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Other Apple engineering is (imo) officially crap on iPhones

thadoggfather

thadoggfather

macrumors P6
Original poster
Oct 1, 2007
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https://www.apple.com/support/exchange_repair/

Some version of *every generation* since iPhone 6 (barring SE), has had a Repair program for separate issues

on one hand, its good Apple support is generally great and that they are acknowledging mass problems in some capacity, but on the other it leads one to wonder what else is to come that hasn't been documented for the new models and what hasnt been acknowledged, that should have been, thats a problem for older models like making customers who dont have physically damaged 6+ to pay for a replacement because of touch disease.

As a disclaimer-
I doubt getting an Android would resolve shoddy quality, and I don't mean to throw FUD around, but at the same time this is absolutely appalling!

(variants of, since some plus some non) 6, 6s, 7, 8, & X affected!
 
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I wouldn't go so far as to say the whole iPhone engineering department is crap at Apple. Sure, each model has had its issues, but so have many other models from other manufacturers that get way less media coverage. When you stop and think about all of the technology crammed into this little device, it's not hard to believe. Also, considering the vast number of units being sold every year I don't find it surprising issues in the supply chain eventually crop up or something is found that requires a tweak to the manufacturing process.

The fact that Apple is willing to make the changes and do what is necessary to make it right for those suffering says a lot about them. I've been watching the Pixel 3 debacle through the Tailosive Tech channel and Google has yet to acknowledge most of the glaring issues plaguing that phone.
 
Knowlege Bomb said:
I wouldn't go so far as to say the whole iPhone engineering department is crap at Apple. Sure, each model has had its issues, but so have many other models from other manufacturers that get way less media coverage. When you stop and think about all of the technology crammed into this little device, it's not hard to believe. Also, considering the vast number of units being sold every year I don't find it surprising this issues in the supply chain eventually crop up or something is found that requires a tweak to the manufacturing process.

The fact that Apple is willing to make the changes and do what is necessary to make it right for those suffering says a lot about them. I've been watching the Pixel 3 debacle through the Tailosive Tech channel and Google has yet to acknowledge most of the glaring issues plaguing that phone.
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I wouldnt say the whole engineering dept is crap either, or their engineers, in fact I think many of them are likely as talented as can be-- just that the final product delivered, is crap engineering and not built to last.

Apple's leadership and disconnect between departments is more likely to blame than any individual employee working his/her butt off.

...As for all the tech crammed in a small device, sounds like an excuse more than a valid reason.
 
I'd be curious to know if this is repeated actual engineering/design issues, lack of quality of components used or quality control in general (maybe all of the above, or depending on the issue one or more of these).
 
NT1440 said:
Have any of these been a design flaw rather than a manufacturing defect?
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I guess this is a fair distinction to make but to assume the latter would be as substantiated as to assume the former

Should’ve Made the thread title: iPhone quality

I dont think it’s beyond the pale to assume it’s probably a mix of both over the generations
 
I have an iPhone 5 and the current one is the fourth one. It was replaced in November 2012 for a mic issue, August 2014 for swelling battery and again in March 2017 for a swelling battery.

On the other hand, my iPhone 6s is 3+ years old, had a bit of water spilled on it and has been dropped more than once (on concrete and tile) and has never had any issues. Not one.

Because it's on 9.0.2 I didn't suffer the battery throttling either. Not that it matters anyway as it's only degraded 18% in the last 3+ years.

My wife's iPhone 6s - exactly the same. Her iPhone 5 was only replaced once (swelling battery).

In short, I've never been plagued by any of the frequently repeating issues (design flaw or manufacturing defect) that a lot of users report here.

I'll admit that I never anticipated having my iPhone 5 replaced three times. However, each time, the replacement was better that the last. I attribute that to adjustments in the production run over time.
 
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thadoggfather said:
I guess this is a fair distinction to make but to assume the latter would be as substantiated as to assume the former

Should’ve Made the thread title: iPhone quality

I dont think it’s beyond the pale to assume it’s probably a mix of both over the generations
Click to expand...
I think it would be beyond the pale, simply because if it was a design defect then EVERY iPhone of that design would have the issue, rather than a certain manufacturing batch, by definition.

You’re conflating terms, surely not intentionally though imho.
 
NT1440 said:
I think it would be beyond the pale, simply because if it was a design defect then EVERY iPhone of that design would have the issue, rather than a certain manufacturing batch, by definition.

You’re conflating terms, surely not intentionally though imho.
Click to expand...

it can still be a fault of engineering even if doesnt affect every single device,

if they are prone to failure by design, the likelihood of lemons happening seems more likely.

Like Series 0 watches bursting open. Can be a fault of manufacturing, but seems to be related to engineering to an extent

but youre probably right
 
thadoggfather said:
it can still be a fault of engineering even if doesnt affect every single device,

if they are prone to failure by design, the likelihood of lemons happening seems more likely.

Like Series 0 watches bursting open. Can be a fault of manufacturing, but seems to be related to engineering to an extent

but youre probably right
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That would fall under the engineering team for the adhesive they used for sure (unless the ones that pop open had contaminated adhesive) so there’s definitely some room for nuance for sure.
 
Newtons Apple said:
I guess I have been blessed as I have not had any problems with any of my Apple devices. I do buy new ones yearly except for lap and desktops but have never had an issue that required me to return it. I read in horror things happening to members in the forum and hope they get it resolved.

Merry Christmas everyone!
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I managed to avoid Scuffgate with the iPhone 5. :)

Back when people where opening 10 boxes or more at the Apple store trying to find one that wasn't scratched or dinged (oh with a good screen too, of course!).
 
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thadoggfather said:
https://www.apple.com/support/exchange_repair/

Some version of *every generation* since iPhone 6 (barring SE), has had a Repair program for separate issues

on one hand, its good Apple support is generally great and that they are acknowledging mass problems in some capacity, but on the other it leads one to wonder what else is to come that hasn't been documented for the new models and what hasnt been acknowledged, that should have been, thats a problem for older models like making customers who dont have physically damaged 6+ to pay for a replacement because of touch disease.

As a disclaimer-
I doubt getting an Android would resolve shoddy quality, and I don't mean to throw FUD around, but at the same time this is absolutely appalling!

(variants of, since some plus some non) 6, 6s, 7, 8, & X affected!
Click to expand...
Doesn't that kind of thing basically apply to many (if not most) products manufactured in high quantity? Pretty sure TVs, all kinds of appliances, cars, furniture, etc. have all kinds of "repair/exchange/recall" programs for many models across many manufacturers, and all kinds of other issues that aren't officially acknowledged too.
 
C DM said:
Doesn't that kind of thing basically apply to many (if not most) products manufactured in high quantity? Pretty sure TVs, all kinds of appliances, cars, furniture, etc. have all kinds of "repair/exchange/recall" programs for many models across many manufacturers, and all kinds of other issues that aren't officially acknowledged too.
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Do they though? Year over year since 2014?
 
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thadoggfather said:
Do they though? Year over year since 2014?
Click to expand...
Don't really have the time to really dig into actual detailed specifics at the moment, but fairly certain that many car models, for example, have some sort of recalls or at least TSBs issued for models over periods of years -- some of these will come out affecting even a number of models from a manufacturer for something like 2002 - 2012, for example.
 
C DM said:
Don't really have the time to really dig into actual detailed specifics at the moment, but fairly certain that many car models, for example, have some sort of recalls or at least TSB issued for models over periods of years -- some of these will come out affecting a number of models for something like 2002 - 2012, for example.
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sure but that could be a design decision unchanged for many years, ie same airbag deployment mechanism unchanged until they found issue with it.

in this case with apple, every model has different issues
 
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thadoggfather said:
sure but that could be a design decision unchanged for many years, ie same airbag deployment mechanism unchanged until they found issue with it.

in this case with apple, every model has different issues
Click to expand...
From that point of view if you are changing many things each model then chances of something cropping up become even higher as more things are changing more often. So it would be even less surprising for something like that, in that sense.

Ultimately I'm just saying is it really that out of the ordinary when taking a complex mass produced product that essentially changes in one way or another pretty much yearly.
 
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DJ_Smith said:
iPhone 6, thinner design and weak (6000) aluminum result in bending and touch disease.
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Good examples. Although I want to point out, the bending with the 6000 series was only prone to the ‘Plus’ model for those who were actually sitting on their iPhones, and the majority of those never experienced any bending, if you consider the millions of iPhones sold.
 
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