Q: iPad air 2 pop noise

"I dont understand how any of you are saying it came "from inside the iPad" because if played any song with even the slightest bit of bass you would know it rocks the whole chassis. ... It probably just spikes the bass causing the feel of zap. Kind of similar to how you put your hand on an amp when you plug in an electric guitar"

Yes! Exactly this. This annoying glitch they "feel" is the bass from the speakers reproducing the sharp spike and resonating the case.

Which is not to belittle the problem. This noise spike should not be occurring when we touch the display.

Thanks Tom70, I was looking at all the threads and viewers of this on going problem. Apple denied the issue when I returned my iPA2 even after I showed them all of the community threads... So I wonder why there are over 20,000 viewers and over seven threads regarding this issue, including the on going discussion on Macrumors and Apple employees and Apple Care deny there are any reports of this problem?

I have been punching apple keyboards for over 30 years and seen a lot of interesting changes over those years and I have to say not responding to such a huge problem, as internal arcing in the iPads, could lead to a lot of hazards, including shocking people, starting fires etc..

Tom70, I read some of the posts in your thread and there seems to be either two different issues or some folks are misunderstanding this issue as being a speaker issue and I can assure you this is not a speaker problem this is an electric arc caused by bad connections of several internal components. In addition, I noticed the iPA2 was glitchy, the screen would flicker and sometimes the screen would not respond to my touch. This version had a new screen concept that was supposed to be more sensitive to the touch. Also, the arcing sound is coming from the area of the processor and two RAM chips. My friend's iPA2 had the exact same problem.

He is my IT specialist that works on my companies tech. He believes the issue is with fast production on the first few months of the iPA2. Apple did mention, before they released the iPA2, that they were having production issues and this maybe a reflection of that. I would recommend waiting until after the Apple Watch comes out before buying one again. They probably will have a fix by then... Right now it is a gamble.   

I turned off all the system sounds and still get the zap when I'm not playing music or doing anything that makes a sound...

The actual cause (or causes) does't really matter, the things are broke and Apple hasn't fixed them.

TThis is strange as you say your iPad did the pop thino on the first day and stopped. Mine did it once and I got a fright   it's never done it since. Ive had it since release date. Works a treat the only gripe I have is that they have done away with the mute button. This was very hand with a sleeping toddler in the room.

I just got my second iPad Air 2 (the first one was week 41, this one is week 44). This one is even worse, it popped 4 times in 5 minutes. The other one would go on for days between pops. This one will also go back to John Lewis in London in 27 days (they have a 28 days refund policy), too bad because until tomorrow they offer 3 year warranty.

My questions is: are there good copies out there?? Most people I assume just don't realise have defective ones as it is a minor thing.

Tom70, when I switch between these two presets the popping noise on my Air 2 is almost identical (a bit smaller amplitude perhaps) to the other popping noise that happens sporadically. It's a similar noise spike for a fracture of a second at maximum volume level. It makes the case of my Air 2 resonate as well (like almost everything does what comes out of the speakers) and you can feel it with your fingers on the backside when holding the device in your hand.

Did somebody experienced the popping noise with zero volume level? I don't get any if the speakers are off. If it would be an electrical discharge on the mainboard I'd expect to hear it even when speakers are off.

Well, it's truly a magical device.

I thought John Lewis had a 90 day return policy.

...anyway, i think I'll hang on to mine, and swap out for a new one once the fault is confirmed, or at least when users confirm the issue is no more, I want to keep my three years warranty.

Update 8.1.1 on my Air 2 went nice and smooth for me.... i dunno but if seems even faster than before if that's possible..... I thought for about 24 hours it had even fixed the pop noise..... but no ;-/ ..did it twice when entering my pass code..... great.

Seems to of fixed the issue with text not showing up in the default editor when making posts though... =)

It is 90 days for an unopened product. you cant swap for a new one after 28 days, they will try to fix it and if not successful you will get a refurb as replacement. Tempted to try my luck with another one tmrw for the 3 year warranty but i know already it will be faulty.

Oh right thanks for the reply.... **** that means I've only got a couple days to exchange.. :-S ... annoying this pop noise issue, because part from that it's pretty much perfect.

Go tomorrow, get a refund and buy a new one with 3 year warranty (promotion expirying tomorrow). That will buy you another 28 days to wait and see and you can keep the warranty.

Yep.... That's the plan...... Cheers!..... =)

"Did somebody experienced the popping noise with zero volume level? I don't get any if the speakers are off. If it would be an electrical discharge on the mainboard I'd expect to hear it even when speakers are off."

Air 8, I did hear and feel the arcing noise when the volume is off; my issue was not speaker related at all. In fact as I stated earlier the very concept of how a speaker works with in the internal speakers or earbuds is similar to a static discharge only in a controlled open circuit causing vibrations that form music. In this case it is a static discharge from something that is a closed circuit. The speakers would pick that discharge up just as it would when you connect a speaker cord to the output port. So it may seem as if is speaker related but it is not.

I have turned my speakers off and it was in sleep mode and it would pop. Does not matter the iPads are glitchy and there are quite a few out there that do this. It is not a vibration from the speakers for I have felt the difference between the music vibration or a chime from receiving a text and the popping feels different and very distinctive to when a closed circuit discharges ungrounded electricity.

I understand some folks also think it is software but if that were the case then why do later additions do not have this problem? Same software, same platform. I agree the sound is terrible but all of the iPads and iDevices have terrible sound that is why they all have 3.5mm ports and bluetooth; to connect earbuds or external speakers. Please do not confuse music vibration to this issue. In addition, when I did place my ear buds into the port there was a static sound as always but I did not feel that static discharge through out the iPad as I do with the arcing pop noise. I wish every one the very best and good luck with your iPA2.    Happy Holidays!!!

Have not heard any pops for about a week now and I've been using it pretty heavy, Yaaaay.

Mine is definitely doing it less. Down form a few times a day to a couple of times a week - but it is still there.

Some are convinced - like me - that the sound (& feel) is coming from the speakers. Others have their theories including solar flares ffs. Until we hear anything from Apple it's pointless to speculate.

Best to just report it to the Apple feedback link listed earlier and give them a call for replacement or refund.

The official (astounding) silence from Apple on the matter is a bit worrying though. It does not look like it is a big enough problem for the bean counters to recommend a recall for repair.