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Dust under glass-iPhone 3G

Aiphanes said:
Has anybody tried to take theirs back? What happened?
Click to expand...

I made an appointment at a Genius Bar, the guy verified the dust spec and then handed me a new identical 16GB white iPhone from their repair stock (Still new, just less fancy packaging and non-sellable).

I've just noticed a dead pixel on the replacement unit, so looks like I'll be going back again. :(
 
Mine has a tiny speck of dust too! I swear it wasn't there yesterday...it's so miniscule, but now that it's there it's like a giant beacon!
 
Dantay - You should totally make a genius appt and insist on another phone. That's not acceptable and NOT within spec.

I had what I thought was a stuck/dead pixel but it was 1 spec of dust. It was returned for that and another reason.
 
took mine back today and the genius refused to give me a new phone. He showed me a display model that had a small gap between the glass and the chrome on the top right just like mine. He said if dust gets in there I can exchange it. Is it true we have 14 days no questions asked?
 
I have this problem myself. There is a very annoying specle sitting in the middle of the screen, under the glass.

However, after having lost my iPhone 3G for 5 days because of a faulty sim card mechanism (the iPhone refused to detect any sim cards) I have decided not to bring it back. Instead, I will open the iPhone myself and blow the dust particle out of there. At work, since we have a dust free environment over there.

Too bad the glass is not properly sealed from the outside.
 
Cloudsurfer said:
Instead, I will open the iPhone myself and blow the dust particle out of there. At work, since we have a dust free environment over there.

Too bad the glass is not properly sealed from the outside.
Click to expand...

Do you also have the light leak issue? I think it can be fixed once you open it up also. Can you please report back if you fixed your dust issue? Pictures of the process would be insanely wonderful/helpful.
 
I have what appears to be two very small white spots but I only see them when I am outside and in direct sunlight. This is when the phone is off or on. I am assuming they are specks of dust under the screen.
 
It appears that this is a pretty common problem. For me it's just one little speck under the glass. I'm not gonna let it bother me. I only notice it when I'm looking for it.
 
So far, I haven't yet managed to open it up. It's not as easy as just unscewing the two tiny screws on the bottom of the phone. The chrome bezel is still very hard to pull off. I'm afraid to put too much force into it.

On one Youtube video they pull the glass plate off directly, they don't fiddle with the bezel first. I found this hard to do, and I was only damaging the rubber seal around it.

But then there's the question, how did it get in? It wasn't there before. It's very prominent and easily visible even when the screen is on, so I would've noticed it before. I also can't move it by shaking the phone, so I wonder how it got so deep into the area.
 
I've got a single spec under the glass on mine, it's not really noticable when I'm using it but annoying nonetheless. If I start noticing more then I will take it back, but for now I'll live with it.
 
Cloudsurfer said:
So far, I haven't yet managed to open it up. It's not as easy as just unscewing the two tiny screws on the bottom of the phone. The chrome bezel is still very hard to pull off. I'm afraid to put too much force into it.

On one Youtube video they pull the glass plate off directly, they don't fiddle with the bezel first. I found this hard to do, and I was only damaging the rubber seal around it.

But then there's the question, how did it get in? It wasn't there before. It's very prominent and easily visible even when the screen is on, so I would've noticed it before. I also can't move it by shaking the phone, so I wonder how it got so deep into the area.
Click to expand...


I don't have any dust under mine. Maybe it was stuck to the side inside or something and finally just found it's way closer to the screen?
 
I don't have any dust under my screen and I hope it stays that way, something like this would drive me nuts.
 
Ferris23 said:
I don't have any dust under mine. Maybe it was stuck to the side inside or something and finally just found it's way closer to the screen?
Click to expand...

Possibly... but if it can move from the side to the center, it can move from the center to the side.

Still haven't managed to open my iPhone, but tge underside is now badly scarred. It looks like I tried to hook a charger cable to it but missed every time I tried. Lol.

I will just take it to an Apple reseller and see what they have to say.
 
DUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSt

I exchanged my iphone at an Apple store with no problems. I had 1 tiny piece of dust, but it drove me nutz. Be careful exchanging though, now I have a perfect screen, everything works great - EXCEPT THE PHONE. The earpiece rattles when your other party speaks. HIGHLY annoying. Anyway, heading back in a few to try to replace it again. Wish me luck.
 
I will start out this post by stating that I have a very discerning eye when it comes to LCD manufacturing defects - as I worked for several summers inspecting medical imaging monitors for single dead pixels, and other defects. Needles to say, when I discovered one on my precious phone, I was quite disappointed.

I went to return the phone and had no problems at the flagship apple store in Boston. Once the genius saw the dead pixel as well, he gladly replaced it for me - However before I accepted this new iPhone, I thoroughly inspected it for any similar defect; and sure enough there was a speck of dust under the screen. After his inspection - he took out a second replacement model. Lo and behold, it had an even larger dust speck. He finally got a replacement from a different shipment, which wound up being perfect, and is the one I currently hold.

YMMV - but I had a very pleasant time returning my iPhone for dead pixels/dust under the screen
 
when you exchange ur phone for dust (which i have) does the store give u a

1-brand new one fresh out the box?
or
2-a refurbished one?
(what exactly is a refurbished piece of equipment?)


i havent decided if this one piece of dust is worth it when i may get one in worse condition.

thanks for your replies!!
 
The give you a refurbished one in a White box.

They only swap your phone. When they say refurbished, I dunno what they mean because the product is brand new. I am living with my new one exchanged today, with yet 1 piece of dust. I just need to forget about the dust and move on.
 
I just noticed a spec of dust today. Annoying but I'm not going to return the phone. Everything works. I had to go through 4 1st Gen iPhones to get a good one. I don't want to do it again with the 3G phone.

The dust will probably drive me nuts but I actually want to see what happens before I return the phone. I want to see if it moves around or I get any more dust.
 
All I can say is watch out if you do try to get yours swapped out.

My friend did so but the new one has a worse problem, a dead/stuck pixel. So, he brought it back again and now they don't want to help him since they told him the first time that he can't keep bringing it back over and over.

I have some minor dust in my iPhone 3G that was there when I got it brand new. I believe it is from manufacturing as no new dust has seemed to appear since I've had it. I'm not going to worry about it. I'm more worried about getting swapped and then ending up with a unit that is worse since it seems like a bit of dust is 'normal'.

I don't notice the dust at all under normal usage, only if I bring it into the sun and look at it closely.
 
So listen, i got my iphone 3g brand new 16gb White form ATT. First look at the phone on the back, looks like someone took a nail from th inside and started poking at the iphone casing making bumps. Also 4 specks of dust udner glass. I go to the apple store ad they giv me a refurb that's aesthetically in worse condition than mine. Anyone have any idea how to get a brand new iphone? Not those silly refurb or w/e they are called...??:mad:
 
cricksterkhan said:
So listen, i got my iphone 3g brand new 16gb White form ATT. First look at the phone on the back, looks like someone took a nail from th inside and started poking at the iphone casing making bumps. Also 4 specks of dust udner glass. I go to the apple store ad they giv me a refurb that's aesthetically in worse condition than mine. Anyone have any idea how to get a brand new iphone? Not those silly refurb or w/e they are called...??:mad:
Click to expand...

There are no refurbs yet. It's still too new. The ones they replace them with seem to be better than the initial ones, FWIW. In other words, the ones they have to replace with seem better than the sealed in package retail ones.
 
I would DEF say one speck of dust is NOT worth replacing the phone because:

A. You risk getting one is WORSE condition (other than ONE small speck of dust my phone is fine and I would not risk something worse).

B. IT'S A PHONE people...it sits in your pocket, it gets used. Unless you are displaying it and not using it, it comes with the territory. If you dont want anything to happen, wrap it up in a bubble and admire it from the outside.

I bought a Custom Made Todd Krause Masterbuilt Stratocaster which ran me over $4,000. GUESS WHAT...it's a GUITAR, of course I try to keep it in great shape...but scratches will happen as will other things...
 
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