New iPad hits whopping 116 degrees, report says

(CBS News) Apple's new iPad can get up to 116 degrees warm, a recent report says. What does it mean for consumers and for the tablet maker?

Consumer Reports tested Apple's new iPad using a thermal imaging camera that recorded activity of the tablet from the front and hear.

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"We ran our test while the new iPad was propped on the iPad Smart Cover, plugged in, and after it had run Infinity Blade II uninterrupted for about 45 minutes," Consumer Reports said, "The device's 4G connection was not turned on, though its Wi-Fi link was. The ambient room temperature was about 72 degrees. (Apple recommends not using the iPad in environments over 95 degrees.)"

Consumer Reports engineers also ran the test with an unplugged iPad and compared the device with the iPad 2. The testers found that the new iPad got up to 113 degrees unplugged.

How did it stack up against the iPad 2? The new iPad runs up to 13 degrees hotter than the second-generation tablet. The test engineers did admit that holding the new iPad at a warmer temperature was "not especially uncomfortable" in short intervals.

Why is the new iPad so hot? The most likely cause is a larger battery, Retina Display screen and faster chip.The third-generation tablet is faster and more powerful than the previous model.

Let's not throw out the baby with the bathwater. As CNET's Josh Lowensohn noted, "Nowhere has it been said that this extra heat could lead to dangerous things happening to the battery, something that has historically been linked to a hardware flaw vs. an engineering decision."

CNET: Too soon to call warm iPads 'heatgate'

Not surprisingly, Apple released a vague response in light of the Consumer Reports findings.

"The new iPad delivers a stunning Retina display, A5X chip, support for 4G LTE plus 10 hours of battery life, all while operating well within our thermal specifications. If customers have any concerns they should contact AppleCare," Apple spokesperson Trudy Miller told AllThingsD.

This isn't the first time Apple has experienced controversy immediately following a product launch. When the iPhone 4 launched, customers complained of frequent dropped calls. It was discovered that holding the iPhone 4 in certain places interfered with the antenna, causing calls to disconnect. Many coined the incident "antennagate."

Then chief executive officer, the late Steve Jobs, addressed the issue 22 days after the iPhone 4 launched. The company resolved the issue by offering free cases - which helped alleviate the problem.

If issues do arise over the new iPad's temperature, Apple's history suggests the company will release a fix in a timely manner. The new iPad was made available to the public on March 16 - less than a week ago.

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The evolution of Apple products

[RedDeath50]

Watch the ******** quickly line up to staunchly defend this overhyped, overpriced toy! They're like the proverbial lemmings, lining up to jump off the cliff!

If the iZombies think it's too hot, it's probably because they are holding it wrong!

[longtree-2009]

that's too hot for a man's stones so don't put it on your lap. but if placed over leftovers covered with foil, it can warm up your meal while you surf.

[unclemallard]

Whopping? The person who wrote the headline has absolutely no sense of perspective. How can a temperature only slightly warmer than the human body be considered whopping? If the water in your bathtub were 116 degrees F you would consider it too cold. That temperature is very reasonable for the surface of a hand-held appliance.

[train99]

Are you kidding? Try getting into 116 degree water. TRY it.

[werntrouble]

This is no big deal! Just Consumer Reports trying to help sell itself. 116 F or 46 C is not that much hotter than we are at 98.6 F. Heck, I sit in my hot tub for 15 - 20 min at 102 F. You won't even feel this through your clothes if you rest the iPad on your lap. I seriously doubt very many gamers hold the device since their fingers need to be free to manipulate objects on the screen.

[NewForce]

116 F? Try to use new iPad with that temperature for enough time, eventually will bring disease to your fingers & hands. Omg.. new iPad is bringing more ridiculous issues.