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Overcoming iPhone Defect Anxiety

T

Ternary

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jul 4, 2015
168
162
It's that time again. I'm set to upgrade my iPhone 5 to the iPhone 6s, and I'm thrilled to experience the wonders of Touch ID, bigger screen, 2GB RAM, and 3D Touch.

But there's one thing that's holding me back: I'm afraid I'll get a defect.

My iPhone 5 arrived flawless. The screen was perfect. There were no cosmetic defects out of the box. All the ports/buttons worked just fine.

But I fear the iPhone 6s will break this lucky streak. I've seen the multi-page topic of iPhone 6s factory defects, and the more I read the posts, the more I fear the same will happen to me. What if I get a yellow tinted or uneven backlight display? What if one of the antenna bands arrives scratched? And worse, with the Samsung VS TSMC chip controversy, what if my iPhone comes with the undesired SoC?

With all these potential problems, it seems nearly impossible to obtain that perfect iPhone like I managed to pull off with my 5. I understand if I do indeed get a defect, I can return and exchange the iPhone, but trust me, I really don't want to deal with the Genius Bar for a long while. This year alone, I've visited them at least four times to deal with minor MacBook Air issues (and eventually ended up with a chipped bezel). I'd absolutely hate to waste my and the Genius Bar's time once again for issues so minor normal people would scoff at.

One can also argue I avoid this altogether and stay with my iPhone 5. But that's not how I want to solve it. I WANT the 6s. I WANT the new specs/features. What I DON'T WANT are the hoops and flaws my anal retentive self wouldn't be able to tolerate. Unfortunately, from what I see here, it just seems way too likely I'll end up with these flaws.

So what's the best thing I can do to overcome my iPhone anxiety? Have any of you guys been in the same position as me?



tldr: I'm afraid I'll end up with a defective iPhone 6s. How do I prepare myself for my fate?
 
My 6S came perfect. Dude, life is too short to worry about that kind of stuff. Just get it and if there happens to be a defect, Apple will be more than happy to swap it out for you.
 
I wouldn't would worry to much about it. If you notice the defect, you can always return it. But I really don't like playing this exchanging game, knowing that no matter what you are always playing a lottery.
 
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I also got a perfect 6s+. Most of the time you get a perfect phone. The odds are against your getting one with a defect. And if it is defective Apple is really good at making sure that you end up satisfied.
 
Reading this forum can provide you with a false sense of many problems, defects, issues. 13 million phones were ordered first weekend. The percentage of defective ones is very small. Buy from Apple, get AppleCare+ and return in first two weeks if you have issues.

Beyond that as stated above it's only a phone.
 
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CNeufeld said:
Psychiatric counselling. Seriously, dude. It's a phone. Apple backs their stuff. Get over it.

C
Click to expand...

A tad harsh. Apple have a history of their products having defects out of the box and whether that's due to the sheer volume manufactured or poor QC, it's normal to be anxious when purchasing one. For some people it represents a big purchase and for their hard earned money they have a right to expect no hardware defects out of the box. Sure Apple backs their products but who likes the hassle of exchanges, and the very real gamble of getting more defects. Plus once you go beyond the 14 day return period you're looking at the even bigger gamble of exchanging for a refurbished previously faulty device.

Those who have a high disposable income, upgrade every year, treat their phones as a tool, or don't suffer from OCD probably care substantially less about defects. I accept iPhones with slight defects purely because I'm very aware that any exchange may suffer from a similar or worse defect. The faults you can readily expect straight out of the box range from yellow screens, dark spots on the display, uneven backlighting, loose buttons, inferior batteries, scratches & scuffs to other more fatal hardware defects. Any of these potential problems are widespread and fairly likely. It boils down to what can you live with and what you expect for your money. Some people expect physical perfection and for the prices Apple charge are they really being unreasonable?
 
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Buy it in person at the Apple store. You can reject it right then and there if it comes out of the box and is not to your liking.
 
it's difficult, sometimes even when you get a perfect one you get paranoid about not breaking its 'perfection'
 
Wackery said:
it's difficult, sometimes even when you get a perfect one you get paranoid about not breaking its 'perfection'
Click to expand...

I stick it in a case (this time the same case I had my previous phone in) and slap a screen protector on it and don't think about it after that. After a years use it still looks brand new and can get full resale value.
 
HEK said:
Beyond that as stated above it's only a phone.
Click to expand...

In my case, a £700 ($1066) phone. Hardly a run of the mill purchase for most folk.
My iPhone 5 had a loose power button, loose volume buttons and a loose mute switch out of the box. I kept it but over the 18 months I owned it those defects annoyed me and also detracted from the 'premium' vibe I had supposedly bought into. Thankfully my 6+ was physically perfect, but my first 6S+ had to be exchanged due to a faulty home button. My second and current 6S+ has an inferior battery life, a blotch on the screen and a loose mute switch. I would keep the screen and mute switch issues but I'm still pondering exchanging for a second time due to the battery. OCD? Perfectionism? Or just expecting a certain standard for my not inconsiderable outlay?

The 6S+ is a great phone and I want to keep one but getting a physically perfect iPhone is most certainly a lottery so far as I'm concerned.
 
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barkomatic said:
Buy it in person at the Apple store. You can reject it right then and there if it comes out of the box and is not to your liking.
Click to expand...
Not a bad idea. How exactly does this work though? Do I have to ask a genius to stand by me while I inspect the iPhone?
 
Zetaprime said:
I stick it in a case (this time the same case I had my previous phone in) and slap a screen protector on it and don't think about it after that. After a years use it still looks brand new and can get full resale value.
Click to expand...
I'm the same, but for the first few days I always lose sleep over the tiny specs of dust caught in between the camera ring and the lens, or a smudge, or a single tiny particle sitting on the microphone that I can see.

Eventually we have to accept that it's just an object
 
Ternary said:
Not a bad idea. How exactly does this work though? Do I have to ask a genius to stand by me while I inspect the iPhone?
Click to expand...
You can simply ask the sales person that you would like to unbox it in store and check for any defects, and they will gladly help you. *Do note that most Apple stores are so bright that you won't even notice the screen quality at the store until you actually compare it with the display model.
 
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Wackery said:
it's difficult, sometimes even when you get a perfect one you get paranoid about not breaking its 'perfection'
Click to expand...
That's why you do the old rock chip to the paint before leaving dealership trick.

Unbox the phone at the Apple Store, examine in detail with magnifier you brought along. Download dead pixel app and check that. Feel the buttons, shake and listen for loose parts. Once you find a phone that meets your standards, take a sharp knife and scrape a deep scratch on back of aluminum case. This way you leave the store knowing it's not perfect and don't have to baby it, spending anxious days and weeks obsessing when the first nick, blemish or other damage will happen.

With this issue solved, go out and find a homeless person, provide them a meal and place to sleep for the night.
 
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Ternary said:
It's that time again. I'm set to upgrade my iPhone 5 to the iPhone 6s, and I'm thrilled to experience the wonders of Touch ID, bigger screen, 2GB RAM, and 3D Touch.

But there's one thing that's holding me back: I'm afraid I'll get a defect.

My iPhone 5 arrived flawless. The screen was perfect. There were no cosmetic defects out of the box. All the ports/buttons worked just fine.

But I fear the iPhone 6s will break this lucky streak. I've seen the multi-page topic of iPhone 6s factory defects, and the more I read the posts, the more I fear the same will happen to me. What if I get a yellow tinted or uneven backlight display? What if one of the antenna bands arrives scratched? And worse, with the Samsung VS TSMC chip controversy, what if my iPhone comes with the undesired SoC?

With all these potential problems, it seems nearly impossible to obtain that perfect iPhone like I managed to pull off with my 5. I understand if I do indeed get a defect, I can return and exchange the iPhone, but trust me, I really don't want to deal with the Genius Bar for a long while. This year alone, I've visited them at least four times to deal with minor MacBook Air issues (and eventually ended up with a chipped bezel). I'd absolutely hate to waste my and the Genius Bar's time once again for issues so minor normal people would scoff at.

One can also argue I avoid this altogether and stay with my iPhone 5. But that's not how I want to solve it. I WANT the 6s. I WANT the new specs/features. What I DON'T WANT are the hoops and flaws my anal retentive self wouldn't be able to tolerate. Unfortunately, from what I see here, it just seems way too likely I'll end up with these flaws.

So what's the best thing I can do to overcome my iPhone anxiety? Have any of you guys been in the same position as me?



tldr: I'm afraid I'll end up with a defective iPhone 6s. How do I prepare myself for my fate?
Click to expand...
Smoke some weed to calm that iPhone anxiety. Helps it real good.
 
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Your priorities are wrong buddy. It's just a phone. Get a relationship, that will help you.
 
OMG this thread has to be a joke a parody or something..... right? LOL

Here is what you do... you just go buy it and guess what if you get one that has a defect, you bring it back and Apple will swap it out. Simple eh!
 
There is nothing that is perfect in this world. Everything is transient and fleeting. Everything wears down and breaks down, especially the human body.

Of course, if your iPhone has some notable defects it is only proper to get it replaced while the warranty is still effective. Just enjoy your device and be aware that not everyone could afford it.
 
Just remember, you're not keeping the phone for very long; in the terms of your lifespan, it'll be a small blip. Even if it is defective, before you know it, you'll be eyeing up a new iPhone. Life goes by too quickly.

I remember I was quite distraught when I dropped my iPhone 5 has knocked the bezel. But then you realise, that was what, 3 years ago? And long since replaced.

Gosh, at this point, I can barely remember it outside of reflecting about how silly it was to be upset over.
 
Some of these answers are just plain hystericle. I kind of share your pain OP! I did exactly what so many of us have done before, I've upgraded to all the new iPhones on basically the day they've been launched. And to be honest I'm one in so many million that has basically never gotten a flawless phone from Apple before on the first try. These things are mass produced and it's a problem that all phone manufactureres share.

I've had my share of chips, dead pixels, scratches, yellow screens, and a slew of other things that I've been greeted with when opening up my brand spanken new phone.

However with this iPhone 6s Plus I went a different route. I've grown tired of playing the iPhone lottery, and basically promised myself I would just try and enjoy the phone this time. Well I did exactly what someone else on here did right from jump street. I put an apple anti glare screen protector on it, and threw it right in a case and called it a day. What can I say, my screen is white, I can send and receive emails and text messages, surf the web, make telephone calls, and flat out do everything I need to do without obsessing if my phone is perfect.

For me this one is fine and so far I'm actually enjoying my phone instead of visiting the guys at the genius bar and going through 10 exchanges.
 
I have a friend who will not even answer his phone unless he has washed his hands so different strokes for different folks. I feel,sorry for these people as they will fail to appreciate the new iPhone because they fear damaging it.
 
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