iPhone 4 Yellow screen

[DJAznSensation]

here's my story:

I bought my 16gb iPhone 4 about a month ago and my biggest complaint about that phone was the battery life. The battery did not last to what I thought the iPhone 4 should be lasting... I did a serious of test, observing the battery with me using it heavily, normal and even had days where i barely used it at all and I found that the battery lasted way below what my iPhone 3G lasted.

So I headed to the Apple store (this was Yesterday)

They ended up giving me a replacement with little push back, so I was pretty pumped then went back home to restore my phone, dry install an Invisible Shield, etc.

After all that I see a yellow tint to the phone. Couldnt believe it! I installed the Flashlight. app where the screen is pure white to see if I was just seeing things but there it was, an extremely yellow tint and no matter what level brightness the phone is on the tint is still noticeable.

I dont think its the invisible shield, but a week ago I requested a replacement screen protector so I'll be taking it off and seeing if that changes anything, and if not then to the Apple Store I'll go.

 

[sic2five]

I know this is going to sound very childish of me, but......















































Ahahhahhahaha! My screen is perfect!

 

[raydsr]

i'm going to a different store today to see what i can get.

 

[dark55]

I was just at the Apple Store to get yet another replacement. The Genius I talked to was nice enough to open up two different replacement phones for me to look at. They both had yellow tinted displays, but one was worse than the other (it was very noticeable). I took the better of the two, even though it still has a yellow tint to it.

The Genius said he had never heard of this issue, so a lot of people must not be returning their phones with this problem. I guess we're just a very particular group here

I guess I'll just have to live with it for now. I'll go back in a month or so and see if they're getting in phones with good displays.

 

[Merthyrboy]

I'm a very frustrated customer right now.

I spoke with AppleCare and they were GREAT. They said, "Apple wants you to be happy. Just go to your nearest Apple Store and ask them to replace your phone."

I said, "What if they have to open multiple iPhones that all have the yellow screen?"

AppleCare said, "Do NOT leave the store until you are satisfied with the iPhone. It doesn't matter if they have to open 20 phones. They have to find one that has a white screen."

AppleCare person then told me that the yellowish screen is a known problem that certain batches went out with. She said, "Some people don't mind it, but others do, that's why Apple decided to sell them. They agreed that anyone who spoke up would have the right to get a different phone." With that info I was psyched.

I set-up a genius bar appointment at my nearest Apple Store. The first thing the Genius Bar guy said was, "Hmm...well, this one doesn't seem all that yellow to me." So after a few minutes of listening to him make excuses about how his phone looked the same (which it did), I asked to talk to the manager.

Genius Bar guy took me to the manager and explained the situation. The manager said, "You can return the phone and get your money back if you're unhappy with it, but I'm not going to open more than one phone to see if they have yellow screens."

I told the manager what AppleCare said about not leaving the store with a phone I am unhappy with and he said, "AppleCare have no power to say that. I'm the manager of this store and I say what goes on here. If you want your money back I can do that because Steve Jobs promised that, but I can't open iPhones until you find one that has a whiter screen."

Then the manager backed down a bit and offered to open a few of the ones they keep in black boxes behind the counter. BUT then quickly realized that to get to a screen that's white the phone has to be activated so it would be impossible to tell if the phone had the problem until I committed to it. He said, "Well, I guess you're in a tough situation". Unbelievable.

I ended up taking a brand new iPhone as a swap. Turns out it has an even duller and yellower screen. Now my only option is to keep going to different Apple Stores until I find a Phone I'm happy with?

Just ridiculous customer service.

The phone service is great but some of the genius bars are just shocking. They seem to be rushed more as well and were constantly moving away to help other people while I was the one who booked ahead.

 

[acfusion29]

RE: the pictures posted above... both phones look ALMOST the same to me. there's a slight difference and when i mean slight, i mean VERY slight. it took me a good 4-5 minutes to see that there's a difference. it isn't even a problem...

that being said... i don't think this is an issue. why? because i had a 3GS with a yellow screen. i only noticed it WHEN there was another phone beside it. if i used it on its own, my eyes just adjusted to it.

you people are just looking for things to complain about. this world...

 

[WilliamG]

RE: the pictures posted above... both phones look ALMOST the same to me. there's a slight difference and when i mean slight, i mean VERY slight. it took me a good 4-5 minutes to see that there's a difference. it isn't even a problem...

that being said... i don't think this is an issue. why? because i had a 3GS with a yellow screen. i only noticed it WHEN there was another phone beside it. if i used it on its own, my eyes just adjusted to it.

you people are just looking for things to complain about. this world...

While the difference may be "slight," I do fully understand the complaint. It's the same with ALL LCDs, and is called panel variance. I bet you a bazillion dollars if you hadn't compared two iPhone 4s, you'd never have noticed. That's always how it is. I actually tend to prefer a slightly warmer color temperature, personally.

 

[dark55]

RE: the pictures posted above... both phones look ALMOST the same to me. there's a slight difference and when i mean slight, i mean VERY slight. it took me a good 4-5 minutes to see that there's a difference. it isn't even a problem...

Have you considered that there might be different degrees of the problem? Because there most certainly is. You can't really judge based on a picture displayed on another screen anyway.

Of the four iPhone 4s I've seen with this problem in person, two of them weren't noticeable unless placed side by side with another iPhone. The other two, however, were noticeable when not compared with another iPhone screen. When using Safari, reading text, or anything with a lot of white, it is very annoying.

I would not have had my last phone replaced if it wasn't disturbing. It cured my horizontal line issue, and I didn't care about the yellow if I would only notice it when compared to another iPhone 4.

Yes, I will admit that I am being picky. The average person probably wouldn't notice or give a crap. But, I paid $200 and tax for the phone, and I signed a two year agreement. That adds up to a lot of money.

While the difference may be "slight," I do fully understand the complaint. It's the same with ALL LCDs, and is called panel variance. I bet you a bazillion dollars if you hadn't compared two iPhone 4s, you'd never have noticed. That's always how it is. I actually tend to prefer a slightly warmer color temperature, personally.

I agree with you that there is variance in products, and it is definitely inevitable in any mass manufactured product. In most cases this variance is acceptable and goes unnoticed by anyone not comparing the same product side by side. Although, I believe that some of these screens have too much of a yellow tint. It shouldn't be noticeable when it's not being compared side by side with another phone.

 

[mufadal84]

RE: the pictures posted above... both phones look ALMOST the same to me. there's a slight difference and when i mean slight, i mean VERY slight. it took me a good 4-5 minutes to see that there's a difference. it isn't even a problem...

that being said... i don't think this is an issue. why? because i had a 3GS with a yellow screen. i only noticed it WHEN there was another phone beside it. if i used it on its own, my eyes just adjusted to it.

you people are just looking for things to complain about. this world...

Just because ur eyes adjusted and u accepted your yellow iphone 3gs, does not mean everyone else should.

My first IP4 was yellow to the extreme where my full brightness of the phone was equivalent to a 80% brightness on another normal screened phone.

As the guy above posted, We paid good money for a product and no matter how many times u get it swapped, it has to perform the way it should.

I also have another genius appointment for tomorrow at another apple store. Lets hope they have a normal phone for me.

 

[acfusion29]

Have you considered that there might be different degrees of the problem? Because there most certainly is. You can't really judge based on a picture displayed on another screen anyway.

Of the four iPhone 4s I've seen with this problem in person, two of them weren't noticeable unless placed side by side with another iPhone. The other two, however, were noticeable when not compared with another iPhone screen. When using Safari, reading text, or anything with a lot of white, it is very annoying.

I would not have had my last phone replaced if it wasn't disturbing. It cured my horizontal line issue, and I didn't care about the yellow if I would only notice it when compared to another iPhone 4.

Yes, I will admit that I am being picky. The average person probably wouldn't notice or give a crap. But, I paid $200 and tax for the phone, and I signed a two year agreement. That adds up to a lot of money.



I agree with you that there is variance in products, and it is definitely inevitable in any mass manufactured product. In most cases this variance is acceptable and goes unnoticed by anyone not comparing the same product side by side. Although, I believe that some of these screens have too much of a yellow tint. It shouldn't be noticeable when it's not being compared side by side with another phone.

do you realize that your eyes will adjust to the "yellow" screen after a couple of minutes and you won't even notice it after that?

 

[mufadal84]

Why adjust?

Take an example of a new car X.

You buy the car with a certain defect that is not a big deal and you will never notice it unless compared to another car of the same kind.

You know there is a defect. Are you going to keep the car knowing the fact?

Or are you going to just keep it and adjust yourself to accept the defective car?

Your pockets may be filled with ever flowing dollars but some of us work hard to come up with the money to buy and pay for this phone.

If it doesnt satisfy you, whats the purpose of having the phone?

 

[dark55]

do you realize that your eyes will adjust to the "yellow" screen after a couple of minutes and you won't even notice it after that?

I used the phone for a week before I had it replaced. I surfed the Internet for more than a half of an hour on several occasions during that week. It was always noticeable on any pages with white. Trust me, it's noticeable, and you won't get used to it. I'm sure it doesn't help that the tint is not completely even.

 

[kre62]

The Genius said he had never heard of this issue, so a lot of people must not be returning their phones with this problem. I guess we're just a very particular group here

The genius' ALWAYS say they haven't heard of this issue. It never fails. I've been dealing with yellow screens for 2 years now, and it never ceases to amaze me at how they try to act like its not an issue. When I replaced my first 3GS, there was like 5 other people trying to get theirs replaced.

I just dont know why its so difficult for Apple to produce clear screens. I think they just say to hell with it because a lot of people will just put up with it, not notice, or be too passive aggressive to do anything about it.

 

[acfusion29]

Why adjust?

Take an example of a new car X.

You buy the car with a certain defect that is not a big deal and you will never notice it unless compared to another car of the same kind.

You know there is a defect. Are you going to keep the car knowing the fact?

Or are you going to just keep it and adjust yourself to accept the defective car?

Your pockets may be filled with ever flowing dollars but some of us work hard to come up with the money to buy and pay for this phone.

If it doesnt satisfy you, whats the purpose of having the phone?

what?

comparing a product worth thousands of dollars to something worth a couple hundred bucks is pointless. but since you brought up this lovely analogy, what kind of defect were you thinking of?

regardless, a defective car will likely compromise safety... meaning it will be replaced no questions asked if it even makes it past the thorough inspection.

oh and if you're struggling affording a phone then you should reconsider your purchase. i'm a student and make $10/hour and i'm able to afford it. i even have other expenses (eg. car insurance) which exceed the price of an iPhone and i live comfortably... if you have a job, then you can afford ANY phone. if you don't have a job, then you shouldn't have any expenses.

 

[applekiwipeach]

Mine has an overall yellow tint too. I didn't realize it until I compared it with my bf's. I then visited an Apple store and compared two display phones and my own phone together (set them to the same brightness, same screen, etc.) Guess what? Even the two display phones don't look the same. Mine actually is less yellow than one of the display phones. So I figured the variation's normal and never thought to exchange it...

One thing that comforts me is that the screen with a slightly yellow tint actually makes the images look more vivid most of the time (e.g. photos of leaves, flowers look especially better on my slightly yellow screen than bf's clear/white one, given all other settings equal). It's just when I look at something largely white, I realize a noticeable yellow tint and get slightly annoyed. I guess over all I'm fine with it and actually enjoy my livelier graphics.

 

[dark55]

One thing that comforts me is that the screen with a slightly yellow tint actually makes the images look more vivid most of the time (e.g. photos of leaves, flowers look especially better on my slightly yellow screen than bf's clear/white one, given all other settings equal). It's just when I look at something largely white, I realize a noticeable yellow tint and get slightly annoyed. I guess over all I'm fine with it and actually enjoy my livelier graphics.

It's good to see that you're looking at the bright side I don't notice it at all with images or videos. If that was what I used my phone for mostly, I wouldn't be concerned. Unfortunately, I use my phone for a lot of things that involve black text on a white background, and the tint becomes too prevalent to be ignored.

Maybe I should use my phone with the "white on black" option. It seems to solve the problem, haha.

 

[applekiwipeach]

It's good to see that you're looking at the bright side I don't notice it at all with images or videos. If that was what I used my phone for mostly, I wouldn't be concerned. Unfortunately, I use my phone for a lot of things that involve black text on a white background, and the tint becomes too prevalent to be ignored.

Maybe I should use my phone with the "white on black" option. It seems to solve the problem, haha.

Lol, is there really a "white on black" option?

Yeah, I used the phone mainly for the apps and the portable camera that's decent enough to capture some moments. I'm still not used to handle all my emails on it -- just too hard to type on it. So I'm OK with the slightly yellow tint. It really does make the graphics look better. If you care to check this out, download the "Pocket Pond" free app, and compare the graphics in this app on two phones, one with yellowish screen and one with clearer screen. The result is very obvious. Early on this year Sharp added YELLOW to the TV color pixel palette to enhance the pictures. I guess there's the upside of YELLOW... =)

 

[nmg196]

I wasn't previously aware of the yellow screen probs but I've just had my iPhone 4 replaced because the proximity sensor didn't seem to be working very well. They replaced it with no questions asked but when I got home, I noticed my new phone has a slightly more yellow display than my old one. The more I use it the more I notice it. I don't remember ever thinking my old phone looked yellowish but this one quite often seems to make me think it's a bit yellow. Unfortunately I'm a bit of a "videophile" and seem to notice visual defects much more than "normal people" However I've now compared it to display models in my local O2 store and mine is the same. I think I must have been lucky to get a very bright/white screen with my original iPhone 4. I don't think it's bad enough to warrant exchanging it again though. Especially as I could end up with a phone which is even worse... (besides, it's costing me in screen protectors!)

 

[riffola]

Mine came with a yellow screen, activated on Sept. 1st. It was made the week before by factory 86 or 85 (can't remember right now.). It was rather bad. I had it changed last week at the Apple Store. The Genius Bar guy was very nice, he compared it to his own iPhone 4 and mine was far far more yellow and so he let me swap it out. I asked him to let me compare the new one with the old one and it turned out that the new one was normal and not yellow at all.

The new one was made in factory 81 and the build week was the same as my original iPhone. So I think this might be a factory issue.

 

[iBaloney]

hey OP, what production week is you and your gf's ip4s?

 

[WilliamG]

I think there needs to be a distinction between "yellow" screens and "warmer" screens... Warmer is not unusual. My iPad is fairly warm, but I love it for movies etc because warmer is generally better in that case. Most screens are too "cold."

 

[sic2five]

I've always had the "warmer" screen in both the 3G & 3GS compared to my wife's. Now that we both have iPhone 4's, hers is noticeably more yellow than mine. A deal breaker? no. It would bother me, but she simply just doesn't care. I say go with what you think you can live with.

 

[AJ Muni]

OP, I had the SAME EXACT problem. I had originally gotten an iphone 4 in early july...worked great, but after upgrading to 4.1, it pretty much killed my battery, call drops etc etc. So last week I went in, and they replaced it. Right off the bat i did notice the "yellowish" feel to the new phone. I didn't have another phone to compare it to, but I knew i wasn't going crazy. It was almost like a browner feel. So yesterday I made an appointment and went into an apple store. Mind you this is a different store than the one I went to the week before. I showed the "genius" my phone, and he agreed it was off. He even pulled out his phone, and compared them side by side and noticed it. But according to him, the phone was "in spec" and couldn't do anything about it. I had researched before going in, and did see that apple is now using different LCD manufacturers for the iPhone. When he had the 2 phones side by side, it was so obvious...you can see the brownish, yellowish difference. This was my first time comparing it side by side to another iPhone, and i was shocked. Anyhow he said he couldn't do anything so I left. On my way out, I compared my screen to every single iPhone they have on display (i changed the wallpaper on the lock screen to that default pink flower that comes with iphones) and its a really good pic to tell the difference. This got me even more pissed and determined, so I decided to go to another apple store (the one that I had gone to the week before, where they easily replaced my original phone)..went in, and 10 minutes later they replaced it. They saw the difference right away, and swapped it. Your results may very, but stay determined...Try different stores..gotta keep fighting!

 

[tarasis]

I got an iPhone 4 on Saturday as a wedding anniversary present (apparently bought Friday) and it too has a yellower screen. I noticed it initially when compared to my 3GS* and then when I was in a shop yesterday picking up a screen protector I noticed they had a demo iPhone 4.

Its screen was on the bluer side of things and was a brighter / clearer when side by side with my phone. I asked the guy in charge of selling them (not an Apple store, MediaMarkt in Germany) and he got out his own iPhone 4 and it was like the store model. He seemed to think it was wrong and that I should return it to the T-Punkt store to get a replacement. He was particularly surprised when I told him my phone was on full brightness (auto off).

General usage is fine, occasionally my eyes see the yellow when looking at white pages (Hi Safari) and I get used to it. Icons look better on the yellower screen though greys like the Spotlight results don't. The default water drop background looks very different too; not sure which is better tho.

I checked with a friend & his girlfriend as they both have iPhone 4's, they have a bluer screen and a yellower screen. She prefers her screen (yellower) and he prefers his.

So I'm not sure what to do, do I try return it for a replacement or keep it. Not sure whats right / wrong anymore, it bugs me knowing there is quite a difference.

(* Originally my 3GS had a yellower screen and tbh I preferred it, when my 3GS got replaced a couple of months ago I kept getting the bluer screen and worse viewing angle and I _hated_ it. Went through a few replacements to get back to the type of screen I had but had to give up in the end. So for the last two months I've got used to the bluer screen.)

 

[nles]

I got an iPhone4 on 25th Sept and it was okie,

Then I got another 3 more on 21st October, I didn't notice it at 1st. After I read about this I compare with my previous iPhone4 and the screen is yellowish.

Another friend of mine which got his on 22nd October has the same problem.

And also blue tint and interlacing effect.

Grrr.~