Exactly. It would be like trying to return your new Bravia because the backlight is visible through the top grille ...
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White iPhone 3G Light Leak - Back Casing
- Thread starter 7jjm
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I'm curious what all the folks who think it's absurd to return an iPhone for having light coming through the back think about phones that came with cracks, the front light leak, dust under the screen, rattling, or any of the other myriad quality control issues the 3G (especially the white) have encountered. None of those truly affect the usability of the phone...
What it comes down to is that you pay a premium for Apple products because they are made by Apple. With that premium comes higher expectations. The only way that Apple can charge the premium is by having superior products. I expect the Apple products I purchase to be the best possible value for my money. Apple expects that as well which is why they are willing to offer the service they give for the products they build.
I expect the best fr Apple, for which I'm willing to pay more money. The iPhone, even subsidized, isn't cheap. I think people are complaining because they too expect superior products and aren't willing to pay the Apple premium for a product with poor quality control. Apples reputation is built on the very best in quality control.
What it comes down to is that you pay a premium for Apple products because they are made by Apple. With that premium comes higher expectations. The only way that Apple can charge the premium is by having superior products. I expect the Apple products I purchase to be the best possible value for my money. Apple expects that as well which is why they are willing to offer the service they give for the products they build.
I expect the best fr Apple, for which I'm willing to pay more money. The iPhone, even subsidized, isn't cheap. I think people are complaining because they too expect superior products and aren't willing to pay the Apple premium for a product with poor quality control. Apples reputation is built on the very best in quality control.
Really?? I'd argue that Apple's reputation is based on slick, industrial design using (at times) fairly expensive components with an emphasis more on form than function (IMHO) and embarrassingly poor QC. I've gone through two iPod Touches, and two iPhone 3Gs - of those four devices, half had large particles of dust under the display, and three had manufacturing defects in the outer casing.
Still, you have to draw the line somewhere. I don't think light showing through a thin white plastic case is anything to get your panties in a twist about - it seems like a perfectly normal thing to me. Bright light + thin plastic? Yeah, I expect to see some bleed. Wouldn't anyone?
That's kind of what I meant by quality control. Hence the word quality. And yes, Apple's rep is very much based on having products with superior build quality as well. The 3G is by far their most mass-marketed product ever, though, so it does make sense that it would have the most problems. My first iPhone and Touch were extremely well-built and never came close to the number of build issues the 3G has. So, yes, I think quality is exactly what Apple has built their company on- the whole it just works philosophy.
And, no, I don't think you should expect light to come through the back. If it was "supposed" to, then it would come through the entire back and not in differing patterns on different phones. They obviously can make it opaque, and it's simply a matter of those that do leak not being up to spec so to speak. Is it earth-shattering? Of course not. But it is not supposed to be there. Otherwise 9 out of 10 geniuses wouldn't take one look and deem it unacceptable and swap out the phone.
I also think it's easy for people who don't have any build-issues to criticize others for wanting their phones to be "perfect" as well.
Wirelessly posted (iPhone 3G (16GB, 2.0.2 JB'd): Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_0_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5C1 Safari/525.20)
While I do know what you mean about people who aren't having problems disregarding the (sometimes) real and serious problems afflicting others, I actually do have this 'problem.' As picky as I am about my gadgets, though, this one just doesn't bother me. Maybe it's because I never look at the back of my iPhone in the dark.
While I do know what you mean about people who aren't having problems disregarding the (sometimes) real and serious problems afflicting others, I actually do have this 'problem.' As picky as I am about my gadgets, though, this one just doesn't bother me. Maybe it's because I never look at the back of my iPhone in the dark.
LOL Apple is notorious for sacrificing quality and durability for design. I love Apple, and have used their computers for years, but one thing they are NOT known for is quality control and build quality!
Wirelessly posted (iPhone 3G (16GB, 2.0.2 JB'd): Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_0_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5C1 Safari/525.20)
Thank you. That's the point I was trying to make - but you did a much better job of it.
slicecom said:
Thank you. That's the point I was trying to make - but you did a much better job of it.
Wirelessly posted (iPhone 3G (16GB, 2.0.2 JB'd): Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_0_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5C1 Safari/525.20)
Thank you. That's the point I was trying to make - but you did a much better job of it.
No prob!
I was merely helping to re-enforce your point. 
This is news to me, guys.
I always thought Apple was big on making sure their stuff was "the good stuff".
::shrugs::
I always thought Apple was big on making sure their stuff was "the good stuff".
::shrugs::
actually, i think you are completely, utterly wrong about that. maybe during the scant jim scully years, but for the rest of Apple's existence, high-quality was a big part of their experience.
me too. and i think the posts above are a little jaded. anyone that doesn't think high quality hardware isn't part of the Apple experience, well, i just don't know what to say about it really...
I think you're confusing beautifully designed with high quality. Many of Apple's nicest designs have suffered from QC problems.
Any other company would have made the iPhone 3G thicker so the plastic backing wouldn't crack or allow light through, but Apple, for the sake of a beautiful design, pushed the limits, and we now see the consequences of that.
I'm not bashing Apple. They're my favorite tech company by far, but it's obvious that they put aesthetic design over durability and QC. It's just the way Apple does things.
i think you're exactly right about the 3G having poor QC, that was my whole point. But, I think it's a fallacy to believe that Apple doesn't have extremely high QC standard that are a huge facet of their business. I think that recently they have fallen away from those standards a bit, the 3G being a prime example. so, no, i'm not confusing beauty for quality. there was a time when Apple products had both. and unfortunately their products these days don't seem to measure up to the QC of yore.
hell, i have a IIe and the original Mac still running strong at my house, looking almost as good as the day I got them.
Anyone that has exchanged theirs out in the last day or two, what is the back of your new one looking like? I have noticed it coming through the back on my 4th iPhone and would like to know if it's worth taking down to Apple to get it switched out.
don't think its worth it. i've gone through 6 or 7 white 3Gs for this and other reasons, and every single one has light leaking through the back. don't even bother bringing it back for the back light leak alone. i'm pretty convinced that all white 3Gs have this issue.
Talked with Apple today and they said the Product Specialist informed them this is not suppose to be happening in the product. I also noticed that the rubber seal going around the glass is pushed all the way down right at the same spot the ringer switch is. Anyone else have this?
Either way, Apple couldn't get me in today because it seems everyone needs to see the genius in Nashville until Monday so I will be getting this phone switched out for both of these reasons. These quality issues are starting to get old.
Either way, Apple couldn't get me in today because it seems everyone needs to see the genius in Nashville until Monday so I will be getting this phone switched out for both of these reasons. These quality issues are starting to get old.
I agree with this poster DO NOT REPLACE your phone for dust and light leakage, they all have it at the moment
I replaced my iphone due to light leakage and dust under the screen
I looked at 3 different brand new phones and THEY ALL HAD it
my new phone however has no dead pixels
well I posted earlier saying mine doesn't have it but it does. I notice it when I have the brightness all the way up and in darkness. Just creates a spotty pattern around thecurved side of the phone. Doesn't really bother me at all as I don't look at back when using screen lol
Just returned back and after pulling teeth (Tried to tell me that part of the gasket pushed into the phone and light leak was a cosmetic flaw) they gave me a replacement and told me it would be a one time thing. After inspecting the phone when I got home, I have light leak down the left side between the glass and bezel (no surprise here) and 2 dead pixels that I was able to find. Should I go back for another one. I have been working on the light leak and almost have it closed as for the dead pixels I don't know if it's worth it. I wouldn't be surprised if everyone had at least one with the quality of these things. I am getting tired of being a beta tester for Apple. These quality issues are out of control.
why did you exchange it
as I stated before, its pointless to swap iPhones for dust or light leakage.... they all have it.. and you might end up with a worse phone
try to take a picture of the dead pixels... but i doubt thats a good enough reason to replace
when i had my Touch, I had it swapped for dead pixels 2 times. The first time it was one single, pretty small green pixel, and the second time it was a green pixel that wouldn't always show. they swapped 'em both with no issue.
I exchanged because part of the gasket on the phone wasn't even there because it was pushed down into the phone.