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iPhone 5 rattling noise [MERGED]

S

smiddlehurst

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jun 5, 2007
1,230
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Hey all, just curious if anyone else has this problem.

UPS just delivered my shiny new iPhone 5, the instant I had it in hand I could feel and hear something rattling inside it. Not sure what but there's a significant amount of weight moving about so I'm assuming it has to be the battery. The phone fires up okay and there's no damage to the case that I can see so I'm assuming manufacturing defect, probably with the glue that holds the battery down.

Got an appointment at the genius bar for tomorrow but thought I'd see if this is a one off or not?
 
smiddlehurst said:
Hey all, just curious if anyone else has this problem.

UPS just delivered my shiny new iPhone 5, the instant I had it in hand I could feel and hear something rattling inside it. Not sure what but there's a significant amount of weight moving about so I'm assuming it has to be the battery. The phone fires up okay and there's no damage to the case that I can see so I'm assuming manufacturing defect, probably with the glue that holds the battery down.

Got an appointment at the genius bar for tomorrow but thought I'd see if this is a one off or not?
Click to expand...

is it the camera lens? tap the back around the apple logo and move toward the camera lens with light taps. Does it increase or decrease?
 
Leonard1818 said:
is it the camera lens? tap the back around the apple logo and move toward the camera lens with light taps. Does it increase or decrease?
Click to expand...

Nope. It's lower down that that and a real, uh, 'deep' noise when you shake it. Must be something relatively heavy. From the iFixit teardown it feels like it's coming from the side of the phone where the battery lives... Maybe I'll take some superglue with me to the Apple store tomorrow and they can fix it there and then :p
 
smiddlehurst said:
Nope. It's lower down that that and a real, uh, 'deep' noise when you shake it. Must be something relatively heavy. From the iFixit teardown it feels like it's coming from the side of the phone where the battery lives... Maybe I'll take some superglue with me to the Apple store tomorrow and they can fix it there and then :p
Click to expand...

It COULD be the switch back to rotational motor with a counterweight for the vibration.

http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPhone-5-Teardown/10525/4#s38304
 
Mine doen't rattle, but if I tap the top 'bar' on the back of the phone I can hear what I assume to be the camera lens hitting off the glass either side of it.

Not something my iPhone 4 did so I'm a little worried I must admit.

Leonard1818 said:
is it the camera lens? tap the back around the apple logo and move toward the camera lens with light taps. Does it increase or decrease?
Click to expand...
Just tired this and the 'rattle' does get louder the closer to the lens I get.
 
Just so you know, you will get an email about your Genius Bar appointment being cancelled due to the iPhone 5 release weekend
 
Because it feels like it has weight, yeah, it's probably the battery. I had an iPhone 4 that had that same kind of thing going. Eventually took it in and the guy opened it up in the back.

He came back out and said they failed to pull the strip off the adhesive for the battery and it was sliding around a bit. He replaced the unit because he didn't feel comfortable about what might have happened from the rattling around.

Fwiw.
 
Keep in mind that the camera has some asinine number of loose lenses in it that WILL bang around to a certain extent and sound something like tiny marbles (like the 4s). This is my experience with my 4s. I sent the first one back out of concern. the next one didn't do it NEARLY as bad, but still rattled around a bit. Every single other 4s I put my hands on has a rattle of some extent coming from the camera area.

I expect no less with the iPhone 5 since it has more lenses now than the 4s did (doesn't it?).

It should be pretty easy to discern if it's coming from the camera area or somewhere else.
 
Leonard1818 said:
Keep in mind that the camera has some asinine number of loose lenses in it that WILL bang around to a certain extent and sound something like tiny marbles (like the 4s). This is my experience with my 4s. I sent the first one back out of concern. the next one didn't do it NEARLY as bad, but still rattled around a bit. Every single other 4s I put my hands on has a rattle of some extent coming from the camera area.

I expect no less with the iPhone 5 since it has more lenses now than the 4s did (doesn't it?).

It should be pretty easy to discern if it's coming from the camera area or somewhere else.
Click to expand...
No they both use the same amount. 5 or whatever it was.
 
911scanner said:
More than likely the "old" new vibration motor.
Click to expand...

I'm as close to sure as I can be that it's not. If I shake the phone side to side you can feel whatever it is in there bouncing around and off the case. Weight seems to be almost directly centre and slightly offset to the left and I can hear it shifting within the case, not just moving on a spindle. I've owned an iPhone 4 which I believe had the rotational motor and never noticed a thing. This is moving enough that you can feel a weight shift just while holding the phone and moving it to your ear.

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d.steve said:
Because it feels like it has weight, yeah, it's probably the battery. I had an iPhone 4 that had that same kind of thing going. Eventually took it in and the guy opened it up in the back.

He came back out and said they failed to pull the strip off the adhesive for the battery and it was sliding around a bit. He replaced the unit because he didn't feel comfortable about what might have happened from the rattling around.

Fwiw.
Click to expand...

That's about what I figure to be honest. See what happens tomorrow.

To those suggesting the camera area, appreciated but this isn't something that I have to hold the phone right next to my ear in a quiet room to hear. This is a big, heavy rattle and I can feel weight shifting around inside the phone, can't see any way the lens could be causing it. Thanks for the suggestion though :D
 
Something is loose in my iPhone 5.

Feels like the battery is loose, every time I move the phone I can feel something large move, its more of a thud rather than a rattle. Anyone experiencing something similar? I made an appointment with the Genius bar tomorrow.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4324527?start=0&tstart=0

***UPDATE***


I just got home and opened mine up. I discovered that the battery was not firmly pressed into its adhesive. After pressing down the battery the iPhone is solid and silent, hopefully it remains this way, but I have my doubts since the adhesive was exposed to air while the battery was not firmly attached.

As most people do not have the tools to perform this repair, a pentalobe screwdriver, I recommend bringing the phone to your local genius bar for repair.

I made a video of the before and after.

http://youtu.be/LHoH-RnNr4w
 
Last edited:
After seeing all these posts about rattling coming from inside the phone and people finding chips/scuffs on the edges, I'm kinda afraid to open my box when I get home from work.

That definitely sounds like something they should replace though.
 
Sadly, I have the same issue. Everything is functional though. At this point, I don't know how long I'd have to wait for a replacement if I have to exchange it.
 
It is the loose ringer switch on the left hand side of the phone. I have the same 'problem'.
 
Could be the sleep wake button. Try holding it down and see if the phone makes any noise.

If your sleep wake button is loose or has some play, its normal. Some iPhones are like that, and some are not.
 
I'm in this same boat... I uploaded a quick YouTube video.

http://youtu.be/5qctM18D4RI

Doubt very seriously that I'm gonna get a replacement any time soon, but calling Apple Store nearest me now to see. Grr.

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Spicedham said:
its the autofocus lens its normal.
Click to expand...

I got three phones on my account today, one rattles and two don't ... so either I've got two broken autofocus lenses, or there's something wrong with the ONE phone. LOL.
 
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