Products · Product
iPad
Raised as a usability problem by 897 people on Hacker News over 18 years (2009–2026), in 649 threads.
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- 15Model lineup is hard to tell apartUnreviewed
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- 34Screen is hard to read in sunlightUnreviewed
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Every issue, all time, most people first
Multitasking gestures are hard to discover and useUnreviewed
20092026- Split View gestures are fiddly, undiscoverable, and unpredictable to trigger on iPad2025-09-21
- Text selection and cursor positioning are hard to discover and rely on gestures that are not obvious2024-05-14
- Swipe-up gestures depend on app orientation, so users can't tell how to get home2024-05-07
Typing is a chore due to iPad's size and ergonomicsUnreviewed
20092026- Handwriting on the iPad never felt right for the commenter2026-07-23
- Typing on the iPad is a chore because of its size and ergonomics2025-08-19
- Full-size iPad screen is too big for typing without strain, and URL bar tapping strains.2024-05-28
Touchscreen text entry and cursor movement are hard for big editsUnreviewed
20092026- Basic actions like showing the keyboard became very slow after upgrading2026-09-14
- Touchscreens are poor for manipulating text compared to keyboard and mouse2026-04-23
- Typing feels inconsistent and the whole OS is sluggish and jittery, making it hard to work2026-03-02
Switching between browser tabs reloads each oneUnreviewed
20092026- Tab switching and settings menus lag by hundreds of milliseconds after upgrading2026-03-02
- Web browsing is worse on iPad: sites ignore desktop mode, tabs unload, pages reload randomly2025-06-10
- Websites detect iPad as mobile and show broken, different page versions2025-03-13
Switching apps takes multiple gestures, too slow for multitaskingUnreviewed
20092026- App switching swipe gesture is awkward and often mis-fires on iPad2024-05-14
- Managing multiple windows and copy/paste is tedious on tablets2023-06-30
- Quickly switching apps and copying and pasting is frustrating to do2022-10-18
iPhone apps don't work well on the iPad's larger screenUnreviewed
20092026- Apps designed for iPhones don't work well on the iPad's larger screen2023-06-30
- UI zoom feature was removed from iPadOS, so the screen is harder to use2022-06-09
- Content looks too small and the keyboard stand is unbalanced, making the iPad awkward to use2021-12-23
Copying data between apps is error-prone, and apps rarely share dataUnreviewed
20092026- Moving data between apps is hard because of sandboxing and poor inter-app communication interfaces2024-05-14
- Sandboxed apps make it hard to exit, share data, or reach other storage2023-06-30
- Sharing files between apps is extremely frustrating and hard to get working2023-06-30
Finger is less precise than cursor; touch UIs take too much spaceUnreviewed
20092026- Desktop UIs designed for mouse and keyboard are awkward when tacked onto touch2025-10-15
- Touch-centric UI with big buttons and menus is awkward when used with a mouse or stylus2025-10-13
- Tiny touch controls are clumsy to use, with the finger blocking the view2023-08-26
External keyboard shortcuts and movement keys don't work like MacUnreviewed
20092026- External keyboard shortcuts and movement keys don't work like on Mac, forcing workarounds2024-05-14
- Most iPad apps lack keyboard shortcuts, unlike Mac apps, so keyboard use is inconsistent2024-05-13
- Can't run different apps on external displays; document apps lack desktop-style keyboard shortcuts2021-04-21
Can't use iPad as main workstation without mouse and keyboard supportUnreviewed
20092026- Has to do everything by touch, so keyboard-based work is slower and more frustrating2024-05-14
- No easy keyboard shortcut to switch between iPad and Mac desktops2024-05-07
- Split keyboard feature removed from new iPads despite still working on older supported hardware2023-09-25
Content needs dozens of sideways scrolls; mouse wheel doesn't scrollUnreviewed
20092026- A full trackpad swipe scrolls only about one inch2026-07-30
- Scrolling is janky and hard to use with a mouse wheel2020-08-27
- Horizontal scrolling on the product page is a poor user experience2018-10-31
Can't add Control, Escape or arrow keys to on-screen keyboardUnreviewed
20092026- IPad keeps reverting to the Apple keyboard instead of the user's chosen SwiftKey2026-02-13
- Cannot customize the keyboard layout, blocking use of iPad for coding2024-09-04
- Virtual keyboard lacks Ctrl, Cmd, Alt, Tab, Escape and arrow keys, hurting navigation and selection2024-05-14
Locked out with no way to recover without old work emailUnreviewed
20092026- Locked out after mistyped passcode, with no way to restore or recover access2024-04-02
- Passcode now required on every sync with no notice or way to find out why2023-01-21
- Seniors accidentally update and get locked out of their iPads2020-11-24
Accidentally enters split screen with no obvious way outUnreviewed
20092026- Gets accidentally into split screen and has to ask ChatGPT to get out2026-03-02
- Accidentally creates a second window and struggles to figure out how to close it2025-07-24
- Accidentally enters multitasking mode and can't figure out how to exit or close windows2022-05-05
Mouse cursor is an oversized assistive touch circleUnreviewed
20092026- Mouse cursor is an oversized assistive touch circle, hard to use as a cursor2024-09-14
- Keyboard and trackpad mode feels half-working, with limited windows and a clumsy resizable cursor2024-03-04
- Cursor is distracting and disappears over icons, so the user loses track of it2022-06-06
Stylus on glass doesn't feel like writing on paperUnreviewed
20092026- Writing on glass never felt right, so pen use is occasional2021-06-15
- Stylus on the glass feels worse and degrades the screen experience2020-09-19
- Stylus on glass doesn't feel like writing on paper2017-11-15
Tablet needs propping up, and browsing feels slowUnreviewed
20092026- Tablet's navigation is annoyingly complicated when used as a full computer2023-06-30
- Web browsing on the tablet is pretty unusable for the commenter2016-03-23
- Tablet reading of textbooks lags horribly, making it hard to use2015-01-19
Can't find installed apps; search gesture is undiscoverableUnreviewed
20092026- Search bar is hidden at top of sidebar with no visual cue it exists2024-05-14
- Search is hidden behind a downward scroll, making it frustrating to find2023-09-27
- Couldn't find installed apps; search gesture is undiscoverable and each app navigates differently2022-02-09
Model lineup is hard to tell apartUnreviewed
20092026- Overlapping iPad models make it hard to choose which to buy2025-08-19
- All iPad models share one name, so you must dig for the generation number2025-01-06
- Confusing iPad model lineup that is hard to tell apart2024-02-08
Multiple same-app windows are clunky and unintuitiveUnreviewed
20092026- Apps look out of place or bad in one of two modes2022-10-18
- Multiple same-app windows on iPad are clunky and not intuitive2019-11-21
- Switching between apps and multiple windows is slow and clumsy on iOS2017-07-19
No cursor movement keys make editing text hardUnreviewed
20092026- Tapping to place the insertion point is slow and unreliable; selects words instead and the zoom bubble behaves arbitrarily2024-05-14
- IPadOS is poorly suited for mouse cursor oriented interactions2023-08-25
- Hard to move the insertion point a few characters on iPad2023-06-30
Accidentally creates Safari windows and can't find the right oneUnreviewed
20092026- Safari reloads tabs and wipes out unsaved text typed in the browser2021-06-20
- Can't figure out how to open side-by-side Safari; gestures accidentally shelve tabs2021-06-07
- Accidentally creates Safari windows and struggles to return to the correct window2021-04-21
Reaching across the screen is hard with mobility issuesUnreviewed
20092026- Hard for older people to hold a tablet without touching the screen2021-08-20
- Older relatives struggle with touch UI differences and on-screen keyboard typing2019-06-06
- Touchscreen browsing is fraught and easy to mis-click for an elderly user2015-03-11
No file system, so downloaded files can't be opened in other appsUnreviewed
20092026- Getting a downloaded file into another app or off the device is painfully convoluted2025-03-26
- External cameras and card readers often don't work, so file transfers are a constant hassle2020-03-18
- Can't download a file in Safari and open it in another app2020-03-18
Switching apps requires exiting the current app firstUnreviewed
20092026- Adding a second app side by side now takes many more steps and fiddling2026-10-20
- Takes seven steps to open another app beside the current one2025-10-11
- Can't figure out how to close one app in split screen2020-01-28
Every app works differently, so each must be relearnedUnreviewed
20092026- People practically forget they can use more than one app at once2025-06-09
- Every app works differently, so the user must relearn each one and finds it inconsistent2020-04-18
- Apps handle common actions in inconsistent, idiosyncratic ways, and scroll bars are missing2019-10-29
Can't resize windows or place them where wantedUnreviewed
20092026- Positioning and sizing windows requires learning workarounds, unlike a simple drag on Mac2026-10-20
- Multitasking with 2+ windows is slow, confusing, and wastes screen space on padding2024-05-20
- Can't resize windows or place them where wanted; multitasking is frustrating2023-08-19
No function keys, and frequently used keys wear outUnreviewed
20092026- Keyboard lacks function keys and frequently used keys wear out2023-08-25
- Missing escape and function keys make vim and other keyboard work annoying2022-10-22
- Keyboard lacks key repeat, making vim a terrible experience2020-10-15
Web text is too tiny to read without perfect eyesightUnreviewed
20092026- Text on web pages is too tiny to read without perfect eyesight2019-03-22
- Counterintuitive gimmicks and tiny text get in the way of reading content2012-03-22
- Text looks pixelated and hard to read on low-density screen2011-11-07
Can't sync folders with other devices, blocking existing workflowsUnreviewed
20092026- Impossible to integrate iPad into existing workflows, such as syncing folders with other devices2020-06-26
- Installing apps on many iPads requires plugging into a USB hub and re-running failed syncs2017-05-13
- Backup, restore and sync are techie and confusing, and iPad's app-based paradigms feel foreign to desktop users2012-09-27
Scrolling text accidentally closes apps due to gesture overlapUnreviewed
20092026- Accidentally closes apps when scrolling text because of gesture overlap2024-05-14
- Dismiss gesture unpredictable; users must guess flick speed and direction to close the floating app2020-08-27
- Slide Over windows keep reappearing and can't be dismissed without looking up the gesture2020-01-28
Screen is hard to read in sunlightUnreviewed
20092026- Screen is hard to read outdoors in sunlight2018-06-02
- Non-e-ink screens are impossible to read in bright sunlight2011-09-02
- Screen glare makes it unreadable outdoors, even in shade2010-08-13
Toddlers' multi-finger touches switch apps or scroll the screenUnreviewed
20092026- Taps on app icons fail to open them because slight finger movement is read as a scroll2021-04-20
- Accidental gestures from children's touches disrupt apps, and developers cannot disable multi-touch2012-03-13
- Toddlers' multi-finger touches accidentally switch apps or scroll the whole screen, confusing them2012-03-12
Elderly user gets lost when icons move and can't learn gesturesUnreviewed
20092026- Zero-visibility gestures like swipe up from bottom are too complex for users with dementia to understand2023-06-25
- Elderly user gets lost when icons move and can't learn gestures2020-06-23
- Elderly users struggle to time swipe gestures and get random things appearing on screen2020-06-22
No good native note-taking app, so taking notes is hardUnreviewed
20092026- IPad lacks a good native note-taking app, hard to take notes2025-02-11
- Can't do everyday computer tasks on iPad easily; needs many apps for basic note-taking2024-07-08
- IPad app was not great for reading and annotating papers2022-01-02
Narrow margins cause constant accidental touches that must be undoneUnreviewed
20092026- Narrow margins cause constant accidental screen touches that must be undone2023-07-19
- Narrow edges make holding the tablet hard and cause accidental screen touches2022-02-08
- Shrinking bezels cause accidental touches from grip that trigger unwanted actions2020-04-24
Must keep toggling between letters and numbers on keyboardUnreviewed
20092026- Keys spaced too far apart, which slows typing down2026-09-09
- Must keep toggling between letters and numbers on the keyboard2018-03-27
- Must keep moving down to the Run button after typing at the top2012-03-18
Sketching apps are poor for drawing UML diagramsUnreviewed
20092026- Viewing plots requires tiresome workarounds when coding remotely from iPad2022-04-18
- Drawing and design on the iPad is an absolutely horrible experience2013-06-02
- Available iPad sketching apps are pretty terrible for drawing UML diagrams2012-10-09
Can't find how to edit or remove list items; swipe not discoverableUnreviewed
20092026- Icons and gestures like share and swipe-to-delete are not discoverable, so users can't tell they exist2015-09-10
- Swipe-to-delete is hard to discover and app installs force card and password entry2013-12-29
- Hard to find how to edit or remove list items; swipe action is not discoverable2010-10-12
Keyboard auto-capitalizes the first letter of most fieldsUnreviewed
20092026- Keyboard auto-capitalizes first letter of most text fields, which is annoying2022-06-07
- Autocorrect wrongly capitalizes and uppercases words, forcing manual text selection fixes2020-01-28
- Keyboard capitalizes letters automatically and backspace plus shift cannot undo it2016-03-22
Opening a PDF in another app silently creates a copy, cluttering filesUnreviewed
20092026- Pasting and attaching PDFs only works depending on line breaks or timing, unpredictably2024-05-17
- Opening a PDF in another app silently creates a copy, leaving a chaotic mess of files2023-06-30
- Copying PDFs is piecemeal, and app store gives no indication of what's wrong2021-05-24
Can't install or update apps, making the device unusableUnreviewed
20092026- Can no longer install or update apps, so the device becomes unusable2022-12-21
- Device became practically unusable after a software update due to limited memory2020-11-11
- Device is basically unusable for programming or content creation2016-03-23
Screen says not charging while iPad is still charging slowlyUnreviewed
20092026- No easy way to tell the iPad is charging slowly; icon shows charging at 1W2020-04-17
- IPad charges slowly with third-party charger and shows a warning on connection2016-10-19
- Screen says "not charging" even though the iPad is still charging slowly2011-03-06
Frequent mis-taps on touch keyboard cause typosUnreviewed
20092026- Tapping lower right keys registers as a different key, stays broken until other keys pressed2026-02-13
- Frequent mis-taps on the touch keyboard cause typos and wrong characters2022-06-06
- Hard to touch-type on a multitouch surface; hands drift onto different keys2010-02-02
Users can't tell how to use the interface without instructionUnreviewed
20092026- Interface is now complicated yet too simplistic to get real work done2024-05-14
- Interface is confusing; user can't figure out how to create a new project2017-02-28
- Interface is undiscoverable; users can't tell how to use it without instruction2012-05-04
Dry fingertips don't register and tiny targets are hard to hitUnreviewed
20092026- Dry fingertips don't register and tiny touch targets are hard to hit2025-01-31
- Small hit targets make it easy to draw on buttons by mistake with a Pencil2020-04-22
- Small tap targets cause the wrong arrow or link to be tapped2013-04-13
Typing needs an angle that hurts viewing; keyboard takes half the screenUnreviewed
20092026- Screen opens in portrait mode while keyboard is attached, forcing awkward repositioning to fix2020-08-08
- Typing needs display angle that hurts viewing, and keyboard takes half the screen2013-01-03
- Typing on the software keyboard with hunched posture caused cramps and reduced screen space2011-11-02
No tactile cues, so typing requires looking at the keysUnreviewed
20092026- No tactile feedback, so users must look to confirm keypresses2012-02-08
- Can't type without looking at keys since there are no tactile cues2011-11-07
- Virtual keys lack tactile feedback, so typing without looking causes hand drift and errors2010-01-28
Files duplicated across apps; can't tell which copy is currentUnreviewed
20092026- Files are locked to apps, so duplicating files across apps causes confusing versioning2024-09-01
- Must manually copy files between apps every time to update a file2019-10-13
- Files get duplicated across apps and users can't tell which copies are current2018-11-23
Globe key accidentally pops up the emoji keyboardUnreviewed
20092026- Emoji button missing after switching keyboards, so the user loses direct emoji access2019-09-24
- Accidentally pops up emoji keyboard when hitting the globe key2019-03-16
- Hitting the globe key by accident switches keyboards and is frustrating2018-04-03
Importing photos from SD card pauses when app is backgroundedUnreviewed
20092026- Importing SD media into the editor takes two slow waits in sequence2021-06-15
- Dumping photos from an SD card takes more work and is slower than on a laptop2021-01-17
- Photos import from SD card is so slow it pauses when app is backgrounded, and forced extra import steps2018-06-13
Dragging a game piece from screen edge breaks the window looseUnreviewed
20092026- Dragging a full screen window works only about 20% of the time; other gestures open unintended system UI2025-10-11
- Dragging a game piece from screen edge makes the whole window break loose2025-09-22
- Cursor sometimes snaps to wrong place or grabs window edges when clicking2024-05-20
Streaming sites demand Flash, so videos won't playUnreviewed
20092026- Streaming sites demand Flash the iPad can't run, so videos won't play2011-03-06
- Can't watch videos, play games, or view restaurant sites that rely on Flash2010-11-01
- Safari on iOS is not up to snuff and many sites don't work without Flash2010-07-11
Calculator forced to fill the full screen, awkward to useUnreviewed
20092026- Calculator forced to fill the full iPad screen, making it awkward and frustrating to use2022-07-03
- Full-screen calculator apps feel awkward for quick sums on large iPad screens2020-03-31
- Hard to find a calculator app without ads on iPad2020-01-16
Can't choose internal speakers or AirPlay with USB audio interface connectedUnreviewed
20092026- Must use AirPlay button to pick audio output; dock removes microphone and speakers2023-06-30
- Cannot use external monitor and AirPlay audio to HomePod at the same time2023-04-08
- Can't choose internal speakers or AirPlay while a USB audio interface is connected2021-04-20
Camera bump stops iPad lying flat for writingUnreviewed
20092026- Camera lens cluster stops the iPad from lying flat2022-03-21
- Camera bump stops the tablet from lying flat on a table2020-09-15
- Camera bump stops the iPad from lying flat on a table for writing2020-03-18
Unreviewed issues were grouped by machine: Claude Haiku labelled each comment as a usability complaint, named what it's about and summed up the problem in a line, and a small model grouped similar problems. Nobody has checked them by hand. Expect mistakes.
The newest 50 complaints
- IPadOS is too restrictive for developer work2026-10-28
- Automatic update made the iPad near useless for a colour-blind user2026-10-28
- Apps lag, load slowly, and feel unresponsive due to poorly optimized code2026-10-27
- Touch input lags, so scrolling doesn't feel attached to the finger2026-10-27
- On-screen keyboard covers most of the screen; sidebar drawer hides the user's current location2026-10-26
- Typing lengthy job descriptions on the touch screen becomes frustrating quickly2026-10-21
- Adding a second app side by side now takes many more steps and fiddling2026-10-20
- Must turn off presentation entirely to switch to a live demo app2026-10-20
- Window arrangement features are hard to learn and mostly useless2026-10-20
- Commenter says they barely know how to use iPadOS2026-10-20
- Doing it on the phone is terrible; needs the web UI and knowledge of filters/rules2026-10-20
- OS switches the displayed app unexpectedly, forcing users to re-cast the presentation2026-10-20
- Display sometimes outputs 4:3 mirroring instead of full screen, requiring workarounds2026-10-20
- Apps unexpectedly take over the external screen instead of mirroring, confusing teachers2026-10-20
- Screenshot takes over the full screen and text selection often fails until cropped further2026-10-20
- Can't play video and music audio at once, and window arrangement takes many seconds2026-10-20
- Positioning and sizing windows requires learning workarounds, unlike a simple drag on Mac2026-10-20
- Moving many files into folders and editing zip archives is painful on iPad2026-10-20
- Window management is hard to use without a mouse and not intuitive2026-10-20
- Switching from a presentation to a live demo requires turning off the presentation entirely2026-10-20
- Presenting and recording on external display now requires a convoluted Mac, QuickTime, and mic setup2026-10-20
- Father struggles to use iPad as a PC with files, and mixed storage setups cause constant unexpected pain2026-10-19
- Same gesture gives unpredictable results; saved photos can't be shared to the same apps depending on save method2026-10-16
- Using the iPad as a shared calendar is clunky, and kiosk mode gets in the way when the device is needed for something else2026-10-13
- Can't get copied video files accessible in apps; needed a workaround app2026-09-24
- Basic actions like showing the keyboard became very slow after upgrading2026-09-14
- Full-width keyboard forces hunt-and-peck typing, which is annoying2026-09-09
- Keys spaced too far apart, which slows typing down2026-09-09
- A full trackpad swipe scrolls only about one inch2026-07-30
- Handwriting on the iPad never felt right for the commenter2026-07-23
- Notes app is confusing to navigate, and palm slides cause stray marks2026-07-23
- Typing on the large touchscreen is tedious, making it unproductive without a keyboard2026-06-09
- Restarting after a mistake requires walking to the iPad or using a remote to scroll back2026-05-27
- Delete option is hidden under one of two identically named "..." icons2026-05-12
- Must rotate the device to find the Touch ID button2026-05-11
- Multiwindowing exists but the experience is awful enough to avoid it2026-04-25
- Keyboard, trackpad and multitasking feel janky, so the iPad goes unused2026-04-23
- Platform adds friction versus macOS, making users slightly less productive2026-04-23
- Touchscreens are poor for manipulating text compared to keyboard and mouse2026-04-23
- Desktop apps ported to iPad hide features and add extra clicks, hurting deep work2026-04-22
- Long presses on check-in buttons are ignored, so patients must be told to tap gently2026-03-04
- Newer model is uncomfortable to hold for reading, so the user stopped using it2026-03-03
- Can't set up separate user profiles so kids share the iPad without access to parent's account2026-03-03
- Typing is a shitshow on iOS and there is no universal back gesture for browsing2026-03-03
- On-screen keyboard covers over half the screen; maps drawer hides the location pin2026-03-03
- Shortcuts are missing and hard to discover without a menu bar2026-03-02
- Keeps disconnecting and needs Bluetooth or AirDrop restarted constantly to be detected as a monitor2026-03-02
- Getting files in and out of the device is a painful, clunky process2026-03-02
- Tab switching and settings menus lag by hundreds of milliseconds after upgrading2026-03-02
- Typing feels inconsistent and the whole OS is sluggish and jittery, making it hard to work2026-03-02