M4 iPad Pro Bend Tests: Durability Equal to M2 Model Despite Thinness

The first M4 iPad Pro bend tests are in, and the initial consensus appears to be that Apple has managed to make its thinnest device ever just as durable as the previous generation M2 iPad Pro that it replaces.

Two approaches were taken in bend tests by prominent tech YouTubers. JerryRigEverything for example forcibly applied pressure by bending the new device with his hands, while MobileReviewsEh took a different tack by placing the iPad under a force meter and applying gym weights on top to exert pressure within a limited contact area.

When bending the iPad Pro from the back in the horizontal position, JerryRigEverything found that the device held up “surprisingly well,” as if “suspicious levels of black magic structural integrity” were going on.

When forcibly bent from the back, the glass screen eventually rippled away from the frame, yet the display and operating system continued to function normally. When it came to putting pressure on the device vertically, however, it was a different story, and the iPad Pro quickly suffered a catastrophic split up the middle, originating from the USB-C port.

JerryRigEverything then removed the display to reveal and remove the internals, including the new metal cowling that runs down the middle of the device. “If Apple could add another more perpendicular spine running width-wise near the charging port, this thing probably would have survived,” he added.

JerryRigEverything concluded that the central spine of the new iPad Pro is “definitely providing enough structure for horizontal bends,” and should stand up to everyday use in a backpack or luggage. In his own AppleTrack test, Sam Kohl agreed: “Is [its thinness] a durability risk? The answer is no. The spine that Apple put along the logic board is very good unless you are bending the corners in.”

After placing in excess of 70 pounds of weight on the center of the iPad Pro display until complete structural failure, MobileReviewsEh concluded that the new iPad Pro is “just as tough if not a little bit tougher” than the one it replaces, despite being 18-20% thinner than the M2 iPad Pro.

All in all, another “bendgate” looks unlikely. For those unfamiliar with the controversy, Apple in 2019 admitted to shipping its then-new models with a “very slight bend in the aluminum chassis,” which it blamed on a “side effect of the manufacturing process.”

Despite videos indicating that the 2018 iPad Pro models bent more easily than other models, Apple said the bend did not worsen over time or negatively affect the iPad’s performance, and that concerns over the device’s durability were unfounded. Nevertheless, some iPad owners were understandably upset to find defects in devices that cost hundreds of dollars.

Troubling iOS 17.5 Bug Reportedly Resurfacing Old Deleted Photos

Wednesday May 15, 2024 5:29 am PDT by Tim Hardwick

There are concerning reports on Reddit that Apple’s latest iOS 17.5 update has introduced a bug that causes old photos that were deleted – in some cases years ago – to reappear in users’ photo libraries. After updating their iPhone, one user said they were shocked to find old NSFW photos that they deleted in 2021 suddenly showing up in photos marked as recently uploaded to iCloud. Other…

OpenAI Announces ChatGPT App for Mac, GPT-4 for Free, and More

At its Spring Update event, OpenAI announced that it will be releasing a desktop app for the Mac, as seen in the screenshot below. The app will be rolling out to ChatGPT Plus subscribers starting today, ahead of a wider launch “in the coming weeks.” “With a simple keyboard shortcut (Option + Space), you can instantly ask ChatGPT a question,” OpenAI’s press release says. In addition, Voice…

Apple Previews Three New CarPlay Features Coming With iOS 18

Apple today previewed new accessibility features coming with iOS 18 later this year, and this includes some new options for CarPlay. Apple highlighted three new features coming to CarPlay: Voice Control: This feature will allow users to navigate CarPlay and control apps with just their voice. Color Filters: This feature will make the CarPlay interface visually easier to use for…

Apple Releases tvOS 17.5

Monday May 13, 2024 10:01 am PDT by Juli Clover

Apple today released tvOS 17.5, the fifth update update to the tvOS 17 operating system that came out last September. tvOS 17.5 comes two months after the release of tvOS 17.4. tvOS 17.5 can be downloaded using the Settings app on the ‌Apple TV‌. Go to System > Software Update to get the new software. ‌Apple TV‌ owners who have automatic software updates activated will be upgraded to …

Apple Releases macOS Sonoma 14.5 With Apple News+ Improvements

Monday May 13, 2024 10:04 am PDT by Juli Clover

Apple today released macOS Sonoma 14.5, the fifth update to the macOS Sonoma operating system that launched last September. macOS Sonoma 14.5 comes more than two months after the launch of macOS Sonoma 14.4. The ‌‌‌‌‌macOS Sonoma‌‌‌ 14.5 update can be downloaded for free on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of System Settings. There’s also a macOS 13.6.7…