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Weird. Nope, this never happens to me.
 
Occasionally happens to me. Never bothered me though, I just assumed it happens to all heavy phone-users
 
Happened to me lots when I had my Nokia. Not so much nowadays with the iPhone. It seems I don't feel it vibrating all that much - almost as if it were weaker and made me less used to feeling the vibrations on my thigh.
 
Had it a few times on my iPhone. Might just be a case of a slightly dodgy mute switch?
 
Had it a few times on my iPhone. Might just be a case of a slightly dodgy mute switch?

I think the article is about you feeling something that never happened, not it vibrating accidentally.

This has happened to me a bunch of times, with any phone.
 
it happens to me all the time.. the phone could be no where near me and i feel something vibrate in my pocket only to find out that it is my imagination..

i also do this alot.. i pull my phone out of my pocket right before a text message comes or the phone rings... that happens all the time too
 
Happens to me all the time, even when the phone is not on me.

Its psychological.
 
happens to me about twice a week.. iphone is sitting on the table, vibrates.. i go and grab it, and nothings there..
 
So funny to see this post.

It started happening to me pretty bad. I actually have permanently turned vibrate off and it finally has gone away. Iuss the functionality but I haven't had the phantom vibrations since.
 
Hah! I've experienced this too. Never knew it was somewhat common.

What makes it strange for me, though, is that I rarely get calls on my iPhone (only my wife, daughter and a couple of friends have my number). So, it's not like I'm used to the thing vibrating all the time as it is.

Anyway, thanks to the OP for the link to the story!
 
It has a very very very simple explanation.

For all of our human evolution, feeling tiny vibrations gave no evolutionary advantage whatsoever for us as a species.

Then all of a sudden we start using the vibration sensation in our everyday life.

This causes our brains to re-wire itself so that our subconscious is more alert to vibrations.

Then what happens is that everything that vibrates naturally, we start feeling as well!! For example, when you walk, the touch of the fabric with your skin produces tiny vibrations. That's the origin of the "phantom vibrations".
 
I'm glad I'm not alone on this. I used to have a blackberry and android phone and felt them much more because the vibrate feature on those phones was stronger. Its less with the iPhone but still pretty interesting.
 
I find that often times I hear the "tri-tone" alert when there's no sound as well. The brain is a veery complex thing.
 
it happened to me for several weeks---i served a mission for my church and was not allowed to bring my cell phone. walking, sitting, eating, any time really. just a random phantom vibration and i'd grab my pants pocket only to find nothing there. this happened to several other missionaries i served with also. it happens, OP
 
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