“Apple’s iPad 3 is drawing fire for its wireless performance, with many an owner complaining about poor Wi-Fi reception. Tests performed by staff in Apple’s own stores allegedly show it too,” Caleb Cox reports for Register Hardware.
“Numerous reports on the Apple support forum highlight the hitch, claiming the New iPad has a much weaker Wi-Fi pick-up than its predecessor and other Apple devices,” Cox reports. “‘I am in a hotel with my laptop and new iPad 3. The laptop Wi-Fi reception is as strong as it gets, but the iPad only registers a weak signal. Anyone else having similar problems? Any suggestions?’ reads the first message in the thread. Pages of responses follow with other owners detailing similar setbacks.”
Cox reports, “Not all New iPads shows the problem, though. Our own Cliff Joseph, proud owner of an iPad 3, said he gets better Wi-Fi reception with his Wi-Fi only tablet. Perhaps other owners’ wireless woes occur on the 4G model.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Anybody seeing problems? If so, please let us know below and tell us your iPad (2012) type (Wi-Fi-only or Wi-Fi+4G). We’re not seeing any issues with any of our iPad Wi-Fi+4G units.
Nope. No wi-fi issues with either mine or my wife’s new iPad at all.
me either. It’s wifi-gate.
Bunch of FUD.
4G LTE Model. No problems. Loads faster than 1Pad 2 at farest point away in my Apt. Thru two walls.
No issues on my wiFi 64GB new iPad either. Full bars everywhere I’ve been so far.
Doesn’t mean anything though. There could be a bug. I’m using a 5GHz signal from my Airport Extreme. I live in a high rise in Downtown LA and there’s about 20 additional protected networks visible with varying signal strength.
I hope people having the problem are reporting what sort of access point/router they’re attempting to connect to (if they have the information.)
I don’t think this one is FUD. They have over 686 complaints so far. Generally people say they lose signal much sooner with the new iPad, i.e. by moving over 35 feet away, vs. the old iPad which held a signal up to 75 feet away. Just a hunch, but I think this is going to turn into something. At the very least a swap out program.
I saw today it’s only the WiFi models, due to lack of power or something.
the LTE models have no issues.
“WiFi-only third-generation iPads are the only devices affected by these issues, according to Apple. The 4G LTE models are presumably safe from these issues due to the extra network power allowed by the black rubber cut on the top of the unit.”
http://9to5mac.com/2012/04/04/apple-investigating-new-ipad-wifi-issues-tells-applecare-to-replace-affected-units/
No problems here at all. 64GB WiFi only.
I have the same iPad you have. Right now I can see 3 password free WiFi networks and I can get out on all 3.
The Windows Tablet Advance Propaganda Team are obviously out in force.
3G iPad:
Wifi only, 32GB.
Works better than my iPhone 4 and 1G iPad (32 GB, wifi)
No issues with heat or wifi. Love it. Might be a bad batch of wifi boards.
Wifi 4G no issues
Have a 4g model have the problem but I feel it interference with the 4g chip. If I turn off cellular I don’t get kicked off when I’m at work. Don’t get a 4g signal at home and never get kicked off of wifi
We have a first gen iPad (WiFi + 3G), third gen iPad (WiFi only), a 6 month old MacBook Air, A 1 year old MacBook Pro and a 5 year old iMac. WiFi signal strength seems to be about the same on everything (connecting through a Time Capsule and an Airport Express to extend coverage.
I’m having problems changing my ATT account from my Classic to my new iPad, but I don’t see any wifi problems. Otherwise, this is a very nice device.
No issues with my new Wi-Fi only model. The battery on my iPad is incredible. I typically go about 3 days before recharging with moderate usage.
I have the 64gb AT&T new iPad with zero wifi issues. My iPad two had zero issues same AT&T 64gb. My original iPad AT&T did have wifi issues and it was replaced.
My new iPad does receive wifi better then my iPhone 4s.
ATT 64gb 4g. Bars usually show the same but speed tests against multiple wifi hit spots consistently show my iPhone 4s is faster on wifi than my iPad (3rd gen).
Ill take anyone’s iPad that’s having wifi problems off your hands for you.
Competitors love to start these viral-esque rumors, all it takes is for 1 or 2 dozen employees to kick things off. Now back to making some bacon and eggs on my new iPad!
Oh, and of course more CU bait 🙁
I have a new iPad with 4g cellular. It does seem to stall out on loading while on WiFi sometimes when my wife’c 2nd gen iPad keeps chugging alone.
Everything’s been working fine for me, ATT 4G has been rock solid and fast, and wireless is, as expected, working like a Swiss watch.
Could this, pray tell, be Apple’s competitor’s spreading FUD once again?
On the other hand, is ANYONE having these issues with a non-Apple tablet? That would be interesting, wouldn’t it?
Does anyone have a non-Apple tablet?
If they have any sense they don’t…
Use new my Verizon 64 GB iPad for aviation which requires frequent large (~~ 1 GB) map downloads. WiFi works perfectly.
It’s weaker than my iPad 1 signal. New IPad 4G Wifi, 64 GB
Same here. Seems like half a bar weaker. Occasionally the connection goes out completely. It’ll come back, even if I don’t move, but it’s a little flakey. I’m disappointed, because I didn’t like the reception I was getting with 1st gen iPad and I hoped the new one would be better, but no such luck
But I should stress it’s not *that* big a deal — it’s only an issue perhaps once a day or every other day. It’s not constant. I think I must be at the edge of my wifi range or something. And yes, I’m using an Apple Airport Extreme router and this is an N network and I have tried all the channels. The good news is that when it is connected, the network speed is faster than with old iPad (according to the network speed test app).
I have this problem with an iPad 2! I travel frequently and stay in the same hotel every time. My iPhone and MacBook Pro connect to the Wi-Fi network just fine and show maximum signal strenght. My iPad 2 often won’t connect or drops the connection and never registers max signal, usually just 1 or sometime 2.
Wi-Fi definitely is weaker on my 2012 Wi-Fi + 4G 64GB compared to the previous iPad 2010 Wi-Fi + 3G 64GB but I am getting along with it.
What annoys me much more is that after leaving a Wi-Fi area or network I am not able to establish a mobile network connection over 3G or EDGE (no compatible $G networks in Europe). Full 3G/EDGE is available but an error message pops up saying something like “Mobile Network could not be established”. Switching into Airplane mode to cut off all network connections and then switching it Airplane mode off again doesn’t help.
The 3G/EDGE network will work smoothly again after switching the new iPad off completely and switching it on again. This is really bad.
Wifi 64GB. No problems at all, in fact this thing is perfect.
No problems with my new iPad 64Gb WiFi only. Writing this from my motel room with full signal strength indicated! This thing is great!
neither my wife (who had an original iPad for comparison purposes for two years) nor i have had problems at home, at work, or at airports. we both have new iPad wi-fi + att 4g.
Chances are 99% of the issues stem from old G routers.. Now that people have 10 devices in their house, their networks are saturated..
Could be. People are reporting the problems from public places as well, but the issue could be the same there.
not here I have the new airport extreme. Constant low signal and glitches when streaming vids from iTunes shared library.
i should add I had same issues with iPad 2.
In general it is pretty good for email / web etc. it’s definitely not that I get stuck without access or anything microsoftian like that
Nope working fine since day one ,16 Gb wifi only.
No problems with the new 3G+WiFi. My latest WiFi Speedtest results:
ping: 15ms download: 28.54Mbps upload: 27.75 Mbps:
We have the original iPad, a MacBook Air, a MacBoo Pro, and the new iPad. No WiFi problems at all. In fact, the WiFi signal has been steady and strong — I have not had a single dropped connection and have used it in many locations from home, office, Starbucks, car dealer, etc.
I’m not suffering any problems on my 64gb wifi only iPad. Love the display.
32gb wi-fi
No problems at all. same as my original iPad.
There’s some issue here. I don’t know if it’s a performance issue or just a software display issue. But I’ll bet Apple fixes it by just displaying more bars that it should, like it did with the iPhone 4.
I have a iPad (2012) Wifi+4G Verizon 64GB Black that shows 2 out of 3 bars. My MacBook Air shows 4 out of 4 bars. My iPhone 4 shows 3 out of 3. My spouse’s first generation iPad with 3G shows 3 out of 3. They are all connected to the same Dual Band Apple Time Capsule on a 5 GHz 802.11 N connection.
You all are just noticing this now? My research (laying in bed or sitting in the living room) shows that my iPad 2 catches about 1/3 of the number of WiFi networks in the neighborhood that my first generation iPod touch does. Yes, first generation iPod touch. The iPod only misses one or two networks that my MacBook picks up. The iPod has one plastic corner on the metal back where the antenna is. The iPad has none. Metal and high frequency radio signals just don’t mix. It’s that simple. Once again we are screwed by form over function.
Just did speed tests. The first time I ran it on the new iPad, the test was slower than on the iPhone 4. But on subsequent runs it was about the same speed. But I’m fairly close to the Time Capsule. I wonder how it would fair in a hotel.
64gb, 2012, wifi+4G (Verizon) works brilliantly.
64GB Wi-Fi AT&T LTE. Zero issues. About equal to my iPhone 4S.
New 3/4G 64Gb iPad, just checked against my iPhone 4 and it’s showing a full wifi signal from my router in the other room, compared to two bars on the phone. It’s performance from the beginning has been superior to th phone.
2012 AT&T 4g–haven’t activated 4g but I have excellent wifi reception. No problems.
I have the full-blown AT&T 64g wifi/4G LTE model with no issues. However, the LTE can make your home wifi seem slower. The AT&T LTE is blazing fast.
– skimming through the comments – seems not one person has a wifi issue
64GB WiFi + 4G – no wifi problems here
Wifi + 4G – no problem here
32GB WiFi only is problem free here. In fact, have repeatedly used it problem free from an area on campus notorious for its spotty WiFi.
No WiFi problems with my WiFi 4G 64GB. BTW, “4G” really flies compared to my original 3G in the little town of Bellingham, WA.
Wifi only, absolutely no problems at all. It may pick up my wifi signal even a bit better than my iPad 2 from the basement since the router is on the third floor, just my observation.
I have iPad 3 64gb WiFi+4G and am using Airport Express with cable modem in my home. The wireless comes and goes with the iPad however my macbooks don’t have that problem. Not sure really what is going on.
I have all versions of the iPads…no problems.
I notice that my 17 inch MBP shows maximum signal strength but that my iPad (64 Gb + 4G) and iPhone 4S show less signal strength. The two iOS devices vary from full to two thirds. I am working at home with the wireless router located at the back of the house. My laptop shows full strength at about 40 feet from the router and the two iOS devices will drop to the lowest strength signal. They also vary in signal strength at that location. I only notice a slight difference in download and upload speeds between the laptop and the iOS devices.
Zero issues with my AT&T 4G 64 GB.
No problems with either of our new iPad 4g whatsoever. Nor with iPad 2 3G. using wi-fi at home or at other various wifi spots here in the U.S. or Europe.
Wifi 4G 32 GB…haven’t had any issues….love my new iPad!
“Fans fly to forums”, “many an owner”, “Numerous reports”
All it takes for this kind of nonsense is a handful of people — as with EVERY other “-gate” around Apple products. How many is “numerous”? Why not just say the number.
I remember one review about a health product: “Numerous reports have shown the effectiveness of this product in alleviating the condition of …..” Following THEIR OWN LINK, you would discover it was ONE report that said there MAY be SOME positive effect.
My wife has just taken delivery of her new 3.
We set it up yesterday, and as far as I can see, WFI is strong!
Here in Australia we do not have 4g comparable to US 4g.
Our Telsra network offers 4g, but only in state capitals like Melbourne and Sydney!
My 2 continues to steam along with 150 apps!
My wife has zero! Currently!
I got the new WiFi+4G 16GB iPad. Around my home WiFi reception seems about the same as my old first gen iPad. However, where the 1st ten showed max bars or none the new one displays reduced bars in some areas of my home. Don’t know why.
No problems – WiFi+4G (AT&T)
Just started having problem with poor reception with Wi-Fi. Replaced DSL modem. Still bad……Mac Pro Laptop runs strong but did not before change. Nothing worked then. iPad 3 does not work before and after in Wi Fi. New pad 64 gig wi-fi+4g, 15″ laptop 3 yrs old. 3gig data add-on with at&t through 4g
Serious problems with iPad 3 WiFi connections on 64MB WiFi+4G from day one. Using with Airport Extreme, never had any issues with iPad 1 & iPad 2.
64GB 4G model and I have to say the wi-fi seems better than my 64 Gb 3G iPad 2.
Well took my iPad 4g out to the garage. Out of the garage still on wifi Down the driveway still on Down to my neighbors with my airport on the opposite side of my house still going Kept going past my neighbor and then finally no wifi. Hmmm seems ok. I will try next in my first gen iPad
Both wife and my IPad 3 64G 4G + wifi have lots of problems with wifi…slow response, locking up, low signal…used in the exact same places our 2 iPad 1’s (64G 3G + wifi) were used….flawlessly…a real disappointment…….
Actually yes. I still have my iPad 2 along with my new iPad. Placed side-by-side the iPad 2 pulls in a signal when the new iPad cannot. It is a noticeable difference. Both are Wi-Fi only 16 GB models. After reading several articles lately I gave it a test. Normally doesn’t matter when I’m
In my house but then, that’s not the question is it ? Yes the new iPad cannot pull a signal as well as the iPad 2. I love them both but it is a fact.
My iPad 3G/32gb has this reception issue as well. In the bedroom the iPhone / ipad1 had a decent connection. My new iPad cannot make the connection.
I talked to a Genius at the Applestore in Amsterdam and he mentioned something about different wifi chips from different suppliers.
I installed an extra Express and everything works fine.
I have an ipad2 and for no apparent reason recently I do not connect automatically to networks like I used to. Very irritating.