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iPhone SE (2016) iPhone SE Rattle

ghsDUDE

ghsDUDE

macrumors 68030
Original poster
May 25, 2010
2,949
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I just got my iPhone SE and I love it.

I noticed if I tap anywhere on the top half of the phone (especially near the camera) I hear a slight rattle noise. I shake the phone (to undo something) I can also hear a slight rattle near the camera. Is this normal?

What I noticed is that if it’s on a solid surface, it doesn’t happen. If I hold it and tap, it rattles.
 
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I'll bet it's the identical leather case for the 8 renamed/repurposed. Have you looked at how the case fits on an iPhone 8 to see if its the same. Plenty of pics on the leather case thread in the accessories forum to compare it to.
 
oVerboost said:
It’s not any of the metal buttons rattling is it?
Click to expand...
No...the phone. I took the case off, held it in my right hand and tapped the back of my phone with my left handle. Rattle ensues.

I wonder If it’s the camera? Just wondering if other users could confirm.
 
My iPhone 7 and 8 both had that rattle. I put it down to either the mute switch, or something in the camera.
 
What I noticed is that if it’s on a solid surface, it doesn’t happen. If I hold it and tap, it rattles.
 
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Check camera output by recording a video with your new iPhone. Is the video steady? Often, the rattle is due to a loose OIS component in the camera.
 
As the above post mentions, it's most likely the optical stablizer in the camera that is causing the rattle. The rattle isn't prone just to the iPhone, even my Note 10 Plus has a slight rattle. Just search on YouTube for "Galaxy S20 camera rattle"

No need to worry, but you do get a 1 year warranty on a new iPhone for peace of mind.

Enjoy your new iPhone! :)
 
tennisne1 said:
As the above post mentions, it's most likely the optical stablizer in the camera that is causing the rattle. The rattle isn't prone just to the iPhone, even my Note 10 Plus has a slight rattle. Just search on YouTube for "Galaxy S20 camera rattle"

No need to worry, but you do get a 1 year warranty on a new iPhone for peace of mind.

Enjoy your new iPhone! :)
Click to expand...

Yes, a warranty is fine, but no one likes to have a possible repair issue from the moment they've gotten their new phone.
 
Thanks for the feedback everyone. I’ll take this as “normal” for now.

If any othernew SE owners can check theirs out that would be great!
 
dms_91 said:
It is NORMAL. The camera does this as it has a stabilizer while filming.
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Ok, thanks for confirming. I assume you have the new SE too and yours does it?

The reason I ask is other users have said there’s barely does it and doesn’t sound as loud as mine. I just want to make sure mine isn’t defective.
 
ghsNick said:
Ok, thanks for confirming. I assume you have the new SE too and yours does it?

The reason I ask is other users have said there’s barely does it and doesn’t sound as loud as mine. I just want to make sure mine isn’t defective.
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I have one and mine does it too. I’m assuming it’s the camera component.
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Actually after doing it again, it is the mute switch. When my mute switch is in the mute position(down), it somewhat has give and rattles. Lol so it has to be that.
 
I had the same rattle on my XR and i asked about it on reddit. Apparently it's the image stabilization in the camera. It's normal.
 
dms_91 said:
I have one and mine does it too. I’m assuming it’s the camera component.
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Actually after doing it again, it is the mute switch. When my mute switch is in the mute position(down), it somewhat has give and rattles. Lol so it has to be that.
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Thanks. I just tried with my mute switch in both positions and it does it.

Even when holding the mute switch and tapping. I’ll chalk it up to being normal and the camera sensor.

I have a year warranty so if it gets worse or breaks I’m covered.
 
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I just got my new (sealed in the original box) iPhone SE 2020 on Saturday (June 13) and I noticed a rattling when I placed the phone on my mattress. Then I picked it up and tapped near the camera and hear the same thing everyone is talking about. I took the case off and still same thing. I'm really hoping this is the image stabilizer and that it won't get worse.
 
wesleyduffy said:
I just got my new (sealed in the original box) iPhone SE 2020 on Saturday (June 13) and I noticed a rattling when I placed the phone on my mattress. Then I picked it up and tapped near the camera and hear the same thing everyone is talking about. I took the case off and still same thing. I'm really hoping this is the image stabilizer and that it won't get worse.
Click to expand...

Wait a minute? You placed your phone on a mattress and you heard a rattling noise Emanating from the phone itself? Was this mattress vibrating or something?😁

OK, the reality is, if your phone has a rattling noise where you could audibly hear it when you set your phone on a mattress, then you should probably take it back, because that’s incredibly unlikely for something like that to happen and/or you have extremely sensitive ears where you’re Intentionally trying to be pedantic.

you have to make a decision for yourself, which is if the phone is either A.] Defective or B.]You’re attempting to find something wrong when there’s nothing wrong with it.
 
Relentless Power said:
Wait a minute? You placed your phone on a mattress and you heard a rattling noise Emanating from the phone itself? Was this mattress vibrating or something?😁

OK, the reality is, if your phone has a rattling noise where you could audibly hear it when you set your phone on a mattress, then you should probably take it back, because that’s incredibly unlikely for something like that to happen and/or you have extremely sensitive ears where you’re Intentionally trying to be pedantic.

you have to make a decision for yourself, which is if the phone is either A.] Defective or B.]You’re attempting to find something wrong when there’s nothing wrong with it.
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I am careful with all my phones. I’ve had the iPhone 6s and iPhone 8 from my previous company (both brand new out of the box) and never heard rattling. I was waiting for my case before I started moving the iPhone SE 2020 around. Got the case and afterwards placed the phone on my memory foam mattress. This is when I heard the rattle. Very odd and, yes, audible!! I’m taking it back to AT&T since it’s only been 4 days
 
I’m not sure if her SE2 rattles, but we have had our 7s and our replacement 7s rattle. It was the camera on ours. My XSM doesn’t make any noise. Toight like a tiger.
 
ghsNick said:
I just got my iPhone SE and I love it.

I noticed if I tap anywhere on the top half of the phone (especially near the camera) I hear a slight rattle noise. I shake the phone (to undo something) I can also hear a slight rattle near the camera. Is this normal?

What I noticed is that if it’s on a solid surface, it doesn’t happen. If I hold it and tap, it rattles.
Click to expand...

I have the original SE iPhone and it always had the rattle you described.
 
You should worry if it stops rattling. The OIS makes that gentle rattle and it normally means everything is alright.
 
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