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iPhone's reaction to magnets

B

Bettermann09

macrumors member
Original poster
Jun 11, 2008
56
0
I found an old leather holster that came with my old T-Mobile Dash (WM :p) and the latch on it is magnetic. Is the iPhone affected by magnets? I know that some screens are and some are not.
 
I was just doing some more research on it and someone said it messes up the sim card. I'm not a magnetologist either... ;)
 
What makes you think the magnet from the latch on your case would cause any harm to the iPhone. It's weak... not like it's some super powered magnet or something.

SIM card, I doubt it. Who says that? Just some random guy, or somebody that knows what they're talking about?
 
the magnets used are not strong enough to do any damage

magnets only really cause problems with CRTs, as said, and hard drives (but not flash as found on iphone) if they are strong enough
 
Tell you what does happen though. Every time I put a parking ticked with a magnetic strip into the same pocket as my iPhone, the parking ticket becomes unreadable.
 
magnets cause problems with microwaves...
like short-circuiting them.

dont ask.
it just happened. :p
 
memesmith said:
Tell you what does happen though. Every time I put a parking ticked with a magnetic strip into the same pocket as my iPhone, the parking ticket becomes unreadable.
Click to expand...

Same here with my train ticket. Went to London yesterday and the flippin ticket wouldn't work on any of the London Underground gates. Really annoying!
 
i have used two different magnet flip cases with my iPhone and also a magnet case with my iPod Touch and have had no related problems.
 
For what it's worth, I had bought a magnet case for my 1st GEN iPhone, and whenever I placed the phone in it, the battery life substantially reduced. I found myself with a dead battery about half-way through my work shift, when I had charged it at home prior to leaving. :eek:

I stopped using the case, and the battery life is normal now.
 
tiguk said:
Same here with my train ticket. Went to London yesterday and the flippin ticket wouldn't work on any of the London Underground gates. Really annoying!
Click to expand...

hmmm.... I wonder if it causes problems with the magstripe on credit cards! I have been walking around for two days with the iPhone and wallet in the same pocket.
 
BobF4321 said:
hmmm.... I wonder if it causes problems with the magstripe on credit cards! I have been walking around for two days with the iPhone and wallet in the same pocket.
Click to expand...

I keep my iphone 3GS in my left front pocket and my wallet with credit cards in my left rear pocket. Today I discovered that both my ATM and Visa cards could not be read. This is like a separation of about 7" through my thigh. Could the RF be that strong?
 
only if..

Alphi14 said:
I keep my iphone 3GS in my left front pocket and my wallet with credit cards in my left rear pocket. Today I discovered that both my ATM and Visa cards could not be read. This is like a separation of about 7" through my thigh. Could the RF be that strong?
Click to expand...

your leg is made of paper, other wise it has to be some outside factor maybe one of those pads that say don't place cards here
 
I carried my 3G in a Motorola Q case for a year, which has a magnet.

Zero issues.

Now, the 3GS, with a compass, the jury is out.

I have read that Apple suggests NOT to use cases with magnets, but who knows really.
 
actually most of the cases I have used have rare earth magnets in them. far more powerful then a fridge magnet. they are very strong for their size. any other magnet would be too weak to hold much.
 
Rat-Boy said:
I carried my 3G in a Motorola Q case for a year, which has a magnet.

Zero issues.

Now, the 3GS, with a compass, the jury is out.

I have read that Apple suggests NOT to use cases with magnets, but who knows really.
Click to expand...

I'm using a blackberry storm case with my 3GS and doesn't look like there's any issues so far...after reading this post I'm not too sure if I want to use it any more...
 
Apple recommends against cases and holsters with magnetic latches for the iPhone 3GS as the magnetic field (even a weak one) can throw off the calibration of the magnetometer. This can result in GPS inaccuracies.
 
My 2 cents

Sit 2 3GS's directly next to each other in compass mode, they throw each other off rather dramatically by 24 degrees. I wouldn't put it near other magnets because they may negatively affect the
compass feature.
 
Generally, magnets and electronics don't match. No matter how weak the magnets are, I wouldn't have them together just to be safe.
 
I'm having an issue now with the magnetic compass in my SUV and my 3GS, when I get in my truck which has a magnetic compass, the 3GS compass always requires calibration and prompts me to do the "figure 8" which doesn't take, the phone compass just won't calibrate. As soon as I get out, the 3GS compass is working normally. So I would say magnets are probably bad............
 
Magnetic interference does create the figure 8 calibration screen to pop up, but since I am not using it while it is holstered, I don't really mind...

But on the other hand, will it cause damage to the compass/phone in the long run?
 
I was always afraid to use a magnetic holster for my iPhone 2G, then 3G, so I used a velcro one. Then when I got the 3GS I got an Incase Slider, therefor the iPhone wouldn't fit inside the holster I previously had for my 2G/3G. I went to Best Buy in search of a new holster that would fit the iPhone with the case on it. After a few minutes of searching, I finally found one, but it was magnetic! :eek:

Then I said F it, and bought it. I've been using it for two weeks now, and have had zero negative effects. I will never go back to a velcro holster again. Magnetic ones are so much nicer. :cool:
 
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