SAN FRANCISCO - Complaints about Apple's third generation iPad that are running too hot started to pile up online on Tuesday as some independent tests showed the latest tablet runs 10 degrees Fahrenheit (around 5 degrees Celsius) hotter than its previous versions.

Dutch website Tweakers.net, using infrared camera, found that the new iPad reached 92.5 degrees Fahrenheit (33.6 degrees Celsius) after five minutes of benchmark tests, compared to 82.9 degrees Fahrenheit (28.3 degrees Celsius) with the iPad 2.

Consumer Reports, a leading consumer products magazine published by US Consumer Union, said on Tuesday it planned some tests of its own on the new tablet. Spokesman James McQueen told Bloomberg that the magazine is doing some analysis with thermal imaging and is going to check with health experts to see whether there is an injury risk.

In a response, Apple told technology news site AllThingsD that "The new iPad delivers a stunning Retina display, A5X chip, support for 4G LTE plus 10 hours of battery life, all while operating well within our thermal specifications. If customers have any concerns they should contact AppleCare."

Since Monday, some new iPad users have expressed concerns that the device is running too hot. Most of online comments said the heat issue is confined to a lower rear corner of the new iPad. Some said the device could get too hot to handle and some users claimed that their tablet suffer from overheating as it displays a message "the iPad needs to cool down" and shuts off.

On Monday, Apple announced that three million new iPads have been sold over the weekend since it was launched last Friday.