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Has your 11” or 12.9” iPad Pro bent?

  • Yes

    Votes: 55 25.6%
  • No

    Votes: 160 74.4%

  • Total voters
    215

James Godfrey

macrumors 68020
Oct 13, 2011
2,068
1,710
I have been thinking about and researching this bending issue for a few days now and personally I am not so sure this is a big of a problem as what is being made online, let’s look at the facts:

1. People reported on the 2018 iPad Pro that they were coming bent out of the box... this was then reported by the verge that Apple said that its due to the manufacturing process and some iPads will come bent (this was without an actual quote from Apple), this was quickly copied by various news outlets.

2. Apple then addressed the issue by stating that the QC of the iPad Pro is tighter than with previous generations of iPad allowing for up to 400 microns (less than half a mm) of a bend, and if you feel your iPad Pro is more than that out of the box you can return it under the 14 day window or get it repaired or replaced under their 12 months warranty.

3. This then spurred a huge amount of bend tests online, where people purposely bent the iPad Pro in a way with ideal leverage of there hands on both ends of the iPad with the thumbs focused on the centre (which is obviously going to bend a thin aluminium frame) and to no surprise the iPad bent fairly easily.

4. The iPad Pro 2020 came along and the same results happened however, there isn’t many reports of users finding their 2020 iPad Pro’s bent out of the box (likely due to Apple addressing a manufacturing issue on the 2020 Pro’s).

With all this in mind you do have to look at it logically, there will be millions of iPad Pro’s now sold across the world, and yes there are many reports of bent iPad Pro’s, now these will be one of the following:

1. Users who actually get a bent iPad Pro out of the box and notice it immediately.
2. Users who got a bent iPad out of the box but didn’t notice a bend initially and noticed a few weeks or months later after inspecting their device.
3. Users who had a perfect iPad Pro to begin with who then noticed a bend a few weeks or months later and don’t remember when the damage was caused (quite possibly happening when drunk, when the kids used it, they left it unattended and someone used it without the owners knowledge or otherwise).
4. Users who had a perfect iPad Pro to begin with who know what caused their iPad Pro to bend but don’t want to admit it to try and get a replacement from Apple or just to scaremonger.

Coupled with all of the above you have to bare in mind that customers are more likely to post online when they have an issue and are less likely to post online when they don’t.

With the poll above I think it’s safe to assume that out of the 34 people (currently) who have reported that their iPad Pro has bent less than half of those have bent through no fault of their own and a very small number had them bent out of the box.

The thinking above has put my mind at some sort of rest before I get mine, and I hope that it also helps anyone thinking about buying one but letting this issue put them off their purchase...

If you buy the iPad Pro, look after it and I am pretty sure you will be fine, and for the odd few who have it noticeably bent out of the box Apple state on their website they will replace it under warranty.
 

pdoherty

macrumors 65816
Dec 30, 2014
1,491
1,736
Issue is, no one can say whether the unresponsive screen is directly tied to “bent”. The issue is the unresponsive screen; I doubt anyone cares about bending if it didn’t result in the screen becoming non-functional.
 

James Godfrey

macrumors 68020
Oct 13, 2011
2,068
1,710
I would just advise anyone with a bent out of the box iPad to go to Apple for a replacement under warranty, then if a screen issue happens and it’s not bent then Apple should replace it again under warranty, if it had no bend to begin with then later develops a bend which causes a screen issue, something must have caused the bend, aluminium won’t just start bending on its own accord and Apple are well within their right to refuse a repair or replacement.

Should Apple make their products stronger... of course they should, but it’s obvious by now that pretty much all Apple products are fragile with a varying degree and you do have to baby them, which does suck a bit of fun out of the products, but Apple have always been about thinness and lightness etc... and if you as a consumer arnt happy with that maybe it’s time to ditch Apple for you.

Personally I have owned several Apple products, all of which have some reported issue online and so far I have never had an issue with any device I have owned, including the bending 6 Plus (which still wasn’t bent after two years of heavy use).
 

Dave245

macrumors G3
Sep 15, 2013
9,857
8,084
I would just advise anyone with a bent out of the box iPad to go to Apple for a replacement under warranty, then if a screen issue happens and it’s not bent then Apple should replace it again under warranty, if it had no bend to begin with then later develops a bend which causes a screen issue, something must have caused the bend, aluminium won’t just start bending on its own accord and Apple are well within their right to refuse a repair or replacement.

Should Apple make their products stronger... of course they should, but it’s obvious by now that pretty much all Apple products are fragile with a varying degree and you do have to baby them, which does suck a bit of fun out of the products, but Apple have always been about thinness and lightness etc... and if you as a consumer arnt happy with that maybe it’s time to ditch Apple for you.

Personally I have owned several Apple products, all of which have some reported issue online and so far I have never had an issue with any device I have owned, including the bending 6 Plus (which still wasn’t bent after two years of heavy use).

I do agree with this. I had the iPhone 6 Plus and it never bent, but I never tried to bend it. I do remember videos of people going into Apple stores and bending them, that isn’t Apples fault if you purposefully bend any of their products.

However if you get an iPad out of the box and it’s bent. You should return it for a replacement.
Being an Apple user for many years, I have only ever had an issue with 2 devices (my 2017 iPad Pro and my AirPods Pro).
 

Arctic Moose

macrumors 68000
Jun 22, 2017
1,599
2,133
Gothenburg, Sweden
1. Users who actually get a bent iPad Pro out of the box and notice it immediately.
2. Users who got a bent iPad out of the box but didn’t notice a bend initially and noticed a few weeks or months later after inspecting their device.
3. Users who had a perfect iPad Pro to begin with who then noticed a bend a few weeks or months later and don’t remember when the damage was caused (quite possibly happening when drunk, when the kids used it, they left it unattended and someone used it without the owners knowledge or otherwise).
4. Users who had a perfect iPad Pro to begin with who know what caused their iPad Pro to bend but don’t want to admit it to try and get a replacement from Apple or just to scaremonger.
5. Users who had a reasonably unbent iPad to begin with which was treated extremely carefully and never left a desk in a locked office, that still seems to have magically bent anyhow.

I had two of them. The fact that Apple took them back no questions asked tells me they're not saying everything there is to know about it.

I do begrudgingly have to agree with you that the existence of any notable issues now would certainly have led to many more reports, complaints and questions from users.

Personally, I'll have a tough time accepting the current iPad Pro form factor again, regardless of what reason or statistics dictate.
 

Freida

Suspended
Oct 22, 2010
4,077
5,874
The issue never was within 14 days return period. Thats of course safe.
The issue some of us are worried about is the long term use. If you go to any Apple store and try the flexibility of the new iPad then you see the form factor and material used is simply wrong.
I'm not saying you should go to an Apple store and try to bend the iPads - not at ALL!!! But just testing the flex tells you how little force is need it to 'wobble' it and that itself tells me that I don't want to get it. Its just too fragile and I like to have a device for long term so that is what I am personally worried and not buying until this is addressed.

The last thing I want is to get a device and in 2 years time it will develop an issue (like the touch disease) that unless there is class action recall then I will have to pay for repair. Often, Apple doesn't do those willingly and often in needs a lawsuit.

I want new iPad Pro but I don't want to risk it. Its a lot of money for a device that may or may not be ok in 2 years time.

Sure, one can argue that anything can happen but I still have 2014 iPad Air 2 that works perfectly well (except the bright spot that is annoying but 6 years so far still solid).

So yeah, bent or no bent - the device is not design well and this weakness should be addressed. All they need is stronger aluminium and maybe reposition mic somewhere else and I'll buy day 1.





I would just advise anyone with a bent out of the box iPad to go to Apple for a replacement under warranty, then if a screen issue happens and it’s not bent then Apple should replace it again under warranty, if it had no bend to begin with then later develops a bend which causes a screen issue, something must have caused the bend, aluminium won’t just start bending on its own accord and Apple are well within their right to refuse a repair or replacement.

Should Apple make their products stronger... of course they should, but it’s obvious by now that pretty much all Apple products are fragile with a varying degree and you do have to baby them, which does suck a bit of fun out of the products, but Apple have always been about thinness and lightness etc... and if you as a consumer arnt happy with that maybe it’s time to ditch Apple for you.

Personally I have owned several Apple products, all of which have some reported issue online and so far I have never had an issue with any device I have owned, including the bending 6 Plus (which still wasn’t bent after two years of heavy use).
 
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Debi Martocci

macrumors member
Sep 8, 2020
56
109
Is this still an issue with the 2020 models? I'm absolutely terrified of this happening.:eek: I'll be using both the magic keyboard and smart folio exclusively so maybe that might prevent it?
 
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Lsmachado

macrumors 6502a
Sep 20, 2018
838
1,766
Texas
Is this still an issue with the 2020 models? I'm absolutely terrified of this happening.:eek: I'll be using both the magic keyboard and smart folio exclusively so maybe that might prevent it?
I’ve had my new 11” Pro for nearly a month now, and haven’t noticed any issues. Thoroughly inspected it out of the box and it was perfect. I also had the 2017 Pro for a couple of years, and it was totally problem free. I do tend to baby my devices though because I have to work hard to be able to afford them (like most people do), lol.
 
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Freida

Suspended
Oct 22, 2010
4,077
5,874
Depends who you ask. I personally wouldn't buy it as I'm waiting for a fix. Some people feel its non issue.

Wait till next week, maybe new Air will be better for most of us
:)

Is this still an issue with the 2020 models? I'm absolutely terrified of this happening.:eek: I'll be using both the magic keyboard and smart folio exclusively so maybe that might prevent it?
 
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Freida

Suspended
Oct 22, 2010
4,077
5,874
True, but looking at the design, I noticed few changes. One is the microphone not being in the middle where the weak point is so that is that. And I kinda hope they did improve it. It really was the only reason why I didn't get the iPad Pro.


If the 2020 Air has less flex than the 2020 Pro, then the 2021 Pro will probably be more rigid than the 2020 Pro. If the Air has a similar amount of flex then there won't be a more rigid new-style Pro for several years.
 

James Godfrey

macrumors 68020
Oct 13, 2011
2,068
1,710
It wouldn’t surprise me if it’s even more bendy, considering it’s thicker but still lighter in weight according to the official specs
 

Freida

Suspended
Oct 22, 2010
4,077
5,874
Me too but for that price tag the strength of the the device is not that good. I have Air 2 and that device is way more rigid. And yeah, I'm so eager to update it. Literally cannot wait. I wish 2020 Pro models addressed this already :)

I happen to treat expensive electronics with care, but I guess that isn’t commonplace for many people. ;)
 

darngooddesign

macrumors P6
Jul 4, 2007
18,367
10,128
Atlanta, GA
I happen to treat expensive electronics with care, but I guess that isn’t commonplace for many people. ;)

This has nothing to do with treating your electronics with care because these aren't desktop computers. I always carry my iPad in a messenger bag, well... used to and will continue to in the future. My 9.7 iPP handled that like a champ and is still flat four years later; will the current iPP handle the mild bending forces a shoulder bag subjects it to?
 

Freida

Suspended
Oct 22, 2010
4,077
5,874
Yes, exactly. I didn't have to worry about this with Air 2. It travelled with me to so many places etc.
Would the iPad Pro handle the same? I'm not so convinced and for the price tag I'm not risking it. So yeah, no purchase unless this is addressed. Simple as that

This has nothing to do with treating your electronics with care because these aren't desktop computers. I always carry my iPad in a messenger bag, well... used to and will continue to in the future. My 9.7 iPP handled that like a champ and is still flat four years later; will the current iPP handle the mild bending forces a shoulder bag subjects it to?
 

ericwn

macrumors G5
Apr 24, 2016
12,119
10,912
Wow, you’re quite sure about it. I hope you wont face such a problem ever. And yes, there are cases with the 2020 as well.

Have you encountered more 2020 models in this forum? I might have missed those reports then although reading here often.
 
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