Just tried to swap for a light leak and they wouldn't let me. I had swapped the day earlier for a different problem and the refurbished iphone they gave me had the light leak. The guy was giving me a hard time about it and said that he didn't think it was a "problem", but instead "normal variation". He said that 4 out of the 5 iphones he looked at in the back had the same issue. I called him out on a few things, but there isn't too much to do if they just won't do it. I would hope for a little better standardization for the amount of money you pay for it
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Iphone 3g "light leak" thread
- Thread starter prelag
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
believe it or not, i just got my first replacement phone, and it has absolute ZERO light leak. my old one had the whole entire left side. i think they are doing a better job as of recently.
Sometimes you get jerks at the "genius" bar. I would just go back again and get someone else.
At the Palisades mall in NY there was a real jerk. Next time i went there was two guys there are absolutely ruled. Just depends on who you get.
Yeah, I'm waiting about 3 months before I attempt to get my exchange..
There are 2 apple stores in the Atlanta area and I will gladly go to BOTH if I have to.
I just replaced my iPhone 3G the other day for having a crack in the white plastic close to the vibrate button. For the first time since I got my "new" (as in refurbished - which is an outrage, because it should be a new phone they give you) phone I was using it in the dark and I noticed all along the left side there's light leaking between the chrome bezel and the screen. The problem is magnified when I turn up the screen's brightness. I have already made an appointment at the Apple Store in my city to resolve the problem.
What annoys the hell out of me, whether I get the issue resolved or not, is that tomorrow I will have driven back and forth a total of four times because of manufacturing defects with Apple's products. It takes me 45 minutes each time to drive to the Apple Store. They aren't going to pay for my time or my gas. Also, I have already installed in the Invisible Shield on my phone, and this is the second one I've installed on my iPhone(s) now, because this is my second phone! They aren't going to pay the $24.99 + shipping for the Shield. For a company who claims to pride itself on their quality products they really need to step it up a notch. They are having ridiculous quality control issues on many of their products, and I don't care how much of a fan-boy anyone here is, you have to admit that it's annoying in the extreme to have to make several trips back and forth and argue over getting a replacement just so you can leave with a fully functional product you as a consumer expect and deserve for the money you're shelling out!
What annoys the hell out of me, whether I get the issue resolved or not, is that tomorrow I will have driven back and forth a total of four times because of manufacturing defects with Apple's products. It takes me 45 minutes each time to drive to the Apple Store. They aren't going to pay for my time or my gas. Also, I have already installed in the Invisible Shield on my phone, and this is the second one I've installed on my iPhone(s) now, because this is my second phone! They aren't going to pay the $24.99 + shipping for the Shield. For a company who claims to pride itself on their quality products they really need to step it up a notch. They are having ridiculous quality control issues on many of their products, and I don't care how much of a fan-boy anyone here is, you have to admit that it's annoying in the extreme to have to make several trips back and forth and argue over getting a replacement just so you can leave with a fully functional product you as a consumer expect and deserve for the money you're shelling out!
Well, I just got back from the store with my third iPhone. This one seems a lot better, and I got the Apple "Genius" to take it to the back and turn the lights off. She gave me this annoying grin like "omg this guy is picky!" when I asked her to do this, but whatever.
As I suspected there was nothing that could be done about me wasting hours of my life and the already installed invisible shield. GRRRRR
As I suspected there was nothing that could be done about me wasting hours of my life and the already installed invisible shield. GRRRRR
I got mine replaced for a dead pixel and now there is a slight light leak on the left side. Not a big deal so I'll just deal with it.
3rd time lucky?
Hi, this is my first post on any forum, apologies if it's in the wrong thread. I am now on my 3rd iPhone since January this year. My first was a real dog, light leakage down the whole of both sides, you could even see the circuitry, on video playback the picture quality was heavily pixelated and in dark scenes green lines were visible (same video clips are perfect on later iphones). When the charger/sync lead was removed the speakers wouldn't work unless i gave the phone a good shake! Any way managed to get O2 to replace it, second one had no light leakage and seemed perfect, until 1 month in and the phone kept losing the network and going through the cycling of 3g,edge and GPS etc. So I went to Apple store at Birmingham, great customer service from Leon, I now have another iPhone, so far signal strength has been steady, BUT there is a small sliver of light leakage in the middle of the left side and through the ear grill. Guess I may as well live with this one until the newer version is released, but for a premium priced and coveted item such as Apple products this is very disappointing, other than all of the above I am still enjoying the iPhone experience
Hi, this is my first post on any forum, apologies if it's in the wrong thread. I am now on my 3rd iPhone since January this year. My first was a real dog, light leakage down the whole of both sides, you could even see the circuitry, on video playback the picture quality was heavily pixelated and in dark scenes green lines were visible (same video clips are perfect on later iphones). When the charger/sync lead was removed the speakers wouldn't work unless i gave the phone a good shake! Any way managed to get O2 to replace it, second one had no light leakage and seemed perfect, until 1 month in and the phone kept losing the network and going through the cycling of 3g,edge and GPS etc. So I went to Apple store at Birmingham, great customer service from Leon, I now have another iPhone, so far signal strength has been steady, BUT there is a small sliver of light leakage in the middle of the left side and through the ear grill. Guess I may as well live with this one until the newer version is released, but for a premium priced and coveted item such as Apple products this is very disappointing, other than all of the above I am still enjoying the iPhone experience
You guys are the reason people hate Mac/iPhone users. My first iPhone had light leak and it was a barely noticeable, minor issue.
Then again I guess I bought the iPhone because it's the best smart phone on the market, not because it's a fashion statement.
Then again I guess I bought the iPhone because it's the best smart phone on the market, not because it's a fashion statement.
Fashion statement? Who on this thread said "i hate the lightleak, when i am showing my friends a video on my in the dark it shines through the side and i am so embarrassed - i look so uncool"?! The light leak problem means the phone has a gaping hole down the side. That means all the crap in your pockets can get inside your phone. Your very expensive phone you are probably tied to for at least a year and a half. That's not good for the phone, and not good for you. That's not a fashion issue, that's a function issue. That's why people chose to discuss it in this thread, as they see it as a more than minor issue. If you don't see it as an issue, why are you even in this thread?
People like you are the the reason people hate MacRumors forum members.
Fashion statement? I don't remember saying that... hmmm!?. I bought the iPhone because it does what I want it too, I couldn't care less what "brand" it is, and I don't care what other people might think off Apple products, it's none of my business what they might be thinking. I was merely pointing out that it is not acceptable to be on my third iPhone in as many months.
I'm considering getting mine replaced too.
I have Light leak, a 90% unresponsive home button, the bottom of the volume switch is embedded too much, dust in the screen, and the glass raises up at the top.
Tres, you're right, I guess I should not trade mine in after all. I mean, dust, dirt, and other stuff in my screen and the fact that it takes me a couple times to get to the home screen just makes me look uncool. Those things are not a hinderance at all.
For the record, I have a launch iPhone, and have put up with everything EXCEPT the home button until now, and the home button just stopped working for some reason.
I have Light leak, a 90% unresponsive home button, the bottom of the volume switch is embedded too much, dust in the screen, and the glass raises up at the top.
Tres, you're right, I guess I should not trade mine in after all. I mean, dust, dirt, and other stuff in my screen and the fact that it takes me a couple times to get to the home screen just makes me look uncool. Those things are not a hinderance at all.
For the record, I have a launch iPhone, and have put up with everything EXCEPT the home button until now, and the home button just stopped working for some reason.
I'm considering getting mine replaced too.
I have Light leak, a 90% unresponsive home button, the bottom of the volume switch is embedded too much, dust in the screen, and the glass raises up at the top.
Tres, you're right, I guess I should not trade mine in after all. I mean, dust, dirt, and other stuff in my screen and the fact that it takes me a couple times to get to the home screen just makes me look uncool. Those things are not a hinderance at all.
For the record, I have a launch iPhone, and have put up with everything EXCEPT the home button until now, and the home button just stopped working for some reason.
I refuse to believe that a tiny gap is letting dust into the phone. Like I said, I had the same problem, I was using the phone for 9 months every day, for the first 3 months it was just sitting in my pocket with no protection. I never had a single piece of dust under the screen. An unresponsive home button isn't even related to this problem.
Keep in mind, just cause crap never got under your screen, doesn't necessarily mean stuff hasn't entered into other places within the phone.
If it doesn't bother you, awesome, but I think the people who think this is a problem have a pretty valid point.
Hey guys,
I haven't read this whole thread so I'm not sure if anyone else touched on this but there is a really fast and really easy fix for this. All you need is a razor blade. In between the glass and the bezel there is a thin rubber seal. If you place the razor blade between the glass and that rubber seal you can GENTLY massage the seal outwards from the glass to under the bezel so that you can cover the light leaks. I had about 5 "leaks" going up the entire left side of my phone and now don't have any. Not too big of a deal but it was so easy and quick to fix I figured I'd share.
I haven't read this whole thread so I'm not sure if anyone else touched on this but there is a really fast and really easy fix for this. All you need is a razor blade. In between the glass and the bezel there is a thin rubber seal. If you place the razor blade between the glass and that rubber seal you can GENTLY massage the seal outwards from the glass to under the bezel so that you can cover the light leaks. I had about 5 "leaks" going up the entire left side of my phone and now don't have any. Not too big of a deal but it was so easy and quick to fix I figured I'd share.
looks like i'm taking my replacement back to Apple now.
I got a replacement two days ago because it cracked, i have just been fully inspecting it because its the first chance i've had over weekend and low and behold, light leak top to bottom down the left hand side.
I got a replacement two days ago because it cracked, i have just been fully inspecting it because its the first chance i've had over weekend and low and behold, light leak top to bottom down the left hand side.
iphone number 4 - more light leaks
Well, my 3rd iPhone lasted just under two months before a load of dust appeared under the glass, apple store swapped it no problem, got the new one home and it's got light leakage all the way down the left hand side, so i figure more dust and debris will get in through this gap? How many times can you take an iPhone back for exchange before they just say no you can't?
Well, my 3rd iPhone lasted just under two months before a load of dust appeared under the glass, apple store swapped it no problem, got the new one home and it's got light leakage all the way down the left hand side, so i figure more dust and debris will get in through this gap? How many times can you take an iPhone back for exchange before they just say no you can't?
I have a light leakage on my iPhone 3G 16GB and I'd like to get it replaced... Warranty is good thru September. Do you think when I go to Apple Store in Sept that they might replace it with new iPhone 3GS 16GB or it's not happening for sure?? If not I'm gonna go down to the Apple Store tomorrow to get my replacement so I can sell it ASAP and get new 3GS!
No they won't, if they replace it it will be with an iPhone 3G. This has always been the case, as with faulty iPhone Edge - it would be replaced by an iPhone Edge, not a 3G.
That makes no sense. All replacements are refurb's. That mean's every faulty iPhone that is returned can be refurbished and used to replace another. Casing and parts are pence to Apple, so they will continue to refurbish iPhones easily.
Plus, within about a month all 16GB iPhone 3G's will have been sold. Taking AppleCare into account, that means Apple only need enough refurb's to last 2 years to cover for warranty repairs of 16GB iPhone 3Gs. After that time its EOL and they won't be obliged to replace iPhone 3Gs. They have managed that with the iPhone EDGE, so they will with the iPhone 3G.
OK so I just came home from the Apple Store. Genius wasn't able to see the issue. He also saw pictures. He went to backroom and talked to other geniuses. He tried to make idiot of me like I don't know what I see... He said it was pretty normal and phone is within specs... Is it?! The phone has no other issues and works properly. I don't care. This is not a cosmetic issue. It is MANUFACTURING issue! Then he was like "Apple is great, we always do our best bla bla..." and said he is gonna make one time exception and replace it. He said they won't replace it again if I come in with the same issue. Is this true? Because I wanna go back and ask for replacement... My ex and friend of mine both have iPhone 3Gs and they don't have this issue. I just want iPhone without light leak like many people have. I don't like those Fifth Avenue Apple "Geniuses"!!!