Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple Initiates iPhone 5 Sleep/Wake Button Replacement Program [Updated]
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I can confirm that I received a phone call around 15 minutes ago, stating I will get a refund within 28 days. Very happy 
This depends on which Apple store you walk in to lodge your claim. If it is in the US/Canada, expect for phone to be sent for repair and get a loaner. If it is in the UK (and maybe other countries too), it will be replaced with a new one.
With iPhone BOM (Bill Of Materials) being way lower than that of phones like Samsung Galaxy S I guess nobody should be surprised that some low cost components have sub-par quality. While some iPhone owners might be disappointed with the low quality of their devices many Apple fans will see a silver lining in the fact that use of cheaper components maximizes Apple profits.
I'm glad you said that, it just proves my point of Apple only offering replacement products, while they constantly break.
This is the reason i got a free iPhone 5s, (not of this issue but another one).
i would not have settled for anything less. And unfortunately, allot of people can. They just take for granted the rules of Apple.
It may have took 7 weeks, but i made a stand all the way up yo Executives. Pity hardly anyone else could do that. Has no-one ever heard of consumer rights? Regardless of any rules.
A welcome fix
My button crapped out 13 months after I purchased the iPhone 5. Took it to the Genius bar and they told me i was out of luck...unless I wanted to fork over the cost of repair. Don't remember the amount but I knew I wasn't going to pay it.
Realizing that they do have some discretion about replacing a phone that's so close to warranty I was a bit bummed but couldn't really complain....just knowing that something like this SHOULDN'T wear out after a little more than a year of use doesn't get you too far.
Took it into Apple Store two days ago and they hooked me up. Got a loaner iPhone to use while it's fixed and hopefully will have a clean machine in a few days. I asked one of the Apple Store folks about this issue and was told she was getting tired of having to tell folks that their busted buttons were out of warranty and would need to pay to fix.
My button crapped out 13 months after I purchased the iPhone 5. Took it to the Genius bar and they told me i was out of luck...unless I wanted to fork over the cost of repair. Don't remember the amount but I knew I wasn't going to pay it.
Realizing that they do have some discretion about replacing a phone that's so close to warranty I was a bit bummed but couldn't really complain....just knowing that something like this SHOULDN'T wear out after a little more than a year of use doesn't get you too far.
Took it into Apple Store two days ago and they hooked me up. Got a loaner iPhone to use while it's fixed and hopefully will have a clean machine in a few days. I asked one of the Apple Store folks about this issue and was told she was getting tired of having to tell folks that their busted buttons were out of warranty and would need to pay to fix.
Just wanted to let folks know I am working with a tech specialist right now about this issue. I had taken my phone apart to fix the issue then read about the replacement program.
I called and asked if I could bring my phone in (or mail it to them directly) to have the ribbon replaced (the part that needs replaced to fix this issue) even though the phone is in pieces. Obviously I had no way of expecting a replacement program and mine needed fixed. It's out of warranty by a long shot so I decided to fix it myself.
I'm getting a call back here in about 10 minutes but so far it's looking like they are at least considering this option which would be fantastic of them.
If not, I'll just continue with the replacement myself but not sure if anyone else has done this replacement... the ribbon is a TOTAL PITA to replace.... plus after the time of doing the job there is always the chance of it not working once it's back together so you would need to do it again.
Figured I'd chime in just in case there was like 1 other person on the planet in this weird situation I'm in.... phone taken apart into a million pieces and THEN hearing about the replacement program.
I called and asked if I could bring my phone in (or mail it to them directly) to have the ribbon replaced (the part that needs replaced to fix this issue) even though the phone is in pieces. Obviously I had no way of expecting a replacement program and mine needed fixed. It's out of warranty by a long shot so I decided to fix it myself.
I'm getting a call back here in about 10 minutes but so far it's looking like they are at least considering this option which would be fantastic of them.
If not, I'll just continue with the replacement myself but not sure if anyone else has done this replacement... the ribbon is a TOTAL PITA to replace.... plus after the time of doing the job there is always the chance of it not working once it's back together so you would need to do it again.
Figured I'd chime in just in case there was like 1 other person on the planet in this weird situation I'm in.... phone taken apart into a million pieces and THEN hearing about the replacement program.
Just said to put the phone back together, bring it in and they'll take care of it lol.
Just gonna go ahead and put the new ribbon in myself since the phones already apart and the old ribbon is already out.... but for future reference in case anyone is wondering.
Be wary if you have Sprint as the carrier
I've spent 7+ hours now trying to get my loaner phone activated over the past day and a half. Actually, my first and second loaners. I've been on the phone and chat with Sprint, been to the Sprint store and now twice to the Apple store.
Apparently there are some issues with activating phones on the Sprint network. Seems that I've found a new issue beyond what the Apple staff already know and have been informed about activation issues with Sprint. There's at least one plan that Apple can't activate. There are other issues, too, but I'll not lay them out here.
The Apple store staff have been very diligent in trying to get my phone activated but so far, I'm holding an iPhone 5 that's mostly a brick (at least as far as calling and activation goes).
YMMV - good luck...
I've spent 7+ hours now trying to get my loaner phone activated over the past day and a half. Actually, my first and second loaners. I've been on the phone and chat with Sprint, been to the Sprint store and now twice to the Apple store.
Apparently there are some issues with activating phones on the Sprint network. Seems that I've found a new issue beyond what the Apple staff already know and have been informed about activation issues with Sprint. There's at least one plan that Apple can't activate. There are other issues, too, but I'll not lay them out here.
The Apple store staff have been very diligent in trying to get my phone activated but so far, I'm holding an iPhone 5 that's mostly a brick (at least as far as calling and activation goes).
YMMV - good luck...
I guess I more meant "in the iOS 6 era" rather than "with iOS 6". I'm agreeing with your point. I have two devices that I'm leaving on iOS 6 (a fifth gen iPod touch and a first gen cellular iPad mini) and four devices that will be kept current (Cellular iPad Air, iPad 2, iPhone 4S, and another fifth gen iPod touch), so I'm not totally inconvenienced by this, but it is sad that the prettier OS is given such crappy treatment by comparison to what iOS 5 had last year (with 6 being current) with no real reason other than a seemingly egotistical/neurotic desire to abandon the word spearheaded by a now-ousted executive; even if that executive was an arsehole.
When I first saw this article about the program, I was worried something like this would happen. I'm with Verizon on a contract. I know the CDMA carriers used to have weird activation policies back in the day.
My serial is eligible, but I have AppleCare and no issues. So I'm not bothering with it yet. Hope they get your loaner phone sorted! Might have to do with the special SIM cards that Sprint uses. You can't just take it out and pop it into a new phone. There's a whole thread about it over in iPhones.
I'm wondering same thing. I have a 64GB AT&T model. For what it's worth, the normal trade-in to Apple is $225 for a 16GB model and $250 for the 64GB model. So I don't think the 64GB carries a premium.
Exactly the same here. Its a launch day phone and I'll probably change it in September (or when the 6 is out). Might just get it replaced then and then sell it on or give it to my daughter if she is good.
Went in today, article is accurate:
Nice job macrumors!
- Phone was eligible, even out of warranty
- Didn't mention trade in, asked and promptly got it
- trade in is actually $80 above normal value, which is currently $270 (thus the $350)
- Got a iphone 5s 16gb, very simple overall
Nice job macrumors!
Choice
Curious if you had a choice what would you do? Take a swap for your iPhone 5 with power button issues and have it replaced by Apple with a new iphone 5 or upgrade to the 5s with no cost but your need to renew / extend your existing contract two years.
I have a upgrade available and my wife will have one 9/15. She typically inherits my phone and I upgrade to the new release. We have staggered upgrades. With me upgrading to the 5s I will be using one upgrade now and the other for the iPhone 6. So no more staggered upgrades.
Thoughts?
Curious if you had a choice what would you do? Take a swap for your iPhone 5 with power button issues and have it replaced by Apple with a new iphone 5 or upgrade to the 5s with no cost but your need to renew / extend your existing contract two years.
I have a upgrade available and my wife will have one 9/15. She typically inherits my phone and I upgrade to the new release. We have staggered upgrades. With me upgrading to the 5s I will be using one upgrade now and the other for the iPhone 6. So no more staggered upgrades.
Thoughts?
Last edited:
Interesting. Was your switch confirmed bad before this step, or did you just go in and ask for the trade?
While it is tantalizing to think that one might be able to get a substantial discount on a iP6 when it comes out as some theorize, I can see the enhanced trade-in value offer being rescinded, or restricted somehow by the time it launches.
If not, I have until December to have my switch fail, so it could work out very well if the terms remain the same, though it is doubtful.
For those wondering what the Sleep/Wake button has to do with iOS 7. During the testing process they install a special build of 7.1.1 that has a diagnostic app in it that they use for the testing/verification of the Sleep/Wake button.
At first i thought this was also affecting my 5s too, but i was mis-lead.
Lets hope the iPhone 6 wouldn't have the same trouble. If it does, then it would probably be like playing "leap-frog"
Aka. One model has issues, the next model doesn't, model after does etc...
Lets hope the iPhone 6 wouldn't have the same trouble. If it does, then it would probably be like playing "leap-frog"
Aka. One model has issues, the next model doesn't, model after does etc...
Had this issue for over a year now, but I dropped my phone about a year ago and cracked the screen so Apple wouldn't cover it back then and I'm sure won't now. My home button is so scratched up from having to press against stuff really hard to get it to work, although it stopped working at all months ago. Surprised it took them this long to issue this because I know a year ago when I went in it already seemed to be a pretty common issue.