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Iphone 3g "light leak" thread

P

prelag

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 11, 2008
48
0
I have an appointment on Monday and hope to exchange my iphone assuming they have it in stock. I wasn't too bothered with the light leak until I began to use my phone more and more at night. The entire left side of the phone where the metal meets the black edge has little bits of light leak all the way up to the top of the phone.

I can deal with a scratch etc... I am really not a picky person, but after owning the original iphone I just could not put up with the light leak issue as my original iphone was flawless.

So, does anyone else have a similar problem? :confused:
 
:( I feel for you, I too have noticed a defect with my iphone, the chrome is uneven. At the right side it's at the same level as the screen, but on the left side the chrome is 2mm over the screen :(

Also, the chrome around the camera isn't a perfect fit either, it's a little space inbetween.

I really hope I'll be able to replace it.
 
Yep, same problem here. I'm going to go back to the Apple Store once they start to get more stock in, so I can try to exchange it.

I'm really finding that the overall fit and finish of the 3G is not nearly as good as the original iPhone. Rough edges (literally), light leaks...
 
I also have a light leak on the left side of my 16 gig black. please let us know if they exchange it for you.
 
There's other threads on this. It's a big problem. We've had 6 phones here total in the house and FIVE had light leaks. Problem is, one can't see it in the Apple store (Blazingly bright there) and many of the employees own phones have them. I had a hard time getting a swap. Seems to me the Geniuses are not as swap ready as on launch.

There's a gasket around he glass face plate next to the bezel. The gap is always on the left usually closer to the volume button area but some report it along the whole side. Looking at iFixit, it seems one can unscrew the screws and tilt the assembly up. I'm thinking adding an extra 'something' there & sealing it back up would work brilliantly.

I'm thinking a piece of rubber to glue onto the gasket or even a black thread of some type. Someone on HowardForums took an exacto knife and sort of pulled the gasket toward the gap and sealed it up. I'm tempted. Or shoving a thread in there. It should give a bit cuz it's a gasket.

I have yet to find any pattern with serial numbers or build weeks for this issue or the differing screen calibrations.
 
meagain said:
There's other threads on this. It's a big problem. We've had 6 phones here total in the house and FIVE had light leaks. Problem is, one can't see it in the Apple store (Blazingly bright there) and many of the employees own phones have them. I had a hard time getting a swap. Seems to me the Geniuses are not as swap ready as on launch.

There's a gasket around he glass face plate next to the bezel. The gap is always on the left usually closer to the volume button area but some report it along the whole side. Looking at iFixit, it seems one can unscrew the screws and tilt the assembly up. I'm thinking adding an extra 'something' there & sealing it back up would work brilliantly.

I'm thinking a piece of rubber to glue onto the gasket or even a black thread of some type. Someone on HowardForums took an exacto knife and sort of pulled the gasket toward the gap and sealed it up. I'm tempted. Or shoving a thread in there. It should give a bit cuz it's a gasket.

I have yet to find any pattern with serial numbers or build weeks for this issue or the differing screen calibrations.
Click to expand...

I do not think it is every iphone 3G....its got to be narrowed down to build weeks...but that is just my opinion.
 
The rep told me he would do an even exchange on the phone. He said it has been a common complaint.

I have seen a lot of people talking about the new iphones shoddy build quality but brushed it aside as overreacting because I've seen people complaining of a small scratch on the back cover.

Now I see that this problem is actually widespread and I am concerned. :(
 
I have the problem (along with a few more), but I didn't feel like exchanging it at first because I didn't want to get an iPhone 3G with a worse LCD panel.
 
MICHAELSD said:
I have the problem (along with a few more), but I didn't feel like exchanging it at first because I didn't want to get an iPhone 3G with a worse LCD panel.
Click to expand...

I feel you there. My LCD panel is flawless and I haven't run into battery life issues. It feels like I am playing Russian Roulette on getting a new phone because this one is perfect save the light leak issue. But, eventually, I have to get one phone that is perfect, right!? :confused:
 
Could someone explain what you mean by "light leak"? I'm probably showing my ignorance here, but I'm used to using the term in the sense of a camera. So far (knock on wood) I don't have the yellow screen issue (would have been a major problem for me, an avid photographer and former graphic artist) but I was wondering what the light leak referred to. Thanks! :)
 
MacMaad said:
Could someone explain what you mean by "light leak"? I'm probably showing my ignorance here, but I'm used to using the term in the sense of a camera. So far (knock on wood) I don't have the yellow screen issue (would have been a major problem for me, an avid photographer and former graphic artist) but I was wondering what the light leak referred to. Thanks! :)
Click to expand...

what it looks like: Sure. If you grab your iphone and put it in the palm of your hand you will see the black border that goes around the screen. On my phone, the left side, where the metal and the black border meet light leeks through.

The best way I can describe it is, imagine that someone took a razor blade and made a straight cut on the black film right where the metal touches. Now imagine 3-4 of this cuts all the way up the left side of your phone, maybe 2-3mm in length.

During the day you cant notice it one iota. At night, with the lights off, you can see the backlight shining through.

I didn't notice it for a few days so I am thinking there are others out there that have the same issue.

theory on actual cause: Basically, I think there is a piece of rubber that goes around the entire front of the phone that separates the screen from the metal. In my case, that piece of rubber isn't flush on one side or hasn't been installed correctly allowing back light to leak through.
 
Prelag - yes on the gasket. See my post above.

See iFixit pic #11 and the very top one with all the parts (left most pic)http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/First-Look/iPhone3G You can clearly see the gasket on pic 11 if the pic is clicked on to enlarge.

I contend MANY many have this issue but don't know about it yet. It's very hard or impossible to see in a normal lighted room or daylight. Some can be seen in this light if they are really bad like my first one.
It has to be in a dim or dark room. Like if you were in a room with only the TV on. It's between the glass and chrome bezel on the left side.

I posted one person's fix above. I feel those of us who are exhausted from launch and returns who fear going downhill from what they have in other areas will be able to tweak this.
 
prelag said:
what it looks like: Sure. If you grab your iphone and put it in the palm of your hand you will see the black border that goes around the screen. On my phone, the left side, where the metal and the black border meet light leeks through.

The best way I can describe it is, imagine that someone took a razor blade and made a straight cut on the black film right where the metal touches. Now imagine 3-4 of this cuts all the way up the left side of your phone, maybe 2-3mm in length.

During the day you cant notice it one iota. At night, with the lights off, you can see the backlight shining through.

I didn't notice it for a few days so I am thinking there are others out there that have the same issue.

theory on actual cause: Basically, I think there is a piece of rubber that goes around the entire front of the phone that separates the screen from the metal. In my case, that piece of rubber isn't flush on one side or hasn't been installed correctly allowing back light to leak through.
Click to expand...

Thanks. So light is leaking OUT of the phone, and not into it, if I understand that right. I'll have to doublecheck mine since it seems like a common issue. I would probably also be scared to exchange it, though, as per your "Russian Roulette" comment above.

Hope you are able to get it worked out.
 
Mine has this issue as well. I'm waiting for my Apple Store to get back their "AT&T" stock. They were going to give me a new one out of the box until I told them I bought mine at an AT&T store.

However, my buddy switched his out for other reasons the day and he did buy his there. His is still leaking light out as well, just not as bad as the first.

You can see four light spots in all where it appears the LCD meets the casing. The two at the bottom are really noticeable the top two aren't and really require a special angle to see them. Yes they're on the left.
 
I checked my girlfriends iphone today that I purchased on the same day as mine and hers also has light leak. Albiet, hers is a needle sized dot so it doesn't need to go back to apple.

Here is to hoping I can snag one that at least is almost 99 percent light leak proof like the girlfriends iphone. :rolleyes:
 
mine has this problem as well and i hope,being in Italy, that the Vodafone shop i bought it from will change it for me
 

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Mine is about as bad as that except my light leaks are a bit thinner. But i have them all the way up the left side of the screen like you do.

You really need to get it replaced. I'm not sure how the exchange policy is overseas but here in the States if you complain enough they will exchange it for you.
 
I have a minor light leak on the left as well, but its minimal and the only way I can see it is if I tilt the phone is certain directions, of which none are comfortable or the way I would watch it anyway. My great battery and no dust or scratches is more important to me than a thin light leak that is hardly noticeable.
 
WannaApple? said:
I have a minor light leak on the left as well, but its minimal and the only way I can see it is if I tilt the phone is certain directions, of which none are comfortable or the way I would watch it anyway. My great battery and no dust or scratches is more important to me than a thin light leak that is hardly noticeable.
Click to expand...

I have looked at 6 3G iphones now not including mine and all have the light leak issue to some degree. Some were like yours, only noticeable when tilting the screen at certain angles. Others were far worse.

Seems like an epidemic. :(
 
I had this problem before. I purchased two 16gb Black iPhones, one for me and my girlfriend and both leaked light on the side. I made an appointment and the guy told me thats not acceptable for you to have that problem. In return we got two brand new ones. So that was good. However my girlfriends now has a diffrent problem. The glass by the earpiece to the headphone change has a crack in it. :( She didnt drop it and there are no dents or sracthes on the phone itself. I hope apple will exchange it. So far it's been a rough start for us on getting good iPhones. :(
 
Besides the light leak, can't this lead to dust getting under the screen a lot easier? I have a 16gig on order. What are the chances they are looking into this problem and trying to fix them before the rest of the orders go out?

- James
 
jamesarm97 said:
Besides the light leak, can't this lead to dust getting under the screen a lot easier? I have a 16gig on order. What are the chances they are looking into this problem and trying to fix them before the rest of the orders go out?

- James
Click to expand...

Yes, that's exactly why they replaced mine.
 
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