Just got the newest iPad model. Everything works smooth and fantastic. Only concern is heating. I have been using normal creative apps and PlayStation remote play occasionally with no issues. But some App Store games that support 120 hz make the iPad super hot In a very short amount of time, under 10 minutes of gameplay. You can’t help but notice how hot it’s getting. Hopefully there is an update that relieves this.
iPad Pro (M4, 2024)
Your iPad is designed to run at speeds that will make the iPad warm and maybe hot, by your definition. When the iPad approaches temperatures that could potentially cause damage, the processor and graphics chips are throttled or in other words, they lower the clock speed and processor slows down. This deliberate slowdown can result in dropped frame rate and this is normal.
Very few games have been optimized for the M4 chipset yet and thus will have sloppy code that results in excessive heat and slowdowns. As LotusPilot stated, cases decrease the thermal efficiency by insulting the back of the iPad, the major source of cooling for the iPad. High screen brightness also causes much higher battery consumption and a big increase in heat. As processors need to ramp up to handle higher temperatures, they require more energy and increase in battery consumption. The higher discharge rate of the battery contributes to the heat issue.
Until the game software is optimized by the game company you can reduce brightness, and reduce resolution, shading and other game options, you’ll need to manually perform these functions. However, once the game is updated, you should be able to resume game settings that result in more realistic play.
Your iPad is designed to run at speeds that will make the iPad warm and maybe hot, by your definition. When the iPad approaches temperatures that could potentially cause damage, the processor and graphics chips are throttled or in other words, they lower the clock speed and processor slows down. This deliberate slowdown can result in dropped frame rate and this is normal.
Very few games have been optimized for the M4 chipset yet and thus will have sloppy code that results in excessive heat and slowdowns. As LotusPilot stated, cases decrease the thermal efficiency by insulting the back of the iPad, the major source of cooling for the iPad. High screen brightness also causes much higher battery consumption and a big increase in heat. As processors need to ramp up to handle higher temperatures, they require more energy and increase in battery consumption. The higher discharge rate of the battery contributes to the heat issue.
Until the game software is optimized by the game company you can reduce brightness, and reduce resolution, shading and other game options, you’ll need to manually perform these functions. However, once the game is updated, you should be able to resume game settings that result in more realistic play.
It is not unusual for an iPad to become warm when being used - more so when using some types of iPad case. High screen brightness and/or CPU intensive Apps will also create more heat.
The key point is that whilst your iPad may become very warm in normal use, the iPad should not become uncomfortably hot to handle. If your iPad is becoming too hot to hold, you should take your iPad along to the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store - where the technicians can examine and test your iPad for faults.
If you want to have this feedback to reach Apple, please use this form as apple is not actively reading on this mainly user to user forums
You can also try to restart the iPad to see if the issues persist. I have the M4 iPad Pro as wel and I face no heating issues
DavidK999 wrote:
I am sitting outside, in the shade, no case, only surfing txt web stuff… I can barely touch the screen its sooooo hot!,, Brand new, 4 day old iPad M4 Pro11”
When used outside, whether in the shade or not, your screen brightness is very likely to operating at its maximum setting - and the iPad will become very warm. Even in the shade, ambient light levels will be much brighter than when used indoors.
Do you experience the same heating issue when using the iPad indoors - in moderate ambient lighting conditions?
If you have any concerns, you would be well advised to have your iPad assessed and tested by an Apple Technician at the Genius Bar of your local Apple Store or Apple Authorised Service Provider (AASP):
Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple
Yes hot is one thing but my ipad gets really hot and fps will bounce like 40fps to 67 fps non stop which make my competitive game play suffer terribly. I cannot use it like this, doesnt happen always but still enough for me to return it. My m1 ipad never did this.
I am sitting outside, in the shade, no case, only surfing txt web stuff… I can barely touch the screen its sooooo hot!,, Brand new, 4 day old iPad M4 Pro11”
New Ipad pro 11 inch M4 getting hot
