I've recently gotten myself a used 15 Pro as my 11 Pro didn't work anymore and I refused to get a new phone without USB C and Pro Motion.
Im very happy with the deal I got, the phone even still had Apple Care until 11/09/2024 and another year of manufacturer warranty.
At some point I noticed a tiny speck of dust in the Ultra Wide camera and decided that, together with the Taptic Engine feeling a little loose, like on a dropped-too-often iPhone 6s, and the speakers not being the same volume, that'd merit a trip to the one and only AASP (Apple Authorised Service Provider) or similar in my region.
I've had many more experiences with technical support for Apple devices than I like, with varying degrees of success and quality. This time was bound to be no different.
The Actual Service Experience
was interesting, as I go to know some new technologies Apple uses to diagnose the device. The technician ran a complete hardware test after I mentioned my 3 issues, I didnt expect him to do much because of the Taptic Engine, but the "service" for the speakers and camera was very interesting.
Now, he ran the speaker test, which is the iPhone playing a couple of frequencies and recording them with its inbuilt mics and saying if everything is ok... the ear piece speaker is a whole lot quiet then the main speaker, and the higher frequencies triggered some tears out of me standing in the store next to the dude doing the whole thing. He said, well the test says everything is fine, so.
So? I told him you can hear the volume problem by just using your fingers, first covering one speaker and then the other and listen to the difference. I can hear it, you can hear, just because the test can't "hear" it doesn't make it not exist.
Now, to the dust in the camera. Similar story. He started the test, which consisted of taking a picture with each camera and have it process it itself. I told him he can't see the dust in the pictures as it's on the very edge of the lense. He then went into his office where he had some microscopes and stuff, just to come back and ask me to point it out. Which I did. He finally saw the speck but told me the test said there is nothing wrong, so he can't do anything. Well, the test actually said there was a problem, which surprised us both, probably because he pressed something by accident taking it to the back.
He said he seems to be able to offer service now but had to order a camera, which was to be expected. All that was on Friday. On Monday I was notified that Apple wanted to see the phone themselves, which will take another 7-10 days.
What for? Quality control? Suspicion because of the erroneous test? This is so annoying, I need my phone, I can't rely on my old SE for a day longer than I need to, on Saturday a band I do videos for has a big gig in Berlin and I was hoping to take my 15 Pro to it and finally get around to actually using the damn thing, but no. Just no.
Now I realised, I can't even use online banking because well that's what I need my main phone for.
I HATE the fact that the decision was out of my hand for how long MY PHONE would be gone for, despite the issue being with one replaceable part and the other two issues originally not even being listed on the receipt that I had to sign. To have NO SAY to either receive "advanced service" or whatever it is they are doing or get the phone back is for me almost incomprehensible for a gadget so mission critical for daily life and professional tasks. I rely on my phone, some weeks more and some less. This week I NEED it and I would rather have taken it back and returned later. Very annoying.
Anyone know why Apple decided to service the phone themselves? The store is a genuine AASP although the technicians are a mixed back, which has never bothered Apple once as far as I know.
Will update once I get it back.
Im very happy with the deal I got, the phone even still had Apple Care until 11/09/2024 and another year of manufacturer warranty.
At some point I noticed a tiny speck of dust in the Ultra Wide camera and decided that, together with the Taptic Engine feeling a little loose, like on a dropped-too-often iPhone 6s, and the speakers not being the same volume, that'd merit a trip to the one and only AASP (Apple Authorised Service Provider) or similar in my region.
I've had many more experiences with technical support for Apple devices than I like, with varying degrees of success and quality. This time was bound to be no different.
The Actual Service Experience
was interesting, as I go to know some new technologies Apple uses to diagnose the device. The technician ran a complete hardware test after I mentioned my 3 issues, I didnt expect him to do much because of the Taptic Engine, but the "service" for the speakers and camera was very interesting.
Now, he ran the speaker test, which is the iPhone playing a couple of frequencies and recording them with its inbuilt mics and saying if everything is ok... the ear piece speaker is a whole lot quiet then the main speaker, and the higher frequencies triggered some tears out of me standing in the store next to the dude doing the whole thing. He said, well the test says everything is fine, so.
So? I told him you can hear the volume problem by just using your fingers, first covering one speaker and then the other and listen to the difference. I can hear it, you can hear, just because the test can't "hear" it doesn't make it not exist.
Now, to the dust in the camera. Similar story. He started the test, which consisted of taking a picture with each camera and have it process it itself. I told him he can't see the dust in the pictures as it's on the very edge of the lense. He then went into his office where he had some microscopes and stuff, just to come back and ask me to point it out. Which I did. He finally saw the speck but told me the test said there is nothing wrong, so he can't do anything. Well, the test actually said there was a problem, which surprised us both, probably because he pressed something by accident taking it to the back.
He said he seems to be able to offer service now but had to order a camera, which was to be expected. All that was on Friday. On Monday I was notified that Apple wanted to see the phone themselves, which will take another 7-10 days.
What for? Quality control? Suspicion because of the erroneous test? This is so annoying, I need my phone, I can't rely on my old SE for a day longer than I need to, on Saturday a band I do videos for has a big gig in Berlin and I was hoping to take my 15 Pro to it and finally get around to actually using the damn thing, but no. Just no.
Now I realised, I can't even use online banking because well that's what I need my main phone for.
I HATE the fact that the decision was out of my hand for how long MY PHONE would be gone for, despite the issue being with one replaceable part and the other two issues originally not even being listed on the receipt that I had to sign. To have NO SAY to either receive "advanced service" or whatever it is they are doing or get the phone back is for me almost incomprehensible for a gadget so mission critical for daily life and professional tasks. I rely on my phone, some weeks more and some less. This week I NEED it and I would rather have taken it back and returned later. Very annoying.
Anyone know why Apple decided to service the phone themselves? The store is a genuine AASP although the technicians are a mixed back, which has never bothered Apple once as far as I know.
Will update once I get it back.
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