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Apple Need To Fix Up! QC Out The Window!

MathersMahmood

MathersMahmood

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Sep 5, 2016
1,171
2,731
England
Sorry for the caps but you all need to see this. I have been an apple fan for 8 years but 2016 has been the worst year for me with apple. iPhone 7 Plus replaced three times due to mic static issues, apple watch returned due to a scuff on the screen out the box and now my airpods that i waited for since announcement!

I posted before about the build quality of the airpods and how I was going to return them. A lady phoned me who was so helpful and kind and told me to send my airpods back to her and that she will send me a new replacement pair that they will ensure the build quality is how it is meant to be. Fast forward to today i get my airpods and THEY ARE EVEN WORSE THAN BEFORE!

My FREE ones that came with my airpods look better and these just look like a knock off clone that you would get in an alley way or on ebay for £5. Here are some pictures of them side by side and you can clearly see i am not over reacting or being silly here. the plastic even has a slight chip on it out the box. I am so angry and i really do not want to give apple my business anymore and that's so sad to say. I wanted to come on here and show you guys and girls in case you are experiencing the same build issues. And before you say it no it is not the lighting.

Lets get a discussion going on here in this thread with your thoughts I will greatly appreciate it.

Take Care

MM

rAhv2mQ.jpg


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[doublepost=1483535008][/doublepost]

Here is a video I also made which may show it better.
 
All the AirPods I've seen seem to look like this (including my own), but interestingly the left one seems to have this more than the right one. I personally won't be replacing as it doesn't bother me, but I definitely see where you're coming from.

I've had more problems with Apple's hardware and software in 2016 than ever before. With the recent being a Jet Black iPhone 7 Plus with damage out of the box, its only a small nick at on the bottom right but because of the high gloss its noticeable. On top of this, the SIM card tray has huge sections where the anodisation hasn't taken properly, but luckily this is inside and can't be seen. However I don't have any of the issues reported on here, like protruding Lightning Port, yellow display, SIM card tray not being flush etc, so I probably won't risk replacing it.

Its pretty sad really that getting our problems fixed by replacement, might actually result in more issues based on the luck of the draw.
 
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ScottButler said:
All the AirPods I've seen seem to look like this (including my own), but interestingly the left one seems to have this more than the right one. I personally won't be replacing as it doesn't bother me, but I definitely see where you're coming from.

I've had more problems with Apple's hardware and software in 2016 than ever before. With the recent being a Jet Black iPhone 7 Plus with damage out of the box, its only a small nick at on the bottom right but because of the high gloss its noticeable. On top of this, the SIM card tray has huge sections where the anodisation hast taken properly, but luckily this is inside and can't be seen. However I don't have any of the issues reported on here, like protruding Lightning Port, yellow display, SIM card tray not being flush etc, so I probably won't risk replacing it.

Its pretty sad really that getting our problems fixed by replacement, might actually result in more issues based on the luck of the draw.
Click to expand...

I just want to know if i'm over reacting on this? For me being a customer of apples for years this just seems odd as they were originally designed to look seamless and we shouldn't be seeing the gaps in the headphones. I do not know if this is just rushed for stock control or what but i do not think it should be like that. Thank you for your reply and opinion.
 
MathersMahmood said:
I just want to know if i'm over reacting on this? For me being a customer of apples for years this just seems odd as they were originally designed to look seamless and we shouldn't be seeing the gaps in the headphones. I do not know if this is just rushed for stock control or what but i do not think it should be like that. Thank you for your reply and opinion.
Click to expand...

I think when Apple makes small batches for testing they will probably look perfect like the advertisements, but on a massive scale these issues arise. Issues which they may not perceive as issues and/or just let them through anyway because functionally they work. That's what I'm guessing.

You might think you're overreacting but if no-one says anything, then nothing will change.

If you look at the promo image, there's definitely a seam there but not as bad as in your pictures.
 

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For me it's more about how they perform. Once they're in my ears I really don't care about seams not being flush. Should Apple tighten up their quality control? Yes definitely. But in this particular case where they had to pull a Christmas miracle to get them out I'm going to give them a pass.
 
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ScottButler said:
I think when Apple makes small batches for testing they will probably look perfect like the advertisements, but on a massive scale these issues arise. Issues which they may not perceive as issues and/or just let them through anyway because functionally they work. That's what I'm guessing.

You might think you're overreacting but if no-one says anything, then nothing will change.

If you look at the promo image, there's definitely a seam there but not as bad as in your pictures.
Click to expand...

Yes i saw them but i did not expect it to be that obvious in person. I guess I will have to live with it.

edlex said:
For me it's more about how they perform. Once they're in my ears I really don't care about seams not being flush. Should Apple tighten up their quality control? Yes definitely. But in this particular case where they had to pull a Christmas miracle to get them out I'm going to give them a pass.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your reply. Do yours look similar to mine?
 
MathersMahmood said:
Yes i saw them but i did not expect it to be that obvious in person. I guess I will have to live with it.



Thank you for your reply. Do yours look similar to mine?
Click to expand...

My eyes aren't as good as they used to be but I can feel the seams and they don't look flush with the body. They work fine though :)
 
MathersMahmood said:
I just want to know if i'm over reacting on this? For me being a customer of apples for years this just seems odd as they were originally designed to look seamless and we shouldn't be seeing the gaps in the headphones. I do not know if this is just rushed for stock control or what but i do not think it should be like that. Thank you for your reply and opinion.
Click to expand...

On my left airpod the seam is not flush, you can tell when you run your finger over it, there is a light bump. At first I considered replacing, but figured as long as they don't impact the comfort while in my ear, I really don't care.
 
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toph2toast said:
On my left airpod the seam is not flush, you can tell when you run your finger over it, there is a light bump. At first I considered replacing, but figured as long as they don't impact the comfort while in my ear, I really don't care.
Click to expand...

It is good to know mine aren't the only pairs to have it. Thank you for your comment.
 
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I'm not sure how comparing them to earpods is helpful? The EarPods aren't made with a seam, none can be seen in any of Apples marketing images for them. The AirPods on the other hand have a clearly visible seam on the advertising images and sure it is not as noticeable in the images as it apparently is in person, but I don't see it as a huge QC issue like you seem to.
 
Knowimagination said:
I'm not sure how comparing them to earpods is helpful? The EarPods aren't made with a seam, none can be seen in any of Apples marketing images for them. The AirPods on the other hand have a clearly visible seam on the advertising images and sure it is not as noticeable in the images as it apparently is in person, but I don't see it as a huge QC issue like you seem to.
Click to expand...

The earpods do have a seam. It is just less noticeable than the AirPods. The reason why i think it is an issue that needs to be fixed asap is that some users have Airpods that look seamless and some have some that look obvious. The difference can be night and day and these replacement AirPods are worse than the original pair i had. This is why i think there is a QC issue.
 
I dont think your overreacting to this at all.

With mine its hard to even see the join line, and I can't feel it with my nail, albeit I can actually see it :)
 
asfalloth said:
I dont think your overreacting to this at all.

With mine its hard to even see the join line, and I can't feel it with my nail, albeit I can actually see it :)
Click to expand...

Thank you for the comment. With mine you can see it clearly in light and at certain angles too. I guess I can live with it as i do not think i can get a perfect pair. Not yet anyway.
 
Over a year later and this is still a thing.

I didn’t notice it until yesterday, day two of owning them. One is worse than the other but NEITHER are as bad as the OP’s replacement one.

I've been caught up in the Apple replace-it-until-perfect game before, and it is the worst - so will probably keep them unless the seams hurt my ears.

I also read of someone filing a painful edge down with an emery board, though I would probably try to replace first.
 
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