Where and how is your iPad Pro 11” Wi-Fi + Cellular bent?

[Beemers916]

12.9 lte. Use daily. Doesnt seem bent. Middle pics are up against my wall. Last pic i tried to get as perpendicular as i could to my counter

I do actually prefer my 10.5 lte as it feels like a tank and i take it everywhere with me without a single worry, while the new 12.9 i feel like i need to handle with kid gloves, so i just use it around the house and never travel with it.

 

[Dutch apple user]

256gb lte 11 inch

 

[bjet767]

I don’t have the 11” (I have the 10.9” Pro from last year), but these pictures look like a classic heat expansion bend.

If the bend begins at the antenna joint and only in LTE models it is highly likely the unit is heating up and causing a slight expansion of the materials and thus a bend.

Sadly, while it most likely does not reduce performance, it should not have gotten past the testers during the development process. I think we tend to forget the current models didn’t just happen overnight. R & D has been working on somewhere near three years and considering the wealth of Apple and Premium price of these devices “bendgate” is a huge error and heads will/should roll.

BTW this is a far different “bend” than the iPhone issue a few years ago. But, I’m sure most already know that.

I think if I had purchased the new Pro and found the bend it would be returned under my Apple Care until they got it right. Yes I would make a big stink over it. These things cost upwards of $1,700 US for LTE they should be right!

 

[flur]

I don’t have the 11” (I have the 10.9” Pro from last year), but these pictures look like a classic heat expansion bend.

If the bend begins at the antenna joint and only in LTE models it is highly likely the unit is heating up and causing a slight expansion of the materials and thus a bend.

Sadly, while it most likely does not reduce performance, it should not have gotten past the testers during the development process. I think we tend to forget the current models didn’t just happen overnight. R & D has been working on somewhere near three years and considering the wealth of Apple and Premium price of these devices “bendgate” is a huge error and heads will/should roll.

BTW this is a far different “bend” than the iPhone issue a few years ago. But, I’m sure most already know that.

I think if I had purchased the new Pro and found the bend it would be returned under my Apple Care until they got it right. Yes I would make a big stink over it. These things cost upwards of $1,700 US for LTE they should be right!

This makes sense to me as when I checked mine previously, it was perfectly flat. It came flat and is now exhibiting this bend.

 

[ahostmadsen]

256gb lte 11 inch

Now I got my 11” Pro, and it’s definitely not bent like this. I put it down on a table, and it’s flush with the table.
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256gb lte 11 inch

The problem with this picture is that camera bump elevates one end of the iPad, so it’s hard to tell. I have tried to put my 11” LTE against a straight edge, and it’s definitely not bent.

 

[ahostmadsen]

I want to correct my last post. Now I tried against a ruler, and I would say mine is indeed bent on the short side. I would say it is about 1mm higher there, definitely more than the 0.4 mm that the Apple VP says is acceptable. But it’s not so easy to make sure without more professional tools.

So, perhaps all LTE iPads are bent? People just don’t notice unless they read about the problem and start to examine in details.

 

[appelei]

I want to correct my last post. Now I tried against a ruler, and I would say mine is indeed bent on the short side. I would say it is about 1mm higher there, definitely more than the 0.4 mm that the Apple VP says is acceptable. But it’s not so easy to make sure without more professional tools.

So, perhaps all LTE iPads are bent? People just don’t notice unless they read about the problem and start to examine in details.

It is definitely a weak point in the design. Will it worsen over time? Everyone just started using the d*mn thing and I would like to know if the angle will increase over time.

 

[Newtons Apple]

All four side are straight on my 11" LTE.

 

[aYvYyyPhNa]

So, as I stated before, I have the 11” LTE model. I’ve been obsessing about it more than I should. If I look down the iPad on the short side, it definitely appears its bent towards the screen at the antenna line. I ended up taking it out of the keyboard case tonight and laid it screen side down on the edge of my desk. It looked perfectly straight to me. Are my eyes deceiving me?

I ended you laying it screen up as well and my heart dropped a little. I could definitely see it was bent upwards. I felt pretty dumb pretty quick though because I realized it was because of the camera bump.

So, I actually feel a lot better now and I’m going to stop worrying about it. If it is bent, its so slight I can’t tell without really looking for it. But again, I feel like my eyes are deceiving me. Might have something to do with the light and how the antenna line breaks up the aluminum.

 

[Dutch apple user]

So, as I stated before, I have the 11” LTE model. I’ve been obsessing about it more than I should. If I look down the iPad on the short side, it definitely appears its bent towards the screen at the antenna line. I ended up taking it out of the keyboard case tonight and laid it screen side down on the edge of my desk. It looked perfectly straight to me. Are my eyes deceiving me?

I ended you laying it screen up as well and my heart dropped a little. I could definitely see it was bent upwards. I felt pretty dumb pretty quick though because I realized it was because of the camera bump.

So, I actually feel a lot better now and I’m going to stop worrying about it. If it is bent, its so slight I can’t tell without really looking for it. But again, I feel like my eyes are deceiving me. Might have something to do with the light and how the antenna line breaks up the aluminum.

Just take a ruler and you know

 

[VMMan]

I purchased for my family the following 2018 models:

3 iPad Pro 11” wi-fi
1 iPad Pro 12.9” wi-fi
1 iPad Pro 12.9” LTE

Only my 12.9” LTE is clearly bent on the shorter sides by the antenna lines. These are not the result of optical illusions. The bend exists when compared to a straightedge.

My Apple Store wouldn’t accept the return because I was 7 days out of the 14 day return period.

 

[Hansl]

I purchased for my family the following 2018 models:

3 iPad Pro 11” wi-fi
1 iPad Pro 12.9” wi-fi
1 iPad Pro 12.9” LTE

Only my 12.9” LTE is clearly bent on the shorter sides by the antenna lines. These are not the result of optical illusions. The bend exists when compared to a straightedge.

My Apple Store wouldn’t accept the return because I was 7 days out of the 14 day return period.

I guess this literally sums up what we have discussed here so far? And the Summary is that only the LTE models have some slight bends that is mainly at the Shorter sides which starts from the Antenna Lines.

For those yet to discover, please try looking closely again. Observe the shorter end on both sides and you will be able to see the bend that Apple is now calling as NORMAL.

 

[ChrisChaval]

256gb lte 11 inch

this is quite an interesting picture

the bend seems to develop not at the antenna band, but at the usb C port

the iPad appears to be flush with the ruler up until that point

the antenna band then seems to further amplify the bend

if true, this would suggest two potential weak spots, not one

 

[netnative]

As I read the posts on this thread, I become increasingly convinced that this is not the time to splurge on an iPad Pro with Cellular and a 512GB or 1TB capacity. I was allowed to return my Wi-Fi + Cellular iPad Pro with 512GB. Somehow, someone at Apple was able to make an exception. Instead, I got a Wi-Fi-only iPad Pro with 256GB at Costco for $49.00 less than ordering it from the Apple Online Store. This one does not exhibit any bends and should be relatively easier to resell than the costlier high-capacity model with the cellular antenna bends. I expect that Apple will silently resolve the bend issue next year like it did with the iPhone 6s. At that time I will resell my iPad Pro and get a new one with the configuration I truly want.

 

[Veevj]

As I read the posts on this thread, I become increasingly convinced that this is not the time to splurge on an iPad Pro with Cellular and a 512GB or 1TB capacity. I was allowed to return my Wi-Fi + Cellular iPad Pro with 512GB. Somehow, someone at Apple was able to make an exception. Instead, I got a Wi-Fi-only iPad Pro with 256GB at Costco for $49.00 less than ordering it from the Apple Online Store. This one does not exhibit any bends and should be relatively easier to resell than the costlier high-capacity model with the cellular antenna bends. I expect that Apple will silently resolve the bend issue next year like it did with the iPhone 6s. At that time I will resell my iPad Pro and get a new one with the configuration I truly want.

Where are you reselling your stuff? I’m trying to sell my iPad Pro 12.9 WiFi with cellular 2017 that I bought in 2017 for ~$1100 on eBay and can’t sell it even for $700.

 

[GerAlex73]

Picked a 11" WiFi today, no bending at all. My 12,9" LTE i retuned was slightly bend.

 

[ahostmadsen]

Sigh. Did some more test with mine and a ruler, and there is no doubt it is bent near the antenna line. It is about 0.5-1mm higher at one end. I'm a little disappointed with this. I hope Apple will address it officially. I don't want to go and replace it just to get another bent unit (are all LTE models bent?). It clearly does not affect functionality, and it is not noticeable just looking at it, and since I really like the 11", I don't want to return it.

 

[Mescagnus]

Yes, this is an issue most common with the LTE models.

My 11" LTE has a slight bend where the cellular antenna cuts the upper frame. Bottom frame is fine.

The top edge rocks slightly on an even (glass) table. If I put 3 sheets of paper on the table where the iPad bends, it rocks no more. So it seems my iPad's bend is within the 400 microns tolerance.

I'm getting an Apple folio cover tomorrow; if it works without problems, I guess I'll wait for the 4th gen iPad Pro before exchanging / upgrading.

Mind you, the bend in my iPad is visible and apparent against a level table, and that bothers me at the price of 11" 256GB LTE. I was going to get the WiFi-only model, and regret I did not.

Having a manufacturing fault in the more expensive model really is a shame. I'll follow with interest how Apple reacts to the issue, come 2019.

I would trade my LTE for an un-bent WiFi-only model 1:1 – pocketing the loss in price. If the bend gets any worse in my typical careful use of the iPad, the press & forums will hear about it.

I'd urge Apple to redesign the antenna bands for the next iPad Pro. I find it hard to understand how the current version got by their quality control.

Edit: Excellent device, apart from the build-quality. Such a shame. Apparently, whenever Apple changes the design of their mobile devices, it's best to skip the first generation. Case in point: iPhone 6 -> 6S (structurally stronger). 2018 iPad Pro -> 2019 iPad Pro – it will most likely be more rigid. No bends next year!
[doublepost=1545943172][/doublepost]

Yes, this is an issue most common with the LTE models.

My 11" LTE has a slight bend where the cellular antenna cuts the upper frame. Bottom frame is fine.

The top edge rocks slightly on an even (glass) table. If I put 3 sheets of paper on the table where the iPad bends, it rocks no more. So it seems my iPad's bend is within the 400 microns tolerance.

I'm getting an Apple folio cover tomorrow; if it works without problems, I guess I'll wait for the 4th gen iPad Pro before exchanging / upgrading.

Mind you, the bend in my iPad is visible and apparent against a level table, and that bothers me at the price of 11" 256GB LTE. I was going to get the WiFi-only model, and regret I did not.

Having a manufacturing fault in the more expensive model really is a shame. I'll follow with interest how Apple reacts to the issue, come 2019.

I would trade my LTE for an un-bent WiFi-only model 1:1 – pocketing the loss in price. If the bend gets any worse in my typical careful use of the iPad, the press & forums will hear about it.

I'd urge Apple to redesign the antenna bands for the next iPad Pro. I find it hard to understand how the current version got by their quality control.

Edit: Excellent device, apart from the build-quality. Such a shame. Apparently, whenever Apple changes the design of their mobile devices, it's best to skip the first generation. Case in point: iPhone 6 -> 6S (structurally stronger). 2018 iPad Pro -> 2019 iPad Pro – it will most likely be more rigid. No bends next year!

To add to my own post, I got the iPad Pro as a Xmas present, and the 14-day return window has closed. Otherwise, I would have returned it for a WiFi-only model. The iPad was not bought from an Apple Store and the retailer does not offer a longer return time during the holiday season, so only a 14-day return period applied. Lesson learnt: when buying expensive gifts, be aware of the return policy of the seller!

 

[netnative]

Where are you reselling your stuff? I’m trying to sell my iPad Pro 12.9 WiFi with cellular 2017 that I bought in 2017 for ~$1100 on eBay and can’t sell it even for $700.

Try Swappa. See: https://swappa.com/mobile/buy/apple-ipad-pro-129/unlocked.

 

[Greenmeenie]

Yes, this is an issue most common with the LTE models.

My 11" LTE has a slight bend where the cellular antenna cuts the upper frame. Bottom frame is fine.

The top edge rocks slightly on an even (glass) table. If I put 3 sheets of paper on the table where the iPad bends, it rocks no more. So it seems my iPad's bend is within the 400 microns tolerance.

I'm getting an Apple folio cover tomorrow; if it works without problems, I guess I'll wait for the 4th gen iPad Pro before exchanging / upgrading.

Mind you, the bend in my iPad is visible and apparent against a level table, and that bothers me at the price of 11" 256GB LTE. I was going to get the WiFi-only model, and regret I did not.

Having a manufacturing fault in the more expensive model really is a shame. I'll follow with interest how Apple reacts to the issue, come 2019.

I would trade my LTE for an un-bent WiFi-only model 1:1 – pocketing the loss in price. If the bend gets any worse in my typical careful use of the iPad, the press & forums will hear about it.

I'd urge Apple to redesign the antenna bands for the next iPad Pro. I find it hard to understand how the current version got by their quality control.

Edit: Excellent device, apart from the build-quality. Such a shame. Apparently, whenever Apple changes the design of their mobile devices, it's best to skip the first generation. Case in point: iPhone 6 -> 6S (structurally stronger). 2018 iPad Pro -> 2019 iPad Pro – it will most likely be more rigid. No bends next year!
[doublepost=1545943172][/doublepost]

To add to my own post, I got the iPad Pro as a Xmas present, and the 14-day return window has closed. Otherwise, I would have returned it for a WiFi-only model. The iPad was not bought from an Apple Store and the retailer does not offer a longer return time during the holiday season, so only a 14-day return period applied. Lesson learnt: when buying expensive gifts, be aware of the return policy of the seller!

Regardless of where you bought it, it’s still an Apple product under warranty. I would take it into your local Apple Store and tell them of your issue and how you want to return/exchange it. I bet you they’ll do it for you.

 

[Veevj]

Try Swappa. See: https://swappa.com/mobile/buy/apple-ipad-pro-129/unlocked.

Thank you Didn’t know this one. Unfortunately iPads are even cheaper there. Seems iPad loses 50% of its resell price after a year or so...

 

[netnative]

Thank you Didn’t know this one. Unfortunately iPads are even cheaper there. Seems iPad loses 50% of its resell price after a year or so...

Take into account that this year’s iPad Pro is the first iPad without a home button and with Face ID. Naturally, iPads with a home button are now less desirable.

 

[flur]

Sigh. Did some more test with mine and a ruler, and there is no doubt it is bent near the antenna line. It is about 0.5-1mm higher at one end. I'm a little disappointed with this. I hope Apple will address it officially. I don't want to go and replace it just to get another bent unit (are all LTE models bent?). It clearly does not affect functionality, and it is not noticeable just looking at it, and since I really like the 11", I don't want to return it.

This is where I am as well. I’m not replacing mine unless Apple come out with a formal return/trade-in policy or the curve worsens (theoretically possible but unlikely) and starts to impact usage. I do wish it were perfect but honestly I wouldn’t even know there was anything wrong if it weren’t for these forums.

 

[DNichter]

Where are you reselling your stuff? I’m trying to sell my iPad Pro 12.9 WiFi with cellular 2017 that I bought in 2017 for ~$1100 on eBay and can’t sell it even for $700.

If you're looking to resell, always sell 2 weeks prior to the release event. I have found that to be the sweet spot. I got $700 for my 10.5 Pro and smart keyboard.

 

[Veevj]

If you're looking to resell, always sell 2 weeks prior to the release event. I have found that to be the sweet spot. I got $700 for my 10.5 Pro and smart keyboard.

I’m probably not such a hardcore fan....would like to see at least in the store what I’m buying before selling haha.