shrug From the publisher’s standpoint, it’s good writing. Opening paragraphs are meant to use the most reactionary language possible without crossing the line into outright deceit, in order to draw people in.

What the Arment article doesn’t point out is that the “only 12 degree difference” is relatively large when talking about the relative temperatures of the devices and the palms of our hands. If, as he mentions, his palm is 94F and the iPad is 116F, that’s a 22F difference. Subtracting 12F from the iPad figure gives us a 10F difference between the temp of palm and iPad2. This means the relative difference in temperatures is double when you jump from the 2 to the 3.

This isn’t going to cause blistering or anything, but if the data is accurate, I could see consumers noticing a significant difference, especially gamers getting frustrated over sweaty palms.

Is the CR report sensational in its headline and opening? Yes. Is it bad reporting? I don’t think we can call that until more of us have held the thing in our hands.