iPad mini iPad mini 5 Display Issues

[ClownMask]

No offense taken, I’ll admit I’ve learned to just not pay too much attention or else I end up going down the rabbit hole looking for issues and it never ends.

I’ve been known to return device after device trying to get the “perfect” screen lol. I say you should return it and see if you find one that makes you happy, with the amount of $ you spent you deserve to have a device that meets your expectations

 

[thadoggfather]

Well I can actually understand wanting a good display bc some people hold onto their iPad for several years at least

 

[Josieb1]

No offense intended but it makes no sense to compare one display criteria and avoid the others while hoping you don’t notice anything.
[doublepost=1554579828][/doublepost]

As I stated, I am perfectly happy with my two mini’s displays. You do appear to be determined to find fault, and only your opinion seems to matter to you.

 

[Wachpy]

64GB Space Gray Cellular.

Edit: are you saying they had the same issues I described with my mini 5. Not a good sign if that's the case.
[doublepost=1554584982][/doublepost]View attachment 830652 View attachment 830653

Sorry, I had to delete and repost the original photos as they were too big and flowed off the screen and screwed up the formatting of the page. So here are two cropped versions of the sample photos showing the magenta red tint on the mini 5 compared to my mini 4 and iPhone 5s, both of which are neutral black, especially in person minus the color noise you get from low light small sensor photos.

Thanks again to everyone contributing.

May I ask how bright you're running each display in these photos?

 

[Coconutcreampie]

As I stated, I am perfectly happy with my two mini’s displays. You do appear to be determined to find fault, and only your opinion seems to matter to you.

Those are not rational replies.

Seeing faults and being "determined to find fault" are two very different things. What reason would I have to want to find fault? To inconvenience myself in having to return something I've been waiting on for years now? To deny myself the otherwise much greater performance of that tablet compared to my current one?

You also have zero basis to say it "seems" that only my opinion matters to me. This thread, and my continuing commentary, wouldn’t exist if that we’re the case.

"Appear"? "Seems"? A word of advice. If you are not sure about something negative that you are going to say about someone, then the smart and courteous thing to do is to not say it all. Stick to facts and reason, not what you feel.
[doublepost=1554649526][/doublepost]

Well I can actually understand wanting a good display bc some people hold onto their iPad for several years at least

Yep. I have had my mini 4 since the beginning. Going on four years now.
[doublepost=1554649662][/doublepost]

May I ask how bright you're running each display in these photos?

I think they were just under half each, but the brightness has no bearing on the color balance issue you see. Either that display was adjusted wrongly or it is faulty.

 

[Wachpy]

Here’s the thing: LCDs are full of compromises, and when you photograph them off-axis in a pitch-black room at greater than minimum brightness with a phone camera that has to boost its exposure to make sense of what it’s seeing, you bring out all of those compromises at once. LCDs have always been bad at off-axis viewing (even IPS panels); some merely lose brightness and wash out, some invert, and some exhibit a color cast when viewed at a sub-optimal angle. LCDs are also terrible at handling dark rooms because of the way they’re illuminated, and running them higher than minimum brightness in complete darkness amplifies their shortcomings.

Your photos are great for showing the major problems with LCD tech, but they’re not representative of a realistic, reasonable use scenario for your display. In other words, almost no one is ever going to use their display off-axis at half brightness in a pitch-black room. Even if an LCD could cope with that scenario, there’s an even greater problem that no display can overcome: Your view of your content is terribly skewed because you’re not viewing the screen at the right angle.

Now, you can argue that your older displays are “better” than the new one because they merely wash out dramatically when viewed off-axis instead of exhibiting a color cast. I’d argue that neither is acceptable. You have to make peace with the realities of LCD technology to be able to enjoy most of today’s portable electronics.

We’d all love to have displays with perfect color and excellent viewing angles, but the tech isn’t there yet. Even OLEDs, which solve several problems that are insurmountable for LCDs, come with a host of problems themselves. I’ve seen truly gorgeous OLEDs that exhibit color shifts when viewed off-angle. Some people are sensitive to the PWM flicker on OLED phones, and while OLEDs do have “infinite” contrast, they also exhibit a black smear effect because the pixels have a hard time switching on and off quickly enough. Burn in is a concern as well.

Anyway, that’s a whole lot of words to explain a simple lesson I had to learn over many years of agonizing about my displays: Stop worrying about it.

I know that’s not what you want to hear, and I’d recommend you get a replacement mini to satisfy your curiosity over whether you got a dud. But be prepared for the probability that your replacement won’t meet your standards either. What you do after that is up to you, but in my opinion it would be a shame to miss out on such an incredible, powerful, useful device. Even with their shortcomings, the displays on today’s iPads are still beautiful, and they’re some of the best available in the portable electronics space.

 

[Coconutcreampie]

Here’s the thing: LCDs are full of compromises, and when you photograph them off-axis in a pitch-black room at greater than minimum brightness with a phone camera that has to boost its exposure to make sense of what it’s seeing, you bring out all of those compromises at once. LCDs have always been bad at off-axis viewing (even IPS panels); some merely lose brightness and wash out, some invert, and some exhibit a color cast when viewed at a sub-optimal angle. LCDs are also terrible at handling dark rooms because of the way they’re illuminated, and running them higher than minimum brightness in complete darkness amplifies their shortcomings.

Your photos are great for showing the major problems with LCD tech, but they’re not representative of a realistic, reasonable use scenario for your display. In other words, almost no one is ever going to use their display off-axis at half brightness in a pitch-black room. Even if an LCD could cope with that scenario, there’s an even greater problem that no display can overcome: Your view of your content is terribly skewed because you’re not viewing the screen at the right angle.

Now, you can argue that your older displays are “better” than the new one because they merely wash out dramatically when viewed off-axis instead of exhibiting a color cast. I’d argue that neither is acceptable. You have to make peace with the realities of LCD technology to be able to enjoy most of today’s portable electronics.

We’d all love to have displays with perfect color and excellent viewing angles, but the tech isn’t there yet. Even OLEDs, which solve several problems that are insurmountable for LCDs, come with a host of problems themselves. I’ve seen truly gorgeous OLEDs that exhibit color shifts when viewed off-angle. Some people are sensitive to the PWM flicker on OLED phones, and while OLEDs do have “infinite” contrast, they also exhibit a black smear effect because the pixels have a hard time switching on and off quickly enough. Burn in is a concern as well.

Anyway, that’s a whole lot of words to explain a simple lesson I had to learn over many years of agonizing about my displays: Stop worrying about it.

I know that’s not what you want to hear, and I’d recommend you get a replacement mini to satisfy your curiosity over whether you got a dud. But be prepared for the probability that your replacement won’t meet your standards either. What you do after that is up to you, but in my opinion it would be a shame to miss out on such an incredible, powerful, useful device. Even with their shortcomings, the displays on today’s iPads are still beautiful, and they’re some of the best available in the portable electronics space.

Only the mini 5 has that magenta/red tint. Using your logic my mini 4 and iPhone should appear the same way, but they obviously don’t. So yes, my older displays are obviously and objectively better. I can also see the magenta/red tint with normal viewing.

My mini 4 and iPhone don’t wash out dramatically when viewed at an angle. That then goes to another problem I mentioned about this new display on the mini 5, the viewing angles are significantly worse than my mini 4.

The display tech is obviously "there" if my older displays are not exhibiting the things I mentioned.

If what I am obviously seeing turns out to affect all the displays on the new mini 5, then yes, obviously, I will have to decide whether to purchase it again or not. No offense, but you're stating the obvious, and the rest of your post makes no sense based on what I have said in my posts, what can be seen in the photos, and the current state of the technology.

I spend a lot of time working on my iPad, so yes screen quality is important to me. It's important to many people. You really shouldn’t be telling other people to "stop worrying" about something that you don’t care about but that they do, and for valid and obvious reasons.

Anyway, I appreciate the post nevertheless.

 

[Josieb1]

Those are not rational replies.

Seeing faults and being "determined to find fault" are two very different things. What reason would I have to want to find fault? To inconvenience myself in having to return something I've been waiting on for years now? To deny myself the otherwise much greater performance of that tablet compared to my current one?

You also have zero basis to say it "seems" that only my opinion matters to me. This thread, and my continuing commentary, wouldn’t exist if that we’re the case.

"Appear"? "Seems"? A word of advice. If you are not sure about something negative that you are going to say about someone, then the smart and courteous thing to do is to not say it all. Stick to facts and reason, not what you feel.
[doublepost=1554649526][/doublepost]

Yep. I have had my mini 4 since the beginning. Going on four years now.
[doublepost=1554649662][/doublepost]


I think they were just under half each, but the brightness has no bearing on the color balance issue you see. Either that display was adjusted wrongly or it is faulty.

I think the “smart and courteous” thing to do is accept that not everyone feels as you do regarding the Mini 5 screen. As I said before I am very happy with both my Mini 4 (which i’ve had for three years) and my New Mini 5. When I first started to get apple devices I constantly worried about screen quality. Now, unless it’s obvious, I just enjoy my devices.

 

[philipma1957]

Only the mini 5 has that magenta/red tint. Using your logic my mini 4 and iPhone should appear the same way, but they obviously don’t. So yes, my older displays are obviously and objectively better. I can also see the magenta/red tint with normal viewing.

My mini 4 and iPhone don’t wash out dramatically when viewed at an angle. That then goes to another problem I mentioned about this new display on the mini 5, the viewing angles are significantly worse than my mini 4.

The display tech is obviously "there" if my older displays are not exhibiting the things I mentioned.

If what I am obviously seeing turns out to affect all the displays on the new mini 5, then yes, obviously, I will have to decide whether to purchase it again or not. No offense, but you're stating the obvious, and the rest of your post makes no sense based on what I have said in my posts, what can be seen in the photos, and the current state of the technology.

I spend a lot of time working on my iPad, so yes screen quality is important to me. It's important to many people. You really shouldn’t be telling other people to "stop worrying" about something that you don’t care about but that they do, and for valid and obvious reasons.

Anyway, I appreciate the post nevertheless.

Read the whole thread I have a suggestion to the op buy a 64gb model and see if screen is better.

As the 256gb ssd pulls more power and may affect picture quality.

 

[thadoggfather]

As the 256gb ssd pulls more power and may affect picture quality.

One has nothing to do with the other. Its panel lottery, plain and simple.

There may be specs/characteristics of the displays OP doesnt like with mini5 that may be unrelated to panel lottery but 64 vs 256 doesnt factor in whatsoever.

 

[Coconutcreampie]

Read the whole thread I have a suggestion to the op buy a 64gb model and see if screen is better.

As the 256gb ssd pulls more power and may affect picture quality.

Mine is the 64GB model and the size of storage should have no bearing on display image quality.
[doublepost=1554735937][/doublepost]

I think the “smart and courteous” thing to do is accept that not everyone feels as you do regarding the Mini 5 screen. As I said before I am very happy with both my Mini 4 (which i’ve had for three years) and my New Mini 5. When I first started to get apple devices I constantly worried about screen quality. Now, unless it’s obvious, I just enjoy my devices.

I'm not trying to get you, or anyone else, to not like your mini 5, so extend me the same damn courtesy by not trying to get me to like and accept mine, and quit being a petulant jerk.

 

[AutomaticApple]

I'm not trying to get you, or anyone else, to not like your mini 5, so extend me the same damn courtesy by not trying to get me to like and accept mine, and quit being a petulant jerk.

So much hypocrisy.

 

[Kal-037]

My mini 5 has a little light bleed. I'm debating if I should try the exchange lottery. lol


Kallum.

 

[CrazyForCashews]

Welcome to the screen panel lottery game!

Don't stay too long or you'll go mad (seriously)!

 

[dgdosen]

I've got the two side by side... with true tone off (on the 5) and full brightness. IMO, the 5 is a bit cooler than the 4. Without true tone, the text appears a bit whiter on the 5 - and I'm looking hard to try to confirm the OP. I can't.

With True Tone on, at night - I get the appearance in those posted pics - blacks look warmer - almost kind of brown. But when comparing them both with similar setting - they're pretty indistinguishable.

 

[LostAggie]

4th try is good. First two were really reddish. 3rd was good but had either speck of dust or dead pixels. 4th has very little reddish in the black and no real black light bleed.

 

[Kal-037]

I've got the two side by side... with true tone off (on the 5) and full brightness. IMO, the 5 is a bit cooler than the 4. Without true tone, the text appears a bit whiter on the 5 - and I'm looking hard to try to confirm the OP. I can't.

With True Tone on, at night - I get the appearance in those posted pics - blacks look warmer - almost kind of brown. But when comparing them both with similar setting - they're pretty indistinguishable.

Wasn't going to take my mini 5 back but the screen had a bit too much light bleed compared to all my other iPads. I have an Air 2 and Pro 10.5" from 2014/2018 with no light bleed at all really *knock on wood
so I was a bit curious how the mini was not really on par at all. My bigger issue (that is quite strange actually) was when looking at and comparing a "pitch black" image on the mini 5 to other iPads... the mini 5 was a weird dark pinkish purple/black, while all my other iPads are more grey/black.

If this replacement has the same problems I will stick to my rule of (maximum exchange 2) If the second mini is the same or has worse issues I will return it and wait for about 3-4... maybe 6 months until getting another.


Kallum.
[doublepost=1554789157][/doublepost]

4th try is good. First two were really reddish. 3rd was good but had either speck of dust or dead pixels. 4th has very little reddish in the black and no real black light bleed.

same here, though I thought mine was a weird dark, dark pinkish/purple background (when viewing a black image.)

 

[misterbig]

Thanks OP for your post. I own the Mini 4 and am considering the 5 so I'm extremely interested to know if this is a widespread issue or simply a defective unit. The main reason I'm considering to upgrade is the newer screen with P3 gamut so the whole point is rendered moot if the new screen is actually worse.

 

[*~Kim~*]

I started with True Tone on, now I have it off. It’s not looking blue without it at the moment.

Not playing the screen lottery, was just a bit indecisive with my settings.

Having been helping someone with their Mini 5, I can say that theirs seems a little brighter than mine when both are set to the same brightness level.

 

[Kal-037]

So for the first time I have done just one exchange and the replacement is better and just awesome (usually a few have been done to get a good iPad or iPhone in the past) but not this time.
I exchanged my original Mini 5 at Best Buy... and the display is not nearly as pinkish/purple when looking at “black” backgrounds and is uniform (very bright and as pure white as an LCD/LED can be.) As for lightbleed, there’s nothing like the first mini 5. It *might (maybe have the same amount that all my other iOS devices have)... very very little or hard to see unless I spend an hour with a microscope and do a screen uniformity test, etc, and etc. I’m very happy. Bravo Apple, this iPad Mini is the best yet, and I’m super happy to have it.
Hope you all find whatever iPad makes you happy.

 

[sracer]

Wasn't going to take my mini 5 back but the screen had a bit too much light bleed compared to all my other iPads. I have an Air 2 and Pro 10.5" from 2014/2018 with no light bleed at all really *knock on wood
so I was a bit curious how the mini was not really on par at all. My bigger issue (that is quite strange actually) was when looking at and comparing a "pitch black" image on the mini 5 to other iPads... the mini 5 was a weird dark pinkish purple/black, while all my other iPads are more grey/black.

If this replacement has the same problems I will stick to my rule of (maximum exchange 2) If the second mini is the same or has worse issues I will return it and wait for about 3-4... maybe 6 months until getting another.
Kallum.

This is my rule of thumb with regard to Apple products. (and in part, why I haven't immediately jumped on the "5")

3-4 months is sufficient time to pass for the initial batch of units built (during the manufacturing ramp-up to release) to have been sold. After that initial wave, manufacturing tools/robotics are recalibrated and adjustments are made and the results from the next batch are generally of a higher quality.

 

[Kal-037]

This is my rule of thumb with regard to Apple products. (and in part, why I haven't immediately jumped on the "5")

3-4 months is sufficient time to pass for the initial batch of units built (during the manufacturing ramp-up to release) to have been sold. After that initial wave, manufacturing tools/robotics are recalibrated and adjustments are made and the results from the next batch are generally of a higher quality.

That’s a really smart idea, (something I’ve seen you mention before) I might start doing that too.
I’m really disappointed in myself for only making this rule a little over a year ago, *so much wasted time, money, gas, increased stress, etc, etc.
I also broke that rule with the 12.9” Pro 3. *facepalm, (though, the bright side is I overcame this major “obsessive compulsive situation” with some help.) Hopefully I will not be so quick to return Apple products based on them having to be “perfect”. *eek

*off topic, and odd post... but I wanted to share that. lol





Kallum.

 

[Stoianski]

I just received my new iPad mini 5 and I have to say I am disappointed with the quality of the display. These are the things I can clearly see, not what I think I can see.

1- A noticeably warm appearance compared to my previous iPads, which were all consistently neutral in color balance. That is with the True Tone off. With True Tone on it looks awfully warm and nowhere near neutral. Truly awful appearance. The best option is to simply turn off True Tone, which is what I had planned to do in the first place. With it off, again, the display is still noticeably warmer than my previous iPads. My mini 4 running right next to it looks neutral in color balance. Whites are white, not warm. The mini 5's display is yellower and greener. With skin tones the added green does away with much of the natural pinks and magentas normally seen in skin, so now skin tones often look lifeless compared to the mini 4. That is compounded by the issue I bring up in #4.

2- Viewing angles are significantly less than the mini 4. For example, I can lay them both flat down on the counter in my kitchen playing the exact same video and I can still get a reasonably viewable picture from the mini 4. Meanwhile the mini 5 gets significantly darker. I would estimate it is approaching half the brightness of the mini 4.

3- Related to number 2 above, the black areas of the display turn reddish at those at greater viewing angles. Meanwhile the 4 pretty much stays black.

4- The white point has been reduced, rendering colors less saturated and image quality noticeably flatter and duller compared to the mini 4. For those that don’t know what the point is, that is simply the point at which whites go pure white.

Even my tech illiterate, phobic and uninterested wife sees those things.

***

In regards to #s 2 and 3, the lesser viewing angle and reddish tint in black areas, those are likely hardware issues inherent to the new display on the new mini 5, assuming only one display supplier is making the displays for Apple, in which case nothing can be done about it, or issues perhaps limited to a particular supplier, assuming there is more than one display supplier.

In regards to #s 1 and 4, those I fear are software choices by Apple, and getting Apple to change their minds on things is almost impossible. This is the same company that recently and stupidly decided to round off the corners of videos when viewing them in picture and picture mode, as if somehow we want to watch our videos like on an old tube TV.

Anyway, that is my disappointing experience with the new mini 5. I'm really bummed because my iPad mini 4 has been my computing workhorse and I almost always have it with me. The performance of the mini 5 is incredible, only let down by the display, that is supposed to be better. Nope, not in the ways I addressed. I fear Apple may now be following the Instagram filter like mentality and veering away from truly accurate colors and contrast, ironically at a time where display tech has become so advanced to allow for even more accurate color. Very disappointing Apple.

I'd appreciate anyone's views and experience on the matter, especially from those who also own/owned the mini 4.

I may end up just keeping the mini 4 and replacing the battery. A real shame because the performance if the mini 5 is such a huge step forward.

I have a very old iPad3 and now mini5 for few hours only, but I think I found a setting that can change the white balance. Go to:

1. General from the Settings menu.
   
   
   
2. Scroll down and tap Accessibility from the general settings.
   
   
   
3. Select Display Accommodations. This option is in the VISION section of the Accessibility settings.
   
   
   
4. Tap on the Color Filter and play with the different options.
   

 

[Greenmeenie]

I don’t know about the 4...but i am coming from an ipad mini 2, and the 5 blows it away in every regard. Even tho it doesn’t have promotion, the screen even rivals my 11” ipad pro for sharpness & viewing enjoyment.

I guess everyone is different.

 

[Coconutcreampie]

I have a very old iPad3 and now mini5 for few hours only, but I think I found a setting that can change the white balance. Go to:

1. General from the Settings menu.
   
   
   
2. Scroll down and tap Accessibility from the general settings.
   
   
   
3. Select Display Accommodations. This option is in the VISION section of the Accessibility settings.
   
   
   
4. Tap on the Color Filter and play with the different options.

That doesn’t allow one to properly adjust the color balance.
[doublepost=1555157953][/doublepost]

I don’t know about the 4...but i am coming from an ipad mini 2, and the 5 blows it away in every regard. Even tho it doesn’t have promotion, the screen even rivals my 11” ipad pro for sharpness & viewing enjoyment.

I guess everyone is different.

Like you said, you are coming from the mini 2, which was a very poor display compared to the 4.
[doublepost=1555158060][/doublepost]

So much hypocrisy.

Not on my part.
[doublepost=1555158228][/doublepost]

My mini 5 has a little light bleed. I'm debating if I should try the exchange lottery. lol


Kallum.

That's one area where it is solid. No visible light bleed at all, just like my mini 4. That’s become much less of an occurrence these days. I would exchange it because the chances are very high that you'll get one that doesn’t have any light bleed. Of course that's no guarantee there won’t be something else wrong with it.
[doublepost=1555158709][/doublepost]

I've got the two side by side... with true tone off (on the 5) and full brightness. IMO, the 5 is a bit cooler than the 4. Without true tone, the text appears a bit whiter on the 5 - and I'm looking hard to try to confirm the OP. I can't.

With True Tone on, at night - I get the appearance in those posted pics - blacks look warmer - almost kind of brown. But when comparing them both with similar setting - they're pretty indistinguishable.

That's encouraging dgdosen. I haven’t returned mine yet but I will not do a same transaction exchange as I read recently that they will not allow for a return after an exchange. I will return mine and simply try again in the near future, with the hope that there may be some early production issues. Hopefully I’ll get lucky then.
[doublepost=1555158897][/doublepost]

4th try is good. First two were really reddish. 3rd was good but had either speck of dust or dead pixels. 4th has very little reddish in the black and no real black light bleed.

Were those all exchanges, or did you return them and buy new ones? The reason I ask is because I had read someone saying that they don’t allow for returns after an exchange.

Glad to hear I am not the only one that has run into mini 5 display issues. I found others on the Apple forum.
[doublepost=1555159098][/doublepost]

Wasn't going to take my mini 5 back but the screen had a bit too much light bleed compared to all my other iPads. I have an Air 2 and Pro 10.5" from 2014/2018 with no light bleed at all really *knock on wood
so I was a bit curious how the mini was not really on par at all. My bigger issue (that is quite strange actually) was when looking at and comparing a "pitch black" image on the mini 5 to other iPads... the mini 5 was a weird dark pinkish purple/black, while all my other iPads are more grey/black.

If this replacement has the same problems I will stick to my rule of (maximum exchange 2) If the second mini is the same or has worse issues I will return it and wait for about 3-4... maybe 6 months until getting another.


Kallum.
[doublepost=1554789157][/doublepost]
same here, though I thought mine was a weird dark, dark pinkish/purple background (when viewing a black image.)

That is one of the issues I spoke about and that I showed in the sample images I posted. So yet another mini 5 owner reporting the same thing.
[doublepost=1555160006][/doublepost]

Thanks OP for your post. I own the Mini 4 and am considering the 5 so I'm extremely interested to know if this is a widespread issue or simply a defective unit. The main reason I'm considering to upgrade is the newer screen with P3 gamut so the whole point is rendered moot if the new screen is actually worse.

There are now at least two other people in this forum reporting at least one of the issues I mentioned, the reddish/magenta blacks. One of them ended up returning their mini 5s multiple times. I also found others in the Apple forum with the same issues.

Right now I'm back to using my mini 4 and it is such a pleasure to look at in comparison to the mini 5. Pure looking white (no sickly yellow/greenish color balance), black is black, brighter colors and higher contrast (due to the higher white level). Even the much better viewing angles of the mini 4 is so much easier on the eyes and much more pleasurable to look at. Hate to say it but my mini 5 display is garbage in comparison.
[doublepost=1555160451][/doublepost]

I started with True Tone on, now I have it off. It’s not looking blue without it at the moment.

Not playing the screen lottery, was just a bit indecisive with my settings.

Having been helping someone with their Mini 5, I can say that theirs seems a little brighter than mine when both are set to the same brightness level.

This is my rule of thumb with regard to Apple products. (and in part, why I haven't immediately jumped on the "5")

3-4 months is sufficient time to pass for the initial batch of units built (during the manufacturing ramp-up to release) to have been sold. After that initial wave, manufacturing tools/robotics are recalibrated and adjustments are made and the results from the next batch are generally of a higher quality.

It's a good rule that I usually follow (the same with new car models. Buy the second year), although I didn’t follow it for my mini 4 and I got lucky, because it has been perfect. I will be returning my mini 5 and waiting a while before I try again.