iPhone XR iPhone XR repair horror story (happy ending)

[Lekro]

Hello,

I admit have OCD when it comes to phones.
This is my brand new black 128GB XR and I noticed the bottom left edge of the screen is more dim than the right side.

The picture attached is taken in the circumstances that brings this issue out the most. Low brightness, True Tone on, white background, dark room.

My question is do you see it? Is it worth taking it back to apple? I fear of getting into an exchange loop with the next phone always being worse in something else.

I just ask for your opinion to give me a peace of mind, or the opposite.

 

[Ffosse]

I can only see it ever so slightly. I wouldn't take it back unless it got worse. Is everything else all right with your XR? I would turn tru-tone off but that is only my preference.

 

[Lekro]

Everything else is perfect, that is why I'm hesitant.

 

[chabig]

I admit have OCD

Learning to cope with adversity is part of growing up. Maybe this is the universe telling you it’s time to learn what’s important and what is not important, and focus on the real problems rather than imagined ones.

 

[ihakim]

I'm quite particular about my phones and have exchanged before for minor blemishes, but honestly I can't even see what you're bothered about in the picture you posted. You should keep it.

 

[AlexJoda]

You should order a second one just for the peace of mind and stay with the better one. The display looks uneven and different than mine...

 

[Lekro]

You should order a second one just for the peace of mind and stay with the better one. The display looks uneven and different than mine...

That's out of the equation as I bought it with a 2 year contract.

 

[cableguy84]

I have owned at least 10 different iphones over the years. Every single one has had backlight issues. In the end i learnt to live with it.

 

[nordique]

My XR is black - I do not have the same shadowing. Get it swapped if it is apparent on white backgrounds
[doublepost=1553565791][/doublepost]

Hello,

...
My question is do you see it? Is it worth taking it back to apple? I fear of getting into an exchange loop with the next phone always being worse in something else.

I just ask for your opinion to give me a peace of mind, or the opposite.

Don't fear the exchange loop, as you called it - it doesn't exist if you truly are dissatisfied. You are a consumer, you have invested in a product...if it is not up to your standard, you can exchange it or return it. You don't give Apple and your Carrier money and accept something if it is not up to what you want. You are allowed to return, within reason (that is what the 14 day return policy is in place for).

In my experience, returning or exchanging an Apple product tends to result in the product with the build quality you want. The people who need to swap out a device 16 times...those are extremely rare cases.

My point is, you should not fear returning or exchanging something if you are not 100% satisfied with it and it bugs you.

If it bugs you that much I would consider doling out a bit extra for an OLED iPhone XS/Max, just for the peace of mind regarding the light bleed

 

[Lekro]

I took another picture with black background full brightness True Tone off. Is this bad?
[doublepost=1553809026][/doublepost]For comparison here is my girlfriend’s XR.

 

[teknikal90]

OP. the phone is fine. Best to learn live with it. Else you swap it and the refurbished replacement has a worse 'defect'.
Playing the iPhone lottery game RARELY gets you a 'better' phone.

 

[Lekro]

As an update, I’m taking the phone to Apple on Monday.

I spotted dust collecting inside the front facing camera. Being IP67 one of the features of this XR, I think it’s defective and a guy at an Apple store confirmed it.

I’m going to list this screen problem also.
The guy said depending on the number and complexity of the problems they will either replace the screen or swap the phone.

Honestly I would prefer a screen replacement because the rest of the phone is perfect and I really don’t want to get a phone with the model number starting with “F”…

For the sake of my mind, please tell me they have special tools to open the phone without scratching it during the process. My job is to repair Apple products at a repair shop and I know how strong the adhesive is…

I’m going to update the thread with the results.

 

[puma1552]

As an update, I’m taking the phone to Apple on Monday.

I spotted dust collecting inside the front facing camera. Being IP67 one of the features of this XR, I think it’s defective and a guy at an Apple store confirmed it.

I’m going to list this screen problem also.
The guy said depending on the number and complexity of the problems they will either replace the screen or swap the phone.

Honestly I would prefer a screen replacement because the rest of the phone is perfect and I really don’t want to get a phone with the model number starting with “F”…

For the sake of my mind, please tell me they have special tools to open the phone without scratching it during the process. My job is to repair Apple products at a repair shop and I know how strong the adhesive is…

I’m going to update the thread with the results.

Are you out of the return window or does Apple not allow 14 day returns in Hungary? If you are in the return window, why are you messing around and wasting time with the genius bar? Just return/exchange it, you have a right to do so if you are within the return window, no questions asked. Contract or not.

No way on earth am I going to the genius bar and opening a phone/listening to a "genius" tell me whether or not they will approve a swap of my phone for a white box refurb replacement when I'm in the return window and can exchange for another brand new one in retail packaging no questions asked. No time wasting genius bar appointment either.

 

[Lekro]

The device is 1 month old.

We don’t even have Genius Bar here, only APRs, so there’s that.

I’m happy with a white box replacement as long as it doesn’t have any problems.

Only concern is that this process takes 5-10 days and they order 1 replacement device for me. If that device has problems too, then I need to send it back with the same process…

 

[apolloa]

Hello,

I admit have OCD when it comes to phones.
This is my brand new black 128GB XR and I noticed the bottom left edge of the screen is more dim than the right side.

The picture attached is taken in the circumstances that brings this issue out the most. Low brightness, True Tone on, white background, dark room.

My question is do you see it? Is it worth taking it back to apple? I fear of getting into an exchange loop with the next phone always being worse in something else.

I just ask for your opinion to give me a peace of mind, or the opposite.

No just keep it, I have some subtle shadows that show around the notch all the time on white backgrounds like this site, others have said they have it too. It’s a nature of the display and how it’s made I’d say.

Never mind just saw your post about the dust.

 

[Lekro]

Found an AASP near and made an appointment there for tomorrow. I hope it goes faster than at an APR.

 

[Lekro]

So I got the phone back. They didn't replace the phone nor the screen. There was only a "cleaning" but they managed to make it worse… There is now a smudge under the lens cover. I only noticed it when I got home.

 

[Lekro]

Not to mention they managed to clean off some anti reflect layer around the sensor itself, my girlfriend's XR has a blue layer around the sensor where mine is just plain black plastic (was blue before mine too).

Here are some pictures. The one with the red case is my girlfriend's phone.

 

[mohangowda]

Just spotted this lately, if I plug a lightning cable in and press up or down on the cable head, it makes a clicking noise inside of the port. Anyone else experiencing the same ?

 

[Newtons Apple]

So I got the phone back. They didn't replace the phone nor the screen. There was only a "cleaning" but they managed to make it worse… There is now a smudge under the lens cover. I only noticed it when I got home.

Yep, you are setting your OCD off for sure.

Sooner of later the Apple place will get tired of dealing with you.

 

[44267547]

Just spotted this lately, if I plug a lightning cable in and press up or down on the cable head, it makes a clicking noise inside of the port. Anyone else experiencing the same ?

That’s not normal behavior. Check inside the lightning port to make sure there’s nothing lodged inside there causing that to happen.

 

[Alexrat1996]

If you have a credit card call apple care and do an express replacement.

 

[mohangowda]

That’s not normal behavior. Check inside the lightning port to make sure there’s nothing lodged inside there causing that to happen.

Every iPhone XR I’ve come across makes this clicking sound . Can u check with your devices and update me please?

 

[Knowlege Bomb]

Not to mention they managed to clean off some anti reflect layer around the sensor itself, my girlfriend's XR has a blue layer around the sensor where mine is just plain black plastic (was blue before mine too).

Here are some pictures. The one with the red case is my girlfriend's phone.

That looks terrible. I would never settle for sub-par work like that. Take it back.

 

[Lekro]

Yep, you are setting your OCD off for sure.

Sooner of later the Apple place will get tired of dealing with you.

Well they shouldn't be because they messed up my phone. They didn't even replace the IP67 adhesive and there was a gap between the screen and the back-frame.

They probably used alcohol or circuit board cleaner and wiped off the blue anti reflection coating on the truedepth camera sensor. The circuit board cleaner can leave a mark like this on glass.

I repair apple products as my job and even without being an apple authorized service provider, I can tell this is something like mall repair shop would do to your phone.

I have access to GSX (Apple Global Service Exchange) and checked the serial of my phone. Nothing is documented about this "repair" process.

This means, down the line if my phone dies within the warranty period, Apple can say I opened the phone myself and revoke my warranty. This is a 1 month old phone.


Anyways. I went back to the store and the guy agreed with me on everything. I left the pictures I took as evidence on the phone itself. I requested a device swap but they told me they have no say in this but gonna mention it on the worksheet.

They said it will take a week now. Previous repair was done in 2 days. I bet the repair was done on spot as an "easy quick undocumented procedure" as they thought its a non-issue.



Please don't call OCD on this because this is closer to BS by now.