Concerns of iPhone 3GS Overheating and Discoloration Gaining Publicity

MacRumors · Jul 2, 2009, 02:56 PM

Last week, Nowhere Else began receiving reports [Google translation] from owners of the white iPhone 3GS that had experience significant overheating, leading in some cases to distinct pink or brown discoloration on the iPhone's back case. A later report from Wired suggested that faulty battery cells may be the cause of the overheating and could lead to a significant recall of the affected iPhones.

Image from Nowhereelse.fr
A number of reports today have pointed to an Apple support document providing advice on how to keep iPhones from overheating as an acknowledgement of the problem on the part of Apple. As Macworld points out, however, the document was originally posted many months ago, and was recently updated only to add references to the iPhone 3GS to the existing ones for the iPhone 3G. According to the Apple document, an overheating iPhone will display a warning screen and become inoperable with the exception of allowing emergency phone calls to be made. Apple also describes several situations that can lead to activation of the temperature warning screen.

Quote:

- Leaving the device in a car on a hot day.
- Leaving it in direct sunlight for extended amounts of time.
- Using certain applications in hot conditions or direct sunlight for long periods of time, such as GPS tracking in a car on a sunny day or listening to music while in direct sunlight.

While heat is definitely a concern for any electronic device, particularly ones like the iPhone that pack a significant amount of power into a small space, Apple assures its iPhone 3G and 3GS customers that the devices do meet international safety standards for such devices. At this time, Apple has made no official response to these latest reports of overheating and discoloration on the new iPhone 3GS.

Article Link: Concerns of iPhone 3GS Overheating and Discoloration Gaining Publicity

djellison · Jul 2, 2009, 02:59 PM

"GPS tracking in a car on a sunny day"

So no SatNav in California, for example.

Lame, Apple. Very lame.

They rushed it out again.

Grimace · Jul 2, 2009, 03:01 PM

Listening to music in the sun...

No one would ever do that!

NightCastle · Jul 2, 2009, 03:01 PM

Another reason to wait until 2010.

Axl Rose · Jul 2, 2009, 03:02 PM

woops..guess cant listen to music while sittin on a bench, or gps while driving..

jav6454 · Jul 2, 2009, 03:03 PM

Umm, but this is for white iPhones only... so I won't mind. I'm going to get a black.

synth3tik · Jul 2, 2009, 03:07 PM

These are the same problems Apple has had on a lot of other products. You would think they would have gotten it by now. You would think that after the third iPhone they would have gotten it.

BornAgainMac · Jul 2, 2009, 03:07 PM

Heat? Wow, they even have an App for that.

almost30boohoo1 · Jul 2, 2009, 03:08 PM

That discolouration... is terrible!

I think white, and black plastic looks tacky. The only thing worse is glossy black!
I wonder if the black version will do the same thing over time, with a greyish discolouration.

DocStone · Jul 2, 2009, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jav6454

Umm, but this is for white iPhones only... so I won't mind. I'm going to get a black.

You racist! (just kidding by the way...hahaha)

windywoo · Jul 2, 2009, 03:10 PM

Its not heat, the iPhone is blushing from all the naughty naked bodies on it.

mrkgoo · Jul 2, 2009, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jav6454

Umm, but this is for white iPhones only... so I won't mind. I'm going to get a black.

I'm guess it affects them just the same, only it's harder to tell, crashes and errors aside.

iOrlando · Jul 2, 2009, 03:13 PM

meh put your hand on an apple tv...that thing is burning all the time...

this isnt news....

zacman · Jul 2, 2009, 03:14 PM

Who would drive a car on a sunny day anyways?

manu chao · Jul 2, 2009, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djellison

"GPS tracking in a car on a sunny day"

So no SatNav in California, for example.

Lame, Apple. Very lame.

They rushed it out again.

The iPhone's primary purpose is certainly not be used as a dash-mounted GPS navigation device. Or would you say that any smartphone that cannot be used as a dash-mounted navigation device is not a viable product?

ryhno45 · Jul 2, 2009, 03:16 PM

Talking to someone late last night for about 45 mins. I noticed the phone was getting very warm, so I ended the call and took off the phone.

My house was about in 65-67's, so it was pretty cold.

I do not notice any discolorations though.

iOrlando · Jul 2, 2009, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryhno45

Talking to someone late last night for about 45 mins. I noticed the phone was getting very warm, so I ended the call and took off the phone.

My house was about in 65-67's, so it was pretty cold.

I do not notice any discolorations though.

my samsung gets high after a half hour call as well..

the phone will be hot...thats to be expected..

hot to the point of not picking it up = not to be expected.

slipper · Jul 2, 2009, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manu chao

The iPhone's primary purpose is certainly not be used as a dash-mounted GPS navigation device. Or would you say that any smartphone that cannot be used as a dash-mounted navigation device is not a viable product?

The phone is designed with GPS and ATT sells their GPS service. Its not viable for Apple to avoid and not acknowledge this specific problem.

dwsolberg · Jul 2, 2009, 03:21 PM

That's an interesting pattern of discoloration. I wonder if it provides some clue as to what's happening. For example, does the battery touch the case in those places? Also, is there some way this might be color transfer from a case? I've only seen two pictures so far, so it could be something simple like that.

For what it's worth, I know about four people with new iPhone 3GS's, and no one has experienced any excess heat.

Eidorian · Jul 2, 2009, 03:23 PM

Too many features for such a small device to push. Now faster!

jav6454 · Jul 2, 2009, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DocStone

You racist! (just kidding by the way...hahaha)

You have to actually put more feeling into it, like so:

YOU racist bastard!

rezonat0r · Jul 2, 2009, 03:32 PM

Have had two 32GB Black 3GS models, both run at room temp (approx 80F room temp)

swagi · Jul 2, 2009, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grimace

Listening to music in the sun...

No one would ever do that!

I don't know about you, but I very rarely expose the music playing device to direct sunlight.

Just a nostalgic habit - you could kill your tapes with direct sunlight back in the days, you know

zengod · Jul 2, 2009, 03:34 PM

Possibly Good news - I got a white one because that was all was in the store at 32Gb but I am starting to regret not sticking with black - If it turns pink it's going back and I'll get a black one.

Eidorian · Jul 2, 2009, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swagi

I don't know about you, but I very rarely expose the music playing device to direct sunlight.

Just a nostalgic habit - you could kill your tapes with direct sunlight back in the days, you know

Molten cassettes does take me back.

My friend had his iPhone out buy the pool and got a heat warning message. I guess the sun in Illinois is just too much.

Jul 2, 2009, 03:01 PM	#3
Grimace Contributor Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: with Hamburglar.	Listening to music in the sun... No one would ever do that! __________________ Canon 1Ds Mk III • Canon 5D MkII 16-35mm f/2.8L II • 24-70mm f/2.8L • 70-200mm f/2.8L IS 50mm f/1.2L • 85mm f/1.2L • 135mm f/2L • 300mm f/2.8L IS

Jul 2, 2009, 03:01 PM	#4
NightCastle macrumors newbie Join Date: Jul 2007	Another reason to wait until 2010. __________________ NightCastle ___________________________________ There are two rules to success in life: 1. Don't tell people everything you know. 2.

Jul 2, 2009, 03:03 PM	#6
jav6454 macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Ontario, CA \| Metairie, LA \| San Pedro Sula, Honduras	Umm, but this is for white iPhones only... so I won't mind. I'm going to get a black. __________________ Collector's Edition Al MacBook 2.4GHz \| 1st Gen iPhone 8GB \| iPhone 3G S⃣ 32GB New to iPhone World? Click Me On a search? MRoogle

Jul 2, 2009, 03:07 PM	#7
synth3tik macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minneapolis, MN	These are the same problems Apple has had on a lot of other products. You would think they would have gotten it by now. You would think that after the third iPhone they would have gotten it. __________________ Come check out my music! http://www.batteriesarentfood.com http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/BatteriesarentFood

Jul 2, 2009, 03:23 PM	#20
Eidorian macrumors G3 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Indiana	Too many features for such a small device to push. Now faster! __________________ MRoogle it! hikari T7500 2.2 GHz / 4 GB / 320 GB / GMA X3100 / 10.5.8 chobimaru Core i5 750 2.66 GHz / 4 GB / 640 GB / 4830 / Windows 7

Jul 2, 2009, 02:59 PM	#2
djellison macrumors 68000 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Leicester, UK	"GPS tracking in a car on a sunny day" So no SatNav in California, for example. Lame, Apple. Very lame. They rushed it out again.

Jul 2, 2009, 03:02 PM	#5
Axl Rose macrumors regular Join Date: Oct 2007	woops..guess cant listen to music while sittin on a bench, or gps while driving..

Jul 2, 2009, 03:07 PM	#8
BornAgainMac macrumors 68030 Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Florida Resident	Heat? Wow, they even have an App for that.

Jul 2, 2009, 03:08 PM	#9
almost30boohoo1 macrumors newbie Join Date: May 2009	That discolouration... is terrible! I think white, and black plastic looks tacky. The only thing worse is glossy black! I wonder if the black version will do the same thing over time, with a greyish discolouration.

Jul 2, 2009, 03:10 PM	#11
windywoo Banned Join Date: May 2009	Its not heat, the iPhone is blushing from all the naughty naked bodies on it.

Jul 2, 2009, 03:13 PM	#13
iOrlando macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Miami Beach, Florida	meh put your hand on an apple tv...that thing is burning all the time... this isnt news....

Jul 2, 2009, 03:14 PM	#14
zacman macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2008	Who would drive a car on a sunny day anyways?

Jul 2, 2009, 03:16 PM	#16
ryhno45 macrumors member Join Date: Oct 2008	Talking to someone late last night for about 45 mins. I noticed the phone was getting very warm, so I ended the call and took off the phone. My house was about in 65-67's, so it was pretty cold. I do not notice any discolorations though.

Jul 2, 2009, 03:21 PM	#19
dwsolberg macrumors 6502 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Mineapolis, MN	That's an interesting pattern of discoloration. I wonder if it provides some clue as to what's happening. For example, does the battery touch the case in those places? Also, is there some way this might be color transfer from a case? I've only seen two pictures so far, so it could be something simple like that. For what it's worth, I know about four people with new iPhone 3GS's, and no one has experienced any excess heat.

Jul 2, 2009, 03:32 PM	#22
rezonat0r macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2007	Have had two 32GB Black 3GS models, both run at room temp (approx 80F room temp)

Jul 2, 2009, 03:34 PM	#24
zengod macrumors member Join Date: Feb 2008	Possibly Good news - I got a white one because that was all was in the store at 32Gb but I am starting to regret not sticking with black - If it turns pink it's going back and I'll get a black one.

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