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Apple Launches Official Repair Program for iPhone 7 Models Affected by 'No Service' Issue

I've had this issue since I got my iPhone 7 when they first came out and it has nothing to do with Airplane mode. Apple kept saying it was a Verizon issue, and Verizon kept saying they didn't know or to call Apple. They'd tell me to erase my phone, etc, which did nothing. So frustrating. Sporadically it would work, but again, nothing to do with Airplane mode. So many times when I was traveling and really needed internet or Google maps and got nada. NOW Apple cops to it being their fault.

I just called a local Apple Store and the person I spoke with hadn't heard of the issue (as per usual), and said they'd have to run tests and would only do something if they found a problem. Hopefully it won't be the rare time my phone is working. And while I don't get dropped calls, I do get bad connections all the time, even with 4 or 5 bars.
 
zz_nosa_r said:
I have to admit, apple is really good in after sales services especially since the model is a previous one... if it’s other manufacturers, i doubt if they will to the same like especially if the device that is faulty is not the latest one.
Click to expand...

My Samsung S7 Edge has the pink line issue. Samsung says if I'm in warranty [obviously I'm not anymore] they will repair it for free, but if I'm out of warranty SOL.
 
zz_nosa_r said:
I have to admit, apple is really good in after sales services especially since the model is a previous one... if it’s other manufacturers, i doubt if they will to the same like especially if the device that is faulty is not the latest one.
Click to expand...

I’ve used a large number of phones starting with the Ericsson T-18z (recall Ericsson makes base stations GGSNs and full network equipment since the dawn of cellular tech), to the iPhone 7. From all those phones and varying technologies across networks ... I’d have to say between Ericsson (not SonyEricsson) and the iPhone ... these two have managed baseband code and radio THE best over 17yrs! One small hicccup is not too shabby.
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Mascots said:
I KNEW THIS WAS HAPPENING.

Every GD time they said "Oh it's probably local service issues" and never fix my GD phone. iPhone 7, hands down, the worst iPhone I've ever owned.
Click to expand...

Lol. I love the human spirit. I didn’t even flinch to read just how upset you were, respectfully, saying Goddamn for GD. I don’t know how I knew it but just did.

Hands down the iPhone 7 is the best iPhone I’ve ever owned. When I upgrade in fall I’m sure I’ll feel the same way again with that model in 3mths time
 
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MacRumors said:



Apple today launched a repair program for iPhone 7 devices that are impacted by an ongoing bug that causes them to have no available service even when cellular coverage is available. Apple says the problem is caused by a component that has failed on the main logic board.

The problem affects "a small percentage" of iPhone 7 devices, causing them to display a "No Service" message instead of properly connecting to an available cellular network.

applenoservicerepairprogram-800x236.jpg

Customers who are experiencing this issue will receive a free device repair from Apple, and those who have already paid for repairs are eligible for reimbursement. Apple will be emailing customers who may have previously paid for a repair related to this problem to offer a refund.

According to Apple, affected units were manufactured between September 2016 and February 2018 and were sold in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, and the United States. Model numbers that are impacted by the hardware failure include A1660, A1780, and A779, and customers can see if they are affected by checking the model number on the back of their device.

We first heard hints of this bug in September of 2016, when Apple launched an investigation into iPhone 7 devices that were displaying a "No Service" message after customers activated and then disabled Airplane Mode.

Apple's repair program is only available for the iPhone 7, and Apple will examine all iPhones prior to service to verify that the iPhone in question is impacted by the bug and eligible for repair. Apple says that devices with other damage, such as a cracked screen, will need to have those problems addressed before the "No Service" bug can be fixed.

Customers who are in need of a repair should contact an Authorized Apple Service Provider, visit an Apple retail store, or get in touch with Apple support. Apple will be sending all iPhone 7 models in need of repair to an Apple Repair Center.

The new iPhone 7 repair program covers affected iPhone 7 devices for two years after the first retail sale of the unit.

Article Link: Apple Launches Official Repair Program for iPhone 7 Models Affected by 'No Service' Issue
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[doublepost=1517646249][/doublepost]Now what about the iPhone 6 grey flashing band freezing problem? Oh wait, they already addressed that problem by charging $150 for a repair.
Still pissed that they wont own up to this hardware problem.
 
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Exact same problem on a UK ip7 but model no A1778. So more models are affected.
 
....waiting for the official iPhone 6 and above repair program for that bad power management issue that requires down clocking of CPUs to keep devices from crashing.
 
Didn't realize that some people walk around with non-functioning phones since sept 2016.
I would have found a litter bin by now.

(is this what Apple refers to as the "Replacement super-cycle" ?)
 
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zz_nosa_r said:
I have to admit, apple is really good in after sales services especially since the model is a previous one... if it’s other manufacturers, i doubt if they will to the same like especially if the device that is faulty is not the latest one.
Click to expand...
Fair point, but I must say none of my phones needed a service for dropping calls, being the main purpose I bought those for
 
thisandanickel said:
I've had this issue since I got my iPhone 7 when they first came out and it has nothing to do with Airplane mode. Apple kept saying it was a Verizon issue, and Verizon kept saying they didn't know or to call Apple. They'd tell me to erase my phone, etc, which did nothing. So frustrating. Sporadically it would work, but again, nothing to do with Airplane mode. So many times when I was traveling and really needed internet or Google maps and got nada. NOW Apple cops to it being their fault.

I just called a local Apple Store and the person I spoke with hadn't heard of the issue (as per usual), and said they'd have to run tests and would only do something if they found a problem. Hopefully it won't be the rare time my phone is working. And while I don't get dropped calls, I do get bad connections all the time, even with 4 or 5 bars.
Click to expand...


Yes. This was a big deal when the 7 was introduced. I went through four phones in a month trying to fix this. I still have #5 and it's pretty good, but I get occasional malfs when I turn the cell radio on or off. I guess we get another year to resolve this.
 
citysnaps said:
What's getting better and better?

An iPhone 7 problem affecting some units was identified and linked to a component failure. And Apple stepped up initiating a repair program to deal with it.
Click to expand...
One thing that IS NOT getting better with Apple is quality control. The primary thing getting "better" with Apple is profit. A friend of mine, a few months ago, went through three defective "smart keyboards" on her new iPad Pro in the space of two weeks. As the free replacement warranty for the original expired after two weeks, she took the third keyboard back and Apple gave her equivalent credit for her account at apple.com. She ended up buying a new track pad for her iMac (about the same price as the smart keyboard) and bought a third party bluetooth keyboard, which was cheaper but worked. Only one anecdote in an increasingly populated saga.
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BootsWalking said:
This issue is way overblown. I just tried it myself by toggling Airplane mode on then off and my phone is fi
Click to expand...
Perhaps it is overblown, perhaps not, but the fact that you have one phone that isn't affected hardly qualifies your conclusion to be true. There were probably many owners of Note 7 phones who had no issues at all - that didn't make the problem "overblown". Incidentally, here's a link to folks complaining about carrier signal issues on the iPhone 7 back in Septemeber, 2016. This has apparently been an ongoing problem since shortly after the 7's release:

https://arstechnica.com/civis/viewtopic.php?t=1327759
[doublepost=1517668709][/doublepost]
deanthedev said:
Nothing to do with my post, which was talking about how a manufacturing issue could extend over the entire run of devices, yet still only comprise a small portion of those devices.

Try and stay in topic.
Click to expand...
I'd say you were both on topic - one is focusing on absolute numbers of defective phones, the other on percentage of defective phones. As an anecdote, I just referenced an old CNET article about the number of Samsung Note 7's found to be defective prior to their recall - 0.01% of over one million phones sold exploded. That is less than 1000 phones, but that was enough to prompt the recall, particularly since the exploding battery was such a safety concern. In Apple's current case, it's just a matter of malfunctioning expensive iPhones not working correctly - an inconvenience. Not sure yet what percentage of iPhone 7's are affected, but I wonder what the tipping point would be before Apple issued a recall. This would potentially be a safety issue if it affected people depending on the phone for emergency situations.

https://www.cnet.com/news/why-is-samsung-galaxy-note-7-exploding-overheating/
 
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My phone is covered by this recall (iPhone 7 with A1660 on Verzion). I've been using this phone since Sep 2016 and I actually experienced the issue, but only a couple times. Whenever I go to the lab, I put my iPhone inside a safe where it has no reception. So, whenever I take a break, I turn on and off the Airplane mode to quickly reconnect to the network. I think there were three times for the last 15 months when it says no service after searching for the signal. I had to reboot my phone to reconnect to the network.
I feel bad to get this phone replaced because it rarely fails. But then, my phone is badly scratched because I don't use case.... May be I should take advantage of this recall and get a new phone XD
 
curtvaughan said:
One thing that IS NOT getting better with Apple is quality control. The primary thing getting "better" with Apple is profit. A friend of mine, a few months ago, went through three defective "smart keyboards" on her new iPad Pro in the space of two weeks. As the free replacement warranty for the original expired after two weeks, she took the third keyboard back and Apple gave her equivalent credit for her account at apple.com. She ended up buying a new mouse pad for her iMac (about the same price as the smart keyboard) and bought a third party bluetooth keyboard, which was cheaper but worked. Only one anecdote in an increasingly populated saga.
Click to expand...

"Only one anecdote in an increasingly populated saga."

Thank you for your anecdote.

Mine is quite different. Having to take in for repair two older Mac Pros, an iPhone, and a Cinema Display. But that was at a time when SJ was CEO.

Since then, my and my wife's three iMacs, four phones, five iPads, four laptops, AirPod, and two watches have not had any issues.



"The primary thing getting "better" with Apple is profit."

I don't think so...

Apple's gross profit margin has not changed much and are certainly within industry norms. It's down around 2 percentage points down from a few years ago (and down 5 points from 2012). Apple's net profit margin has not varied more than 1% or so over the last five years, and is down five percentage points from 2012.

As an aside, I used to work for a mid-Fortune 500 company awhile back, and any product I proposed that didn't come in with a projected GPM close to 80% would not get the go-ahead.
 
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