Does the Perfect iPhone Exist?

[spooned12000rpm]

This may have been covered before but in wake of the recent threads regarding yellow screens and other defects, it got me thinking about the build quality/reliability of the iPhones I've owned over the years. I think it'll be interesting to see other peoples thoughts both negative and positive.

Now I'll qualify myself by admitting I have severe OCD when it comes to my gadgets (to the point it often spoils the enjoyment of them) and I generally spot inperfections quickly and pick up on things most people wouldn't. At the same time I've also been brought up with the belief that when you're spending good money on something, that, as well as looking after them, you expect them to be well made and to last an acceptable amount of time.

I've owned several generations of iPhone and with the exception of my 3GS upgraded on a two yearly basis. And whilst they've all been great phones I can't think of one that hasn't had a fault either from new or that has developed during (well looked after) use. I understand that these are mass-produced pieces of metal, plastic and glass, but I can't believe that out of all the millions made I've ended up with issues on all.

iPhone Model - Faults from new? - Faults after usage?

iPhone 3GS - Dead pixel and screen not quite level with bezel - Owned for 12 months (still working when sold)

iPhone 4 - (Aside from Antenna-Gate) No apparent faults from new - Owned for 24 months, Home button didn't always respond, battery showing signs of age but still acceptable (probably the most reliable iPhone I've owned)

iPhone 5 - Fault with camera producing purple bars on the screen and crashing (should have had this replaced but naively stuck with it) - Owned for 48+ months (2 years by me and 2 by my OH and now standing in again whilst I await my replacement 7), screen developed a pink hue in the centre after 18 months use, will randomly switch off with 20-30% battery left.

iPhone 6 - Faint horizontal dark smudge on screen noticeable against bright backgrounds - Owned for 24 months, screen developed a dark patch in top left corner after 12-18 months use, sometimes shows image retention of the carrier logo after periods of long use, battery still gives good life.

iPhone 7 - Uneven backlight giving spotlight effect down right hand side of screen, faint lines on screen - Exchaned after 7 days, will report back one new one arrives.

 

[meechy]

Only real problem i had was antenna gate, rest i never noticed even if they did exist. Regardless life is to short to worry about dead pixels and faint lines on screens.

 

[M. Gustave]

I had to exchange three 5s models, in the store, because the screens were popping off on all three. The "good" one I took home lasted 1.5 years, then its screen popped loose too.

My 4, 4s, and 6s+ have all been perfect.

 

[Newtons Apple]

I have never had a new iPhone with any problem requiring it to be returned of exchanged.

Looking at the OP's past started threads, I predict he/she will never be happy.

 

[spooned12000rpm]

I have never had a new iPhone with any problem requiring it to be returned of exchanged.

Looking at the OP's past started threads, I predict he/she will never be happy.

You sound like my soon to be wife heh! As I said, I've put up with the faults on my previous phones and stuck with them without exchanges learning to live with them and accepting them as quirks (admittedly I should have returned the 5 as the camera fault was a genuine issue but even to this day I've hung onto it).

I even used to read these threads about yellow screens and other issues after launches and think that the people going through multiple exchanges to find the perfect one were a bunch of sad bastards with nothing better to do.

I guess with the 7 I just snapped, the prices have kept creeping up and up and it's now getting to the point where small faults are not acceptable any more, we're being 'sold' a 'premium product' that's allegedly engineered to such a precise degree yet getting the same QC issues that plagued phones from 10 years ago when the price point was a fraction of what we're paying now.

Like most people on here, my threads and questions are based on the assumption that most of the Issues I encounter fall into two categories:

1) It's a genuine fault, not normal, rare and should be addressed!
2) They all do that, "Mine's the same", learn to live with it!

So if you don't ask, you don't know!

 

[immx]

The only issue I've ever had was a black iPhone 5 which was scratched out of the box!
Went to exchange it (at phones4U, remember them?!?) which they agreed to but they had none in stock for months! By the time it actually was exchanged, it was so scratched it looked awful, so I managed to convince them to let me have a white one instead.

 

[Newtons Apple]

You sound like my soon to be wife heh! As I said, I've put up with the faults on my previous phones and stuck with them without exchanges learning to live with them and accepting them as quirks (admittedly I should have returned the 5 as the camera fault was a genuine issue but even to this day I've hung onto it).

I even used to read these threads about yellow screens and other issues after launches and think that the people going through multiple exchanges to find the perfect one were a bunch of sad bastards with nothing better to do.

I guess with the 7 I just snapped, the prices have kept creeping up and up and it's now getting to the point where small faults are not acceptable any more, we're being 'sold' a 'premium product' that's allegedly engineered to such a precise degree yet getting the same QC issues that plagued phones from 10 years ago when the price point was a fraction of what we're paying now.

Like most people on here, my threads and questions are based on the assumption that most of the Issues I encounter fall into two categories:

1) It's a genuine fault, not normal, rare and should be addressed!
2) They all do that, "Mine's the same", learn to live with it!

So if you don't ask, you don't know!

Without these forums I suspect people would not scrutinize their device to death and just use it and be happy.

Your soon to be wife sounds reasonable, listen to her. Sometimes us guys are stubborn!!

 

[Chupa Chupa]

I've owned 5 models of iPhones, and 7 models of iPads. Only 1 of them, my iPhone 4, had a noticable defect out of the box -- yellow screen. The others may or may not have had screen issues, but they all looked fine to my bare eyeballs and also no complaints when I sold them. Then there are all the iDevices owned by family and friends who know I'm an Apple fan (not fanboy, there is a difference) and have never had any negative feedback from them either on that. Usability, yes, but not out-of-the-box product quality.

I think some people here get out their 100x microscope on a new iDevice arrival looking for a problem.

 

[Setarip]

I've had the iPhone 4,5,6, and 7+, as well as the iPod touch second generation (been an iOS user since iOS 2!). I've yet to have any issues out of the box (although my 7+ seems to be perfect, I've only had it two days).

My iPhone 4 ultimately developed the most problems within 18 months of ownership. The home button broke, the power button broke, and the screen shattered (ok the screen was ultimately my fault,but that glass bezel was way too exposed).

My white iPhone 5 was perfect. After a few months the power button broke. I went into the nearest Apple Store and they replaced it immediately. After that zero issues.

iPhone 6 has been perfect for the last 24 months.

 

[576316]

I've had to claim a replacement under warranty for pretty much all of the Apple products I own, at some point within 2 years of owning them. But never had a problem doing so.

The only ones I've not claimed replacements for is my Apple Watch and Apple TV. Mac, iPad, iPhone had replacements for all of those and for several generations back.

In fact I got a replacement iPad mini 4 on Wednesday for light leaking.

 

[Bacong]

I guess with the 7 I just snapped, the prices have kept creeping up and up and it's now getting to the point where small faults are not acceptable any more, we're being 'sold' a 'premium product' that's allegedly engineered to such a precise degree yet getting the same QC issues that plagued phones from 10 years ago when the price point was a fraction of what we're paying now.

you will never have a device line manufactured without a single defect. Apple is selling far more phones than anyone thought possible 10 years ago, they passed 1 billion iPhones sold this summer and with this new launch will probably sell another couple hundred million.

as far as I can remember I don't think I've gotten an iPhone with a defect out of the box.

 

[spooned12000rpm]

I've had to claim a replacement under warranty for pretty much all of the Apple products I own, at some point within 2 years of owning them. But never had a problem doing so.

The only ones I've not claimed replacements for is my Apple Watch and Apple TV. Mac, iPad, iPhone had replacements for all of those and for several generations back.

In fact I got a replacement iPad mini 4 on Wednesday for light leaking.

If I was to list all my Apple products then it would be a mixed bag:

Black MacBook - HDD died after 2 years (ok HDD's do die but this computer had only left the house 3 times and was used on a desk so not subject to movement)

Unibody 13" MacBook - Graphics card issues and screen artefacts after 2 years (covered under AppleCare)

2010 MacBook Pro - 5 years of reliability (good going for a laptop) then (suspected) power board failure (not charging and issues with screen backlighting) if you can get it to recognise the charger the it still runs

2015 MacBook Pro retina - slight coil wine and blue tinted screen but this seems common so I'm not fussed

iPod nano 2G - Perfect

iPod touch 2G - Perfect

iPad 3 - Slightly discoloured screen (seems common) going strong considering it gets a lot of daily use just slow now on iOS 9

AirPort Extreme - Perfect (its hard to get anal about a router however if nitpicking then the matte finished top can show marks)

 

[Nero Wolfe]

Hmmm...

iPhone
No issues until I accidentally threw it across a tile floor. Minor dent.

3G
Outer case broke by the mute/ring switch. Apple replaced for free (out of warranty).

4
Sleep wake switch wore out after 2 years (had passed onto my brother by then).

4S
No problems whatsoever.

5
Black paint chipped somewhat.

5S
No problems whatsoever.

6
No problems whatsoever.

6S
No problems whatsoever.

 

[Sunny1990]

Nope

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Now I'll qualify myself by admitting I am severely anal retentive when it comes to my gadgets (to the point it often spoils the enjoyment of them)...

Fixed that for you.

 

[noobinator]

Team perfect here.

 

[sdwaltz]

I had an iPhone 4 that seemed to think the "volume down" button was stuck on at random times. I was not pressing it nor was the button stuck. The phone was about 11 months old at the time so it was still within warranty (I've never purchased AppleCare). The closest Apple store is about 2 hours away (Oxmoor in Louisville). I took a Saturday trip over there and they replaced it no questions asked.

I had a 4s with which the home button stopped working. Did the exact same thing - replaced with no questions asked.

Other than that, I've never had a problem with a phone and I've had every model except the 3G and 6S.

 

[Sgt.ThroatPunch]

I have had every iPhone EXCEPT the original and the 6 (skipped the 6 to go Android, never again!). The only issue I had was with the 4, and some yellow blotches that never went away. I just ignored it and got a flawless 4s after a year.

 

[BigDO]

I wish people would stop using the term "OCD" which is a real medical condition, making lives of people hell for very real reasons, to describe their lack of meaningful human interaction and preoccupation with insignificant things.

 

[spooned12000rpm]

I wish people would stop using the term "OCD" which is a real medical condition, making lives of people hell for very real reasons, to describe their lack of meaningful human interaction and preoccupation with insignificant things.

...and I wish that people would stop accusing people who say they have OCD of being analy retentive just because the subject matter isn't washing your hands with bleach and scalding water 30 times and hour.

OCD can manifest itself in a number of ways, no, by your definition I probably don't have severe OCD but I obsess about insignificant things and have compulsions that cause me to fixate about things and it affects my life and those of people close to me so I'd say I can safely call it something a bit stronger than anal retention

 

[sdwaltz]

I wish people would stop using the term "OCD" which is a real medical condition, making lives of people hell for very real reasons, to describe their lack of meaningful human interaction and preoccupation with insignificant things.

As someone whose significant other battles severe OCD on a daily basis, thank you for that.