Thursday, March 22, 2012, 12:37 am

Targus will replace Slim iPad cases incompatible with new model

By Josh Ong

Case maker Targus has confirmed that it will replace cases free of charge for customers who have discovered that the auto-sleep/wake function of iPad 2-compatible cases does not work with the third-generation tablet.

After a reader reported receiving a replacement Targus Slim case for his new iPad, AppleInsider reached out to the company to confirm the policy.

"Targus will replace any of the new iPad cases at no charge," a spokesperson replied.

Shortly after the new iPad was released last week, reports emerged that Apple had changed the magnets used to automatically put the device to sleep when a compatible cover is put into place. Though Apple's own Smart Covers were found to work with the new iPad, some third-party cases were affected by the switch.

Kyle Wiens of iFixit said in an email to AppleInsider that he had been told Apple changed the polarity of the magnets on the new iPad. "There was an issue with the smart cover accidentally triggering the sleep sensor, so Apple went to a polarity sensitive sensor," he wrote.

Apple released its Smart Cover accessory last year alongside the iPad 2. A teardown of the original Smart Cover last year found 21 magnets embedded in the accessory and 10 in the iPad 2. The company quietly updated the accessory last October to match the inside of the cover with the outside.


Apple's new iPad is off to a record start with three million sold in its first weekend of availability. Company executives have said they're thrilled by the device's performance.

The new tablet has received overwhelmingly positive reviews, though some minor quibbles have been raised about the device. For instance, some reports claim the new iPad runs much warmer than the iPad 2, and, in some cases, reaches temperatures as high as 116 degrees Fahrenheit. Another report called the LTE iPad a "speed trap" as users have discovered that it takes just a few hours to use up a monthly data allotment from AT&T or Verizon when streaming high-quality video. Still others have complained of weak Wi-Fi reception with the device.


To read more about the third-generation iPad, see AppleInsider's in-depth review.