Recent tests conducted by Consumer Reports suggest that the new iPad runs hotter than its predecessor. But further tests by other publications — who struggled to replicate the heat levels observed by Consumer Reports — point out that this particular result doesn't necessarily mean that the device is overly hot.
Based on Consumer Reports' tests, the new iPad hits temperatures of up to 116 degrees Fahrenheit after about 45 minutes of running an intense-action game. This is up to 14 degrees F warmer than the iPad 2 will run under similar conditions, according to the publication.
After Consumer Reports' report came out, other publications — such as Wired and PC World— conducted similar temperature tests. Their results and conclusions didn't precisely line up with Consumer Reports'.
Wired's testers were able to reach temperatures of 108 degrees while re-creating the conditions of Consumer Reports' tests. This falls within the heat levels the iPad 2 hit in Consumer Reports' tests — not those of the third-generation device.
In additional tests — which used a different, though still graphics-intensive game — Wired managed to hit top temperatures of only 94 degrees on the third-generation iPad. "Ninety-four degrees is not an uncomfortable temperature in one’s hands, and it’s also well short of the alarming 116 degrees publicized by Consumer Reports, as well as our own 108 degree reading," remarked Wired's Roberto Baldwin.
Wired also tested several similar products in order to see how the new iPad's temperature compares. This is how the results broke down:
- ASUS Transformer Prime: 98.5 degrees
- Kindle Fire: 96.5 degrees
- BlackBerry Playbook: 95.5 degrees
- New iPad: 94 degrees
- iPad 2: 93.5 degrees
- Acer Iconia Tab A200: 90 degrees
PC World's test results were quite similar to those seen by Wired. The publication also tested multiple tablets and found that "any mobile devices get toasty — and often much hotter than the top temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit that [PC World] recorded on the new iPad."
PC World tested multiple scenarios — plugged in device, unplugged device, etc. — and took temperature measurements on several locations on each test unit. But no matter what was done, the publication's testers did not manage to "push the new iPad's temperature beyond the century mark."
So what do things boil down to? Well, it seems that the third-generation iPad's heat levels tend to be on par with those of similar devices. And even when they're on the higher side of things, they're not overly hot as even Consumer Reports reviewer Donna Tapellini explained, according to Reuters:
During our tests, I held the new iPad in my hands. When it was at its hottest, it felt very warm but not especially uncomfortable if held for a brief period.
We have reached out to Consumer Reports for further details regarding testing parameters and to confirm whether there are plans to test additional tablets for the sake of comparison. We will update once we receive a response.
Want more tech news, silly puns, or amusing links? You'll get plenty of all three if you keep up with Rosa Golijan, the writer of this post, by following her on Twitter, subscribing to her Facebook posts, or circling her on Google+.
