iPad Pro 12.9 light bleeding - covered by warranty?

[mdewberry]

lars666, glad you had no issue with your replacement! It is disappointing to hear that this is showing up on so many other 12.9 iPads, and as I mentioned earlier, I noticed it on all of the 12.9s in the Apple Store (as did you). I am hoping the manufacturing issue has been resolved, as the build week of mine is April 2018. I am super picky with displays, and have had mine for over a month without issue.

I am in no way an engineer, but have been trying to think about what could be causing this. It is a large device, and potentially having it picked up by the edge after so long is putting pressure on the edge of the screen and starting to separate parts within the display that would start to let light leak through? I have mine in a hard plastic logi keyboard case, so maybe that will help?

 

[lars666]

If the lamination / glue weakens, separates the layers inside the screen and therefore lets too much lights of the LEDs through, it definitely could be caused by its bigger 12.9 dimensions. If this happens because of the edge pressure when holding or simply because there's more "glue power" necessary to hold the layers of the longer screen from below to above together ... I don't know.

As I got a replacement built in May 2018, I'm hoping that I'll be fine like you. The other possibility is that you and me will experience this light bleeding (again) in about a year. Fingers crossed that something was optimized in the building process!

 

[Waldo6615]

UPDATE: RESOLVED -- After spending 2 hours on the phone with MyApple, they came to the resolution of sending me a replacement. I had to be transferred about 3 times to different people until I was talking to the proper person. Just be consistent and plead your case. You paid top dollar for a product that shouldn't be falling apart after only one year. My replacement was manufactured a year after my original, so hopefully in this iteration of the iPad they had resolved that issue.

_______________________________________________​

I have a gen 2 iPad Pro 12.9 and had the same problem. They offered to replace the device, first for about $600 and then later offered $300 since my “warranty had only recently expired."

Having spent a significant amount of money on the device, and expecting it to function as expected and not start showing signs of wear that I had no control over, from only owning it for a little over a year, I declined. As I was leaving, the person that attended me advised me to call Apple at 1-800-MYAPPLE and plead my case to them and hope that they can do something about it. Will try that and post update.


A thing to note: the 12.9 iPad Pro on display at the Apple store I went to also showed the spotlighting which I did bring up to the person attending me at the Apple store after they mentioned that this must be a single case issue because "they haven’t seen it very often"

 

[Domog34]

I have the same problem (the location of the spots also being on the same border of the ipad screen: left border [in portrait] / bottom border [in landscape]). What I've noticed is that this part of the ipad in particular tends to get very warm at times. Could heat be a potential cause for this problem? Also does anyone have an idea what parts of the ipad's internals are located in this area and why there is an accumulation of heat here in the first place?

My device: ipad pro 12.9 2nd gen; the spots have appeared after about a year of use.

 

[Waldo6615]

Same issue here.

I'm from Slovakia, should I go to Vienna to official iStore? It's over 250 km.

I still got warranty, I purchased it at 22. september 2017.

Thanks

Hey, so you should call apple support and explain your issue to them. I think the number for Slovakia is 0800 004640. If not, double check it on the apple website: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201232#europe

In the US I know they provide an option where they will mail you a box to send to apple directly if you can convince them that your product needs to be turned in for servicing. This will hopefully save you a trip to Vienna. If you're within warranty, I'm sure this will prove to be easier, otherwise you'll have to talk to a couple rounds of support to get to a senior advisor who will then authorize the shipping box to be sent.

 

[iRaynor SK]

Hello Waldo,

I sent my iPad to my local reseller in Slovakia and within one week, I got whole new iPad

Btw, here in Slovakia is 2 years warranty, because of law.

 

[Aardvarkman]

I have the same issue on my iPad Pro 12.9 2nd gen, out of warranty now, went to the apple store here in NYC and they acknowledged the issue. They wanted to charge me $599 to replace it since I don’t have apple care+. They tried restoring etc in order to figure out whether it might be a software issue but definitely not.
In the end, they advised me to call 1-800-MYAPPLE, who told me that they only offer software support...

Any ideas on what I could do next?

 

[Waldo6615]

I have the same issue on my iPad Pro 12.9 2nd gen, out of warranty now, went to the apple store here in NYC and they acknowledged the issue. They wanted to charge me $599 to replace it since I don’t have apple care+. They tried restoring etc in order to figure out whether it might be a software issue but definitely not.
In the end, they advised me to call 1-800-MYAPPLE, who told me that they only offer software support...

Any ideas on what I could do next?

Hey Aardvarkman, I had the exact same problem, and fortunately mine was able to be resolved. I called the MyApple number too and was able to work my way up to the proper person to be able to resolve my issue.

The person that initially answered my call was bottom tier support, and they do only handle software issues, as you had mentioned. When I had called them, I had asked them if they would be able to transfer me to the appropriate person to be able to talk to them about a hardware issue on a device that is out of warranty. You will have to be persistent since I felt like they were trying to give me the run around. Even the final person that I talked to, I had to really emphasize that I had expectations for my apple products, and one of them was not that they start to break after a single year of standard usage (which was how long it took for me to start seeing signs of spotlighting on the side of my iPad).

I recommend you call back and try to work your way up the support tiers. After all was said and done, they sent me a box to mail back my old iPad, and once it was received, they inspected it, and promptly mailed me a replacement one.

Best of luck, and hopefully you're successful as well!

 

[fokmik]

i hope the next ipad to use the same lcd technique like they did with 2018 MBP...to avoid any light bleed

 

[brosenz]

I have a similar problem with my iPad Pro 12.9 only 14th months old, I have sent a note to Tim Cook, I hope they will change their mind, Genius Bar is asking for $600 to repair a manufacturing defect.

 

[Liminal75]

Finally someone saw it !!!!!
Same for me, all ipads pros had this issue in the Apple store.
I just watched a video on youtube and the guy didn’t even notice it. Are people blind???

Hi Lars666,

I just recently bought my 12.9 iPad Pro last month, and when I was in the Apple store, I noticed that each and every 12.9 Pro had this backlight bleeding on the edges when looking at white screens. I was nervous about it and showed it to the store employee, who stated he had not noticed it before! I did not see it on the 10.5 inch Pros, but it was on all of the 12.9 inch ones.

He stated that if I still wanted to try one, I could buy it, and I had two weeks to return if there was backlight bleeding. I also confirmed that if this light bleed occurred later, it would definitely be covered under Apple Care (which I bought). I brought it home and no backlight bleed.

I was hoping that maybe it was that initial batch of new iPad Pros that were problematic, and that Apple had worked through the problem. Now, unfortunately, it seems that it is an issue that will most likely surface over time.

 

[BoneHead001]

This phenomenon is quite common in the previous versions of all iPads. The 2018 iPad Pro can have it to a smaller degree — I had 2 previous 2018 iPad Pros that had it. On the third one, it was not present. The new 2018 iPad Pro's Liquid Retina has a small anti-alias feature to greatly reduce the backlight bleed, but sometimes it can still occur. My third iPad Pro 12.9" is near perfect.

 

[Liminal75]

Oh come on. Its clearly a manufacturer problem. It was on 90% of ipads displayed in both apple stores I have been. Shouldnt be that much. Specially at this price tag. The 10.5 wasnt affected that much.
I worked with lot of differents ipads, I have never seen that amount of light bleeding like the 12.9 2nd gen.

This phenomenon is quite common in the previous versions of all iPads. The 2018 iPad Pro can have it to a smaller degree — I had 2 previous 2018 iPad Pros that had it. On the third one, it was not present. The new 2018 iPad Pro's Liquid Retina has a small anti-alias feature to greatly reduce the backlight bleed, but sometimes it can still occur. My third iPad Pro 12.9" is near perfect.

 

[thadoggfather]

People that have this light bleed, are you holding the ipad on that side a lot? mostly keeping it docked in the smart keyboard?

What is your usage?

These bright spot 10.5/ backlight leak spine 12.9 issues arent very confidence instilling that these expensive iPads are built to last

 

[adamlbiscuit]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I figured I’d post in here since it was this thread that convinced me to take my iPad Pro 12.9 (2nd Gen) into my local Apple store.

My iPad exhibits the same ‘spotlight’ issue along the left hand side of the iPad (portrait mode). As many have suggested in this thread, it starts out small, and begins to spread. I took my iPad to the Genius Bar today, a little concerned they may not be able to see the issue (although it’s pretty obvious to my eye). Fortunately, two Genius Bar representatives noticed the issue straight away. I also pointed out that the screen seems to shift to a blue tone along the left hand edge as well.

My iPad was purchased in Sep 2017, I had no apple care, and it was out of warranty. Despite this, I got a free replacement under consumer law (I live in the UK) no questions asked. I’m very happy with the service I got, and I’d encourage anyone with this issue to get it checked out - especially if you have apple care or live in the UK where consumer law applies.

Another observation I made whilst in the Apple Store, my particular store still has a few 2nd Gen 12-Inch iPads on display as part of a wall feature. Each one of these exhibited the same issue to varying degrees.

 

[acorntoy]

I also have this issue, noticed it starting about a month or two ago. I’ll be contacting Apple for a replacement under AC+ used since September 2017.
[doublepost=1549836609][/doublepost]

People that have this light bleed, are you holding the ipad on that side a lot? mostly keeping it docked in the smart keyboard?

What is your usage?

These bright spot 10.5/ backlight leak spine 12.9 issues arent very confidence instilling that these expensive iPads are built to last

My usage is relatively mixed, I use landscape a lot to watch videos but I also use portrait to read on it a lot.
[doublepost=1549836677][/doublepost]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I figured I’d post in here since it was this thread that convinced me to take my iPad Pro 12.9 (2nd Gen) into my local Apple store.

My iPad exhibits the same ‘spotlight’ issue along the left hand side of the iPad (portrait mode). As many have suggested in this thread, it starts out small, and begins to spread. I took my iPad to the Genius Bar today, a little concerned they may not be able to see the issue (although it’s pretty obvious to my eye). Fortunately, two Genius Bar representatives noticed the issue straight away. I also pointed out that the screen seems to shift to a blue tone along the left hand edge as well.

My iPad was purchased in Sep 2017, I had no apple care, and it was out of warranty. Despite this, I got a free replacement under consumer law (I live in the UK) no questions asked. I’m very happy with the service I got, and I’d encourage anyone with this issue to get it checked out - especially if you have apple care or live in the UK where consumer law applies.

Another observation I made whilst in the Apple Store, my particular store still has a few 2nd Gen 12-Inch iPads on display as part of a wall feature. Each one of these exhibited the same issue to varying degrees.

I thank you for doing it as it’s what made me notice the spotlighting was constant with a light screen, I’ll definitely be getting mine replaced.

 

[tps3443]

I am picky over panel quality too. Being from the PC gaming environment, naturally looking for ips glow, dead pixels, and black light bleed is a normal function one would use as a tool almost as if you are buying a used car and checking it’s oil lol.

If a perfect panel existed, I’d say it is the 2018 iPad Pro display. I really dunno how they do it either! It’s that GOOD. I’ve never seen a perfect display before this one lol.

I’m sure a lot of people will agree with me, it is just beautiful! Now that I know perfect does exist, my 11” iPad is my benchmark for future phone, tablet purchases from apple.

 

[Rider20]

Hey Aardvarkman, I had the exact same problem, and fortunately mine was able to be resolved. I called the MyApple number too and was able to work my way up to the proper person to be able to resolve my issue.

The person that initially answered my call was bottom tier support, and they do only handle software issues, as you had mentioned. When I had called them, I had asked them if they would be able to transfer me to the appropriate person to be able to talk to them about a hardware issue on a device that is out of warranty. You will have to be persistent since I felt like they were trying to give me the run around. Even the final person that I talked to, I had to really emphasize that I had expectations for my apple products, and one of them was not that they start to break after a single year of standard usage (which was how long it took for me to start seeing signs of spotlighting on the side of my iPad).

I recommend you call back and try to work your way up the support tiers. After all was said and done, they sent me a box to mail back my old iPad, and once it was received, they inspected it, and promptly mailed me a replacement one.

Best of luck, and hopefully you're successful as well!

Hi I have the same problem my iPad Pro is out off warranty and I just started to notice it bleeding from the side not really that bad I just wondering what I should do I don’t want to pay 600 $ I was just thinking about updating to the 3 gen and taking this on in to trade it for the newer one but I guess when they see the bleeding thay probably won’t give me anything for it so I can get the newer one dosE anyone have any advice thaxxs

 

[DeltaMac]

Hi I have the same problem my iPad Pro is out off warranty and I just started to notice it bleeding from the side not really that bad I just wondering what I should do I don’t want to pay 600 $ I was just thinking about updating to the 3 gen and taking this on in to trade it for the newer one but I guess when they see the bleeding thay probably won’t give me anything for it so I can get the newer one dosE anyone have any advice thaxxs

You do need to ask about the trade-in value at an Apple store. Your "not really that bad" light bleed may not affect the amount that Apple would offer for a trade-in of your used device. I think THAT would be an issue if the iPad was actually damaged, which yours is not? Take your iPad in, let them look at it. You may choose not to mention the horrendous, life-ending defect. Let the store ask you about that. The store wants you to purchase a new iPad, and the trade is supposed to make that task easier. Minor screen bleed might affect the trade-in a bit, or no effect at all. Try not to guess about that before you ask.

 

[Rider20]

Thax for the advice really appreciate it

 

[AutomaticApple]

I could've sworn that it was covered by the warranty.

 

[DeltaMac]

I could've sworn that it was covered by the warranty.

No need to swear. You would notice that the OP was able to get the iPad replaced -- covered under warranty (OP still was within warranty, so all was good for him) Other posts in this thread, with iPads out of warranty (or no AppleCare), and it's a paid repair (out of warranty). Unfortunately, there is a time limit for warranty repairs - - Past the original 12 months, and no AppleCare, the warranty is expired. Any repair will be out of your pocket.

 

[Bob6590]

Thanks adamlbiscuit for restarting the thread, I just noticed my wife's iPad Pro 12.9 purchased 2/2018 had several spots on the lower edge in landscape last week. Then I looked at it again this morning and it had gone from 2 medium size spots to 5 larger spots and 4 little spots, so I made a fast scan of the net and found your post. It made me decide to take the unit in asap for review. (I attach a picture of the issue, with the light spots on the upper left.)

So I took it in this PM to Apple Store. The tech confirmed first that there was no water damage, no damaged corners, nor any bending of the unit, all the usual stuff. Then he told me that the unit was out of warranty and their offer was $599 for a full replacement. I asked for the store manager, and to make a long story short, got absolutely nowhere. He insisted they have no responsibility for the problem as it is out of warranty, as well as being about as nasty as could be. So I left, thinking "NO MORE APPLE ever" to my self.

After returning home, I went back thru this thread and decided to call 1-800 MYAPPLE and see what they might say. The auto attendant asked if I was calling about the previously reported problem with the 12.9 iPad, so the file from the store was on my Apple Support record, obviously. Said yes, and was switched immediately to a Support Supervisor, Cristofer.

I explained the details of the situation, and amazingly, he said he could take care of a replacement after hearing my tale of woe. He opened a case, sent me confirmation email, and said he will check out tomorrow what's the fastest way to get a replacement going, either thru the Store or by mail in.

So as of tonight am hoping the issue will be taken care of as I first expected Apple to do for a unit 7 months out of warranty. Will post update later, thanks to all for all the info on this.

 

[Cnasty]

So as of tonight am hoping the issue will be taken care of as I first expected Apple to do for a unit 7 months out of warranty. Will post update later, thanks to all for all the info on this.

Why would you "expect" this? Is this the Apple entitlement people complain and wonder why their prices are also sky rocketing when people "expect" free things from Apple all the time?

There is a reason AC+ exists.

This is not a personal knock on you but the Apple enthusiasts and their expectations are unrealistic at times and it does drive into why they charge so much and people complain about that. Cant have both.

/rant over

 

[Bob6590]

All right, in most cases I would agree with your assessment- pay for Apple care or shut up. But it seems pretty obvious there is some sort of manufacturing defect going on with this issue based on the several threads about it. So yes I do expect them to take care of it past warranty in that case. And what if it happens at 2 years and seven months with AC, how is that any different.

Going in for replacement unit tomorrow from calling into Apple, so maybe they know something is wrong, too!