Arghh! Dead pixels on iPhone. What to do.

[DaftUnion]

Ok, my iPhone works fine and I love the thing. However, when I was watching a video and looking at the bottom of the screen I found two dead pixels.:mad:

Can I get a replacement from Apple or is there a certain number of pixels that has to be white before they do so. That was a little buzz kill for me tonight.

[G5Unit]

You should be able to get a replacement right away, that is unacceptable.

[cyberone]

feel your pain, that clearly is unacceptable.

apple doesnt have a zero-dead-pixel-policy, but if you state your case clearly, return the thing nicely viginly packed they should exchange it for you.

keep us up to speed how apple answered.

dead pixels shouldnt happen anymore with today's production facilities.

[MACsimus19]

eh not such a big deal...
i've got a green stuck sub-pixel in a off-center area...its only viewable at certain angles and I really could care less. the density is so high that its not an issue.

I've used 3 iphones today and every one of them had some sort of minimal pixel anomaly...it happens.

[creativetechguy]

I have one also and have decided just not to worry about it. Chance are, if you try returning it, the other one will have one worse or something. To me, it's not a big deal and hardly noticeable. And when I do notice it, I just feel like it gives my iPhone some personality and such.


eh not such a big deal...
i've got a green stuck sub-pixel in a off-center area...its only viewable at certain angles and I really could care less. the density is so high that its not an issue.

I've used 3 iphones today and every one of them had some sort of minimal pixel anomaly...it happens.

[DaftUnion]

Thanks. That makes me feel a lot better knowing that it's not just ONE phone with pixel problems. I called Apple iPhone support but hung up when I was on hold because it's hardly noticable even though I have two of them. If anyone else spotted them it probably because you were staring at the screen close like I was;)

Everybody only have 1 or anyone have more?

[fchyan]

>_<

There is a huge black dust (2~3 pixel big) right in the center of my iPhone, so annoying >.< and there are 2 small dead pixel on the top of the screen

What should I do, will they replace one for me (ATT store), or do i have to wait?

[JaRail]

I can't spot any physical problems with mine. Would be really nice if it activated mind you....

[MBHockey]

eh not such a big deal...
i've got a green stuck sub-pixel in a off-center area...its only viewable at certain angles and I really could care less. the density is so high that its not an issue.

I've used 3 iphones today and every one of them had some sort of minimal pixel anomaly...it happens.

Why do people constantly say "could care less" when the only thing that makes sense here is "couldn't care less"?

[fchyan]

ATT won't replace one for me, they keep telling me to go Apple.
They said even if it's a faulty machine, it still needs to go thru Apple, ATT won't replace one!!

[deannnnn]

And when I do notice it, I just feel like it gives my iPhone some personality and such.

haha. i like the way you think.


EDIT: YAYYYY it doesnt say newbie under my name anymore :)

[drew0020]

I just noticed I have one dead red pixel in the bottom center if the screen tha tbothers the hell out of me. For $600 I expect the screen to be perfect so I am calling my local Apple store to see how this can be handled.

[Asbel]

I just noticed I have one dead red pixel in the bottom center if the screen tha tbothers the hell out of me. For $600 I expect the screen to be perfect so I am calling my local Apple store to see how this can be handled.

I had two dead pixels on my iPhone and took it to the 5th ave. apple store yesterday to ask if I could exchange it. I originally went to the register, but because I had already activated the dead-pixel phone, it couldn't be a simple swap of old phone for new one. An employee escorted me over to the Genius Bar where one of the techs would need to process the exchange and transfer the SIM card from the old phone to the new one. Of note is that I got fast-tracked through the Genius Bar queue...didn't have to wait on what was a 2+ hour wait for Genius Bar help.

After swapping SIM cards, we reactivated the phone via my laptop, which I brought to the store, and there were no issues as far as AT&T account duplication or anything like that.

The new phone is dead-pixel free and I'm glad to have made the switch.

[iMichael72]

I too, have one dead pixel. I just noticed it today. It's towards the bottom where the four main icons are. I guess that's why I didn't notice it before.
When you use other apps you can see it.
It only bothers me, because I know it is there.
I called AT@T and they said I have to call Apple.

Not sure what I'll do. Thinking about just keeping it.

[Maroma]

I have a dead pixel as well. Just one so far. Its almost in the middle of my screen. Now that I've noticed it, I can't stop looking at it. Bugs the hell out of me. I think I'm going to go try to exchange it today.

I'll post how things go with that.

[drew0020]

I returned my phone to the Apple Store (purchased at AT&T). The 2nd phone also had a dead pixel. Returned that too and the new one is perfect :) The Apple sales people were great!! So nice about it!

[hockeymonkey83]

i went though that whole thing when i got my psp, had to mail it to sony though, it was a pain in the ass they will only take it back if they think that it is "distracting", i.e. it is in the middle of the playing screen or if there are multiple ones, guess what i think on on something i paid $300 is distracting, i happy with the iPhone, one of the first lcd things i have bought that didnt have a dead pixel,
just to let you know there is this video they have, i know they are used alot on older lcd tvs, it flashes Red green blue really fast, it will get rid of stuck pixels, works pretty good

[DaftUnion]

I had two dead pixels on my iPhone and took it to the 5th ave. apple store yesterday to ask if I could exchange it. I originally went to the register, but because I had already activated the dead-pixel phone, it couldn't be a simple swap of old phone for new one. An employee escorted me over to the Genius Bar where one of the techs would need to process the exchange and transfer the SIM card from the old phone to the new one. Of note is that I got fast-tracked through the Genius Bar queue...didn't have to wait on what was a 2+ hour wait for Genius Bar help.

After swapping SIM cards, we reactivated the phone via my laptop, which I brought to the store, and there were no issues as far as AT&T account duplication or anything like that.

The new phone is dead-pixel free and I'm glad to have made the switch.

As I have already activated my phone, I'm guessing since I have two dead pixels, they'll just give me a new phone and swap sim cards? I wish I could just put the card in myself. I really don't want them opening up the box but oh well. Call it paranoia but it's still new to me and I actually still care about how it's handled.

I was hoping there wouldn't be no repair service where I'd have to drop the thing off and pick it back up. If there was I was seriously going to return the thing and buy a new one. Warranty servicing is unnacceptable at this point.

[hockeymonkey83]

try the video, if the pixel is black it wont work and is dead, but if its a color then its stuck and they can be unfrozen

[Silver-Fox]

i dont see why they wont replace it, but its not apple's fault or the retailer stuff like this happens all the time

[iMichael72]

try the video, if the pixel is black it wont work and is dead, but if its a color then its stuck and they can be unfrozen

What/where is this video that you speak of?

[hockeymonkey83]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6316890648270938371&q=stuck+pixel+fix+video&total=12&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0
I say try and load it into your itunes and see what happens, cant hurt it

[iMichael72]

How do you load it into iTunes?

[hockeymonkey83]

it lets you download it on the page

[ecks618]

yep, att supposidly has nothing to do with theiphone other than sell them, so if you have any problems don't even bother going to att store or calling them.

Also I asked the apple employee about this and it is covered under their "iPod" warranty so their protection plan covers stuff like this for 1 year as I'd covers an iPod then you could extend for 2 years for $59.

[Maroma]

Just got back from the Apple Store. They replaced my iPhone with the dead pixel, no problem. All I had to do was bring it home, plug it into iTunes and re-sync it. Very good customer service (of course). I will be on the hunt for more dead pixels!

[iMichael72]

Just got back from the Apple Store. They replaced my iPhone with the dead pixel, no problem. All I had to do was bring it home, plug it into iTunes and re-sync it. Very good customer service (of course). I will be on the hunt for more dead pixels!

Dumb question, but did you buy your iPhone from that same Apple store?
I guess your out of luck if you bought it at an AT&T store. I'm going to call Apple tomorrow to see what they say. If I have to mail it to them, I might just keep it.
I'm still unsure!

[Maroma]

Dumb question, but did you buy your iPhone from that same Apple store?
I guess your out of luck if you bought it at an AT&T store. I'm going to call Apple tomorrow to see what they say. If I have to mail it to them, I might just keep it.
I'm still unsure!

Yeah I went to the same store I bought it from. I thought that even if you bought it from an AT&T store you could bring it to any Apple Store and get it serviced. Could be wrong, just assuming.

[cosmicdust73]

I don't have any dead pixels but I have a piece of dust or a tiny pixel sized bubble inside of the glass screen. I know it's in there because it makes a shadow when it's in the sun and the phone is off. It's at the very, very top edge near the AT&T signal meter. I think I'll keep it because odds are I'll get a worse one that has dead pixels in the middle of the screen if I exchange it.

[snahrl]

So how do I exchange my iPhone at an apple store?

Is it as simple as exchanging SIM cards and I should be good to go? Do I even have to exchange SIM cards?

For those who replaced theirs, how did you get your new phone activated?

[Maroma]

So how do I exchange my iPhone at an apple store?

Is it as simple as exchanging SIM cards and I should be good to go? Do I even have to exchange SIM cards?

For those who replaced theirs, how did you get your new phone activated?

They will put the sim card in your current iPhone into the new one they are exchanging it for. Then you take it home and click one button in iTunes to officially "re-activate" it. Then it will resync all of your data. Very easy. The only thing I noticed was that I had to reinput some of my settings and passwords.

[snahrl]

Cool. So did your replacement have any dead pixels?

I have a few light dead pixels, which I don't mind too much, but one of my stuck dead pixels goes RED against black, and is pretty damn annoying...for a $600 phone, I expect near perfection.

I guess I can exchange it at the store so I can look at it and make sure that the new one I get has no dead pixels?

[snahrl]

arg...my store is all sold out of iPhones and I can't get a replacement.

[shortstack]

seems like a common problem. Mine also has a dead pixel off to the side. not too noticable so I am going to tough it out. Besides I dont want to deal with any issues trying to exchange it. When i brought my warped 5 day old Mac book pro to the geniuses they told me it was designed that way to help with shock if dropped. He also showed me that all their MBPs on display were warped. Genius...

[snahrl]

does apple charge a restocking fee for exchanging a defective unit for a new one??

[GnarleyMarley87]

does apple charge a restocking fee for exchanging a defective unit for a new one??

Nope.

My iPhone has what appears to be 2 specks of dust under the screen where the mail icon is on then screen. Not a big deal, I'm going to just live with it as I don't want to be hassled with exchanging it and sim cards and all.

[DaftUnion]

Ok, I just got back from an Apple store and this one was sold out of 8gb iPhones so I have to go to another Apple store later today to get an exchange (if in stock). Mine had two dead pixels but the Genius said he couldn't see them but offered me a replacement anyway. Must have been the bright light because I've had three friends confirm they saw the same thing I did: dead.pixels.

Hopefully this one has it in stock or I have to give my iPhone to them and wait for a replacement...they didn't mention no warranty repair...BUT...I wouldn't settle for that anyway.

More to come on this when this gets settled. Even though I didn't get mine replaced yet...apple customer service was very nice about it!

[DaftUnion]

Alright, well I got my replacement iPhone today and this one has one light green/white dead pixel as well.

For the people that they they have no dead pixels, they probably do. Since the density is so high I only saw it when I was looking from a very close distance from the screen.

So all in all, if you have one dead pixel and it's not blatently obvious, I would just keep the phone. You'll probably just get another with one or two very small...dead pixels.

[snahrl]

DaftUnion, when you say you have dead pixels do you mean that when you browse a page, the color is a lot different (i.e., you see RED on a background that should be gray or green)? Or do you mean pixels that are light, or not working properly, but atleast aren't as noticeable as the red/green standout pixels?

I've got one that's red/green and it kind of bothers me...I have another pixel that doesn't stand out nearly as much...wondering whether or not I should exchange...ugh. I wish screen manufacturers had more accountability for this sort of thing.

[OverSpun]

I also have a dead pixel on my screen that I noticed today. Those of you who were able to get it swapped with a fresh one, did you bring in the box and everything complete? or just the phone itself, and they simply handed you a new one. (theyve done this before with my ipod nano when it died). Also, whats the procedure for getting the replacement iphone to activate? matter of just swapping your original sim card into it? or does it take more than that. I hope they'll let me swap my phone out... :(

[firsttube]

I don't have any dead pixels but I have a piece of dust or a tiny pixel sized bubble inside of the glass screen. I know it's in there because it makes a shadow when it's in the sun and the phone is off. It's at the very, very top edge near the AT&T signal meter. I think I'll keep it because odds are I'll get a worse one that has dead pixels in the middle of the screen if I exchange it.


dust? and your username is cosmicdust? that's almost asking for it! :D

sorry to hear, though.

[DaftUnion]

I had two white pixels against black that I exchanged for another phone. However, the second phone I got has two green pixels when the screen is supposed to be black that stands out.

I don't know. I think I'm gonna try one more phone for an exchange...if the third one has it, then the hell with it and I'll just keep the phone.

As for the reactivation when you get an exchange, they pop in the SIM card, and then you go through the whole reactivation thing that you did when you first activated the phone...and then the thing restores what you last synced.

[DaftUnion]

OverSpun...just bring back everything you got with the iPhone and they'll give you a new one.

Back to the Apple store again tomorrow for the last time.

[snahrl]

That's really unacceptable. Green on black is really noticeable...far more than white on black.

[DaftUnion]

snahrl, this one has two green pixels on black. The pixels are small but even as the Apple people said with my first return "once you know where it is that's where you focus on"

I give up after this next and LAST return. As long as the phone doesn't have that mac equivelant of the blue screen of death, i'm keeping it. If someone can't get it right with a third replacement, I'll live with it.:cool:

[OverSpun]

snahrl, this one has two green pixels on black. The pixels are small but even as the Apple people said with my first return "once you know where it is that's where you focus on"

I give up after this next and LAST return. As long as the phone doesn't have that mac equivelant of the blue screen of death, i'm keeping it. If someone can't get it right with a third replacement, I'll live with it.:cool:

geez, the dead pixels must be far too common. This kinda thing is covered under the 1 year warranty, right? So theres no urgency to take it back within 15 days or anything? I just dont feel like going to the store to find out they dont have any in stock just yet. I can deal with a dead pixel for a few days if it means avoiding an unnecessary trip.

[snahrl]

geez, the dead pixels must be far too common. This kinda thing is covered under the 1 year warranty, right? So theres no urgency to take it back within 15 days or anything? I just dont feel like going to the store to find out they dont have any in stock just yet. I can deal with a dead pixel for a few days if it means avoiding an unnecessary trip.

Yeah, in fact it may be a better idea to return it right before your 1 year warranty is about to expire...so you get a fresh new battery.

I think this may be a situation where every iPhone has dead pixels...which really sucks.

[OverSpun]

Yeah, in fact it may be a better idea to return it right before your 1 year warranty is about to expire...so you get a fresh new battery.

I think this may be a situation where every iPhone has dead pixels...which really sucks.

true, but i just got it, so i'd rather that it was perfect atleast for a while. If I had it for 6 months and it happened, i probably wouldnt care nearly as much. Good idea though.

[siurpeeman]

i have a stuck pixel on my iphone. i live with it. i mean, it doesn't stop me from browsing the web, or it isn't like i can't read a contact's name because of it. is it really that big of a deal?

[iW00t]

eh not such a big deal...
i've got a green stuck sub-pixel in a off-center area...its only viewable at certain angles and I really could care less. the density is so high that its not an issue.


You are paying $600 on a phone with a 2 year contract (during which time Apple still shares in some of the profit AT&T receives).

For the money Apple is getting from the iPhone, not only do I expect zero dead pixels, I expect the latest in LED backlighting technology and some of that new fangled OLED stuff!

Oh and throwing in some of the flash storage technology too!

[queshy]

on a phone this expensive dead pixels should be non existant. as well, it should be extremely stable and should have no "pixel anomalies". No other phones I've used have had dead pixels, neither should the new iPhone. just my view...

[UMHurricanes34]

My iPhone just randomly popped me up a stuck red pixel, but it was flickering in different apps as to what color it needs to be. Looks normal in the keyboard, red on the homescreen, pissed me off oh so very much. Tapped the screen super hard in its general area and its gone for now :p

[mac 2005]

Why do people constantly say "could care less" when the only thing that makes sense here is "couldn't care less"?

<offtopic>

It's one of those idioms that I think a lot of people learned/heard incorrectly and just kept on using it that way. The other day, I read a post where the person kept writing (verb) of instead of (verb) have, I guess, because that's how the contraction sounds. "Could of" is not "could have," just as "should of" is not the same as "should have.

</offtopic>

[korndog2003]

When you get the stuck pixels you usally can tap them back to place, stuck pixels are the colored ones, deadpixiels usually never change or show up, they cant be fixed.

[switchy]

http://www.wikihow.com/Fix-a-Stuck-Pixel-on-an-LCD-Monitor

[millerrh]

Looks like I've got a stuck pixel as well. And I think mine just came out of nowhere. I'm pretty sure I would have noticed this before. None of these techniques worked for me. Also, I couldn't figure out how to load that video into iTunes since it is a google video.

If it is true that this stuck pixel just suddenly appeared, is it just as likely that it will go away on its own?

[millerrh]

Here is a link to a video that will load right up in iTunes that flashes green, yellow, and red. So far, it hasn't gotten rid of my stuck pixel, but I thought I'd at least give the link in case someone else can have better luck.

http://www.psp-vault.com/Article168.psp

[chuise]

Here's a quick fix for your dead-pixel problems... Take it back and get a new one.

I started having a problem last night with a dead, blue pixel in the bottom half of the screen, right between Notes and Settings. This morning the pixel was a solid blue, but by afternoon it was kind of flickering on and off. It disappeared for a few hours and then came back only to disappear again.

I took it to the Apple store, told them my issue, and they replaced it no questions asked... even when the problem wasn't happening while I was at the store. I was in and out of the store in 10 minutes.

Don't keep a defective device, even if it seems like a minor deal. We all paid at least $536 for these things, make 'em give you one that works correctly.

[DaftUnion]

Just got back from the Apple store for the second time this week and I'm happy to say that with the third phone I got, it looks like this one is fine (finally) and there are no messed up pixels on this one. Even if there is...the hell with it. No matter what happens to the phone (unless it's on the death bed) i'm not returning this one.:)

Seriously though, as other members have said, if you have screen anomolies and they bother you, just exchance the thing and get a replacement.

[millerrh]

did not get as lucky as you guys. Just got out of the apple store and they wouldn't exchange it. Said the display was within specifications. I asked him how many dead pixels qualify as being out of spec and he didnt have an answer for me. This kinda sucks. You pay $600 for a phone you kind of want it to be flawless. Might be worth it to go to the other apple store in my area and see if they have the same story.

[Schmoe0013]

I just went and replaced my iPhone that had three dead pixels, one on a cornor and two in the middle. The apple store people replaced it just fine.

[motorazr]

mine has about 20+ stuck pixels...I think they actually have to be dead for apple to do something...I don't really care tho, 'cause the pixels are so small it doesn't make much of diff.

[joelcsf]

I had one (1) wonky pixel - and it was one of those intermittent "sometimes it's fine, sometimes it turns random colors for no reason" ones.

I got a Genius appointment for today at the SF Stockton St store and had it changed on the spot hassle free - even tho the problem only manifested itself for a very, very short time while I was in store.

If I had 20 I would be going spare.

The Genius bar had its own cache of iPhones for replacement even though the store was sold out.

[Anthony8720]

[QUOTE=motorazr;3884616]mine has about 20+ stuck pixels...I think they actually have to be dead for apple to do something...I don't really care tho, 'cause the pixels are so small it doesn't make much of diff.[/QUOTE

im almost thinking the same thing myself. After reading all these threads, i examined my screen with an all black background, and found 4-5 stuck green pixels. The thing is, I really had to search for them, and nobody else would ever notice them since they are so small. I'll prob just leave it.

[valenciamac]

Just wanted to give everyone my experience with a dead pixel on my iPhone:

I had one dead pixel right in the middle of my 8GB iPhone. I took it in to the Topanga Apple Store in California and the Genius went in back to check to see what the policy was on dead pixels. He came out 5 minutes later with a brand new box and said "I Love Apple" I asked why and he said that they have a "Zero Tollerance for dead pixels on the iPhone" So that was music to my ears and 5 minutes later I was on my way with my brand spankin new iPhone, the way it should have been a week ago.

I had brought along my box with everything still packed up in it and they said that that was easier for them to just give me a whole new box.

They did keep my same sim card that they took out with a paper clip. That's the only thing "old" about my new iPhone. They would have just swapped out the phone part if I didn't have all the other stuff. They were happy that I did bring the whole thing in, but it wasn't necessary.

Thank you Apple!!

Reaffirms my love of the company!

[millerrh]

Just wanted to give everyone my experience with a dead pixel on my iPhone:

I had one dead pixel right in the middle of my 8GB iPhone. I took it in to the Topanga Apple Store in California and the Genius went in back to check to see what the policy was on dead pixels. He came out 5 minutes later with a brand new box and said "I Love Apple" I asked why and he said that they have a "Zero Tollerance for dead pixels on the iPhone" So that was music to my ears and 5 minutes later I was on my way with my brand spankin new iPhone, the way it should have been a week ago.

I had brought along my box with everything still packed up in it and they said that that was easier for them to just give me a whole new box.

They did keep my same sim card that they took out with a paper clip. That's the only thing "old" about my new iPhone. They would have just swapped out the phone part if I didn't have all the other stuff. They were happy that I did bring the whole thing in, but it wasn't necessary.

Thank you Apple!!

Reaffirms my love of the company!

Hmmm....this is exactly opposite the story I was told. That my dead pixel was within the spec for the phone. I wonder if there is any documentation from Apple saying that there is a zero tolerance policy. I'd love to print that out and come show them that. Not a big fan of having a dead pixel. Seems like these genius bar guys don't have their story straight.

[invocatus]

Guys. We all need to get over it. I returned my first iPhone for worries about stuck pixels. I got a new iPhone...with different stuck pixels. I examined all the iPhones on display in the store. It is near impossible to find a single one without at least one "stuck" pixel when displaying a black image. Most of these depend on the angle you are viewing, and disappear as soon as you get off the color black. You really have a problem with a stuck pixel if it appears red/green/blue while using the apps on the iPhone or browsing the web.
But every iPhone I have come into contact with (10+) will have some very lightly stuck pixels on a black screen

For those of you who returned yours and got one back "without any stuck pixels," you just aren't looking hard enough. I am a perfectionist; I will find it in 2 seconds. I am just learning to cope, since no amount of returning/exchanging is going to give you the perfect phone.

-i

P.S. According to the Apple Store I went to, Apple DOES have an official policy regarding stuck/dead pixels and the amount necessary to warrant a return, but ultimately it depends on the representative you get. I happened to get two guys at the genius bar who hated stuck pixels and were all too happy to switch it out. There are other reps who will stick to Apple's strict standards and turn you away. If that's the case, and you still really want an exchange, go to a different Apple Store. It doesn't matter where you bought yours, they'll exchange it anywhere (so long as they like you).

Calm down.

[millerrh]

I was getting used to the idea of living with a phone with dead pixels, but I decided to give it one more shot. Went in to a different Apple store and the Genius girl was very polite and exchanged it without a problem. My new phone has no dead pixels! :)

[tokevino]

Guys. We all need to get over it. I returned my first iPhone for worries about stuck pixels. I got a new iPhone...with different stuck pixels. I examined all the iPhones on display in the store. It is near impossible to find a single one without at least one "stuck" pixel when displaying a black image. Most of these depend on the angle you are viewing, and disappear as soon as you get off the color black. You really have a problem with a stuck pixel if it appears red/green/blue while using the apps on the iPhone or browsing the web.
But every iPhone I have come into contact with (10+) will have some very lightly stuck pixels on a black screen

...



I must agree with you on this one. Here is my iPhone story. For anyone who plan to make an exchange, you may want to read this:

I have been on my FIFTH iPhone now. Yes, you've heard that right, 5TH! And here is the outline:

iPhone #1: Purchased on Saturday (2nd day after the launch). Battery could not be fully charged. Tried soft reset, hard reset, restore, draining battery to dead status ... you name it, I've tried it, also some dark pixels. Exchanged about a week later.

iPhone #2: Physical damage at the central part of the screen right out of the box. The damage is visible even if the screen is turned off; the affected area is equivalent of 2 ~ 3 pixel-size. Exchanged.

iPhone #3: Physical object stuck behind the screen glass of the upper right corner part of the screen, also right out of the box. The size of the object is visible while screen is turned off; the affected area is equivalent of 5 ~ 6 pixel-size or even larger. Exchanged.

iPhone #4: Sleep/Power button is loose. Had to press VERY FIRMLY in order to register a click, also some dark/white pixels. Exchanged.

iPhone #5: This is my current unit, still some dark/white pixels: 2 white pixels are visible WITH NAKED EYES when using black background, 2 more white pixels are barely visible using black background. 3 dark pixels are hardly visible when using white background. AND I AM GOING TO KEEP THIS PHONE because these pixels don't bother me that much.



And here is my point:

1. If you think you got a perfect screen w/out dead pixels, chances are: you haven't examined your screen carefully enough to discover them. (Just like invocatus said couple posts ago.)

2. If you indeed have a perfect screen, good for you!

3. You're unlikely to be happy if you are seeking for perfection on any LCD screens.

4. LCD screens in general will develop dead pixels anyway over time when the screen gets shocks, and for a cell phone screen, shocks are unavoidable. (If there is dead-pixel-free LCD technology exists, educate me! But I don't think I am wrong here.)

5. Have you accounted for all the finger prints and dust sitting on the iPhone screen during the normal course of use? They are just as bad IMO.

6. Knowing that there are at least some of us in this forum who have iPhones with 3+ dead pixels should make those of you who believe you have 2 or less feel better :D

Take it easy when making your exchange in the store!

[millerrh]

Update. Although my replacement phone had no dead pixels, it did have the white checkered screen problem that some are experiencing, a squeaky and loose black plastic part, a misaligned chrome bezel, the power button on top was difficult to push, and it never logged usage/standby stats.

Overall, I kind of wish I kept my original phone. I returned this second one and got a new one that doesn't have any of the build quality issues, but now I'm back with a few stuck pixels again. I think I am just going to live with it now. I bet there is no such thing as a perfect iPhone. And I can live with a few stuck pixels that are only visible on a black screen over the serious build quality issues of my last phone.

[joshjagdfeld]

This seems as if it is an epidemic.

I've had five separate handsets now. Three with stuck pixels and one that dropped calls incessantly. The one I have now has a few stuck pixels, but the call quality is fantastic. I'm probably just going to keep this one and mark it up as a first generation disappointment.

:-/

[jlin615]

After swapping SIM cards, we reactivated the phone via my laptop, which I brought to the store, and there were no issues as far as AT&T account duplication or anything like that.


I had to do a exchange today too. Do you know if the 2yr service agreement renews again from the day you activate your replacement unit?

[DaftUnion]

End of my story on my replacement iPhones:

Phone #1: Two dead pixels on the screen. Exchanged.

Phone #2: Two dead pixels as well in different spots and scuff on back of metal. Exchanged.

Phone #3: No dead pixels, but six white hot spots on the top of the screen screen and had a squeeky black plastic part. Exchanged.

Phone #4: One dead pixel, and less than the last one six white hot spots on the top of the screen. Harder to see though.

From my personal experience with four iPhones, I've come across no such thing as a perfect iPhone. Some better than others, but seriously once you start using the thing, it doesn't really matter. I as well as others are treating this thing like the holy grail or an art piece or something and it's a damn phone. In six months I think all of us will care less about this (for those that do) and care more about using and getting the most out of the device instead of putting it under the 500x microscope when we receive it. I guess that's how it is with Apple products though: we expect perfection.

[megax]

My iPhone just randomly popped me up a stuck red pixel, but it was flickering in different apps as to what color it needs to be. Looks normal in the keyboard, red on the homescreen, pissed me off oh so very much. Tapped the screen super hard in its general area and its gone for now :p

I just had this same problem but it was a Neon Green pixel it flickers on and off. It disappeared this morning as soon as a made an appointment at the apple store, hasnt come back yet.

[scaredpoet]

For those of you who returned yours and got one back "without any stuck pixels," you just aren't looking hard enough. I am a perfectionist; I will find it in 2 seconds. I am just learning to cope, since no amount of returning/exchanging is going to give you the perfect phone.


While I totally agree with your advice about learning to live with dead pixels, I will say that finding good iPhones without dead pixels is possible. Chances are though, they're going to be display models at the Apple Store. as they try hard (or at least the one near me does anyway) to present products that are as perfect as possible.


That said, I picked up my iPhone yesterday. After doing the pixel test that can be found here (http://iphonedpt.bravehost.com/index.html), I have been unable to find any dead or stuck pixels. However, I do have a series 7 screen with the grid pattern that I can see if I look carefully enough. It's not something I care to return my phone over, however.

In the end, I'll say this: it's a phone. A collection of glass, metal and silicon that is not something we should me too overly obsessed with perfection over. Yes, it costs $500-$600, and so people may look at a teeny flaw and be up in arms over it, but if it has one bad pixel, keep it in perspective: there are 153,599 other teeny tiny electronic bits flashing on and off just perfectly, and just a few years ago, nothing even close to the iPhone would have been possible. That alone makes the experience worth it to me.

[megax]

took the phone back and got a new one tonight in NYC, usually its easy no problems but the guy i got was being a pain implying that i keep messing up my phones and that i have no more returns left after this. Not my fault they keep on giving me defective phones, this last one had a Giant Green Stuck Pixel.

[sjp240694]

I'm kinda lucky in one respect, yh I got a dead pixel on my iPod Touch, but it is on the status bar thus doesn't show most of the time, just on music and lockscreen:)