Apple confirms the new 2018 iPads can bend but says that isn't a defect
- Apple has confirmed the suspicions of some 2018 iPad Pro owners that their device might have a slight bend.
- The company described the bend as a result of the iPad Pro's manufacturing process and said it's not a defect.
- There's no replacement program, though iPad Pro owners who want a replacement can exchange it within the standard 14-day return window.
After some owners of Apple's 2018 iPad Pro claimed on the MacRumors forum that their devices had bent slightly out of the box or over time, Apple acknowledged the issue to The Verge on Wednesday and said it didn't consider the bending a defect.
Apple said some of the devices were shipped with a slight bend but assured affected owners that it "shouldn't worsen over time or negatively affect the flagship iPad's performance," The Verge reported.
Users have reported slight bends on both the smaller and the larger 2018 iPad Pro. Apple described it as a side effect of the device's manufacturing process.
Despite confirming the bend in some iPad Pros, Apple hasn't set up a replacement program. Owners of the new iPad Pro can still exchange their device for a replacement within the standard 14-day return period, but that could be too late for some. The 2018 iPad Pro was announced on October 30 and released on November 7.
Apple told The Verge it hadn't experienced a higher-than-normal return rate for the 2018 iPad Pro.
A video by the popular YouTuber and destroyer of gadgets Zack Nelson of the JerryRigEverything channel demonstrated the ease with which the iPad Pro can bend under extreme stress, though Apple said its bending issue was not related to normal daily use.
Apple did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.