iPad Air (5th Gen) Compass Calibration Issues: Impact of Magnetic Business Cases

Magnets affect compasses. Even if you remove the case and calibrate the compass, once you put the case back on, it will stop working properly.

This shouldn't affect GPS navigation, as that doesn't rely on the Earth's magnetic field. Keep in mind that only the cellular versions of iPads have GPS. The WiFi-only ones don't.

visionosuser25 wrote:

I am working on an application where POIs are getting loaded in Augmented reality application. On other iPads POIs are getting placed at correct position (which are calibrated correctly) but for this iPad POIs are always placing at 180 degree off which is not correct. If the POI is at my left, it is always showing at right side. There is 2d Apple map shown in application, there as well user heading is alway in a wrong direction. How can we tackle this situation?

I don't know what to tell you. I can only suggest you examine what the differences are between this iPad and the others. Are they showing the same issues with the compass? If they have the same magnetic case, I'd expect them to. Are the Cellular and yours is WiFi only? What versions of iPadOS are running on each one?

What application are you using? Apple Maps? Or something else? If something else, contact the developer of that app.

Any means to defeat the magnetic case in the hopes of allowing the iPad's magnetometer to orient it's position correctly will of course cause issues with the magnetic case that you mention.

Like @IdrisSeabright mentioned early on, "Magnets affect compasses".

There is not getting around this fact.

The case has to be modified or the iPad will not orient itself correctly. If the case is required and can not be modified, then what you are wishing to accomplish is not feasible.

visionosuser25 wrote:

Yes, I am facing issue with compass aaplication also.

I was asking if the other iPads, the ones you say are not having this problem.

iPad with the magnetic cover always showing 180 degree off direction, where iPad without any cover (and without magnetic interference) showing correct direction.

Magnets affect compasses. This is just physics.

It is affecting orientation so as in application. Both the iPads are WiFi+ cellular model which has in built GPS.

Sorry, yes, I missed that originally.

visionosuser25 wrote:

My use case is, I have location coordinates for all the Point of interests and I am trying to place it in Augmented Reality using ARCL library and also I have a Mapview where I am placing these POIs as annotations. 

Is there any way to bypass magnetometer and get device orientation using other sensors while using Corelocation library, Corelocation internally uses all these sensors. If there is any Magnet around it it is failing. 

App development questions would be better asked within the Apple Developers forums - where you are more likely to find contributors with the specific knowledge and expertise that you require:

Apple Developer Forums

IdrisSeabright wrote:

Magnets affect compasses.

Indeed. A compass IS a magnet - that pointy thing in the image is a magnet floating on a low friction pivot:

The needle points towards magnetic north. On a traditional ship’s compass (binnacle) there are 2 heavy steel balls either side of the compass that can be moved to cancel the distortion caused by the ship’s hull’s magnet field.

In an iPhone the compass is 2 windings at right angles that that measure the Earth’s magnetic field, replacing the floating magnet in a mechanical compass. But other than that it functions the same way as a mechanical compass, and any magnets near the iPhone will distort that magnetic field, as explained in: Use the compass on iPhone - Apple Support

Important: The accuracy of the compass can be affected by magnetic or environmental interference. Use the digital compass only for basic navigation assistance. Don’t rely on it to determine precise location, proximity, distance, or direction.

Lawrence Finch wrote:

Indeed. A compass IS a magnet - that pointy thing in the image is a magnet floating on a low friction pivot:

I remember making a compass with a needle, a magnet, a cork, and a bowl of water in school as a kid. It's a fun, easy science project for kids. And, you learn about magnetism.