New iPad Too Hot to Handle, May Pose Injury Risk
Is the new iPad too hot? Some consumers think so.
Apple fan forums are being inundated with complaints about the new high-powered device. Some users claim the backside of the iPad is "uncomfortably warm" while others say it's too hot to hold.
One Dutch website even claims the new iPad is almost 10 degrees hotter than the iPad 2. Apple, however, asserts that the new iPad operates "well within [its] thermal specifications."
There are no reports of burns or fires, but tech geeks worldwide are worried. Consumer Reports has stepped up to assuage -- or confirm -- any fears, and will be conducting new safety tests, reports the Los Angeles Times. The organization will also speak to health experts to determine if the new iPad poses an injury risk.
This is not the first time consumers have complained that the iPad is too hot. There were similar complaints about the original iPad and the iPad 2, but CNN reports they were on a lesser scale. Even if these new complaints are par for the course, Apple still needs to take them very seriously.
Overheating machines are dangerous and pose a safety risk. In 2009, Hewlett-Packard had to recall 70,000 laptop batteries after two individuals reported spontaneous fires and burns. The incidents were linked to overheating batteries.
Some suggest that the iPad is too hot because the battery is overheating -- it's larger than the one in the iPad 2. If this is true, Apple may end up having a product liability suit on its hands if it doesn't fix the heat issue soon.
Related Resources:
- Is the new iPad too hot to handle? (USA Today)
- Defective and Dangerous Products (FindLaw)
- Exploding iPods and iPhones Prompt Investigations (FindLaw's Injured)