It’s a mix of both good news and bad news for owners of Apple’s iPad Air 3 tablet, as the company reveals a known issue affecting some units, as well as a repair program to fix it.
The issue, which appears to only affect the Air 3, can cause a screen failure, Apple stated in a message on its website.
If you have one of the models that is affected, Apple are offering a repair for free.
What is the Apple Air 3 issue?
In a statement posted to Apple’s website at the weekend, the company informed owners of the iPad Air 3 that it has identified an issue whereby the display may fail.
Apple has determined that, under certain circumstances, the screen on a limited number of iPad Air (3rd generation) devices may go blank permanently. – Statement from Apple
In these instances, there is a little that a user can do, unable to view the screen. Apple also stated that owners may see a small flicker or flash before the screen goes blank. Either way, there won’t be any chance you’ll miss the issue if you have one of the unlucky iPads.
How Do I Get my iPad Fixed?
Firstly, you have to ensure that your iPad is one of the models listed by Apple. It must be an iPad Air 3, which is the newest version of the iPad Air. If you have a standard iPad, Pro or Mini, or even a first or second generation Air, then you’re out of luck.
Secondly, your Air must have been manufactured between March 2019 and October 2019.
Got a busted iPad screen? Meet the criteria? In that case, you’re eligible for the free repair. To initiate this, you’ve got three options:
- Take it to an Apple Authorized Service Provider
- Make an appointment at your local Apple store
- Contact Apple support to arrange a mail-in repair
All of these options can be arranged on Apple’s site.
As is standard with these repair programs, Apple recommends you back up your device first (although that might be tricky if you can’t see the screen). It also advises that it may need to repair any other issues with your iPad before it can fix the screen issues.
Apple’s Repair Programs
Apple has been no stranger to free repair programs in recent years, although its iPad range has been fairly issue-free to date.
Recently, it’s been the MacBook that seems to have been on the receiving end of multiple programs to fix ongoing issues. Last year, Apple offered repairs to anyone who was experiencing keyboard issues, such as sticky keys and lack of function.
MacBook owners have also experienced woes with faulty batteries, displays and solid state drives.
iPhone owners have been fairly unlucky too, with the iPhone 6s having power issues, and Apple’s official smart battery cases also requiring a repair program.
