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

Hello... So I went and picked up a 64GB Black Wi-Fi up at the Sherman Oaks, CA store today. Serial Number DLXF8A

There are no dead pixels that I can tell.  There is a very slight bit of bleed along the left and right.  The screen looks dark but seems lighter on the left and right.  From my perspective it isn't 100% perfect screen but 99.99%.  What I notice is only because I know where to look and it is almost not noticable.

Compared to the other 4 I had this is just fine and acceptable.  So I would say that they are getting better and either this is the best they are going to get or I probably just won't worry any longer.

I went to an Apple store in Century City, CA to exchange my 64GB wifi purchased on launch day. The unit I received back is serial number: DLXFKG and shipped with 4.3.1. While my initial unit had severe light leakage, this replacement unit only has a tiny amount along the right and no dead pixels.

The Genius informed me that the current policy is to allow a single exchange for a new unit, but that there is no guarantee that the unit will be better. However, he did say that they are specifically testing these new replacement units for the light leakage issue. He said that after a single replacement Apple could offer me a refund, but not another new unit.

At this point, given the improvement with the newer iPad, I think I am going to hold onto this one until the newer LG and Samsung screens make their way into the supply chain. Given the long ship times, it would not make sense to receive a refund. I have not seen many reports of even the most recently-manufactured iPad's being free of this issue.

My iPad was delivered and I'm syncing it now, but so far it does look like there are still some light leak issues. I took it into a dark room first thing and I could notice a small light leak near the home button when I was on the 'connect to itunes' screen.

It has first 5 serial DLXFP and came with software version 4.3.3.

I'll post some photos a little later after I do a full test.

I purchased my 32G wifi online from the Apple Store about 4 weeks ago. The fifth letter of the S/N is L. Mine is purfect. I don't get how so many iPads could be having this problem, and Apple stays passive. I had the same problem with my first iPhone (I had three), and my iPhone 3G (I had four). I have never had a problem with a laptop or Mac Pro. Oh yeah, I have had both of my iMacs replaced once.

I would also like to know if my screen is  LG or Samsung.

Thank You

My guess is that there is still no correlation between serial numbers and number of problems.

We still don not know which measures have been taken and when.  Only then someone will be able just by knowing the serial number what is the probability of getting a faulty unit.

Please, you two, let's keep it civil. You know who you are. Get over yourselves and stop railing at each other. It just clogs up the small bits of information we can glean from this community.

Thank You

Excuse me, I haven't responded to this thread in a fair amount of time and others have been much more unruly with replying to Martin_UK since yet you are bringing this issue up again? If anything it seems like you wish to stir the pot here again? As for small bits of information, I'm contributed a fair amount of decent information to this thread and have mostly stayed away from wild speculations.

I bought mine this past Sunday, it is apparently week 18 (May) and came with 4.3.2 installed and doesn't have any light bleed as far as I can tell looking at the screen in a pitch black room.

doug

Doug why do you keep replying to the thread with the same message over and over again?  Just wondering...lol

I replied because people asked a specific question. Why are you taking the time to post a message such as yours?

I am now unsubscribing from this discussion thread and therefore will not see any more replies.

Too many nasty people in here.

doug

Thanks for the info Doug. I can't speak for everyone, but I didn't read all 66 pages of this discussion, so I appreciate the info.

It helps to have people with recent experiences posting info in threads like this.

My light leak isn't intrusive like the last ones so  I think I'm happy with this iPad finally!

Thats is useful information moviewatcher.

I think there is important lessons that we can take from this thread:

- People tend to fight each other loosing the focus on the main issue of this thread (I can't understand why)

- All this "fighting energy" could be spend on more useful ideas  (ex writing to Apple like I already did)

- This is a quality control issue no more no less. We can all help each other by sharing our experiences in order to help each one to take their own decisions.

Keep sharing you experiences (I will share mine as soon as I get my third iPad).

Fair enough dookster. The bit about small bits of info was a general observation about the whole discussion community. I should have made it clear that part was not aimed at you. I apologize.

My 6th iPad 2 is being overnighted to me from Cordova, California. This concerns me. The whole reason that I sent my iPad back to Apple via telesupport is so that they could send me one from a new manufactured batch. If if is here in California, who knows how long it has been here. I am getting one new in box.

I am keeping my fingers crossed. Does anyone have any insight?

Hello all.

Thought I'd share my experience about this...

Ordered my iPad 2 online, (engraved and with serial number starting DL....). It did have prominent light leakage pretty much around most of the frame. I took it to an apple store, the guy checked it and agreed it was quite severe, so a replacement was ordered for me and arrived the very next day.

The replacement seems to be absolutely fine. I have checked it in a completely darkened room. I'm not sure the serial number is an indication of whether the light bleed is likely or not because the replacement also has a DL serial number.

Hope this is somehow helpful to someone.