While browsing the iPad displays at an Apple Store, a noticeable difference in screen vibrancy caught my eye. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro models on display appeared to have faded screens when compared to the newer 9.7-inch iPad Pro, the iPad Air 2, and even my own iPhone 6 Plus. To ensure a fair comparison, I made certain that True Tone was disabled across all devices and that all display settings were uniformly adjusted. The discrepancy became particularly evident when viewing the calendar app, where the white background highlighted the diminished brightness on the larger iPad Pro screens.
Apple Store staff members present were unable to provide a definitive explanation for this brightness variation. This difference was clearly visible not only against the older iPad Air 2 and my iPhone 6 Plus, but also in direct comparison to the new 9.7-inch iPad Pro. One staff member speculated that the 9.7-inch Pro’s advanced screen technology might be the reason, but this explanation doesn’t account for why the iPad Air 2 and iPhone 6, with their older displays, also exhibited superior brightness.
To verify if this was an isolated incident, I intended to examine the displays at another Apple Store location, but haven’t had the opportunity yet. Knowing that many users within online communities own multiple iPads, I’m reaching out to inquire if others have observed a similar screen difference when comparing their devices. There was a known yellowing issue with the 12.9-inch iPad Pro shortly after its release, but this observed fading seems to be a distinct problem. My online searches have not yielded any reports of this specific screen fading issue.
To illustrate the observed screen difference, I captured some images during my visit to the Apple Store. Although my reflection is visible on the 12.9-inch iPad Pro in the photos, the faded appearance of its screen is still discernible. Unfortunately, I was unable to include the iPad Air in the frame as it was positioned on a separate display table. I am very interested in purchasing the larger iPad Pro, but this potential screen issue is a significant concern. The faded screen was consistently observed across all 12.9-inch iPad Pro units on display in the store.
Side-by-side comparison of a 12.9-inch iPad Pro display showing a faded screen next to a brighter device, possibly an iPhone, in an Apple Store setting.
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