had it the next morning so I have to say the service is great even if the replacement didn't fix the problem.

I just came back from the store (ECI) where I bought it last friday. they said I should first call Apple. Which I did, and they said that the store will give me a new one. So I went back and they said that they will keep one aside when they will recieve next week thursday a new load of Ipads. They told me that I am the first with this problem and that it is caused because the glue hasn´t dried yet. They told me that it can take up to 14 days to really be glued together and that I should use it all the time I can and if it isbn´t solved next week that I can come by and change it.
Great service Apple and great service ECI.
Now just waiting and using my Apple Ipad

I have mine since 5:11 pm on launch day....

The light bleeding on my unit hasn't gotten any better or worse since I first noticed it the night I got it while reading a ebook with black background and white font so as to not disturb my wife in bed..

I went in on March 14th after setting up an appointment with the Genius Bar to take a look at my iPad2...they said they will call me when they get a new one in to replace mine...I have a case number etc..

Patiently waiting on a call from my local Apple store to go in and exchange this defective unit..

I received my unit a few days ago. Ordered it on March 11th. It shipped on March 21st. I have noticed no screen issues whatsoever during normal use.

At the risk of ruffling some feathers I will suggest a majority of folks are behaving unreasonably.

If I test any of my non-CRT displays in a similar manner as the test being used to determine light leakage on the iPad 2, I will get "leakage". My $1600 Samsung LED TV, my 24" Apple LED display, my three Acer 21" LCD displays, and yes, even my iPad 2 all exhibit some form of light leakage or non-uniformity.

I am suggesting this is simply the nature of the technology. To demand perfection now, when it has not been demanded previously is unreasonable.

That said, if your display appears non-uniform during normal usage, you are certainly entitled a replacement and should request one. If symptoms only appear during "testing" I don't believe any action on your part or Apple's part is necessary. Take a deep breath and use you iPad.

My iPad original has no such leakage, and I expect at least that in the iPad 2.

gwforeman wrote:
My iPad original has no such leakage, and I expect at least that in the iPad 2.

Exactly. I bought my iPad 2 as an upgrade to my iPad, I expect everything on it to be as good as, or better than my 1st gen. With this backlight bleed, it's not. That's not unreasonable at all.

Just wondering has anyone actually returned their iPad 2 for a refund due to this problem!

Yes many have done it in this thread.