New iPad overheating?

Just got my new iPad. I'm loving the screen and speed but there's something weird about it. It gets rather warm/hot after 30minutes of usage. It has never happened on my iPad 2.


Do you think it's harmless or .... ?

iPad (3rd generation) Wi-Fi, iOS 5.1

Posted on Mar 16, 2012 9:33 AM

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Posted on May 12, 2012 4:17 PM

The best measure to determine whether the iPad is hot or not doesn't require rocket science. Not much of personal sense of feel. Instead, it's how the battery reacts to the device's heat.


  • According to Apple, the iPads' battery temperature treshold is 32° to 95° F. That’s 0° to 35° C.
  • In the case of iDevices, environmental temperature=operating temperature because of a known fact that in Apple designs, they've stripped out the plastic made protective shield of the battery, thus decreasing the battery's heat resistance.

(In my course of landing with the current 3rd iPad, I was told by an AppleCare consultant that iPads that operate over 34.6°, they qualify for exchanges. no second word)

  • Make sure a full discharge is conducted
  • Fully charge the iPad without using it
  • Remove all iPad cases
  • Use the iPad at normal conditions, probably keep brightness at 75% at most. Now run applications like games that are not retina supported. Then, include games like Real Racing2 HD (a Retina game) in your test.
  • Measure both results using...
  • An infrared thermometer/ thermal scanner to pick the heat numbers from the back of the iPad, especially the lower left corner beside the home button.
  • If heat is proven to be above, especially way above 35celcius. The message is glaring at you; the iPad is producing more heat than what it can take, its a manufacturing defect.
  • Go get an exchange if the heat is indeed over 35 celicius or 95f
1,343 replies

Mar 20, 2012 11:39 AM in response to faatty

Did any of you took the time and read about the new ipad before you bought it? It has a 70% bigger battery, where do you think the heat is going to go? There are no fans in there. It gets 10 hours of battery life, would you prefer 6? Apple tells you that operating range is 32-95 degrees F. 95F feels warm to the touch since your hands are not as warm as the rest of your body. But if it goes above 95, it will shut off automatically, has your shut off automatically? If it hasn't, it has not reach above normal operating range. You must have very cold hands!


Mine works like a charm. Tell me what device,including my 8.9 galaxy Tab does not get a little warm sometimes in the electronics world. Have you ever touched your LCD or plasma TV screen? But I do not go to Samsung complaining about it. You people need to understand thermal heat, battery sizes, etc. When you don't it just makes you all sound like whiners.

Mar 20, 2012 11:43 AM in response to NovaSins

Of course some people have genuine problems. I thought my iPad 2 was way too hot, but it's the same as several others I have tried (running the same apps - games).


A bit of perspective is needed. Apple sold 3 million in the first weekend and probably a lot more by now.


How many complaints, or genuine faults? A few hundred, a few thousand - still a tiny amount.


If anyone is aware of a new product that has been launched, sold millions and not had a few failures on launch, then let me know. I want to buy some shares in the company!

Mar 20, 2012 11:48 AM in response to NovaSins

Even though I don't have the problem, I don't doubt that there is one.


I noticed that the default brightness setting (w/Auto Brightness), as with newer TVs, is too low. I turned mine up for awhile, then realized I prefer it around 50% for browsing in a room with low-med light. I have boosted brightness up to 70% in lit areas, but still didn't notice any warmth. But, again, I'm not gaming or watching HD movies, just browsing and reading.


When I ever get around to loading Netflix on it I'll test for heat. For some reason the app wouldn't download last night. It hung at the app store, and I tried several times.

Mar 20, 2012 11:55 AM in response to faatty

I have a New ipad wifi + 4G and feel pretty good about it. My wife has an ipad2 so I am able to compare side by side. I set the new ipad up as a new ipad and not from a backup. I then discharged the battery and recharged it overnight. About 60 apps were downloaded from the app store. I have used the deyevice on WiFi over an 8- 10 hour period, discharging from 100% to 10 % battery capacity, and then recharged in about 4-5 hours. I have also used the device continuously while plugged in for over 16 hours. The back has remained cool to touch. I usually keep the brightness at 50% or slightly less. When I increase the brightness to 100% the back left side does get only slightly warmer, although barely noticeable, but definitely not hot. I have not played any graphics intense games, but would expect the new quad graphics processor to generate heat when run full out. I have played videos from Netflix and You Tube. My WiFi performance has been great on both the 2GHZ and 5GHZ bands of my Linksys E4200 Router. I have yet to use the 3G/4G yet so could see some issues there. I would expect the device to be a little warmer due to increase power consumption.

So there ya have it. Am I lucky or What?

BTW I didn't go outside with the unit off to check out the reported squares on the screen. I wouldn't have been able to stand the dissappointment. 😝

Mar 20, 2012 12:04 PM in response to faatty

I have had the iPad 2 and the new iPad and definitely noticed a difference in the amount of heat. I purchased the WiFi only model and found that the heat was generating in the lower left corner. Ultimately, I ended up returning the new iPad based on the amount of heat that it was producing from minimal tasks, such as web browsing, checking email, etc. I do not play any graphics intensive games on the iPad, nor use any data intensive apps. After returning the new iPad, I purchased the iPad 2 and compared it with my girlfriend's new iPad; running the same tasks over the same period of time. Hers was very warm (to the point that I wouldn't hold it) and my iPad 2 remained cool and showed no signs of heat.

Mar 20, 2012 12:46 PM in response to faatty

mine is fine; no overheating at all. BUT, i'm also not one of these people that is turning up the brightness to max while charging, syncing, downloading 30 songs on iTunes, playing pandora, checking facebook, updating apps and getting a new high score in angry birds, while placing it in the sun on top of a microwave oven heating up a hot pocket ALL AT THE SAME TIME lol

Mar 20, 2012 1:03 PM in response to faatty

I think that the temperature problem is related to which apps I us3 and for how long. Some seem to make the temperature rise faster. In any case, just hit the home button and let it rest a minute and you will find the temp. comes down quickly. Mine has never gotten uncomfortably hot despite the fact that I had it in use almost the entire day. Maybe we don't need to have the new ipad on for so many hours in a row............maybe take a rest and smell the roses.

Mar 20, 2012 1:07 PM in response to Rhosalina

Consumer Reports indicates that they measured 116 deg F on the iPad 3, using a thermal imaging camera, after running Infinity Blade II for 45 min with the unit plugged in. This was about 12 deg warmer than the ipad 2 under the same conditions. Ambient room temperature was about 72 deg. WiFi was on, 4g was not. Unplugged the temperature reached 113 deg F.


Interestingly, they note that, although plugged in, the iPad 3 was not charging while the game was running and in fact the battery was draining.


http://news.consumerreports.org/electronics/2012/03/our-test-finds-new-ipad-hits -116-degrees-while-running-games.

Mar 20, 2012 1:08 PM in response to faatty

I have noticed mine warming up on the left where the battery is, but I haven't worried, because I figure electronics will give off heat. It has not been at the level of discomfort, but is warm. Last night, I had my Macbook Pro turned on as well as my new ipad. My Macbook was feeling hotter than my ipad. I know my Macbook isn't defective. I talked with my brother who knows about computers as he designs systems for cars and garages. He reminded me that all electronics emit heat. He said with the improvements Apple made the heat being more than the previous is understandible because they have different components and are able to do some things differently. He told me not to worry about it unless I am feeling like it might burn me. I bought AppleCare + so I am giving it more time and if it seems to get worse or be a problem then I will contact Apple. Right now though, I am not worried about it.

Mar 20, 2012 1:25 PM in response to faatty

I got mine a couple of days ago.I have been using it continuousely for the last two days I did not notice any unusual heating problems watching movies, surfing and airplaying with Apple TV. Yep, at times the iPad screen was off (while in airplay mode). But mostly it was in my lap, never felt uncomfortable


One thing I noticed is that the battery drains down to 10% (from 100%) in about 5-6 hours. Recharging back to 100% takes about 8+ hours !?? I never noticed the issue on my ipad (original).


But, the display is just super super?


Question: Does the quality drops (on the TV screen) during Airplay??

Mar 20, 2012 1:58 PM in response to faatty

Hey! I was so elated by the news of the 'New iPad'. I will be a first time iPad owner, yet I know how to use one as if I've owned one for a long time! I have been waiting to buy one since July of last year. But I decided to wait for the newest version to come out. I have a question though... Should I buy the new iPad and do the battery draining trick? Or wait a few months (maybe Apple will fix it?) then purchase one? I'm not sure! I have been saving for a while, I want to buy it at the right time! Any helpful answers would be greatly appreciated!! 🙂


Thanks!

~HorseLov

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