iPad Air iPad Air 5 — aw, hell, I noticed the creak. Will I ever unnotice it?

[danrad]

Got my iPad Air 5 on Tuesday. Felt solid. I'd heard about complaints about the back creaking, and thought I'd gotten lucky.

Then, this morning, I was watching a movie and must have had my fingers just right. Felt the flex. Heard the creak. Now every time I pick it up, there it is.

Damn.

Thinking about returning it for a 128 gig iPad Pro. Has anyone else done that?

 

[Wreckus]

Up to you. Personally, I can’t see myself returning my Air 5 as I love this tablet. Besides, I got mine in the Logitech Combo Touch case to protect it.

 

[BKGolden]

I returned 2 purple Air 5s before I found a space grey that did not creak. I was going to get the Pro if the space grey creaked too.

 

[danrad]

Up to you. Personally, I can’t see myself returning my Air 5 as I love this tablet. Besides, I got mine in the Logitech Combo Touch case to protect it.

I really like it, too, but I prefer it without a case, and I just don't know that I can unhear the creaking.

 

[danrad]

I returned 2 purple Air 5s before I found a space grey that did not creak. I was going to get the Pro if the space grey creaked too.

How was the return process? Did you order the new one and wait until it arrived to return the old one?

 

[BKGolden]

How was the return process? Did you order the new one and wait until it arrived to return the old one?

Thankfully, I live 2 miles from an Apple Store so the return process was easy for me. FWIW, the display models did not creak and the sales people hadn't seen the problem before (yeah, right lol).

 

[danrad]

Thankfully, I live 2 miles from an Apple Store so the return process was easy for me. FWIW, the display models did not creak and the sales people hadn't seen the problem before (yeah, right lol).

I live 2 hours from the nearest Apple Store, so I'd have to do it through the mail. And I already wiped my old iPad to give to my wife.

Maybe I'll just live with it.

But, damn.

 

[ssledoux]

Planning to order one of these for my grandson. I’m also planning to have it engraved. Yall are making me paranoid now because I’m assuming I can’t return or swap one if it’s engraved. Am I right?

 

[danrad]

Planning to order one of these for my grandson. I’m also planning to have it engraved. Yall are making me paranoid now because I’m assuming I can’t return or swap one if it’s engraved. Am I right?

Mine is engraved. I think it can still be returned.

 

[darngooddesign]

I really like it, too, but I prefer it without a case, and I just don't know that I can unhear the creaking.

No one knows what will bother you. Use it until just before the return period ends and then decide.

 

[BhaveshUK]

You’ve paid so much money for the device and this issue will always be present for however long you own this device. If you’re unhappy or have hesitations, I would personally exchange it for one you will be fully happy with. Peace of mind is everything ☺️

 

[turbineseaplane]

If it creaks now it will creak forever…

And if it bothers you now…it probably will bother you forever

Return

 

[BhaveshUK]

Planning to order one of these for my grandson. I’m also planning to have it engraved. Yall are making me paranoid now because I’m assuming I can’t return or swap one if it’s engraved. Am I right?

I researched this for you and I believe the policy is that an engraved item can be returned. However, I did see some conflicting advice online - physical Apple Stores may not accept the return, but you should be able to return online no issue.

 

[warriors2017]

I'm still planning to purchase one along with a Smart Folio. Hopefully, that'll help to hide the creak.

 

[Andeddu]

You should get over your OCD and bear with it. Creaking is normal in electronics as long as there is no visible broken seams, etc… you’ll be fine. I can assure you that the iPad you have will not fall apart in 5-10 years and you will be able to enjoy it until it’s a redundant piece of hardware.

 

[ufgatorvet]

I've not heard any creaking or bending with my 5 SG 64 GB. Not sure how people are using it to observe this, but in my daily use of the device, it's a solid, creak-free, sturdy, non-bendy, beast. Buttery-smooth and blazingly-fast.

I love this most-vilified Apple product ever!

 

[danrad]

I've not heard any creaking or bending with my 5 SG 64 GB. Not sure how people are using it to observe this, but in my daily use of the device, it's a solid, creak-free, sturdy, non-bendy, beast. Buttery-smooth and blazingly-fast.

I love this most-vilified Apple product ever!

That was my experience the first couple of days, then suddenly, the way I was holding it while watching video, I could feel give in the back and heard the creak. Then it became like a loose tooth I couldn't stop messing with.

I ordered a Pro and will be returning this. For $50 more, I'll get half the storage (but still sufficient), better speakers, a better screen and, best of all, no creaks.

 

[MrWillie]

Planning to order one of these for my grandson. I’m also planning to have it engraved. Yall are making me paranoid now because I’m assuming I can’t return or swap one if it’s engraved. Am I right?

I would never get one engraved. I’ve heard various experts give various reasons not to. One reason is trade value. I’ve also heard conflicting stories about returns.

 

[sracer]

If it creaks now it will creak forever…

And if it bothers you now…it probably will bother you forever

Return

It is most likely true. But, there's the possibility that the creaking could be temporary depending upon the cause of the creaking. Back in the day, I recall there being issues with iPads due to the glue that was used... that after it fully cured the issue would disappear. (I don't remember what the specific issue was)

I suggest that the OP heavily use the Air 5 over the next few days... put it under stressful conditions to heat it up and see if after a few days the creaking stops.

 

[rgarjr]

Who know when ifixit will tear one down to see what the deal is.

 

[slippery-pete]

Creaks...we are talking about creaks.

 

[mikedude86]

Got a blue one from the Apple store that creaks. I ordered a new one from Best Buy, it’ll be here tomorrow. If that one creaks, I’m not sure what I’ll do, probably return them both and give up on iPads for awhile.

My thought is always in future resale value/having issues with a buyer on eBay when I go to upgrade in a year or two. I have a habit of switching between iPads and macs based on need of the time.

I really love the new Air aside from the creaking, so really hoping I get lucky with the one en route.

 

[turbineseaplane]

My thought is always in future resale value/having issues with a buyer on eBay when I go to upgrade in a year or two.

That is exactly what led me to give up on the 10.5 inch iPad Pro‘s a few years ago.

No matter how many swaps I did with Apple I couldn’t get one they didn’t have some kind of issue and I didn’t wanna be stuck with it.

 

[ufgatorvet]

It seems that with almost every device that is released, these types of threads pop up... creaks, jelly-scrolling, bend-gate, antenna-gate.

Are these "real" problems? I mean, for average Aunt Sally consumer?

Or, are these problems that only people who follow forums, review devices, have OCD, are narcissistic, or controversy-starters and conspiracy theorists come up with?

Would the OP ever have noticed this if not for reading this forum and other online sources?

Am I odd that my new car (it's only a Honda not something lavish) "creaks" from the right door pillar on rough back roads but is quiet as a mouse on the highway, and I ignore it? That was a $30K investment versus a $599 "disposable" iPad.

I don't mind reading about these things, they can be downright entertaining, but it makes me wonder how close to perfection things need to be, so that something is finally "good enough" (if not outright "PERFECTION") not for Aunt Sally, but for the rest of "us".

 

[sparksd]

It seems that with almost every device that is released, these types of threads pop up... creaks, jelly-scrolling, bend-gate, antenna-gate.

Are these "real" problems? I mean, for average Aunt Sally consumer?

Or, are these problems that only people who follow forums, review devices, have OCD, are narcissistic, or controversy-starters and conspiracy theorists come up with?

Would the OP ever have noticed this if not for reading this forum and other online sources?

Am I odd that my new car (it's only a Honda not something lavish) "creaks" from the right door pillar on rough back roads but is quiet as a mouse on the highway, and I ignore it? That was a $30K investment versus a $599 "disposable" iPad.

I don't mind reading about these things, they can be downright entertaining, but it makes me wonder how close to perfection things need to be, so that something is finally "good enough" (if not outright "PERFECTION") not for Aunt Sally, but for the rest of "us".

I know that for me, were it not for reading it here I never would have noticed the jelly scrolling on my Mini 6 - it just does not register with me unless I consciously look for it. Different people have different sensitivities.