Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
dammit. i didnt check for bad pixels before i left. now i see two black dots at the bottom left and right. What is Apple's official word on pixels? Can i get another replacement? Geez a third? this is ridiculous now
 
dammit. i didnt check for bad pixels before i left. now i see two black dots at the bottom left and right. What is Apple's official word on pixels? Can i get another replacement? Geez a third? this is ridiculous now

They replaced mine for one bad subpixel... Find an app to show them where it really distracts you or looks bad.

I think Apple's only policy on subpixel anomalies is: Is it an issue?/Does it bother you? And it seems up to the individual Genius or manager helping you.

One dead/stuck subpixel on a screen as small and viewed as close as an iPhone could be considered really distracting. While watching video in landscape on my iPhone, the dead green subpixel was dead center horizontally and near the top. Right in the sky and right on foreheads... It was annoying.
 
They replaced mine for one bad subpixel... Find an app to show them where it really distracts you or looks bad.

I think Apple's only policy on subpixel anomalies is: Is it an issue?/Does it bother you? And it seems up to the individual Genius or manager helping you.

One dead/stuck subpixel on a screen as small and viewed as close as an iPhone could be considered really distracting. While watching video in landscape on my iPhone, the dead green subpixel was dead center horizontally and near the top. Right in the sky and right on foreheads... It was annoying.

mine has 2 black pixels in the left and right corners on what seems to be the same horizontal line as if they would actually line up. they Both appear in the main 4 icon bar. i think i might try my luck at a different store tommorow. i wouldnt mind this too much, but it will end up biting me when i goto sell it when the 2g model comes out next year
 
Newest update on my phone. I received a call back from the lady in Executive CS. She said she forwarded my photos to the engineer in her building, and finally understood what I was experiencing with the explanation of a digital camera. She said the engineer wanted my phone to see my problem in person, so she gave me her direct address and info on shipping via Fed-Ex. She said that as soon as she sees my package in the mail she'll send me another phone since they'll likely have to take mine apart and have it for a while.

I'm beyond tired of this, and have to admit that the whole thing has lost it's magic in the madness. I'm wondering if a 5th phone is going to make a difference since I've seen so many bad ones. If it's bad, I think I'll give up and go back to my old phone. Nothing is worth this hassle.


he popped my sim in it.

when he pulled it out of the box though, i was able to browse to the sites. i dont know how that works, but it did.

According to the lady in Executive CS, some of the service phones come activated from the box. Which is why the Southlake store called me a hacker when I took one of these back to them. I got it already activated, they were too stupid to know their own policy, they accused me of hacking the phone. Fun times, that.
 
Are your other LCD screens multi-touch LCDs? It may not be the newest technology but it isn't completely apples-to-apples comparing it to standard LCDs is it?

I believe it is apples-to-apples it is, since first, they always just said "back lit LCD" not multi touch display. And second, since Apple.com shows that the multi-touch stuff is laid over the LCD itself, not a part of the actual LCD.

Apple Multi-touch page

Regardless, decent back lit LCDs have been displaying dark scenes correctly head on for quite a few years now, including some of their own iPhones. I shouldn't have to go through 4, soon to be 5 iPhones to get a good one. I just hope my newest one will be good.
 
I believe it is apples-to-apples it is, since first, they always just said "back lit LCD" not multi touch display. And second, since Apple.com shows that the multi-touch stuff is laid over the LCD itself, not a part of the actual LCD.

Apple Multi-touch page

Regardless, decent back lit LCDs have been displaying dark scenes correctly head on for quite a few years now, including some of their own iPhones. I shouldn't have to go through 4, soon to be 5 iPhones to get a good one. I just hope my newest one will be good.


Perhaps your issue will open the can of worms. I just got back from AT&T with a $40 restocking fee trying to get a new one with a good screen. They had no week 37 or 38. We will see how this one is. If it is bad, I am contacting Apple as well.
 
Perhaps your issue will open the can of worms. I just got back from AT&T with a $40 restocking fee trying to get a new one with a good screen. They had no week 37 or 38. We will see how this one is. If it is bad, I am contacting Apple as well.

iPhones are covered by Apple Care even if you bought it from an AT&T Store. If you do have access to an Apple Store, they'll take care of you without the restocking fee.

Not sure if you have one in your area, but... If your user name UCSD**** has anything to do with being located in La Jolla, Ca - the guys over at the UTC store have been more than helpful, several times now. Also, they've seen my faulty blacks issue and know it exists. The iPhone toward the back left-hand corner of the store on the iPhone table is an excellent example to compare to for faulty blacks. Several of their other floor models suffer the same fate and would not be a good example.

I got a week 32 that seems fine. It appears to depend more on the screen version. My 2nd iPhone, a week 38, had a dead green subpixel. So no guarantees even with a week 37/38. Honestly, the dead pixel was more annoying than the faulty blacks. However, getting a true black does change the overall appearance of the iPhone - Darker launch screen and darker writing on buttons and keyboard.
 
iPhones are covered by Apple Care even if you bought it from an AT&T Store. If you do have access to an Apple Store, they'll take care of you without the restocking fee.

Not sure if you have one in your area, but... If your user name UCSD**** has anything to do with being located in La Jolla, Ca - the guys over at the UTC store have been more than helpful, several times now. Also, they've seen my faulty blacks issue and know it exists. The iPhone toward the back left-hand corner of the store on the iPhone table is an excellent example to compare to for faulty blacks. Several of their other floor models suffer the same fate and would not be a good example.

I got a week 32 that seems fine. It appears to depend more on the screen version. My 2nd iPhone, a week 38, had a dead green subpixel. So no guarantees even with a week 37/38. Honestly, the dead pixel was more annoying than the faulty blacks. However, getting a true black does change the overall appearance of the iPhone - Darker launch screen and darker writing on buttons and keyboard.

The UCSD thing was awhile ago. Anyhow, there is an Apple store here in Ann Arbor where I am for the moment which was "ok". I wanted a none refurbed unit and I ended up getting a 7S7 week 29. It does have the 7 screen that is the issue. BUT, it is not nearly as bad as my old one. I only need a slight angle to make it look good now and this one has NO DEAD PIXELS! So, I am happy now. Funny thing is I found another site where people were saying the 5 series screen sucks and the 7 has better contrast. Maybe that is the other 7 version. I am done for now. Perhaps Apple will soon come out of the closet and admit an issue.
 
just got back from the westfarms apple store. It wasnt as easy this time as i was returning for 2 black pixels. The guy grabbed one ( i can confirm they are activated out of the box with no sim ) and this one had the bad gray/black. so i said, i'm not taking this one. then the guy gives me the "well i cant open 30 of them". and i asked "so you are going to send me away with a bad phone?". then they said maybe come back another time and keep the one with 2 black pixels. Then i explained how i live an hour from the store. and i proposed a deal.

I said, let's try one more and if it's no good, i would keep the bad pixel one for now ( even though i was probably lying). Sure enough, it was good. So i took it. Then i asked, "so you're going to give phone with bad pixels and known issues with black/gray?" and then the guy whipped out his own phone and sure as ****, his had the issue. And he said "i guess im one of the chumps". And i said "well i guess you'll have to decide if you want to keep it.

They definitely don't like me at that store now, but hopefully i won't have to go back. it may seem like im picky but again, its more about if i ever sell it.
 
I just got back from the apple store and the serial number of mine begins with 7V738... Anyone heard of this one?

Screen still sucks, not a negative black issue but definitely not as good of a brightness as my girlfriends LCD 5 series... UGH, I am going to try a different Apple store and see if they have any 5 series screen ones...
 
I just got back from the apple store and the serial number of mine begins with 7V738... Anyone heard of this one?

Screen still sucks, not a negative black issue but definitely not as good of a brightness as my girlfriends LCD 5 series... UGH, I am going to try a different Apple store and see if they have any 5 series screen ones...

Good luck on the 5. Like I said some others were reporting better contrast on the 7, probably the version I and you don't have. But regardless, are you going to run it at full brightness all the time? That is how I feel. I would rather have a phone with no dead pixels and minimal negative issues.
 
Agreed... The color looks way better on mine then my girlfriends. The only thing better on hers are the grey's and blacks. Also, have much better contast as well. It is just that in videos that have dark scenes you can't make out much detail, and there is a slight shimmer effect on the Jay-Z album cover when looking straight on. However, I do definitely like my colors and what not better on mine, so I think you get one or the other, and can't get both.
 
Update:

Just got back from the Apple Store with my swapped out iPhone. Let me say the new one is flawless! I'm stoked. :) This is how it should look. Just for fun, I took a picture of my new phone and threw it next to the picture i posted before of my old phone. What a difference!

[Update]: Here's my new LCD panel ID: 7459072
 

Attachments

  • jayz_comparison.jpg
    jayz_comparison.jpg
    262 KB · Views: 293
Good luck on the 5. Like I said some others were reporting better contrast on the 7, probably the version I and you don't have. But regardless, are you going to run it at full brightness all the time? That is how I feel. I would rather have a phone with no dead pixels and minimal negative issues.

The only post on contrast I've found says the contrast on the 7 is horrible and the 5 is excellent.

I know my 5 series screen is excellent.

If anyone knows of a good test for contrast, let me know so I can add it to my iPhone screen test page. It came in handy for checking my screen before I left the Genius Bar.
 
I read this entire thread, but I didn't see what I was looking for. What's the consensus with Apple/geniuses replacing iPhones over the 14 day period?

This negative black issues always bothered me, but I thought it was normal. Great.... Made my appointment with the Bar for Tuesday. Lets see what they can do.
 
Honestly, there's way to much "5 rules, 7 sucks" comparison going on. My rental iPhone was a 5 and the color was pushing blue, washed out, and generally "blah." The screen was brighter and the contrast lower.

On my current 7-series, the colors are truer, the screen isn't as killer-bright, and the contrast is excellent.

The 5 isn't necessarily better by any measure.

However, I must say that my 7 has at least 1 totally dead pixel and maybe even up to 4 or 5 in landscape mode. And it also has mild negative blacks. Week 35, I believe.

All I'm trying to say is that you people need to stop wishing for a 5. I'll take a non-faulty 7 over a non-faulty 5 any day after what I've seen. If the negative black issue is solved via firmware update, I'll even take my current one with it's couple of dead pixels.
 
The only post on contrast I've found says the contrast on the 7 is horrible and the 5 is excellent.

I know my 5 series screen is excellent.

If anyone knows of a good test for contrast, let me know so I can add it to my iPhone screen test page. It came in handy for checking my screen before I left the Genius Bar.

I recently just took a hard look in depth comparison between my 5 series and another 7 series...

There was a big difference between the two. The 5 had much better contrast and the colors "popped" more. Even the owner of the 7 series agreed. Watch and compare the opening scene of "Oceans Thirteen".

That being said... It could have been my phone or it could have been the other phone. It was a one time test with two phones only. And.. unless the two are together one would never notice the difference.

If I get another phone, my screen is coming with.
 
I got a replacement yesterday, and the screen is perfect, but for some reason I cant get any service, wtf....im going back today. Top left Always says NO SERVICE
 
Hi, I definetly have the black negative screen issue..I was wondering before I take my phone to the apple store..do I restore it to factory settings since I have installed third party applications?? do I need to take the box or reciept?? I bougt it online though..thanks
 
Newest update. I just got off the phone with my Executive CS rep., whom I had earlier in the day, shipped my newest bad iPhone to. She confirmed that shipment and is overnighting me a new phone to be here either tomorrow or Wednesday.

When, out of curiosity, I asked what would happen if the newest phone had a bad screen, she said with extreme emphasis that she was shipping a "brand new phone". I kind of laughed and almost started to explain that the one I just sent her was also a brand new, week 39 phone, but she continued by saying that we'll cross that bridge when we get there. Indeed we will, I let it go and have crossed my fingers.

I must admit that I don't think I'm being believed here. Maybe it's just the way Apple has decided to treat me thus far, but I highly doubt they're going to really examine my old phone. Instead, I almost feel like they're just placating me with another new phone. Sorry guys, but phone #5 here will be held to an extreme standard.

I've been treated like a criminal by Apple, I've been slandered against by an uneducated Apple Store Manager who didn't even know standard policy, and I'm still not even sure Apple believes my problem. All of this for a $400 phone which may or may not ever have a decent screen. Last chance. Tomorrow marks the two week anniversary of my receiving my first bad iPhone. Two weeks of dealing with this issue and Apples employees. :apple:
 
Newest update. I just got off the phone with my Executive CS rep., whom I had earlier in the day, shipped my newest bad iPhone to. She confirmed that shipment and is overnighting me a new phone to be here either tomorrow or Wednesday.

When, out of curiosity, I asked what would happen if the newest phone had a bad screen, she said with extreme emphasis that she was shipping a "brand new phone". I kind of laughed and almost started to explain that the one I just sent her was also a brand new, week 39 phone, but she continued by saying that we'll cross that bridge when we get there. Indeed we will, I let it go and have crossed my fingers.

I must admit that I don't think I'm being believed here. Maybe it's just the way Apple has decided to treat me thus far, but I highly doubt they're going to really examine my old phone. Instead, I almost feel like they're just placating me with another new phone. Sorry guys, but phone #5 here will be held to an extreme standard.

I've been treated like a criminal by Apple, I've been slandered against by an uneducated Apple Store Manager who didn't even know standard policy, and I'm still not even sure Apple believes my problem. All of this for a $400 phone which may or may not ever have a decent screen. Last chance. Tomorrow marks the two week anniversary of my receiving my first bad iPhone. Two weeks of dealing with this issue and Apples employees. :apple:

Good luck to you. I've saved myself from the hassle and just returned my iphone. I'll never buy one until I hear the majority of people on this board or in other places post that they're receiving iphones with good screen.
 
The 1.1.1 update fixes the Touch's screen. Anyone apply the 1.1.1 update to their phone and does it fix the screen as well?

I'm hoping to hear that the firmware does fix the negative black issues. Come on guys, so did it help at all? So far I've read from only a few people with mixed results.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.