Apple Warns Vibrations Like Those From High-Power Motorcycle Engines Can Harm iPhone Cameras

[redkamel]

This is true for any electronics with moving parts. Apple just decided to announce it.

If your camera has OIS/moving lenses, or if you have a mechanical hard drive, or if you have anything small that requires precision alignment, putting it on a vibrating surface is a bad idea.

Even high end camera lenses can have problems sitting on the floor of a car, an airplane, or being thrown around in unpadded container.
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And as someone posted above, loud pipes are not proven to save lives and probably do nothing. As a former rider (briefly) who did post grad traffic accident research, the sound from loud pipes is directed backwards, not forwards. It is also low frequency, making it harder to locate. Even EMS systems which are high frequency and directed forwards have trouble projecting noise into cars for distracted driver.

If you think about it anecdotally, how many times have you "heard" a bike (or car) coming as opposed to hearing it passing? Its pretty rare. The only time it is useful is *maybe* splitting lanes in traffic at low speed

If you really want to save lives on a bike, drive responsibly, wear a full face helmet and a high vis vest, with a good light set up and DRLs. But those are often seen as "nerdy"

 

[Rob.G]

This may explain why the camera in my iPhone 11 Pro Max quit working recently. I thought it was because I changed to a new case and dropped it once (as opposed to the many times I dropped it while in a Lifeproof case).

I got a new 2022 Tiger 900 GT just a few weeks ago, and unlike my Tiger 800XCA before it, this one has some pretty good vibrations above 5000 RPM. And it wasn't long after I got the bike that the camera quit.

Disappointing, but good to know because I was going to pre-order an iPhone 13. Instead it looks like I'll keep the Samsung S21 Ultra that I ordered last week. I've used an RAM X-mount with my phone for years and never had a problem til now.

 

[aperantos]

Interestingly, I have mounted an iPhone X to a dirt bikes handlebars for years now, for navigation, and my camera is fine. Maybe older phones aren’t as affected?

The problem is with the bars vibrating at specific frequencies, so is not related to the activity you are doing and only affects certain bikes. Which is why they vaguely say the problem is with "high-powered motorcycle engines," as they cannot give a specific engine size or other way of categorizing affected bikes.

Bascially it is just a matter of luck.

So it is best to always use a dampening mount just to be safe, but even then it is not guaranteed to not cause problems.

IPhones are NOT specifically made to be attached to motorbikes, it’s a cell phone, made to be carried in purses and pockets and operated by hand.

Then why does Apple's support document only say it is "not recommended to attach your iPhone to motorcycles with high-power or high-volume engines," but that "a vibration dampening mount is recommended" for other vehicles rather than say they should not be attached to anything?

Why does Apple Store sell handlebar mounts if they are only meant to be in purses and pockets?

And whither Siri if they are made to be operated by hand. Poor Siri.

 

[dguisinger]

Honestly, as someone who has a motorcycle but hasn't mounted their phone - it may never have even occurred to me that this could be an issue. It totally makes sense, but if I bought a mount to get turn by turn directions, I probably wouldn't have stopped to think about vibrations.... so its good Apple has said something.

A one-time statement isn't the right way to do it because it will only catch the attention of a few. They need to find a way to put the information in front of you, without the need to open up an instruction manual.

Maybe a single sheet of paper with each phone that has a bunch of pictures of various things that will damage your phone.... dropping, bending, submerging, and vibration.

Just because something is obvious to you, doesn't mean its obvious to the other billion people who buy one.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

No, the story specifically said high powered. Its obvious they weren’t talking about oversized Vespa’s. 😂

My brother had three Harley's. When he finally grew up, he bought a BMW (motorcycle).

 

[Allyance]

...and the unnecessary noise from “high powered motorcycles” that’ve been “enhanced” for extra noise damages hearing, disrupts the public peace, makes people angry, frightens people (it doesn’t take PTSD, but living in a perpetual state of hyper-vigilance certainly makes it worse), and generally makes the owners of these things look like self-entitled *******s.

No, “loud pipes” don’t save lives. It’s a myth thrown around that sounds more reasonable than “I like the noise and the attention”.

No one should be forced to deal with vehicle noise from more than a block away (the same goes for boom-boom sound systems & hyped exhausts on cars).

My town has become a worse hellhole of self-entitled noise machines ever since a Harley dealership opened up a mile away. Cops don’t do **** about illegal pipes & noise disturbances because they’re the same dude-bros with the bikes, and/or are buddies with them (yet, I got a noise citation for playing music to drown out someone’s house work!!).

If you want to ride, fine: ride responsibly and respectfully. That includes not forcing others to be subjected to offensive and literally destructive noise.

The TRUTH About Loud Motorcycles, Automobiles, Trucks, the Police Won’t or Can’t Tell You

Author: Rickey D. Holtsclaw, Houston PD/Retired _________________________________________________ “One day, man will have to fight noise as fiercely as cholera and the plague.” –R…

rickeyholtsclaw.com

Amen.

 

[Allyance]

It would be interesting if Apple would run some tests and find out the frequency that causes the damage. I suspect that there are frequencies that cause components to vibrate more when certain harmonics are reached. If you have every watched a Harley idle, the whole shakes bike from stem to stern, those low frequency shakes are far more severe the the buzz from an inline 4. There are many other twins that may vibrate differently, like some Ducati's.
High power doesn't always mean high vibrations.

 

[Daedalus65]

You know what doesn't vibrate in any way like a high-powered motorcycle? Also, planes.

A short clip of my plane "not vibrating"

 

[adamjackson]

Lots of comments in this thread from non-riders. In our community, we've been aware of this for a very long time. I think my iPhone 8 and X both had failed sensors but only when directly mounted to my dirt bikes. To my BMW motorcycles (all 5 of them), I've never had an OIS failure but the single cylinder thumpers do cause these to fail. I think the record is 8 hours of riding with a new iPhone X and it was already failed.

sounds like this bulletin is going to serve to deny warranty coverages for those who mention it failed on a bike. I take this more as a caution in choosing your words carefully when utilizing AppleCare if you're a rider.

The Quad Lock & Perfect Squeeze Buzz-Kill dampers do work and I use the Buzz-Kill on my dirt bikes https://tacomoto.co/products/hondo-garage-buzzkill-phone-isolation-block

 

[Kuckuckstein]

I think the "do not attempt" is referring to doing air jumps on ATVs in the desert.

And I question how controlled of an environment the desert is.

Hehe … yes, I think that was obvious. Just made a little bit of fun there.

On the other hand, it is strange to tease with extremes like this, only then to say “but but but don’t do it” 😉 Always found that ridiculous - not only with Apple.

 

[Tagbert]

So where do we suppose to use apple devices? Dust free room? Treating an iPhone like a $4m equipment?

Just know that if you attached your phone to a jackhammer or a Harley, you may have some problems. If you have ridden long distance on a motorcycle, without proper padding, your hands will be tired out from the vibrations of the handlebars. Same thing with the iPhone camera.

 

[StralyanPithecus]

Time to stop using my iPhone at the same time than my vibrator.

 

[Tagbert]

Heh. At least apple “warns” such usage can kill the camera.

Have you read the disclaimers on a recent microwave oven. Lots of thing they warn about that make you go "wha!?"

 

[4jasontv]

Yes, I did.

I keep it on the porch of my house during the riding months, usually under a cover. Winter it’s in the shed.

I park it as parallel to the roof line of the porch as possible to keep the rain off it and leave half the porch open for foot traffic.

This is the mentality that leads people to hate bikers and pickup drivers.

 

[DownUnderDan]

I put my Iphone 11 in my handlebar, a BMW R1200R, every day, for almost an hour. 2 years now. Never had any problem.

Great, then based on a census of one person, we can totally dismiss the problem as indeed you have.

 

[coolfactor]

Tweet, Tweet, Tweet. Whine.

It's a sophisticated device. Vibrations for 8 minutes sound very tramautic.

 

[DeepIn2U]

I use this vibration damper for my iPhone 11. Works well but I suspect this is predominantly an iPhone 12 problem

Motorcycle - Vibration Dampener

The Quad Lock® Vibration Dampener protects smartphone camera's image stabilisation from harmful vibrations wherever you use your motorcycle. The Quad Lock Vibration Dampener reduces over 90% of high frequency vibrations produced by motorcycles.

www.quadlockcase.com

View attachment 1829412

very curious if I’ll. Wes this for off trail mountain biking ?

 

[stars_fan]

My Ducati Streetfighter V4 destroyed my camera within 50 miles.

I now have a quad lock with vibration dampener with no issues.

 

[mebehere]

Did you read the article? In bold outline it says that other OEMs experience the same issues.

I don’t use any phones but Apple. So Apple should fix it. It’d be a great marketing advantage over the “other OEMS,” don’t ya think?

 

[Rob.G]

The BMW 1200R is a fairly low-revving horizontally-opposed twin (that's not a bash; just a statement of fact). Having test ridden the R1200GS years ago, its vibrations were (to me at least) minor. Thumpers as others point out can be harsh on a phone. I never had problems with my Suzuki DR650, though... but it too is a low-revving motor. My 2017 Tiger 800XCA was smooth as silk and never had a problem. My new Tiger 900 though, thanks to its new crank phase design that makes it sound more like a twin, probably causes issues. That Ducati L-twin somebody mentioned would do it too I bet.

I can see Harleys and inline-4 sport bikes being the biggest problems. Harleys are paint shakers to begin with (they vibrate so much that the bolts holding them together loosen over time, or at least did in the past) and 4-cyl sport bikes have a high-frequency vibe since they tend to operate above 5000 RPM most of the time.

Since I have a Samsung S21 Ultra coming this week, I will have to see if my new Tiger affects it negatively. I got insurance on it so we'll see. I did add an anti-vibe handlebar riser which smoothed out its vibrations quite a bit...

For those who dislike motorcycles, don't blame it on the bike; blame it on the owner. Motorcycles are a wonderful way to get around and are good for the soul. You never see a motorcycle parked in front of a therapist's office, btw.

 

[hagar]

Disappointing, but good to know because I was going to pre-order an iPhone 13. Instead it looks like I'll keep the Samsung S21 Ultra that I ordered last week. I've used an RAM X-mount with my phone for years and never had a problem til now.

A Samsung S21 Ultra also has OIS and can suffer the same issue. It’s not like only Apple products are susceptibel.

 

[DarthDon]

There is no app for that? 😂😂😂

 

[IIGS User]

Do you blame others for your house being poorly built or do you not care about others?

My house was built in 1960, and I inherited it. "Foot traffic" is me and my wife. It's a full acre lot so if you're on my porch, you were an invited guest and if we have guests over, the bike gets parked in the driveway.

This is the mentality that leads people to hate bikers and pickup drivers.

You mean the mentality of posting twice about the same thing? Dude, stop gnawing on THAT bone or it's gonna make your teeth hurt. Hope I made your weekend.

 

[Z1000ST]

My house was built in 1960, and I inherited it. "Foot traffic" is me and my wife. It's a full acre lot so if you're on my porch, you were an invited guest and if we have guests over, the bike gets parked in the driveway.



You mean the mentality of posting twice about the same thing? Dude, stop gnawing on THAT bone or it's gonna make your teeth hurt. Hope I made your weekend.

Mines in the shed currently. Do you think I should check with him if it’s parked appropriately?

it is directly behind the roller door so you can’t get a car in. Hope that’s ok.

 

[Victor Mortimer]

I put my Iphone 11 in my handlebar, a BMW R1200R, every day, for almost an hour. 2 years now. Never had any problem.

Yeah, but that's a BMW. It's not like my R1100RS is a high vibration bike either. I think they're talking about junk bikes like Hardly Ablesons.