iPad air 2 pop noise

I wish I hadn't run across this thread, and at the same time, I am.

I am trying to decide on the Air or Air 2. I like all the little improvements of the Air 2, especially the fingerprint ID and faster processing, but not at the expense of a problem like the screen finger ghosting or this popping thing. As people have said, did Apple go to far in making it thinner? What kind of compromises did they make internally over the original Air? Has anyone done a teardown to see (I forgot to look until just this minute, and I have to run off to work) ?

That said, I spent about 20 minutes at Best Buy yesterday playing with both the Air and Air 2. In that time, the Air 2 demo model didn't pop or buzz once. I didn't have time to do a lot of tests, but did play a few music tracks and opened a few apps. I did notice the sound was thinner than the original air, but a little clearer. What I didn't like was the way music made the back of the case buzz, especially right of center at the bottom (next to the speaker). It felt like a totally hollow spot that was acting like a resonance chamber. The screen also buzzed, and overall, made the device seem cheapo (but again NO pops). The original Air did NOT do this.

Did Best Buy have the very latest manufactured version of the Air 2 out on display, that maybe had the problem discretely fixed in later production runs? Were they lucky? Who knows - the screen ghosting caused by finger tips on the back were very minimal as well.

It almost gives me a little hope. Best Buy (and Apple) obviously doesn't want to put a demo out that people are immediately going to find defects with. Maybe Apple has taken all the feedback in (or feedback from BB employees that told them it's hard to sell these iPads if they all the demos pop) and quietly found a fix? Maybe I'm being too generous ;-). Maybe BB has been through a bunch and finally found one that is silent. But, that makes me feel it IS possible, and fixable if people are persistent with Apple over it. It's a shame Apple couldn't just have left the case on the Air alone and just added the improvements without adding problems ;-). Too much form over function at Apple.

Coming here is like visiting a hospital and assuming because you saw sick people that everyone on the planet must be sick. The reality is most Air 2 owners are happily using their devices, with no issues whatsoever. Mine is production week 42, made in early November and I have not experienced anything wrong with my Air 2.

If any of the problems you've read about were that common, this thread would be a LOT longer, with far more people chiming in.

In addition The iPad Air 2 has 2 GB of RAM. so it is fast and smooth as silk compared to any other tablet I have tested. I also agree there seems to be a lot of people in this thread but it is a lot of comments regarding a very small percentage of iPads that have had the popping noise. I still believe it is the best tablet out there.

I Am a little confused by this thread, mine was making a sound and zapping like it was discharging static near the top when I first opened it up this week. it must have done it about 5 times that first evening but since then it has not done it once ( and I have been listening out for it).

is anyone elses the same?

y production week is 47 if that means anything to anyone.

In my case anyway I have only noticed the noise when the charge has been above 85% and mostly happens above 90%. I have let it run out and have not experienced the pop below these levels, but when I recharge fully it typically happens again.

well some people believe it is speakers, software, hardware, or both. With all of mine it was hardware. I exchanged all of them. no matter if it is any of the listed the iPad should not do that so return it. So far that is the best advice. this thread maybe long but it simply a few people saying the same thing or arguing about what the issue is.

POint is is if it is popping, zapping your hand, or anything close to that it should not do any of it and you should return it. Two main reasons One, this issue is only effecting a small amount of iPad Air 2's. Two, it should not do it and when some folks returned theirs right away they got an iPad Air 2 that worked just fine sometimes it took several returns but so far I am hearing that the current exchanges are working just fine.

Good luck and and please return it before your 14 days return period runs out. Happy holidays

I'm no electrical engineer (though I have played one on TV), but is sounds like some kind of grounding/insulation problem inside the case...probably related to scaling down the components to conform to the new Apple iPad Air 2 Weight Loss Program. I'm hoping this has been fixed in production due to all the returns so the Air 2 I just got from Costco is solid. I haven't opened it yet since it's a Christmas gift, so I don't know what the production date is, only the serial #, which starts with DM (the screen fingertip ghosting problem was supposedly only affecting serial #s that started with DL).

Just for fun, I'm going to try and get a sense of how common this is. I realize, as rbrylawski mentioned, the squeaky wheels that have a problem are here on these forums, and the majority of people with a new Air 2 that have none of these problems never weigh in. We mostly read threads of problems, so I'm going to post an informal poll asking everyone who has an Air 2 report if they have problems, what those are, how long has it been going on, and if they exchanged it for a problem free one. Also production month and serial #, if they want to give it. Again, the people with problem free Air 2s may never trot over to a Help forum and therefore be underrepresented, so take it with a grain of salt ;-).

If you post a poll, the forum moderators will take it down. It's against the TOU for this forum.

People, be warned, NOYB234 has demonstrated that he pretty much lies. We have no idea if what he is saying is true. The reason many of us feel we have a software or firmware issue is that the issue only occurs when launching an app. If it were connections or grounding it would happen when bumpin, moving or shaking; or at very least just all on it's own without touching it. And yes, replacing it could be part of the answer if you get a newer firmware. my biggest worry is that Apple will no longer take us seriously when we have people like NOY possibly fabricating things.

SO yes, get it replaced ASAP, but don't expect that will fix it. It doesn't for most of us. Replacing it is useful to annoy Apple to get them to fix the issue.

Yup :-(. How about at least everyone with a problem posting manufacture date or serial #, that way if it's a problem Apple discretely fixed in production, and models after a certain manufacturing date or from a particular facility are likely to be reliable, so we can order with some amount of confidence? I hate returning stuff.

I would not post your serial #?

gwrx,

how did you prove anyone was a liar? In, addition what does that have to do with the problem? I agree as should anyone else if you buy an iPad Air 2 and it is popping you should probably return it. I love Apple but if I spend $1300.00 on two defective devices I don't care how an Apple employee feels about that. I am polite about it but it is simple I pay for a device that should work as described and when that device does not I return it. No need to respond to this for I am off to Hawaii with two brand new iPad Air 2's. Both of them are working just fine Unlike the ones I returned. (week 44, iOS 8.1.2). Running like silk no popping or any glitchy stuff. Feel free to call me a lair too.

No worries Konbi, NOYB234 has done nothing but berate and insult electronics engineers and programmers. He just isn't adding anything useful.

I've had my iPad Air 2 since it was initially released. It popped and snapped several times a day. I missed my chance to return it so I'm of course hoping there is another solution.

Also, mine has only popped one time in the last 30 days. ?? Anyone have ideas on that? Why the change? I have not update the iOS.

a side note; I'm disabled and use my iPad all day everyday.

Konbi wrote:

I would not post your serial #?

Agreed. Do NOT post your serial number.

No worries gwrx... Apple will find away. As noyb I think it is matter of context. I read their posts differently than you I guess. They just sounded very upset. Apple also looks at these post and if folks are saying software that is where they look because it is cheaper. I also know they sometimes literally only look at what ever the customer says they think is wrong with a device. That is why I pay for a separate IT company other then Apple. They look at any of my problems and then tell me what to do.

I know a lot of folks are beyond the point of no return so hope is all you have right now. Have you tried to get Apple to budge? I mean I know one of my employees stood in line and got one on the release day. she noticed the popping noise but just did not want to return it because she love it and wanted to believe there was nothing wrong. But last week she decided to finally return it and the Apple Genius Techs exchange it for a new one. I am not saying right or wrong but maybe they will work with you too...

Look I was really upset when mine turned out to be duds. I understand I really do. My entire business depends on Apple as does my home so when this happens it is like NOOOOOOOO not Apple.

As for the the lack of popping goes you never know. I would get GeekBench 3 and run a stress test on it to make sure your cores and RAM are pushing the correct numbers. If not then you may have something to take to Apple if your numbers are right then it is a good thing the popping is residing. You probably know more than I do but my IT guys told me that would be a good start to make sure my Processor, Graphics and RAM are doing as expected.

look i wish you all the best and i have my staff write Apple every day so hopefully they will come around... Happy holidays