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iPhone 5s accelerometer/gyroscope/compass values incorrect

Well, shockingly the action plan of leaving it as a restored iPhone on do-not-disturb for 90 minutes accomplishes absolutely bugger all...

Somethings seriously amiss ... see the included shots..

iPhone 5S and 4S in the same spot in my hand and on table...

iPhone 4S compass i know is accurate.
 

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Try waving the 5S in a figure 8 pattern several times and move it away form the 4S and see if that improves any? Seems to work better for me then the built in circle calibration.


highlightshadow said:
Well, shockingly the action plan of leaving it as a restored iPhone on do-not-disturb for 90 minutes accomplishes absolutely bugger all...

Somethings seriously amiss ... see the included shots..

iPhone 5S and 4S in the same spot in my hand and on table...

iPhone 4S compass i know is accurate.
Click to expand...
 
highlightshadow said:
Well, shockingly the action plan of leaving it as a restored iPhone on do-not-disturb for 90 minutes accomplishes absolutely bugger all...

Somethings seriously amiss ... see the included shots..

iPhone 5S and 4S in the same spot in my hand and on table...

iPhone 4S compass i know is accurate.
Click to expand...


Hopefully you tried the two devices not touching each other (magnets and all).

I agree something is seriously messed up with the accelerometer/compass functionality of the 5s. Still waiting on Apple...
 
Oh come on... Can anyone please check it against a digital level (and compass) on various levels so we can all know if this is a calibration error or a hardware problem?
 
The 4S so read 0/-1 if i remove the bumper yes...

Ironically the 5S is only affected by proximity to the 4S not the other way around .... if i leave the 4S alone and bring the 5S towards it the 5S is the one who's compass gets worse

Waving it around and in isolation it does get better ....

The Apple engineer called me back after the 90 minute useless test and suggested only thing he could do is replace the iPhone ... offered to do an express replacement for free or i could go to Apple store... i'm booked in for weekend

But as others have said ... seems like its not an isolated issue so not sure whether its even worth going go get a replacement anyway.... only thing they might do i suppose is a device capture if its a problem they need more evidence on (assuming it isn't universal)
 
My iPhone 5 shows -1 anywhere I put it, but if it standing up it shows 0

Maybe it's not only the iPhone 5s
 
My grey 5S shows a -4 but everything else about it is perfect. I am not going to risk getting a lemon until apple confirm the issue is hardware related.
I am hoping for a SW update but I can not see that happening as the calibration will have to be done by a specialist.
One day apple will get a product launch right but not today it seems.
 
gs28 said:
Oh come on... Can anyone please check it against a digital level (and compass) on various levels so we can all know if this is a calibration error or a hardware problem?
Click to expand...

Huh? This has been compared to multiple levels but that won't tell you if it is hardware or calibration.
 
highlightshadow said:
The Apple engineer called me back after the 90 minute useless test and suggested only thing he could do is replace the iPhone ... offered to do an express replacement for free or i could go to Apple store... i'm booked in for weekend

But as others have said ... seems like its not an isolated issue so not sure whether its even worth going go get a replacement anyway.... only thing they might do i suppose is a device capture if its a problem they need more evidence on (assuming it isn't universal)
Click to expand...

Did you say this to the engineer? I.e. That the problem seems to be widespread. Just wondering if that registered with him at all.
 
blhoward2 said:
Huh? This has been compared to multiple levels but that won't tell you if it is hardware or calibration.
Click to expand...

It will.
If the error is constant (for various angles) that means it's a calibration issue and can be easily fixed, but if the error fluctuates it's something hardware.
 
Marco123 said:
My grey 5S shows a -4 but everything else about it is perfect. I am not going to risk getting a lemon until apple confirm the issue is hardware related.
I am hoping for a SW update but I can not see that happening as the calibration will have to be done by a specialist.
One day apple will get a product launch right but not today it seems.
Click to expand...

A good choice as any replacement will have the same problem.
 
gs28 said:
It will.
If the error is constant that means it's a calibration issue and can be easily fixed, but if the error fluctuates it's something hardware.
Click to expand...

No. The degree to which they are off doesn't change on individual phones. (They are equally off while lying on both sides.) The error is consistent all around the same phone. But whether that can be repaired with some kind of new calibration procedure or the sensor is mounted off in an non-fixable way is a whole different issue.

This seems to be straight calibration. But again, we have no idea if said calibration is accessible or must be done low-level on the sensor itself.
 
I still think it's a SW issue but how that can be fixed my a SW update confuses me.
Very few will be comfortable calibrating it with a calibration tool and I honestly don't think apple would want it done by the user.
I can see an in-store exchange being done by those that bring their phone in and what's happening now is probably engineers looking at the M7 chips and how they are being mounted onto the boards and being installed in the frames.
This will be a silent HW update that you can be sure of. The best advice now would be to wait a month until all stock is depleted and that the new fixed units are on the shelves just don't accept a white box replacement until it is checked.
 
Suppose they could introduce a calibration mechanism into the compass app or settings ... to put device on a flat surface ... other than that it means mass recall which i cannot see being reasonable solution for Apple
 
I think it is possible to incorporate some sort of auto calibration. RC helicopters and quadcopters can do it.

Even if there is a %25 percent chance of a software fix I am holding out rather then get something else like interlacing screen or a baby rattle.

I don't mind a white box refurbs. Ive had better exp with those then the originals and all the external parts are in new/condition anyway.
 
Just picked up my 5s and the compass and gyro are right-on. Checked it before I left the store due to this thread.
 
got2go said:
Just picked up my 5s and the compass and gyro are right-on. Checked it before I left the store due to this thread.
Click to expand...

My 5s is right when I left store and I felt so happy. But several days later when I checked it again, it was -4 degree. It's -4 till now.
 
For me at least ... the old figure 8 trick on the compass seems to settle it down .... just the gyro's that are out really.
 
Went to genius bar for my appt today. Immediately upon describing issue, gentlemen put some LENGTHY described notes into my account. Seems like he knew exactly what the issue was.

He told me that "engineering has already fixed the issue" and that that subsequent phones should be better. He shook my phone and noticed rattling inside as well as from the power button.

He said that this is an obvious hardware/gyro issue and also noted that compass was constantly recalibrating... even though we never turned it on nor did I tell him. So obviously they're aware.

I was told I would have to wait probably a week for a replacement 64GB 5s. With dumb luck as we were filling out the invoice a shipment showed up and I walked with a new phone today.

My backup was on computer and not cloud so we were unable to test in-store. I will report back later on and see if all issue's are rectified.

For recap I had:

64GB Gray 5s ordered 12:03 launch night. Received with first wave of shipments

Rattling Power Button/inside phone... could really hear when vibrating.
Seemingly loose fingerprint home button
Lagging Parallax (He described as SERIOUSLY HANGING)
Gyro/Level was off by 3degrees & constantly recalibrating on launch

Hopefully all is now fixed, he seemed to assure me that it would be. :apple:
 
MastersMusic said:
Went to genius bar for my appt today. Immediately upon describing issue, gentlemen put some LENGTHY described notes into my account. Seems like he knew exactly what the issue was.

He told me that "engineering has already fixed the issue" and that that subsequent phones should be better. He shook my phone and noticed rattling inside as well as from the power button.

He said that this is an obvious hardware/gyro issue and also noted that compass was constantly recalibrating... even though we never turned it on nor did I tell him. So obviously they're aware.

I was told I would have to wait probably a week for a replacement 64GB 5s. With dumb luck as we were filling out the invoice a shipment showed up and I walked with a new phone today.

My backup was on computer and not cloud so we were unable to test in-store. I will report back later on and see if all issue's are rectified.

For recap I had:

64GB Gray 5s ordered 12:03 launch night. Received with first wave of shipments

Rattling Power Button/inside phone... could really hear when vibrating.
Seemingly loose fingerprint home button
Lagging Parallax (He described as SERIOUSLY HANGING)
Gyro/Level was off by 3degrees & constantly recalibrating on launch

Hopefully all is now fixed, he seemed to assure me that it would be. :apple:
Click to expand...

Rattling power button is normal (they all do it to some degree)
Fingerprint home button loose = not normal.
Lagging parallax = normal (it's laggy)
Gyro off = normal (for most people) and needs to be calibrated on launch = normal.
 
Interesting ... hoping i can get my replaced this weekend ...

My 5S is a week 34 build - so pretty early i guess and i do also have a rattly power-button

Update:
Contacted Apple, taking advantage of the free express shipping replacement service offered instead of Genius Bar.

Also uploaded 2 more images 4s (without bumper) taken with 5s and 5s taken with 4s. Same spot on desk.
 

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Last edited:
EvilQueen said:
I don't use the level but the compass is way off. Close to 18 degrees off. Is it normal to make me calibrate it every time I use it?
Click to expand...

Any time the app is closed, it will ask you to recalibrate it when you open it. Minimizing it means it will still work without calibration. If the phone closes the app in the background, then yes - you will need to run the calibration each time.
 
highlightshadow said:
Interesting ... hoping i can get my replaced this weekend ...

My 5S is a week 34 build - so pretty early i guess and i do also have a rattly power-button

Update:
Contacted Apple, taking advantage of the free express shipping replacement service offered instead of Genius Bar.
Click to expand...

Same here so I will report back when I receive the replacement.
I am not that optimistic though.
I don't see the point in comparisons with other iphones other that the 5S as only the 5S has the M7 chip.
 
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