Apple says the “jelly scroll” issue on the 6th-gen iPad mini is normal for LCD screens; the issue isn't noticeable on other latest iPad models with LCD screens
Apple says the issue is caused by normal LCD screen behavior. — Update, 9/28/2021: In response to our inquiry …
Ars TechnicaAndrew Cunningham
Context & Ripple Effects
The sixth-generation iPad mini had just been reviewed as a substantial update, with A15, USB-C and Pencil 2 support, in early coverage of the redesigned mini. Apple’s response now turns a newly visible scrolling complaint into a stated display characteristic rather than a product fault.
It also follows owner reports of mini-LED blooming on the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, showing that display behavior has become a recurring point of scrutiny across otherwise differentiated iPad panels.
First-order effects
iPad mini buyers reporting the scrolling artifact now face Apple’s position that it is normal LCD behavior, while Apple says comparable current LCD iPads do not show it noticeably.
The contrast with Apple’s other current LCD iPads makes panel behavior a more explicit model-level comparison point for shoppers choosing within the iPad range.
Apple support and retail teams can point to a single official explanation, reducing ambiguity around whether the effect is treated as a defect for affected iPad mini owners.
Third-order effects
If display complaints continue to surface across LCD and mini-LED iPads, panel-specific visual trade-offs will increasingly shape product-quality perceptions alongside performance and accessories.
Apple’s differing response to blank screens, blooming, and scrolling artifacts points toward a sharper industry distinction between repairable failures and accepted display characteristics.
The trend: Tablet display quality is becoming a model-specific product differentiator as buyers and manufacturers distinguish outright failures from technology-linked visual artifacts.
Here is is slow-mo video of scrolling on the iPad Min i slowed down EVEN MORE in a frame-by-frame step through. Notice how the right moves up faster than the left. In normal usage you barely see it, but every now and then it become noticeable. In landscape it goes away entirely h…
@MacRumors @julipuli It's hard to say but I feel as if Apple 5 years ago, maybe more, really started to let go on their product quality. Steve would have never approved this kind of poor patient satisfaction
Displays don't refresh their pixels all at once but rather one at a time, starting from the top left, which can cause visible delay at opposite ends while scrolling. This panel is unfortunately wired in landscape, hence the exaggerated delay when scrolling in portrait. https://tw…
Don't think I've seen an iOS device with VSync issues before 🤔 Can't imagine it's mini-specific, unless it's tied to the new screen scale. Safari renderer bug? A software fix should be straightforward https://twitter.com/...
This is very real and it's very bad. iPad mini display looks A LOT worse than the iPad Air/Pro. Considering returning it just for that. Shame cause I like the size. https://twitter.com/...
Basically Apple bought a load of defective screens off Samsung, then just said it's a feature instead of recalling the iPads with dodgy screens.. this is the Tim Cook's Apple sell people flawed products then call it a feature! 😡 https://www.macrumors.com/...
@jon_prosser I disagree, I noticed the iPad mini display felt cheap as soon as I touched it, this simply explains why. Considering the fact that other apple devices have the same jelly effect and me noticing first on iPad mini actually suggests the opposite.
Since I'm the first person to have pointed this out (that I know of), I have gotten a ton of questions about it and I just have to say: yep, this is how some screens work. Nope, I do not think it is a reason not to buy the iPad Mini. https://www.theverge.com/...
This is outrageous. If you own this iPad I would return it. No other iPad does this and it is weird for Apple to say this is normal behavior. https://www.macrumors.com/...
Disappointing. Yes, jelly-scroll CAN be an issue on all 60Hz displays. But it is more noticeable to me on the iPad mini than anywhere else. https://twitter.com/...
The new iPad mini form factor is pretty great; it's such a completely different class of device to my regular 12.9". I'm not tempted to use multitasking at all, and it's ideal in Portrait mode. It even makes me want to design different types of apps
This one got me, too. PSA to devs: the new iPad Mini screen is 1133x744 pt (less than 768 for the first time), yielding a skinnier iPad aspect ratio than usual, and has safe-area insets cutting into it even further. Test your apps on it! (Simulator is fine.) https://twitter.com/.…
One thing that I want to call out AGAIN is that ithe fact that Apple doesn't support multiple users on the iPad has transcended the ridiculous and entered the realm of user hostility. It's punitive. It's dumb. It will affect every iPad review score until it's fixed.