Consumer Reports chimed in with its own assessment of the iPad overheating issue. According to its tests, the iPad reached a scorching 116 degrees Fahrenheit after 45 minutes of playing Infinity Blade II. This was 12 degrees warmer than the iPad 2, which was tested under the same conditions.
Consumer Reports ran the iPad propped with a smart cover and tested the front and the back of the device unsung infrared imaging. Their analysis shows that the heat was concentrated in one corner of the device. Though infrared measurements show the device was running hot, the iPad was warm, but still comfortable to hold for a brief period says Donna L. Tapellini, Senior editor at Consumers Union.
In the end, this much ado about nothing. The iPad, as well as the iPhone, has a fail-safe mechanism that’ll shut down the device when it starts to overheat to the point of damage. None of the reports suggest this critical limit was reached during testing.
Anyone who’s used a computer or notebook understands that a device will get extremely warm when it’s been used extensively for a long period. It’s well-known that a GPU and a CPU will heat up under stress and the iPad is no exception.
People concerned about overheating should follow Apple’s advice from earlier, “The new iPad delivers a stunning Retina display, A5X chip, support for 4G LTE plus 10 hours of battery life, all while operating well within our thermal specifications. If customers have any concerns they should contact AppleCare.”