iPhone 3G S has yellowish tint

I just got my iPhone 3G S today and noticed that it has a distinctly yellowish tint to the screen. Doesn't matter what app I am using, and I've tried adjusting the brightness with no success.

Is anyone else experiencing this issue?

15" Macbook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.6), iPhone 3G S

Posted on Jun 19, 2009 3:13 PM

Reply
998 replies

Jul 14, 2009 7:13 PM in response to AntonioMX5

AntonioMX5 said:
if that database is correct and this variance is coming from one factory

This may have no nexus to the issue discussed here, however I found this interesting as it does seem to parallel.

I was listening to an archived podcast from July 23, 2007 called Today in iPhone - Are You a 5 or a 7? The show made reference to a ZDNet Blog, from July 19, 2007, which made reference to an Apple Discussion thread from July 14, 2007.

In a nut shell, from what I read, some 1st gen. iPhones had sharper, brighter LCDs and others that were not as bright displayed a grid pattern or polka dots on the home screen. When conducting a field test, by entering a code on the phone key pad and selecting "Versions" you could check your LCD version code beginning with 5 or 7. That may have held the clue to which screens were brighter & sharper vs. the ones that were not as bright.

I don't know if there are any RISKS to the phone by performing the field test. I tried it (at my own risk) because I was curious and the option for version does not display on the 3GS. I'm a consumer / user not a techie...I'm NOT suggesting you try a field test.

There is a short thread on MacRumors from Sep. 27, 2007 indicating the 1.1.1 update resolved the grid pattern.

Jul 14, 2009 7:43 PM in response to lookn4wifi

That's exactly what I'm talking about from my previous post. . I personally looked at many 5's and 7's and found both good ones and bad ones for each so I don't think the theory held true for the 1st gen. I'm telling you it's all luck. My brothers 3GS is a Wk 23 and looks great. My Wk 23 was unacceptable.


lookn4wifi wrote:
AntonioMX5 said:
if that database is correct and this variance is coming from one factory

This may have no nexus to the issue discussed here, however I found this interesting as it does seem to parallel.

I was listening to an archived podcast from July 23, 2007 called Today in iPhone - Are You a 5 or a 7? The show made reference to a ZDNet Blog, from July 19, 2007, which made reference to an Apple Discussion thread from July 14, 2007.

In a nut shell, from what I read, some 1st gen. iPhones had sharper, brighter LCDs and others that were not as bright displayed a grid pattern or polka dots on the home screen. When conducting a field test, by entering a code on the phone key pad and selecting "Versions" you could check your LCD version code beginning with 5 or 7. That may have held the clue to which screens were brighter & sharper vs. the ones that were not as bright.

I don't know if there are any RISKS to the phone by performing the field test. I tried it (at my own risk) because I was curious and the option for version does not display on the 3GS. I'm a consumer / user not a techie...I'm NOT suggesting you try a field test.

There is a short thread on MacRumors from Sep. 27, 2007 indicating the 1.1.1 update resolved the grid pattern.

Jul 20, 2009 7:23 PM in response to teach5

Hello again Teach5! My post/reply to you had also been deleted a couple weeks back, as had michaelbb's. I had initially thought this was suppression of our posts, but I later presumed (and still believe) it was an accident/server error as a few other posts had also been deleted (approximately an 8 hour time span worth of posts seemed to have been lost).

Anyway, as per my last deleted post, I wanted to again congratulate you for perservering and not giving up in trying to get your refund. The nastiness you had tolerated was inexcusible, and I heartedly agree 100% with your advice to others to not give up until one is satisfied.

I myself am so addicted to the iPhone 3G S and find it to be such a helpful productivity tool that also is full of entertainment, that I am spinning my head going through this replacement process to try to get a decent screened functional 3G S as my wife had gotten.

If the Apple system requires discerning individuals such as us to have to go and return for full refund every bad 3G S we run across, be it 20 times, then so be it, we can play their game until we find a non-defective unit. It's a horrid time-consuming and frustrating process, and that's how I feel with an Apple Store just 7 miles from my home. I can't even begin to imagine how frustrating it is for someone that has to drive 300 miles or mail their defective phone in.

And as I had stated in my now deleted former post, from your experience that I learned from (thank you for sharing all your experiences BTW), I will be sure never to order one of these phones online - it just makes for an insane headache trying to get service or a refund, as you had kindly explained to us from your personal experience.

If you enjoy the 3G S as much as I do, I hope you will try again by purchasing one in person, directly from an Apple Store, and be sure to compare with the sales agent your new phone with the display models before leaving to make sure your screen is at least up to par. In case you or others may not be aware, to save some time and hassle, if you live in the USA, you can check your local Apple Store's 3G S stock availability (it's updated every hour) here:

http://www.apple.com/retail/iphone/availability.php

(Edit: I just saw smacman's post and agree this is a problem - they fed me the same B.S. line saying to me +"your 3G S's screen is clearly within specifications".+ Um, no it wasn't. To maintain your rights, avoid the Genius route - return any defective phone for a full refund and buy a new 3G S outright. You'll restart your 14 or 30 day "cooling off" period wherein you can wait a couple weeks to try to re-enter the lottery again for a non defective phone.)

Message was edited by: AntonioMX5

Jul 31, 2009 10:15 AM in response to Shaun Rosenberg

Shaun Rosenberg wrote:
The issue is not the warmth! It is the difference from top to bottom of a 3inch LCD where the bottom is yellow and the top is white!


YOUR issue is not warmth! YOUR issue is the difference from the top to bottom of the LCD. You and a few other people in this thread have this problem. So return your phones and get new ones. Problem solved. I don't understand why this is a 42 bazillion post topic, if your phone is defective return it!

It boggles my mind why people need to chime in with comments like it's only affecting 1% of the production and comment about how people's misfortune is comedy... It disgusts me.


Please apply critical thinking before misquoting people? I did NOT say that people's misfortune was comedy, I specifically stated and I quote

"I've been following this thread purely for the humor value. I can't believe the amount of stress and time people are pouring into this topic."

It's NOT people's misfortune I find amusing, it's the level of angst, time and hassle people have poured into what is obviously an amorphous problem that in many cases ISN'T a problem, it's just a change. If your screen is defective return the phone and get a new one, problem solved. If your screen is just a little "warmer" than you care for, I'm sorry but that's how they are now, things change. Send Apple a suggestion to include a "screen tone" or "screen warmth" adjustment feature in the next software update and then cross your fingers, you can send that suggestion here:

http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html

I already sent my request in. If enough people do it, who knows they might add the feature.

Nobody knows any statistics and this forum is for users having similar issues to help each other troubleshoot.


Point taken. But given that no one even appears able to post a picture of this supposed problem (difference in color from top to bottom of screen) I'm going to stick with my guess that it's less than 1% of phones that are actually defective. The rest of the posts here are about people who just don't LIKE the new way the phone looks. Sorry. Things change.

If you don't have the facts or can't withhold your random
opinions mixed in with a blurb that is borderline constructive go somewhere else...it's like the romper room in here sometimes.


Welcome to a forum, where people are allowed to state their opinions about things. You're not a moderator, are you? Because it's the MODS job to regulate the content here, not you. If you don't like the content then perhaps the person who needs to "go somewhere else" is in your mirror.

The problem is ALL, yes, ALL of the 3gs phones I have seen have had this issue.


By "ALL, yes, ALL" do you mean the one or two 3gs you've seen have this problem? I've seen at least 10 of these phones, and not a single one had any problem of any kind.

There is a huge variation in the intesity of the issue,but the ficticous 1% must just keep getting shipped to my area...


You're the one who said no one knows what percentage of 3gs have this problem, now you're turning around and saying you know the 1% comment is fictitious? Well, based on my experience you're right: It's actually more like ZERO percent. If no one know no one knows, and that includes YOU.

Aug 3, 2009 9:25 AM in response to DaveHanson

Guys and gals,

I've found the screen less saturated. No yelowish tint, however.

Feel free to check out my direct comparative screenshots at http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2103537&tstart=0 , in the section "What don’t I like?".

Did anyone run into the same problem / found out the same? So far, I've eceivedonly one affirmative answer to this at HowardForums, telling me he (she) also had the same experience.

Jun 19, 2009 3:30 PM in response to DaveHanson

Really? Thats why? I noticed it the moment I looked at it for the first time. White is not white anymore. Its so far from white it doesn't seem right. I came off a 1st gen where the white was very white. For example... in settings, each section was white before. Sitting here holding the two side by side.

IMO the 1st I have has a far better picture. The app icons dont look the same either, I mean worse in comparison to 1st gen.

A bit disappointed with that and the sound too, same song sounds better on 1st gen.

Jun 19, 2009 4:41 PM in response to DaveHanson

I have one of each generation iPhone so I photographed them side-by-side with the new iPhone 3GS in the middle. They are in this order left to right; 2G - 3GS - 3G. It is unmistakable that the 3G is a good bit warmer than the 2G and the 3GS is indeed a bit warmer that the 3G. I believe I'm partial to the 3G color at this point. Hopefully Apple will release a firmware update that implements a user controlled setting.

[Comparison Picture|http://www.hisreef.com/Iphone Pix/2G-3GS-3GScreenColor.jpg]

Doug

Jun 19, 2009 6:09 PM in response to dmiannay

Doug. Yes, a Cool and Warm switch would be nice. I do not like this yellow at all. Actually thinking about giving it up because I am pretty certain that this yellow washed out look isnt right. All my photos and movies look yellow and washed out like it needs a contrast adjustment. I tried fooling with brightness but no luck.

Here is mine. While the left 3Gs looks fairly close to IRL, the 1st gen doesnt look as white in the pic.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3314/3642027093_ef2eb89c04.jpg

Jun 19, 2009 7:20 PM in response to DaveHanson

My wife and I both picked up our iphones 3GSs today. Her white 32 GB iphone 3GS does not have the yellowish tint but my black 32 GB clearly does. It is very easy to tell the difference. I think that alone is evidence that this is not something Apple intended. If it were something Apple intended, then her same model iPhone would look just like mine with the same settings (but it clearly doesn't!). Don't get use to it, exchange it like I am going to do tomorrow at an Apple store. The reason why notifications did not appear in the above photo is because he had not allowed push notifications in any apps at that point. My wife's iphone was like that too until she said yes to notifications in the Text-for-free app. Please post more comments like this if you are suffering with a yellowish tint. I'm curious how prevalent this issue is. Like I said before, my wife's iPhone 3G S does not suffer from this yellowish tint. It's screen actually looks more like a crisp iPhone 2G (cool white).

Jun 19, 2009 7:55 PM in response to DaveHanson

I noticed this too on my black 32g phone. I am waiting on the phone now to Apple to ask them about it. I ordered it online and it came to my home. After reading this thread, I put my new phone up against my old phone and I see a yellowish tint. The Apple Tech. said she didn't think there was supposed to be a yellow tint to the screen and told me to take it in to the Apple store near me and show them. She recommended taking my old phone with me to show them. I called the store and they said to definately come in and show them and look at the other 3Gs screens and compare. So I am going in tomorrow morning.

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iPhone 3G S has yellowish tint

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