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Guys, it makes a cheapo cheesy sounding rattleat this is amazing to me. I truly wish I could ignore it.
If it makes a noise that is audible from arms length or further even when you set it on the table gently, then yeah something must be wrong. Mine, which I bought July 1st, does have what I consider to be the autofocus lens rattling when I shake the phone with force near my ear. Its more of a click than a rattle, as it only does it once per direction change in my swing. which indicates movement of the focus ring to me.

more than that and I.d agree, it deserves a return. but i'd say that you should be able to buy one thats better than yours today. Hell, I did weeks ago.
 
the rattle

I never heard of the rattle, or thought mine had one until I read this post, and now, yes even in Hawaii, the iPhone 3gs has a rattle. Is apple trading them out?
 
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.
How hard do you have to place your iPhone on a hard surface? I've tried a few times, but I don't hear any rattles. Does it happen only when the phone vibrates?

I've also tried tapping the back cover near the camera, but I don't hear anything.

Mine was manufactured on week 30, 2009.
 
I never heard of the rattle, or thought mine had one until I read this post, and now, yes even in Hawaii, the iPhone 3gs has a rattle. Is apple trading them out?

The first one I had rattled, so I took it to the apple "genius." He gave me a new one on the spot, but it rattled too. All he could do was shrug his shoulders. I returned it and decided to wait.

To all you who are able to ignore this rattling - more power to you. Wish I was you.

To those that don't have the rattle - I am jealous, and tempted to buy another one.
 
There is no such thing as a "good one" or a "bad one".

This has to do with the auto focus mechanism. Other similarly priced smart phones with similar auto focus lenses make the same noise.

Some of you OCD to a somewhat absurd level over these devices.

My $1200 Canon EFS 17-55mm lens has a slight whirr noise from the auto focus, guess I need to take it back.

My $40,000 Audi A4 has an occasional squeak from one of the front shocks, guess that needs to go back too.

:rolleyes::rolleyes:
 
I concur with jmpage2

There are more important things to worry about - job, life, relationships, friendships, health - then whether or not my phone makes a certain noise under certain conditions when i put it down on a certain surface on a certain corner.
 
The rattle is from the vibrate switch being loose. No big deal at all.

No. Not from that. The rattle that people are referring to is from inside the iPhone.

I think that the word 'rattle' is the wrong word to be using. It doesn't really rattle exactly. It also implies that it would make this noise if you shake the iPhone. It doesn't.
 
There is no such thing as a "good one" or a "bad one".

This has to do with the auto focus mechanism. Other similarly priced smart phones with similar auto focus lenses make the same noise.

The other two AF camphones I've got don't have a loud rattle. The AF cam can produce, like calvy said, a slight click sound which can be heard when the phone is shaken really close to the ear with force. If the sound is audible from arms length when the phone is laid down on table, the culprit can't be the AF cam.
 
The other two AF camphones I've got don't have a loud rattle. The AF cam can produce, like calvy said, a slight click sound which can be heard when the phone is shaken really close to the ear with force. If the sound is audible from arms length when the phone is laid down on table, the culprit can't be the AF cam.

Tear downs of the phone have proven that the rattle you are describing is being caused by the AF lens.

As others have said, if you are such an OCD case that this is unbearable to you then return the phone, just don't swap it out 10 times in the hopes of getting a "good" one. They are all the same in regard to this noise.
 
hahah I didn't ever notice it when I sit my phone down or just randomly tap it:confused: but I just noticed if I shake it good while holding it near my ear I can hear it... So as long as I dont shake my phone while having it near my ear I don't see it being a big deal!:p
 
Did you hear that if you hold your iPhone over your head and do a dance before throwing it out the window and jumping on it, your phone might break! Quick, get a replacement! :eek:
 
I really have no idea what y'all are talking about. There is absolutely nothing on my phone that rattles. I took the case off, turned off my a/c, and covered my other ear. Then and only then if I shook my iPhone really hard I could hear the very faintest of clicking noises just at the threshold of hearing. Is that what you're talking about?
 
I really have no idea what y'all are talking about. There is absolutely nothing on my phone that rattles. I took the case off, turned off my a/c, and covered my other ear. Then and only then if I shook my iPhone really hard I could hear the very faintest of clicking noises just at the threshold of hearing. Is that what you're talking about?

I am posting this so that you can hear for yourself, not because I think that the rattle means there is something defective:

It's more apparent when you rock it on a table. Put your iPhone on a table, lift up one side of it around 2 cm high (keep the other side on the table), and let it drop and rock on the table. You should hear a bead-like rattle. Rattle is not really a good descriptor though.

As jmpage2 says above (and I have said earlier on), it's perfectly normal.

It's not easy to get it to happen if you shake it.
 
Mine rattles. I can hear it any time my iPhone moves.
I'm thinking about talking to a "Genius" about it. Its getting louder.
And I hear it all the time. Especially with Apps like Facebook with "Shake to reload."
 
Put your iPhone on a table, lift up one side of it around 2 cm high (keep the other side on the table), and let it drop and rock on the table. You should hear a bead-like rattle. Rattle is not really a good descriptor though.

Surely that's a perfect way to scratch the finish on your iPhone? I'd never do that to my baby, rattle or no -- and I wouldn't think anyone so obsessive as the OP would, either.
 
Surely that's a perfect way to scratch the finish on your iPhone? I'd never do that to my baby, rattle or no -- and I wouldn't think anyone so obsessive as the OP would, either.

My iPhone is in a case. So if I did it directly on the table, no scratches.

If I were to do it case-less, I would place a microfiber cloth underneath the iPhone prior to rocking it. Therefore, no scratches.

Problem-solve, people.....
 
I got my 3GS a few weeks ago as well, and I definetly have the rattle.

I downloaded the "vibrating massager" app just to test the rattle because I noticed it most when somebody was calling me and my phone was on silent.

It definetly sounds like a cheap hunk of junk with a rattle and I will be visiting my local apple store soon.
 
My iPhone is in a case. So if I did it directly on the table, no scratches. ...
Problem-solve, people.....

Well, if you'd read my earlier post you would've seen that I mentioned removing mine from the case to try to hear this. So obviously I have a case. Your condescension is not neccessary or appreciated.

When I do what you describe with my iPhone in its case, I hear absolutely nothing that is not attributable to the sound of the phone rocking back and forth on the table. What, do people think they can rock their iPhone from a height of 2cm without it making any sound?
 
Well, if you'd read my earlier post you would've seen that I mentioned removing mine from the case to try to hear this. So obviously I have a case. Your condescension is not neccessary or appreciated.

Next time I'll throw some :):D:p in there for you, just so you don't lose any self-esteem.

When I do what you describe with my iPhone in its case, I hear absolutely nothing that is not attributable to the sound of the phone rocking back and forth on the table. What, do people think they can rock their iPhone from a height of 2cm without it making any sound?

I can hear it while it is in a case. :) Maybe mine is magical?


Whatever man...... I don't care anymore. This is a stupid obsession anyway. Sorry for attempting to help.:rolleyes:
 
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.

There will always be a tiny segment of people who look for troubles, even where none exist.

Sorta reminds me of the noisy hard drive posts .... " I swear in a quiet room if I glue my ear to the notebook I can hear the drive motor spinning! " :D

I think the Genius who gives a replacement for the 'rattle' isn't much of a genius after all !!! ;)


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