iPhone 3G S has yellowish tint

This screen issue in actuality seems to come down to 3 separate issues or a combination thereof.

1) Grossly inaccurate white balance (yellow screen)
2) Excessively low contrast (poor blacks and washed out looking)
3) Excessively low saturation (colors don't pop out)

The really unlucky ones may have all three issues simultaneously but in the 20 or so 3GSs that I have seen, the following pattern exists.

- If a phone has issue #1 (yellow screen), chances are issue #2 and #3 don't exist. Strangely the phones with a rather severe yellow cast have great saturation and contrast. This would almost be something one could live with except for the fact that the white balance is normally inconsistent with the bottom being affected more than the top of the screen. These screens are defective and Apple should be providing a replacement with no questions asked.

- Phones that have issue #2, typically have issue #3 as well. The interesting thing here is, this is totally correctable via a software fix, and all that would need to happen is for Apple to somehow identify the affected screens and increase the contrast and saturation slightly in a future update. Returning a phone with one of these screens only puts you back in the iPhone quality control lottery.

If the phone does not fall into one of the above 2 patterns, then chances are you have a perfect screen with colors that pop out of the screen, great blacks, and accurate whites. Chances are your phone is a 16g 3GS. All of the good screens that I saw (which incidentally was slightly more than half of the 3GSs), were on 16g models.

This is just my limited assessment and I am aware that there are probably people that have sampled many more phones than I have that can also weigh in here.

It's just too bad that for such an expensive device, we are even having this discussion. If Apple has any desire to preserve their reputation, they will exchange the defective screens, and fix any other display anomalies by way of a software update (soon!).

+To the Apple forum mods that keep censoring / deleting my posts, I am purely trying to provide some informative discussion here! Apple created this problem, not the other way around. 4 out of my last 5 posts have been edited or deleted and I would greatly appreciate it if you would leave this one alone.+

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.

Micah D. as far as exchanging the phone Shaun has exchanged his multiple times and all of his replacements had the half yellow screen.

I am thinking of exchanging my iPhone as well due to the uneven yellow screen. I checked out a 3G display phone at Best Buy today and my 3GS looked terrible next to it. Unfortunately the 3GS display phone was not working so I could not compare it to my iPhone.

Frodo B wrote:
Micah D. as far as exchanging the phone Shaun has exchanged his multiple times and all of his replacements had the half yellow screen.

Well I'm more than a little confused about this, on a few levels.

#1. The phones are packaged pre-charged to a certain level, so what's preventing him or anyone else from firing it up right there in the store and saying "Nope, this one's no good either, try again" until he gets a "good" one? My phone was mostly charged when I got it, if I were in a store *with the knowledge of this problem beforehand* I'd start the replacement phone up before I even walked away from the counter and I'd check it out right then and there. Go outside and look at it, shine a flashlight on it, whatever. But why are people taking these things home and then returning them repeatedly?

#2. The fact that one, or two or even a few dozen people have had to return their phones multiple times (again, why they didn't all just start them up right in the store and check them out is beyond me) doesn't mean much statistically speaking. It's very frustrating for the few people it's happened to, but it doesn't indicate a wide-spread failure. We're talking millions of units here, problems will happen.

Frankly I don't buy it for a second that people are returning their phones over and over and getting the exact same problems every time. Why would you return your phone for a 3rd time and not check the new phone right there on the spot? It doesn't make sense. I think there's two groups here: A very small group of people who have an actual problem, and another group of people who's phones are just fine but who are now so worked up because of this thread that they're seeing issues that aren't issues.

Just my opinion, worth what you paid.

Micah D. wrote:

Frodo B wrote:
Micah D. as far as exchanging the phone Shaun has exchanged his multiple times and all of his replacements had the half yellow screen.

Well I'm more than a little confused about this, on a few levels.

#1. The phones are packaged pre-charged to a certain level, so what's preventing him or anyone else from firing it up right there in the store and saying "Nope, this one's no good either, try again" until he gets a "good" one? My phone was mostly charged when I got it, if I were in a store *with the knowledge of this problem beforehand* I'd start the replacement phone up before I even walked away from the counter and I'd check it out right then and there. Go outside and look at it, shine a flashlight on it, whatever. But why are people taking these things home and then returning them repeatedly?

#2. The fact that one, or two or even a few dozen people have had to return their phones multiple times (again, why they didn't all just start them up right in the store and check them out is beyond me) doesn't mean much statistically speaking. It's very frustrating for the few people it's happened to, but it doesn't indicate a wide-spread failure. We're talking millions of units here, problems will happen.

Frankly I don't buy it for a second that people are returning their phones over and over and getting the exact same problems every time. Why would you return your phone for a 3rd time and not check the new phone right there on the spot? It doesn't make sense. I think there's two groups here: A very small group of people who have an actual problem, and another group of people who's phones are just fine but who are now so worked up because of this thread that they're seeing issues that aren't issues.

Just my opinion, worth what you paid.

1 - because the phones are NOT ACTIVE out of the box. They have the plug us in screen/emergency slide to activate screen. You can not check the screen when you can't get to the home screen. The phone has to be ACTIVATED before that happens. How many "genius'" are actually going to activate 5 phones for you to check out, not to mention they have to open brand new stock for you? Even if they are refurbished, same thing. Needs activating.

If you don't buy that people are having the exact same problem over and over again, you probably have not had an issue. The issue exists and there IS a problem. There are several problems..

1 - Pee yellow/Dingy screen (not warm)
2 - Uneven screen color (white up top, yellow at the bottom)
3 - Faded/Blurry/Washed out colors (whites seem to be ok on these phones)
4 - Good screen, but bottom is still a bit "dim/yellow"
5 - Rattling silent switch
6 - Sleep button too far recessed
7 - Glass is sitting too high or too low on either side (slanted). Very annoying
8 - Plastic body not flush with bezel, causing sharp edges
9 - Cracks in the body, multiple locations
10 - Hard/Loose/Uneven home button

Seems to be the major issues. Granted some problems are normal. However, the screen issue is REAL.

@SMacMan: Excellent summary of the problem screen phones. I agree with your evaulation as I have found the same pattern in my limited sampling. Only you explain it so much better!

For the "nay-sayer(s)", I got 4 defective screens in a row, with problems varying from greatly excessive abnormal yellow (or dirt brown) tinting, high polarization, very poor contrast, poor color saturation (washed out) and brightness (too dim) problems. Only the 5th phone was non-defective.

Does this, my 5th 3G S, have a perfect screen? No, it is very slightly polarized. Is it yellow? Yes, slightly, but that is the normal warmth intended by Apple, and I prefer it.

I find it amazing how some lucky few who have not had any screen problems think the valid problems others are legitimately suffering are just imagining things or being picky or creating their own problems. I can tell the difference between a normal warm (slightly yellow) screen color temperature and excessive yellow or poor contrast or washed out colors or polarization, thank you very much. And so can many others.

And this without comparing to a 3G which is not an Apples to Apples comparison. The fact that many are oblivious to all this does NOT, in any way, shape or form, negate, invalidate or lessen the truth and impact and severity of the problem that only a few are willing to step up and complain about (with a great amount of trouble with regard to personal time lost and $$$ lost with exchanges for restocking and continued activation fees no less).

SpurtSpanker wrote:
1 - because the phones are NOT ACTIVE out of the box. They have the plug us in screen/emergency slide to activate screen. You can not check the screen when you can't get to the home screen.

Fair enough, I hadn't thought of that. I guess if it were me I'd take my laptop and start activating phones until they gave me a good one, which of course is useless if you don't have a laptop or you bought your phone from att on line like I did.

I guess I'm just happy I don't have these problems, and I'm sorry for people who do!

AntonioMX5 wrote:
For the "nay-sayer(s)", I got 4 defective screens in a row, with problems varying from greatly excessive abnormal yellow (or dirt brown) tinting, high polarization, very poor contrast, poor color saturation (washed out) and brightness (too dim) problems. Only the 5th phone was non-defective.

I'm probably the only nay sayer so far, at least the loudest one 🙂

I find it amazing how some lucky few who have not had any screen problems think the valid problems others are legitimately suffering are just imagining things or being picky or creating their own problems.

Wait a second... are you saying that people without these problems comprise "...some lucky few..."? That means you think that the MAJORITY of 3gs phones have these problems? Hogwash. If the majority of 3gs iPhones had these problems you can bet there'd be a lot more going on than this thread, it would be in the news if the majority of new iPhones were defective.

This thread is giving a disproportionate weight to the few phones with problems IMO, and is creating the illusion that these issues are the norm rather than the exception. It's just not so. Most of the iPhones out there are just fine, at least that's my bet.

Anyways I can't believe I've been sucked into this whole discussion as far as I have. My phone (and everyone I know who has a 3gs) is fine. If you have problems, I'm bummed for you and can only say that you should stay at it until they problems are solved for you.

I've been thru 3 3GSs and the 4th one is probably the best one with a decent screen, no heat issues and a working GPS!!

I have comparison pictures that I'll post tonight so people who don't understand the seriousness of this problem because they lucked out, will maybe get a better picture of what's going on here!!

*Fair enough, I hadn't thought of that. I guess if it were me I'd take my laptop and start activating phones until they gave me a good one, which of course is useless if you don't have a laptop or you bought your phone from att on line like I did*

Micah D. The problem is that the geniuses control how many iPhones that they will let you activate. They can cut you off after one or two iPhones if they wish. The geniuses ARE activating the phones in the store.

OK then, why not check them at the store when they activate them? What are they going to do, force you to take a defective iphone?

Yes, they say it is in spec. This is why some people are upset.

Here is my update... After a screen swap, then a phone replacement... The new phone was even worse. Both my phone and the replacement is from factory 88. After the screen swap I left the store figuring I would just settle on the phone fate delt me... Then I sat in the car and decided to go back in... I compared my phone to EVERY display phone, and while most of them varied slightly, they ALL had a much superior display. I again waited for the tech, and told him I was not happy. I showed him what I was seeing. He compared it to every display model and could not deny the difference... So I had him swap the display model screen with mine... I left very happy but as I am typing this i realizethat this screen is not perfect as I thought it was, though much improved. It has some minor scratches but I will live with them to have a more preferable display. This display has no polarization and does not turn yellow when viewed at an angle. It is from week 23. Most of their display phones are week 21 and 23 from factory 86 and 87. They had no 88 display phones... My quest is over for now. If they ever acknowledge and fix the problem I will return and ask for a new screen. Until that time I do not even want to see the outside of an apple store! Good luck everyone

Update: Replaced my phone once again and it came out even more yellow! But what really ****** me off are Apple works that pretend that they are not understanding what is going on. The guy has his own iPhone 3GS (seems like a first batch) which reproduced whites perfectly, he put mine next to it and is telling me that he does not see anything wrong with my phone. I'm like, but can you see the difference between mine and yours? He is like I have a screen protector thats why mine looks white!! Can you imagine? I tell this guy that his screen protector ca make his screen more yellow but not more white! He removed it and his screen became even more white. He was like whatever, if you want to return your phone then return it. I was like ***, very mean staff and bad customer service! I returned mine and will wait until they sort this thing out and get a new batch with normal screens.

ieonjunas wrote:
This display has no polarization and does not turn yellow when viewed at an angle...My quest is over for now.

Congrats IeonJunas! I know what a great feeling of relief you must be feeling right now. My "keeper" 3G S is also not perfect, but it's FAR better than the 4 previous defective 3G S phones/screen I had previously. All we wanted was a "decent" near Apple Store display quality phone. Is it too much to ask to simply get sorta close to what they're peddling?!? You really pushed the right buttons as you accomplished the impossible - you actually got one of the store display screens! Well done. Now, don't drop it! 😉