Heavy use heats up iPad, watchdog says

The new iPad gets warm, Consumer Reports says -- very warm.

The hot-selling device -- 3 million in its first weekend -- can reach up to 116 degrees during intensive use, according to a test by the consumer organization. The test appears to confirm consumer complaints that the new iPad runs hotter than its two predecessors.

The group ran a graphics-intensive video game for 45 straight minutes, and found that the device got hottest on its back panel, in one corner, likely near the computer processor. It was hottest when plugged into an outlet.

But how hot is 116 degrees? "During our tests, I held the new iPad in my hands. When it was at its hottest, it felt very warm but not especially uncomfortable if held for a brief period," wrote Donna L. Tapellini of Consumer Reports.

Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller said the new iPad operates "well within our thermal specifications," and that if iPad owners have concerns they should contact Apple customer service for help. She did not elaborate on the device's precise thermal specifications.

To carry more power and last longer, mobile device batteries must pack more energy into the same space. Apple says the new iPad's battery lasts 10 hours. That's about the same as the earlier models, but the new device has a far more sophisticated screen and graphics processor, both of which require more power to operate than the earlier models.