iPhone 4S camera lens rattle

Just bought a 4s and have noticed that it has a rattle, very annoying yes, but just wondering if anyone else has noticed that this rattle affects the sound during calls i.e. when i'm speaking to someone I can hear a slight but very irritating rattle/vibration sound to their voice. I suppose because the speaker is so close to where the rattle is coming from (camera?) it is affecting the sound.

If they are saying that the rattle is "normal" or common, can anyone tell me if the rattle affecting the speaker is abnormal?

Thanks.

It's not normal. The normal rattle is not a defect and it's not affect anoy operations.

So annoying I've had 4/5 iPhones through different hardware issues but I have to say they have all had these irritating rattles and 'tinny' sounds when tapped or (more annoyingly) when the phone is placed down on a surface such as a table etc.

Just got to crack on with it :(

Will

After doing a very quick google search on the rattle I discovered that it was a widespread issue as many of you have stated. My main thoughts were on the rattle in the lower right hand corner of the phone (the vibration mechanism) and not as much on the rattle near the camera.

I went in to the Apple store last night and showed the issues to the people there. The guy I talked to said that he had never heard of the issue before and asked if he could open my phone and check it out, so I said "go for it". He said he tightened things up and it still does it, our thoughts were that maybe the new vibration mechanism was just stronger and caused the noise (we tested with the SOS vibration holding the phone in the top left to reproduce the rattle but almost all vibrations work).

In response to this causing a long issue, as opposed to returning my device last night and just getting a new one (which may or may not have the issue), being an engineer, I opted to wait it out and see (research haha). If something does "crap out" on the device I can take it back. Further, it may aid their engineering department if one does actually "break". Also, I asked the guy, "what if I just finally get an uncomfortable feeling about the vibration (say it gets worse)?" He said, "bring it back and we can get you a new one." Sounds like a win-win to me. Just my thoughts.

After delaying my purchase of the 4S until three days ago, I bought the 64GB, only to discover this highly annoying rattle/buzzing sound when tapping the back of the unit.

I returned it two hours later for a full refund.

I also noticed the rattle exists on all variants of the 4S and all local models - US, UK, Hong Kong versions etc.

Apple obviously rushed this product out of the door when they released it. But really they should have waited another year and got it right.

Steve would have never let this past him.

I am actually still sitting in the parking lot at the mall where I had just visited the apple store. The guy I talked to was really reassuring by showing me that it's the accelerometer. His phone made the noise and so did all of the floor models. He said all it is is a floating mechanism that allows the phone to turn the screen when you turn the phone, holding it upright. If you hold it facing the floor and notice that it doesn't turn the screen when you turn the phone. That is all this noise is. The fact that his phone and all the other ones made this noise just made me feel better and I hope it does the same for you.

I'm having the same problem with my 32GB iPhone 4s. I called an Apple rep. just now and described the problem in full to him. His response was that up by the camera area inside the phone is like a bar with a weight on one side which allows the phone to vibrate. When the phone is on the vibrate setting it moves back and forth to vibrate the phone. It is directly behind the camera in the phone. I asked if it could be broken as it rattles even when my phone isn't on vibrate. He told me that it's not broken but it will cause a slight rattling noise even when the phone is not on vibrate or if you shake it or set it camera side down. I hope this helps because I know it answered my question.🙂

@vandalxdj, Ahem, that's an interesting story, but completely false. Here's what the vibration mechanism looks like inside the 4S: http://guide-images.ifixit.net/igi/tAXdgEjXALeIOuKh.large

The rattle has been confirmed to originate from the camera. The tone of the rattle can be changed by locking AF. It's just the nature of the 4S' camera assembly. The lenses literally rattle against them selves inside the camera housing. The cameras all seem to work fine, but they sound like bootleg P'sOS.

Hopefully the Apple rep you spoke with won't be receiving the raise that Apple store employees are supposed to get soon. In fact, most shouldn't, IMO. Most times I've had to walk in there for what ever reason (usually to droll over a new product) I've received less than accurate information about the technical nature of Apple products. Like shooting from the hip, contrived BS. Validating what I've researched on my own with an Apple store rep has proven, to me, to be pretty much pointless...

Hey all. Alright I'm having a much more pronounced rattle in my white 16gb 4s. I have just converted to Apple and am a little disappointed so far. First phone had the vibrator issue which caused a ridiculously loud whine/rattle when vibrating. Basically having a ringtone. I replaced that one for a seemingly perfect one with perfect vibrate except this new one sounds like a tambourine. Everytime I touch it, it rattles, and very audibly. Heck I can walk around with it in my pocket and hear the thing rattling. Anyways I took it to my apple store again and had a "Genius" supposedly take it to the back and tighten everything, while he proceeds to tell me my lock button is loose. When I recieve my phone it still makes the noise and not only that I find almost all of my apps open. Hmmm maybe he though my apps were causing the problem and decided to investigate. Regardless, I was wondering if anyone else has had an extremely loud rattling. I know what its supposed to sound like as my first one with the bad vibration motor did not rattle unless you tapped on the camera.

I have posted on this issue numerous times before. This was something I noticed from my first phone all the way up till my 7th. Yes I have had 6 swap outs for different issues but mostly related to the flash while taking pictures. What I noticed is that not one phone had the same rattle but all had a rattle. Some were louder some were quieter. You will find a number of different explanations as to the source of the rattle. But as annoying as it is it does not seem to hurt any functionality of the phone. So if can stand it u will eventually get used to it. If u can't than return it and get an android.

Thanks for the reply and I feel sorry for all the trouble you've had to go through simply to get a working phone. The only issue I'm concerned with is whether or not I should push for a replacement due to the loose power/lock button on my phone. My camera doesn't rattle terribly loud. I know it is the button as I can push down on it and my phone is seemingly noise free. I'm just wondering if this would be seen as a defect and would warrant a replacement as causes a very noticeable rattle. Also on your current unit, is your rattle seemingly louder than the others you've acquired?

My latest phone is actually one of the quieter ones i have received. But still very much noticeable. I'm not sure how they will treat your issue. Every genius seems to handle each situation differently. Some may swap it out rt away while others will say your phone is working perfectly. Just depends. But remember that after you have swapped out your first phone. Unless you receive a new one straight from the factory in the original box it's going to be a refurb. As will everyone after that if you have to ever swap out again. So when you swap out at an apple store they will take your phone and replace it with a refurb from a black box and send yours bk in that box. Seemingly to be fixed and sent bk out to replace someone else's phone.

Ahhh refurb. Hhmmmm may stick with this one then. I also fear receiving a unit with a true defect. I sure know a yellow screen would **** me off. Thanks for the info though. I guess I'll get used to the noise and if I ever need a replacement I have AppleCare+ to take care of that.

Is it weird that I switched from a blackberry 9700 that rattles EVERYWHERE to an iPhone 4S that has 1 rattle and it scared me? xD

Dude. Why are you all sitting around tapping your phones looking for slight rattles? It's already been determined that this is a normal function of the camera. Think of it as a trade off for having the absolute best camera ever to be out in a phone. Nothing is perfect. Stop being so OCD and enjoy a wonderful peice of technology.

If it was a REAL issue I have faith that Apple would address it. But what they are probably doing is sitting around laughing at all of you for being so unbelievably. Indescribably OCD.

Enjoy your iPhone. It really is the best phone on the market. Rattle or not.