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Recent 3gs's - do they have the infamous rattle?

F

frikfrak

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 17, 2007
101
0
If you've purchased your 3GS in the last few weeks, please post here whether or not you have "the rattle." (tap on the back near the camera, or when you set it down on it's back on a hard surface. This has nothing to do with the buttons or sim tray)

I returned mine 3 weeks ago due to the rattle, and I'm itching to buy another, hoping the later production runs don't have the rattle.

EDIT - The rattle I'm talking about is probably best known as the auto-focus mechanism rattle
 
Mine does seem to have a bit of a rattle, but it's Nothing serious or anything I am worried about.
 
NovemberWhiskey said:
I've got the rattle.

Is Apple replacing units due to the rattling?
Click to expand...

My first one had the rattle. Took it to a "genius" and he gave me a new one on the spot. New one rattled too. So did every 3GS on display. So I got my money back, thinking I'll wait a while and Apple will fix the issue.
 
This "rattle" that we speak of...

when does it do it? I'm not quite clear on what we're talking about.

Do you have to shake it? How hard?
Is it loud or faint?

Gimme some specifics here!!! LOL :eek:
 
appleguy123 said:
its when you tap near the camera or set the iphone down. it sounds like dropping a few cheap pens from like 3 feet.
Click to expand...

Hold bottom of 3GS with one hand and tap around the camera with the other. Or as Appleguy123 says, and this is when it's most noticeable to me, set it down on its back on a hard surface. I also notice whatever it is, is moving around when the phone vibrates.

It sounds cheap and cheesy, and it's embarrassing for a $300 device from Apple.

I'm sure people are going to chime in and say "it's the auto-focus, it has moving parts" etc, etc. I don't buy that. It shouldn't rattle. Period.

EDIT - realized I'm speaking as if I own a 3GS. I returned it.
 
frikfrak said:
Hold bottom of 3GS with one hand and tap around the camera with the other. Or as Appleguy123 says, and this is when it's most noticeable to me, set it down on its back on a hard surface. I also notice whatever it is, is moving around when the phone vibrates.

It sounds cheap and cheesy, and it's embarrassing for a $300 device from Apple.

I'm sure people are going to chime in and say "it's the auto-focus, it has moving parts" etc, etc. I don't buy that. It shouldn't rattle. Period.
Click to expand...

I don't hear it when the phone vibrates. and remember its not a $300 device apple is getting $700 for said device.
 
I have had my 3gs for a couple of weeks now and have no rattle at all , nor for that matter a yellow screen! Result!
 
I bought an White 3GS today and I did notice the same rattle as my black 3GS but on the white phone it is not as noticeable as on mine. I did ask the Apple sales person to check out one of the phones on display and they had the rattle too.
I'm thinking about calling Apple Support tomorrow again about this issue.
 
i can't believe you got a replacement or refund for that. If you ask me, it IS the autofocus lense. I mean, most point and shoot cameras with autofocus will do this too.
 
For what it is worth, I have another device with an autofocus camera and it also rattles a bit. I actually had it apart and you could see the little mechanism moving a bit.
 
I'm amazed at how many people are bothered by this.

I mean:

a) Your phone still works right?
b) It only happens when you set it down at a certain point right?
c) It only happens in a completely quiet environment right?

It's not broken.
 
Guys, it makes a cheapo cheesy sounding rattle every time it's set on a hard surface. The fact that you can ignore or accept this is amazing to me. I truly wish I could ignore it.
 
My 3GS has no rattle, but the silent key is a little loose when in silent mode. Not as bad as my 3G, though, so it's good.
 
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