Is this true?

[Pixelated]

My brother gave me an iPad for Christmas. I recently bought a cover for it (basically this)

A friend is telling me that the iPad can overheat in this case -- that electronics in general will overheat in cases. She says she no longer uses her case.

For what it's worth, I don't expect to be running my iPad for hours on end. I have a desktop computer which is where I spend the bulk of my online time. The iPad will be used when I'm away from the house (I expect to use it mostly to download and read ebooks )

So is this an actual problem? And if so, how can I mitigate the problem?

Thanks.

[Kittish]

Boyfriend and I both have our iPads in cases, pretty similar to the one you pictured. I've used my iPad for hours on end many times (reading with the Kindle app) and never noticed any problem with overheating. Boyfriend has never had problems with his either. I tend to be kind of a klutz, and my case has saved my iPad from being damaged due to dropping on several occasions.

[Arcus]

I use an ipad at work in a hard plastic case with just the screen exposed. It's never even gotten warm to the touch. The one you show has very good air flow around it, so even if it did run a little warm, nothing will get hurt.

[RealUnimportant]

Our work iPad is in use 15 hours a day in a case, charged in it too. Never once felt even warm to the touch.

[Pixelated]

Thanks, all. Glad to hear it.

[lordlundar]

it's more an issue of WHAT you're using the iPad for. Stuff that is more taxing on system resources (remember, you are still dealing with a computer) will cause it to heat up considerably.

[Pixelated]

it's more an issue of WHAT you're using the iPad for. Stuff that is more taxing on system resources (remember, you are still dealing with a computer) will cause it to heat up considerably.

I only just got it, so basically am currently using it to learn how to use it ...

But I expect to be using it mostly to download and read e-books. Maybe electronic banking, FaceTime chats (but very rarely), play online games, that sort of thing. I almost never buy stuff online, so I don't see that changing at any point in the future.
I have a functioning desktop and spend most of my online time on that. The iPad is my "traveller."

What sort of things will cause it to heat up considerably? Just so I can avoid them.

[Argus]

What sort of things will cause it to heat up considerably? Just so I can avoid them.

Certain games; check the reviews for negative comments about battery life. In general, anything that extends battery life will reduce heat problems.

[Pixelated]

Certain games; check the reviews for negative comments about battery life. In general, anything that extends battery life will reduce heat problems.

Thanks, will keep that in mind. (I'm assuming those are mostly downloadable games as opposed to online games ...)

[RealUnimportant]

If it requires a lot of effort from the processors then it can cause increased heat, regardless of whether it's a separate app or browser-based. That said, the only time I've ever had any iDevice overheat was when I played Pokémon Go for 6 hours straight; screen permanently on full brightness, case closed, device in pocket, 4G and Bluetooth operating constantly too... Not the best way to treat them. Even then, I just had to let it cool for a while to get it back into operation - iDevices are very good about letting you know when they're too hot (although it was blatantly obvious from the way my fingerprints were melting off!) and shut themselves off well before any permanent damage can be done.

Until superconductors become commonplace in all electronics, heat will always be a side-effect of computing. They're all built to handle it, and they're getting better every year. Could be that your friend has a cheap laptop that's not built to such a high standard, but you should be just fine.

[Pixelated]

... iDevices are very good about letting you know when they're too hot (although it was blatantly obvious from the way my fingerprints were melting off!) ...

Yeah, that would definitely be a hint. Thanks for the info about processors.

Can't see myself having this thing on for six straight hours for ANYTHING, but of course you never know ... thanks for the input. My desktop is never shut off, but for long periods it's in 'sleep' mode so I'm wondering if that is any help in preventing overheating (although it does get very, very sluggish after a while).

[Valentinian]

I have an older iPad with a much more 'solid' case than that one, i.e. much less airflow than that will allow, and the only time I've had it overheat was once when I was using it while standing in full sun on a very, very hot day. :P

[Lovecats]

My Kindle Fire gets a bit warm after awhile in its case. I usually just take it out of the case at home when I'm reading on it or whatever. If I'm out I don't so much. I haven't seen any complaints on the forums on Amazon about it overheating. I just basically take it out of the case at home so I feel better if that makes any sense at all.

[Pixelated]

I have an older iPad with a much more 'solid' case than that one, i.e. much less airflow than that will allow, and the only time I've had it overheat was once when I was using it while standing in full sun on a very, very hot day. :P

And I avoid the summer sun so much that I'm thinking that the older I get the closer I get to becoming a vampire ...

My Kindle Fire gets a bit warm after awhile in its case. I usually just take it out of the case at home when I'm reading on it or whatever. If I'm out I don't so much. I haven't seen any complaints on the forums on Amazon about it overheating. I just basically take it out of the case at home so I feel better if that makes any sense at all.

Good idea. If I find mine heating up, I'll do the same.

[Ironclad Alibi]

And I avoid the summer sun so much that I'm thinking that the older I get the closer I get to becoming a vampire ...

Hmmm... I wonder if I become a vampire, how much longer with I be able to draw my government pension? How long before they get suspicious?

My goal is to live as long as possible so I can get as much money as possible from my pension. I have several goals in mind.

One is to be retired longer than I worked, which takes me to 90.

The second is to make more money in retirement than I did working. That will happen a lot sooner unless I adjust the numbers for inflation. Then it gets too complicated.

I'm going for the 90+ goal.