Is the Heating of New IPad a defect or not?

At least it's only some/many, but not most or all!

More like "few." The ones that do run hotter than others are not dangerous, merely warmer. I suggest getting a new iPad, if it has a heat issue (unlikely), return within 14 days. At that point, you can either stick with your original iPad, or continue to purchase new iPads until you get one that doesn't have a defect (but you'll probably get it on the second try, if not the first).

Environmental Requirements

• Operating temperature: 32° to 95° F (0° to 35° C)
• Nonoperating temperature: -4° to 113° F (-20° to 45° C)
• Relative humidity: 5% to 95% noncondensing
• Maximum operating altitude: 10,000 feet (3000 m)

The operating temperature requirements are indicative of the maximum temperature threshold of the battery. If the iPad itself generates heat above 32° to 95° F (0° to 35° C), even the iPad has proper ventilation, it is a problem.

Today I went by an Apple store and I heard some shoppers asking about heat issues and the sales guy's response was that Apple Care is willing to exchange iPads running above temperatures of 34.6° C (I don't know why its 34.6 but what's on the website could be a rounded figure) for a new unit. Which was exactly what happened when I contacted the after sales team for an exchange, then the Apple Care consultant transfered my call to a senior guy for more questions. I shall not go into the details but basically, they agreed to ship me another iPad although the senior guy could not assure that my next unit will not be defective. This will be the 3rd New iPad I receive.

My new iPad heat up a lot after I used it for a little while, but I'm not sure if I should consider that defective.

Does your iPad's serial start with DL? I've got 2 replaced units, especially the "DL" one from production week 12, it was really scorching to the skin. Then I've got a 3rd "DY" iPad, better in terms of thermal management, but not perfect. playing things like infinity blade will result in a heating to an extent and battery drain at like 80% brightness after the heat builds.

Considering a refund for this iPad tp get a 32 GB iPad 2 unit for approximately the same price.

Sorry, but that was an N of 1!! That's about as scientifically conclusive as a report by a single user on an Apple forum! 🙂

Given the hundreds (thousands?) of users with heat problems, it definitely is an issue!

Not sure why you're not willing to acknowledge what so many are experiencing!

In any event, what's good to hear is that Apple recognizes the problem enough to replace "hot" iPads!

Well, we're guessing right?! Few, some, or many?!

And, there are reports from some users that the iPad is too hot to hold comfortably... my concern, in any event, isn't danger, but just irritatingly hot! OTOH, I don't play first-person action graphics shooter games, so I probably wouldn't have a problem at all.

Encrypted11, I know you said you are on your third new iPad with the third one coming from a different factory. How much better is it? I am returning my 2nd iPad today in hopes of the third one being the charm, but my first two get hot with minimal activity. I think it may be smart to just get another iPad 2. There are many, many folks on this and many other boards saying this is a non-issue, but it is an issue. SOME of the new iPads are hot, when my iPad 1 and iPad 2 never even felt the slightest bit warm.

Good information Encrypted.

One thing that concerns me is using a backcover on the iPad 3. The aluminum back of the iPad is part aesthetics, part heatsink. It's designed to dissapate heat. If you cover it up, it seems to me you'd be potentially raising the temperature beyond the 35C max. You'd be bottling up the heat and preventing the aluminum from doing its job.

BerthaVanation wrote:

Encrypted11, I know you said you are on your third new iPad with the third one coming from a different factory. How much better is it? I am returning my 2nd iPad today in hopes of the third one being the charm, but my first two get hot with minimal activity. I think it may be smart to just get another iPad 2. There are many, many folks on this and many other boards saying this is a non-issue, but it is an issue. SOME of the new iPads are hot, when my iPad 1 and iPad 2 never even felt the slightest bit warm.

Yes, its better to the extent its under 40 celcius (the other especially second unit was probably hitting 60 already, you can feel the scorch and depending on your heat tolerance and how much you use a hotcake laptop, you may drop the ipad.However playing IB 2 on the new unit may still result in the iPad's temperature to go beyond the rating by a few degrees still and the battery drain picks up only after it hits 35 (battery rated 35 celcius) or so and if the heat is already spreading through the entire iPad, reaching the battery and again, turning down brightness helps but its not a solution. I've used the iPad 2 maxed out at 100% brightness and no issue.

And yeah on the back cover, I think if you're getting one, its really going to harm the battery when it comes to a new ipad. Although we can easily say it comes with a year of warranty - Applecare, who knows if the prolonged battery acts up immediately or within months of warranty expiration? It's like walking on a wire to keep the battery alive. Also for those people who think the heat is bearable on their unit, we'll not be surprised to see their iPad charging more than once a day. Together with the monstrous 10W charger on a 45 Whr battery (and charging at 6 hours), it'll be driving the **** out of me after the warranty goes. Will be no different from using a computer, which isn't the way the iPad is propositioned.

I'm swayed more towards chaging to the iPad 2 but this iPad is a gift and the recipient doesn't know much of the long term effects the warm temperature would bring about. I also wouldn't get a refurb unit because a gift is a gift. However, I've still got in touch with stores holding the 32GB iPad.

Final word: In my opinion, change it. I'm convincing my mom the recipient to have it changed within the 14 days exchange/return policy

What a bunch of bunk.

JimHdk wrote:

What a bunch of bunk.

Quit dissing people if you aren't going to help. I doubt what you're doing goes anywhere close to the purpose of this forum.

You are providing a bunch of misinformation and wild speculation on temperatures, charging times, battery life, battery drain, warranty defects, etc. This helps no one.

By the way, the 35°C Apple requirement is the maximum ambient environmental temperature that the iPad is designed to work in. It has nothing to do with internal temperatures of components.

Tell me the correlation of internal temperatures vs. environmental temperatures. It's basically a reflection of the maximum treshold the battery takes, even the /batteries page says it. The requirement is an EXACT match of the battery's operating temperatures. I hope I don't have to put a screenshot down here. The processor or specific component is may be designed to run at a slightly higher temperature, but the overall circuitry and layout manages the heat that goes on and spread to the other components. I'm aware of how heat resistant the semiconductors and other parts are and its just the battery.

To put forward the argument, Apple's sleek designs have involved the removal of protective shields of batteries as it cuts the thickness a lot. Which is why batteries on iDevices don't feel plastic, but rubbery. This is a contributing reason why Apple is so particular on thermal management coming to the internal build of the iPad. Teardowns say it, physics confirms it.

If you're telling me the iPad should generate heat which can be felt on the exterior that's like 40 celcius and its a non issue, ok. Point taken.

I've talked to a senior Applecare consultant in the process of obtaining a 3rd exchange and they confirmed the immediate replacement once the iPad heats beyond 35 celcius if heat is generated by the device itself.. That guy is real techie unlike the guy who picked up the call. He is also confirming that the electrons are likely to discharge at abnormal rates and advised me to stop using it when it hits the treshold. He provides enough empathy and goes on to comment on potential hazards its going to put us through.

On my point on the rubbery battery, I'm putting it back in the context of its sensitivity to heat. Also if variable battery drain starts minutes after in 35 celcius (heat produced by iPad), what does it entail? I think this is the most salient point to you.