iPad / Tablet Quality Control

Functionality Checks

Digitizer / LCD

• Digitizer should be flush with the frame and without gaps or raised areas.

• If a fingernail can easily be inserted between the digi and frame or backplate then it should be pressed (this does not mean the QC tech should attempt to “dig” the digi up with a fingernail or other tool):

  • If pressing does not fix the issue then it should be sent back to the tech to be fixed

• There should be no dead spots anywhere on the digitizer.

• A minimal amount of dust is acceptable, however, large or numerous particles, big smudges, digi “goo”, fingerprints, and large scratches will result in a QC fail:

  • The standard for determining whether or not a tablet should fail QC due to cleanliness is whether it can be obviously seen while the device is powered on

• Any obvious display distortions, such as dim spots or waves, pixelation or discoloration may warrant LCD replacement or LCD cable re-adjustment or replacement. Good judgement should be used to determine whether or not the LCD should be replaced as, oftentimes, display issues can be caused by a poorly seated or bad LCD cable:

  • Dark spots or waves, dim sides or dim triangles along the side of LCD, are usually indicative of bad motherboard display and likely cannot be fixed using conventional repair methods (ie LCD or LCD cable swap).

  • Pressure spots, aka “water marks”, indicate that the LCD and digi are making contact with one another. This is OK to an extent, however, if the pressure spot does not quickly go away upon lifting the finger from the digitizer then the device should go back to the tech to have a spacer put in between the two. This spacer is usually in the form of “gasket” tape.

• Home button cable (iPad 4th gen only) and digitizer ribbon cable (all iPad models) should be tucked into the backplate such that they do not press the digi up and cause separation from the backplate.

• When running your fingers over the border of the digitizer there should be no raised areas or uneven spots.

• The plastic frame between the digi and backplate should not have any gaps or jagged areas and should be secure such that when running a fingernail along the frame it should not move under or over the digi or separate from the backplate.

Backplate

• Backplate should not be bowed or have any distortions that would result in the digi not being flush.

• Bodywork should leave no gaps between backplate and digi nor should it be too tight such that the digi will not lay flush or stay pressed:

  • Bodywork should also be smooth, without distortion, and have no rough edges or jagged areas.

• Area around charging port should not be bent or distorted in any way.

• Steel corner pieces should not be visible.

• Serial number should be visible on backplate, if backplate has been replaced a new S/N sticker should be applied.

Sound

• Speakers as well as headphones should be tested.

• Sound should not be distorted.

• Notification sound sometimes will not play through headphones; video playback should always be used for testing headphone port functionality.

Camera

• Camera functionality should be tested, this includes video and video playback.

• Test both front and rear facing cameras.

• Always be sure to delete all test photos and videos from any album where they may be located (this includes the recently deleted folder).

• Ensure both camera lenses and lense covers are free of scratches, smudges, and debris.

• Microphone should also be tested during camera/video testing. Faint, inaudible, or distorted sound playback that was recorded through the mic could indicate that the mic is either not fully fully plugged in or not fully functional, especially if other sound playback is not faint, inaudible or distorted.

Wireless

• All networks in the warehouse should be visible and have relatively strong signals, QC Technicians can connect the devices to our non-internet wifi devices to check the wifi connection.

• Very weak wifi signal or spotty connectivity will result in a device not passing QC.

Buttons

• Home button should register a click each time it is pressed:

  • Should not be too hard to press.

  • There should be no gap around the home button nor should it press down so far that a fingernail can be inserted between the home button and digi.

• Mute/rotation lock button should not be too difficult to slide.

• Volume buttons should press easily and register a click each time.

• Power/sleep button should function appropriately.

• No button, except the home button, should be flush with the housing it sits in.

Power / Charging port

• Charging port housing should be without damage, charge cable should fit snugly in port.

• No pins should be damaged or missing on port.

• Device should indicate charging status.

• Any device that has had any type of charging issue whatsoever (this includes problems with daughterboards, motherboards, charge ports and batteries) should be charged to 80% and then allowed to discharge a little to ensure 100% functionality with all power related functions, and QC should charge it to above 97% so that we know that it is charging correctly.

• Even if the battery is not replaced - Techs should have every device charged to 8-10% when pending a work order to QC.