Something loose in new iPhone 5

Mine rattles too. It seems like it's the power button on the top of the phone.

Yeah, I have noticed that the power button does make a little sound when shaken.

My guess would be you hear how vibrator (rotational motor with a counterweight) is moving.

Please check http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPhone-5-Teardown/10525/4 - its indeed in top.

Reckon you've got it. Based on the position the rotational vibrator is stopped in determines the type of rattle you get

Turning to silent and back a few times and tapping that area does give a varying degree of 'rattle'

Weird how 4S's rattled if their vibe motor was linear

Mine has the rattle too. A pretty heavy one. Battery? Black 32GB AT&T.

Apple Online Support told me I could get it repaired by them, but it would cost me $29!?! Fee for a "loaner phone" while mine is being repaired (3-4 weeks). They also told me I could exchange it at my local (55 miles one way) Apple Store - IF they have any. I am sick. I spent $696. Calling my credit card company now.

My phone also had the heavy rattle. Clearly a large part loose inside the phone. Like yours, a black AT&T 32GB.

Best Buy took one look at it and agreed to swap it. The new one (same specs) is fine.

ATT 16g Black I had the same issue of a "thud" ... I was at the store and the guy said it was a battery issue and he swapped it out...HOWEVER we had already entered the serial in my att account and it took 2 hrs for the account to switch over to the new phone but it appears ok now

Called Support. They were very apologetic. Recommended exchanging the phone ASAP, at no charge at an Apple Retail store. He thought I could do it through Verizon (my carrier), but I prefer dealing with Apple's customer service vs. Verizon's. I am going in tomorrow for a replacement.

The support guy I spoke with hadn't heard of this problem, but found this thread and others online. He said this likely IS NOT a widespread problem, but that something may have happened during shipping (I pre-ordered my phone and had it shipped to my house).

I was very level-headed with the guy, and he helped me. I wasn't ****** off, just simply stated that I wanted to ensure the longevity of my device. Be cool to the support and they'll help you.

Oh, and I laughed histerically when he insisted on the urgency of getting this fixed, he added, "You bought a new iPhone, not a maraca." Too true.

I had this problem. The Genius Bar fixed it for me in about five minutes. No need to swap out the phone. It was a partially unscrewed screw.

Okay,

I have a genius bar appointment tomorrow but I decided to go talk to the guys who sold me the phone or to sneak in an appointment. Well, the guys that were still handling the new buyers told me this...

Person #1 - seemed to be a manager because everyone pointed me to him when I asked them about it. So I asked him and he even took my phone into the store to check against other phones. He basically said ALL iPhones do this. He said it's the vibrator motor. I told him that not ALL ipones do it, that there were some people who didn't have this problem. He kept saying that ALL iphones should do it.
His rationale was that whenever you have some sort of vibrator element in a phone that there needs to be a loose item in the phone so that it vibrates. I think he thought I was some sort of idiot.
I explained that most cell phones have vibration capabilities and they don't ratlle like a baby toy. He said "not all phones are this precisely engineered." As if the best engineered products in the world all have some sort of flaw. Wth? And that other phones use plastic instead of an aluminum shell. And that doesn't make sense either.

Persons #2, 3 and 4 - All iphones do this. Once again. Not true.

So I will keep my genius bar appointment because these guys were not geniuses; not at all.

I only hope a loose screw is the problem for mine as well. Because I tried turning off and on the vibration motor and there was no difference in the rattle

In the meantime a friend called me and told me that he and his boss both have the same issue with their older iphones. hmmmmm.

I am having the same problem. It sounds like the battery is not secure. I have also made an appt at the Genius Bar for tomorrow. I am calling now to see if I can get help tonight.

I have the same issue! I waiting and paid $799 for this phone, and this is what I get. I see QC is slipping, again.

Currently on the phone with Apple. I'm frustrated.

I had the same problem. I took it into the Apple Store. The Genius took it into the back, opened it up, and found the battery wasn't clamped down. Fixed in five minutes.

Lucky you, my Apple Store is about 2 hours away. 😟

I wonder if Verizon would do a replacement?