The Charlotte Observer | News User Reviews

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Top reviews

Ridiculous

The Observer online edition is an embarrassment of redundant postings ( e.g., as recently as May of 2026, the lead story in the Weather section warned of an impending storm due to hit the Carolina coast —- news from the prior September!) and hard to navigate sections.

Improved but still need work

This new version is much better but there are entirely too many add, that load slowly and interfere with reading/scrolling

Ughh

Customer Service does not exist. Poor communication and more than 1 active account at 1 time(???)
Oh, and the glitchy app!

Sucks

McClatchy news can eat dicks

We need local independent news

Despite all of its challenges over the years, the Observer still maintains its integrity and independence. If we want to keep having newspapers, we must keep subscribing.

awkward website navigation

Although I appreciate and enjoy reading the OBSERVATION, its site is difficult to maneuver online. I subscribe to several other publications which are easy to navigate.

Observer perspective wide and clear

I appreciate the total coverage and the clear, direct, factual style. The articles are interesting, filled with information and well-done writing and reporting. I read it every day!

IOS problems

Apple’s planed obsolesce strikes again. My iPad won’t upgrade to IOS17.

I hate this new paper

Thumbs down

Much better user experience

Vastly improved

Good intentions, poor execution

So I’m reading the Wednesday edition, push the back button to get the website of a home builder, and the app (without asking), kicks me out of the paper and brings up the update button. So I push the update button, I assume the app updates, but now won’t it let me out of the update screen. Having subscribed to the Observer for more 30 years, this is standard operating procedure for the paper and it’s staff, good intentions, poor execution. And just a personal note, since Ms. Cash has become the Executive Editor of the Observer, it has done a remarkable job of becoming the L.A. Times of NC. Having lived in Southern California for 13 years, it’s not a compliment.
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Format

I don’t like the new format of the paper. I have been reading this paper for years but I am now looking for a different paper.

New version doesn’t work without a new iPad

The latest version no longer works with my iPad. It requires a newer version of iOS that my iPad doesn’t support. I’m not buying a new iPad just to read the Observer. I need to cancel my subscription.

Update stinks

Tried to install. Requires iOS 17 on iPad.I can’t upgrade without a computer with iTunes and a cable.Too damn much trouble.

A little more research. Neither of my older iPads is update able to iOS 17 so I can no longer access the observer app. How do I request a refund?

Cannot update

The new app is no longer compatible with my iPad. Tried to get a refund for my yearly subscription but was told they don’t provide refunds. They also do not do home delivery so there is no way for me to get the Observer. After 32 years of being a loyal customer this is how you are treated.

Upgrade forcing people to buy a new iPad

Latest app upgrade will not let me run older versions on my iPad. This poor app, loaded with ads and pop ups which is close to unusable on older technology, just got worse. Trying to read on Safari is just as bad I am going to cancel the subscription if this doesn’t get fixed.

Corporate Greed

This app requires you to update your OS, and if you can’t you are shut out of the newspaper. They say it is enhanced for the subscribers, but they only enhanced it for themselves!

Update stinks

Tried to install. Requires iOS 17 on iPad.I can’t upgrade without a computer with iTunes and a cable.Too damn much trouble.

Crashing on iPad Air and iPhone

All of a sudden, starting today the apps crash on both devices (ios26). On opening the app, click Editions, then click on the open page at the top. App instantly crashes whereas it never did before. Reinstalled app on both devices. Did not fix.

Not as good. Fixed what wasn’t broken

Not happy with new updates. Weather tab NEVER opens and now when I click to open paper the entire paper disappears and my iPad is back to Home Screen. Frustrating….