Bend but don’t break: Apple pulled out all the stops when designing its latest batch of iPads, resulting in the thinnest devices the company has ever created. At just 5.1 mm, the iPad Pro 13-inch may seem alarmingly thin but Apple has taken steps to avoid another bendgate controversy.
As Apple executive John Ternus explained in a recent interview with Arun Maini, the tablet’s main logic board runs right down the center between the two batteries. Apple also added a metal cowling over the logic board that serves as a “central rib.” Combined, the design choices result in improved thermal dissipation and significantly enhanced stiffness.
Just how durable is this central rib, you ask?
Zack Nelson from JerryRigEverything recently subjected the new iPad Pro to an unscientific bend test and came away impressed. The central rib seems to do a solid job of protecting the tablet’s internal hardware, even as the screen separates from the body. The vertical bend test wasn’t as forgiving as the iPad experienced a catastrophic failure at the USB-C charging port that completely wrecked the display.
Sam Kohl from AppleTrack was also able to bend the new iPad Pro, but it fared far better than earlier models. The rib does seem to do its job, which is even more evident when bending in areas the cowling doesn’t protect.
The good news for most is that tablets likely aren’t as susceptible as smartphones to ordinary use bend damage. Sure, you could accidentally sit on it on the couch or in bed, but unlike a smartphone, they are too large to be stuffed in your back pocket.
If you are accident prone or simply want to further protect your new investment, AppleCare+ is always an option. Coverage includes unlimited incidents of accidental damage although you will pay a small service fee.
Coverage for an iPad Pro 13-inch works out to $8.49 per month, or $169 when paying for two years up front. Screen damage claims are $29 each, while other accidental damage will set you back $99 per claim. Still, that’s far cheaper than buying a new iPad Pro.
