iPhone 3G S has yellowish tint

@AntonioMX5

You suggested asking for a refund if they don't solve the issue for a customer... Out of curiosity, if we signed up for a new family plan with the phone do the revert back to the old plan before upgrading? What happens if my wife keeps her phone and I just refund mine?

You might not know, but figured I'd ask.

Here are two more. The phone is still more yellow than my wife's but the brightness difference is incredible.

KooreDaan, good questions. Not sure! I had also contemplated what would happen if I ended up returning my iPhone for good and my wife kept hers. I assumed me dropping would drop the family plan and she would just change to an individual 2 year contract plan (with some time at an ATT store to work it all out).

Despite all this headache trying to get a non-defective phone, I always intended to keep trying and keep the ATT plan and it finally worked out on my 5th 3G S. Hopefully you'll get an acceptable screen within the next couple tries. FWIW, the dimming (polarization) issue is actually a good thing for some people - clear bright screen facing it directly and dimming at an angle increases privacy. Maybe that can be viewed as a plus for you in some manner?

AntonioMX5: Yeah not sure what would happen. Maybe keep the family plan, but hers would be on a 2 year contract and mine would be open (I'd go back to the 2G for the time being). Hopefully that isn't something I have to deal with.

A slight polarization is fine, but the screen just doesn't get bright enough at night or during the day outside. If I have to 'full-blast' the brightness just to get a readible screen in low light or extremely bright light, that also effects the battery. No ideal for me...

I have an appointment on Wed. My guess is they replace the screen and see if that helps. We'll see.

i tried explaining to the singtel staff that my iPhone 3G S is much warmer than the normal yellowish tint after my first full charge. but i was toldand they can't do anything about it(exchanging) and that i had to bear with it. so sad!

have we collectively decided which factories/ production weeks are most LIKELY to produce a good screen? i will be visiting an apple store (again) for the 4th replacement this friday, and have talked with the manager ahead of time, asking him to be present and asking for his help to restore my faith in apple. this was in response to my last visit at a different store in which the store manager is "on vacation" and i received no help. the "acting manager" going so far as to state that the iphones are supposed to look like that... "that" being 3 different versions i have reported seeing, she just kept reporting that there were all displaying as they should.. she would not comment on the fact that they all looked very different and that my screen changed colors halfway across the screen... so i am again taking my time and effort to visit another apple store in hopes that with managerial backing i can finally leave with an acceptable replacement...no not just acceptable but an actual phone "as advertised"...wish me luck and please send info regarding good/bad production weeks and facotores (if such a thing exists as a good run or factory)

Thanks all for your help!

ieonjunas wrote:
have we collectively decided which factories/ production weeks are most LIKELY to produce a good screen?

I hate to say it but it appears our hopes were just wishful thinking. The "sampling" size we get here from reports is so small that it's easy to get the wrong idea of what's going on. Although it's likely just wishful thinking, I'd still try for a Factory 83 or 87 or a Week 29+ run. Maybe they have fewer bad phones. Don't get your hopes up too high though.

The more swaps you go through, the better your chances of eventually getting a decent screen. I still say it's about 1 in 5. Good luck.

I have also just received (on Friday just gone) a 32gb in black and it is a bit yellow, not a lot, but certainly more so than my old 3G. Its irritating me and I find it hard to read - the contrast is poor and colours not as nice.

As I bought mine from the Apple Online store in the UK I am stuck as to what to do to get it replaced.

What would you guys recommend? Just return it under the 14 day returns policy we have in the UK and order again?

I called Apple Customer Care about the yellowness and they said to go to an store or arrange to have it repaired - now I don't want to drive the 80 mile round trip to my local store and I don't want it repairing, I want it replacing....

I think return one and re-order, see what number 2 is like?

Thoughts?

Cheers,

David

Im not so sure, the issue with the screens is with the screen itself, but the putting together of the iphone when its built.

The other day, a fly was on the LCD of my monitor on the computer, and I moved it off, and as I did, I applied a light pressure to my screen and I noticed where my finger had applied some pressure, the screen distorted with a light yellow and dark tint.

We all know how thin the iphone is, and how much stuff is packed behined the screen, so im wondering if all this is putting pressure on the screen from the rear and causeing it to distort?

I dont know how the screen is fixed to the case of the iphone, a twist of a screw too tightly could alter the screen, but im thinking its pressure applied from either poor mounting of the screen in the phone, or the gubbins behind it putting pressure on the screen.

I just find it hard to belive that the screen makers would produce such varied results of quality.

Just a thought and sorry if this has been mentioned before, I lost the will to read past page 11.

@davidmbell

Good luck...yeah thats your best bet if you arent trying to drive...though it may take you several swaps... might be worth the trip to get it done and over with if you are willing to stand strong and demand a good phone from the store...just depends on what you are willing to go through...my friends and family think im crazy... but apple is even crazier if they think i will settle on an iphone (which i love) with a poor screen... luckily im in school and not working so i have a free day a week to go there...i am greatly tired of setting up my phone though...

{quote:title=::..S a m..:: wrote:}{quote}
I dont know how the screen is fixed to the case of the iphone, a twist of a screw too tightly could alter the screen, but im thinking its pressure applied from either poor mounting of the screen in the phone, or the gubbins behind it putting pressure on the screen.

The following video will shed much insight into what you are wanting to know (plus it's just a very interesting instructional video as to how to take apart a 3G S (and thus how the 3G S is made)). Although it should be obvious, I highly recommend NOT doing anything like this unless your phone is already out of warranty:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3xn7whpZAA

Sarge_in wrote:
So, just curious, if we return the phone due to screen yellowing (or any other issue), does the 10% restocking fee apply?

(Assuming you're in the USA): ATT charges a mandatory 10% restocking fee, even if the phone was defective. Apple however does not charge a restocking fee for returned phones.

If you wish to try another new iPhone, and you purchase it from an Apple Store, you will have to pay an ATT activation fee again (the Apple Store sales person will take care of all of this for you quickly and easily). For me in California, this cost me $18 each time I reactivated a new phone.

Getting a non-defective 3G S cost me plenty. In my case, I was charged a 10% restocking fee by ATT to return my original 3G S to them. In addition, I had to pay for a new activation fee 4x (as I had a total of 4 new iPhones). This was not pleasant, but was better than having to live with a substandard polarized or yellow or dim or low contrast washed out screen that I would regret having every time I picked up my phone...

Thanks for the info. Yes, I am in Cali too - in fact OC.

So I guess if I just go with Apple store, I would avoid the 10% restocking fee in case I decide to return - that's good to know. Did you have to pay 4x activation fee because it was a brand new phone in a new box each time, or would it apply even if they gave a refurb?

In any case, I, of course, agree it is still worthwhile to spend this and get a phone you can live with..

Sarge_in wrote:
Did you have to pay 4x activation fee because it was a brand new phone in a new box each time, or would it apply even if they gave a refurb?

I believe it's basically what you've got to pay to get your phone number reassigned to a new 3G S and to get it activated (again, and again, and again). I believe this would apply to any different 3G S, be it in a new retail box, or a refurb in a plain white or brown box.

The Apple Store retail sales people described it 2 different ways. One guy called it the required "ATT Activation Fee" and another called it a "One Time Upgrade Fee". My ATT bill (just received today) labels these $18 charges as "One Time Charge for Upgrade Fee". Funny as it was more than one time and these were hardly upgrades for crying out loud...

FWIW, this $18 fee would NOT be assessed by going through a Genius Bar screen replacement. But that route requires proving your case to their satisfaction and has its own inherent risks - one user here posted his compass died after 2 screen swaps. I myself found a big spec of dust on the inside of my camera lens after a new screen was tried and then the original put back...

OH! One thing I must warn is the possibility that your right to cancel the ATT contract within 30 days may not renew each and every time you return an iPhone and purchase a new one.

Seeing how ATT charges a restocking fee plus a new activation fee each time, I wouldn't be surprised if they try to force someone to pay a cancellation fee for terminating a 2 year contract after 30 days, even if a defective iPhone was returned for a refund, thus negating (in my opinion) the contract.

After all, the contract was to get the subsidized price of $299 instead of $699 for a 32GB 3G S. Returned 3G S should mean contract automatically rescinded, right? But then again, this is ATT we're talking about...

I'd really like to know if anyone has experience with this to warn the rest of us...

Sounds good Antonio...thanks for the info!

As for complete return and purchase, I agree they SHOULD reset the 30-day period. Personal experience - with another phone though - I bought a Motorola phone 1.5 yrs back from telesales, then returned it to a store. They cancelled my contract but did not reset the eligibility properly. So my account STILL (after 1.5 yrs) shows not eligible for an upgrade, even though I am not on a contract. To AT&T's credit, they confirmed by phone as well as in store that I AM eligible for upgrade, IF I bought it in the store - but have not been able to reset it in the account even after several calls and follow-ups. In fact, this is the reason I have not been able to purchase the iphone so far, as I want to get it from the Apple store, and they think I am ineligible for another 10 days.

So my advice to someone doing a return - after each return perhaps wait 2-3 days to see that your online account shows you are eligible again for an upgrade.