Fans fly to forums to signal iPad 3 Wi-Fi woes

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.

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.

"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.

"Same here! Will not hold Wi-Fi for more than a few minutes. Two MacBooks and iPhone working fine from same router. Ready to return iPad!!!!!"

One slate owner told Gizmodo of his Apple Store Genius Bar experience when returning his new iPad.

"I spent 90 minutes in the store. We compared the speed on the 3 and my 2. [It] wasn't a dramatic difference (because we were in the back of the store, closer to the router mothership!) But still there was a difference," he said.

After the staff exchanged his hardware they immediately ran some tests which showed the latest fondleslab indeed had a weaker signal.

"The clerk suggested we try another machine to compare two 3s — and my 2. When we went to the front of the store — at the entryway to the mall — I was vindicated! Because the signal was weaker—the the 2 was flying — getting 12 or 15 — while the 3 was lagging at 3 or 4."

The manager was called and the team tested the issue on another iPad 3. It showed the same results.

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.

These Wi-Fi grumbles aren't the first complaint iPad 3 owners have raised. Several reports already talk of hardware overheating and the tiring issue of a yellow hue on the display, a consequence of the glue Apple uses in the manufacturing plant.

Have you hit any snags with your new Appleware? Vent spleen on the new Reg Forums. ®