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

My original and replacement both have F as the 4th character as well.

Where did you hear this?

from a disgruntled customer who phoned up applecare, they have posted their experience on mac rumours site on the bleed thread. Just curious as to whether there was validity in the theory.

For what it's worth, my iPad 2 has an "F" in the fourth position and it doesn't have any issues.

Same here, my original and replacement which was returned on the last day of my 14-day return period both had "F" as the fourth character of the serial number.  Actually, they both had the first five characters the same.

DLXFFxxxxxxx

Best regards,

Sean

As my two iPad 2's have had the same fourth character perhaps we can glean that the "F" in that position delineates Foxconn, the manufacturer?

The iPad 2 I ordered online arrived last week.  Bad light bleeding.  Shipped it back to Apple today for a refund.  Will wait a few months to see if they resolve the issue. Apple customer service was great.  Sadly, the iPad 2 was not.

I'm pretty sure they already tried to go by serial numbers on another site and there was no pattern...I think you're right about the F being for Foxconn but who knows.  IMHO all of them have the problem, but some with lesser degrees -- and those who claim to have one that is not affected have not posted a picture in a low light environment with a dark image on the screen.  BTW I have a unicorn in my backyard too...I pet it every so often...it does not even require feeding

What bothers me about this situation is the lack of coverage on major gadget sites -- engadget even had a poll (ie. does your ipad 2 have bleeding yes or no?) -- and they took it down along with the results...Kinda makes you wonder...

EVERYONE PLEASE VISIT THIS YOUTUBE VIDEO LINK! We all need support with this issue and Apple needs to hear about it in a viral way! I have had 4 iPads now. In my video I show the worst lack of quality control imaginable! My iPad 2 has a filthy, water spotted, bubbled, nasty LCD screen under the glass! I am working on an exchange but this proves how horrible the iPad 2 construction and quality control really is!!! Come on people LET'S MAKE SOME NOISE!!! Watch, rate, comment! BE HEARD!!! Share it with your friends! Post it on your Facebook! Don't let Apple brush this under the rug like everything else!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iugi-oMJfyE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

I just went to pick to Apple Store to pick u my 5th replacement and it's still has issue even worse than before! I was so ****** and some how I manage to get them open all the remaining iPad 2 for me! They opened 6 iPad 2s for me.. And all of them hve the issue...  I guess it's just a waste of time.. I don't there's such thing as a perfect screen for iPad 2 anymore I think all of them are defects! Who say that their iPad 2 doesn't has issue I think they don't look good enough

Agreed.  Will post link on facebook and tell friends not to buy an ipad 2 due to defective manufacturing and quality control.

Tweet, post, or do anything you can to get the word about about this video! I'm tired and upset! So is everyone else! So I'm doing something about it! I hope to make enough noise for Apple to want to warrant a cease and desist order! Lol

I'm quite sure Apple is well aware of the issue..  They will for sure work it out in the production cycle, and they may not ever say anything about it.

I am a new Apple convert. I now have iphone 4, Macbook Pro and and iPad2. Mine also has light bleeding that is noticable. How long can I have the iPad2 and still return it?

14 days for a full refund, 1 year for a swap, but your swap may be a refurb if you are not careful -- look back there are many entries in this thread that have their return policies and reccomendations if you are unsatisfied with your device.  I don't think Apple is going to do anything about this -- it's been 1 month...how long does it take an 80 billion dollar company to fix something like this?  If they really cared I'm sure it would have already been fixed -- I am even betting they knew about it before the launch and said screw it lets just launch it how it is...I mean how many millions of units have they sold so far that are affected?  Makes no sense to me tbh..

Hi NiqueXyZ,

                   I've been reading all of the post on this thread you've created and it seems you are somewhat dissatisfied with the product. If you're not happy with it may I suggest you just return it and move on...Life is way too short to be getting yourself all worked up over something you can not change. I am sure most people are very happy with thier purchase and probably haven't noticed an issue and never will. Why rain all over thier parade just because you seem to have taken this flaw so personally. Live and let live... Just a thought, you might want to check out the Xoom maybe that device won't have the same light leakage. I'm just playing with you... :-) Anyway, I hope you can find some peace within yourself...Have a good evening!