iPad Pro users still complaining about delayed or missed touch response

By Brandon Russell
published

iPad Pro
iPad Pro (Image credit: iMore)

What you need to know

  • Several iPad Pro users claim their devices exhibit unresponsive touch.
  • It's unclear if the problem is hardware or software related.
  • The problem has persisted for months and appears to continue with the beta for iOS 13.

Over the weekend, developer Steve Troughton-Smith noted his iPad has been touches, particularly when using resource-intensive apps. Turns out, this is an issue that's been going on for months, and it continues to persist in iOS 13.

Troughton-Smith aired his grievances on Twitter and got a flurry of responses from users who are experiencing the same thing. The redesigned iPad Pro seems particularly affected by the issue, especially as it ages.

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"I've been having the same problem on my 12.9" iPad Pro running iOS 12 as well," said Twitter user cmarriotti.

"2018 iPad Pro? Happens all. the. time. on mine with iOS 12," said Bryson_M on Twitter.

A report from MacRumors back in April highlighted a number of similar complaints related to registering touch gestures, scrolling, and missed keystrokes.

It's unclear what's causing the issue, and Apple doesn't appear to have publicly acknowledged anything is wrong. Some users have speculated it's a hardware problem. Others believe it's software related. According to Troughton-Smith, the Pencil always seems to work fine, "even in hotspots where my fingers aren't registering."

https://twitter.com/LeeLoiChieng/status/1165848444025626624

Troughton-Smith also noted that locking and unlocking the iPad will temporarily fix the problem, but it will eventually come back. Other iPad users have said they've gotten their affected devices replaced because of the issue only to encounter it after a few months of use, suggesting these aren't isolated incidents.

For what it's worth, I haven't encountered any noticeable problems with my iPad Pro while attached to Apple's Smart Keyboard.

Apple is gearing up to release iOS 13 this fall, along with a new iPad Pro. Let's hope Apple the problem, whatever it is, gets ironed out by then.

2 Comments
  • I have had this problem since I got my IpP 12.9 as well. When I called support, I was told it could be my screen protector. So, I took off the paper-like Protector... low and behold, it didn't change anything... so now I am out a paper-like that took a month to get here, and still have an iPad I have to reboot every few days. Rebooting wouldn't be a problem, except I am usually working on something when this happens. Its a pain in the **** honestly.
  • I have the same problem on my 2017 12.9 iPad Pro. It started about 5-7 months ago. The same remedies work temporarily, either reboot and it seems fine for about 3 days, or lock/unlock and it fixes it for 5-15ish minutes. I’ve been searching for anything that might pinpoint what the problem is, but there really isn’t much. I’m glad (and sorry) to know I’m not alone and going crazy! Because of the different hardware types I’m thinking it has to be software related.