It would seem that an all new scandal is emerging out of what is the battery of Apple’s new iPad. First, it was revealed that due to heavy-duty Retina display, the new iPad heated more than iPad 2. Now, it has been revealed that the new iPad keeps recharging even after the screen indicates that it is 100% charged. In fact, you can go on to charge it for another hour. Apple, however, says that charging it beyond the point when the device reads 100% charged will damage the hardware.
This has been revealed during extensive testing of the new iPad by DisplayMate. During the testing, it was revealed that even when the new iPad says it is fully charged, the device keeps drawing the juice from the AC source. According to DisplayMate’s president, he measured ‘the power actually drawn by the AC Adapter and first found that the new iPad continues to charge for up to 1 hour after it claims to reach 100%. This affects the battery run time if you stop charging when it says 100%.’
While some have deemed it as an intentional falsity on the part of Apple, to make the users think that the new iPad charges faster than it actually does, other think it is simply a mistake by the company. However, Apple itself goes with neither point of views. According to Apple, ‘If you charge it more than [when the battery indicator reads 100%], you could actually harm the longevity of the battery.’
It does make sense that Apple may want the users to stop charging at a certain point and that’s where the fully charged sign pops on the iPad screen. However, the question remains that why wouldn’t the new iPad stop charging on its own as soon as it hits that point. A very slightly carelessness on the part of the user can, in light of Apple’s response, damage the hardware. Besides, no one measures the time of a recharge or stands by a device to see when it says its fully charged.
DisplayMate, who first carried out the test and divulged this apparent disparity in the new iPad’s charging, responded to this, ‘Damaging the longevity of the battery is then exactly what the new iPad’s internal battery charging hardware and software are doing since it is their responsibility to properly control and manage the battery recharging process. It’s pretty obvious that if the new iPad knows that it is fully charged then it should automatically stop the charging! So according to Apple the new iPad is configured to damage the longevity of its own battery if it isn’t manually disconnected from the AC charger when the 100% indicator appears. Anyone that recharges their iPad unattended, especially overnight, will be doing this.’
Also, it has been revealed that with that one hour of additional charging, despite the full-charge warning, the new iPad is able to run for a smooth 11.5 hours, which is much higher than what Apple claimed for the device. So this means that you can let the device charge up and be able to run it for extra hours and buy Apple’s rather flimsy logic. In that case, you will have to continuously keep an eye on the device and also, not be able to run it for the maximum possible time.
Things seem murky for now and only a clearer explanation from Apple, and possibly a fix for this problem, can make them any clearer.
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