Iphone 5 rattles at top when shaken.

Question

Level 1

1 points

Iphone 5 rattles at top when shaken.

Called customer service and they have arranged for me to mail back to them and will replace. One Senior Advisor said it was the new camera's auto-focus that is free-floating. Totally normal noise. Had several iphones prior, last being the 4S and there was not a rattle from the camera. Doubt that's it. Gonna demand a new one at the apple store today. Have a Genius Bar appointment at 4:50. More likely a tired chinese kid on the assembly line messed up. Hard to crank out 5 million phones in 2 months without flaws I guess.

iPhone 5, iOS 6, 32GB Black

Posted on Sep 22, 2012 4:41 AM

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Answer 1

cdw5510

Level 1

5 points

Sep 22, 2012 4:47 AM in response to Heyiamlost

Check the switch, hold then when shaking. I bet that is your noise as it was on my iPhone4. Just a thought.

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Answer 2

Sep 22, 2012 4:52 AM in response to Heyiamlost

Lots of threads on this. Seems folks are being told everything from a loose battery to the camera lens to the vibration motor counter weight.

From those who have already gone back to their Apple Stores, seems the majority get a new iPhone 5.

I have the same issue and and have a Genius Bar appointment (55 miles away) at 3:40 p.m.

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Answer 3

Heyiamlost Author

Level 1

1 points

Sep 22, 2012 5:00 AM in response to cdw5510

Held all buttons firmly and noise persisted. We'll see what the "geniuses" say.

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Answer 4

Heyiamlost Author

Level 1

1 points

Sep 22, 2012 5:57 AM in response to Emilie in Key Largo

Loose battery is heavier thud from what I have read. This feels small and limited to the area around the camera or speaker. Shouldn't do this. If they tell me it's normal, I am gonna tell them to redesign it or they are going to get a lot of returns. Quality control is getting worse as they try to make too many phones in secrecy at the last minute. All about keeping sales high on the prior model til the very last minute. Good luck to you

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Answer 5

Sep 22, 2012 8:10 AM in response to Heyiamlost

Just back from my Genius Bar appoint at the Apple Store at the Falls, Miami.

Loose battery. Adhesive reapplied to the battery. No more rattle. Took less than 5 minutes and sent me on my way.

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Answer 6

ag-ok

Level 1

24 points

Sep 22, 2012 12:23 PM in response to Heyiamlost

I have noticed the same problem in my black 32GB iphone 5.

Never heard it on my Original iPhone or iPhone4.

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Answer 7

Sep 22, 2012 1:48 PM in response to Heyiamlost

Mine is a one day old iPhone 5 32GB black AT&T.

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Answer 8

Heyiamlost Author

Level 1

1 points

Sep 22, 2012 6:23 PM in response to Heyiamlost

Went to the store and the Genius took it apart. Said it was the camera and that it is supposed to make that noise and said he checked three other phones and they all did the same thing. I listened to the sample he brought and I heard nothing. Was comical. So I figure I have proof I brought it in case there is an issue with th phone in the future. I have a return code from a senior advisor and am considering using the phone for a few days and then maybe sending it out for repair if the noise is bothersome.

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Answer 9

Sep 23, 2012 1:17 PM in response to Heyiamlost

Heyiamlost - they told me repair/ replacement time was running 3-4 weeks, so maybe check how long it will take before sending it. That's why I went 55 miles to the Apple Store to have them reglue my battery (for my iPhone's issue).

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Answer 10

Sep 23, 2012 1:31 PM in response to Heyiamlost

I have the same issue. I had it with my 4s as well. I went to Apple and spoke to two reps. At least the 4 or 5 floor models that were checked had the same issue as well as other staffers' ip5 and 4s. I too have heard from several sources that its normal due to the camera components.

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Answer 11

xcites

Level 1

0 points

Sep 25, 2012 5:48 PM in response to Heyiamlost

i had the same problem. it was a loose battery.

i follow this instruction and fixed it (no more sound): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KebdQ3Fg-A8

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Answer 12

jsubva

Level 1

0 points

Oct 6, 2012 9:40 AM in response to Heyiamlost

I just left the apple store with the same problem. More of a rattle, not a thumping sound. They told me it was normal and it was the gyro. It was so loud in the store that the guy could hear it anyway. I'll go back during the week when it isn't so crowded. No one else I know with a 5 has the rattle.

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Answer 13

lvil23

Level 1

0 points

Oct 7, 2012 5:20 PM in response to Heyiamlost

SAme thing happened to me. Put your iphone flat on a table, and put you hand on top of it and press down. It should work

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Answer 14

samesk8r

Level 1

0 points

Oct 15, 2012 6:48 AM in response to Heyiamlost

If it's in the upper left, it's the vibe motor! It's a metal half barrel on a shaft that spins. It's half so it's unevenly balanced creating a vibration when it spins, thereby shaking the entire device. It rattles because it's unevenly balanced.

It's not the camera and definately not the gryo. That's bad guessing on the part of staff.

The fact the Family Room teams at reatil don't know and/or aren't sharing this is disappointing and a bit concerning.

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Answer 15

Oct 15, 2012 11:14 AM in response to Heyiamlost

Both my wife and I have new iPhone 5's I have a 16GB Black one and she has a 16GB White one. (AT&T)

My black iPhone 5 rattles like a piece of PCB or screw is loose inside the structure of the phone, it’s not like the battery issue some of you all have talked about.

My wife’s iPhone doesn’t Rattle at all, perfectly silent when shaken.

I have a co-worker with the same phone as my wife’s (AT&T); his phone also does not rattle when shaken.

As far as I can tell, it’s a quality control issue and I personally do not want a phone that sounds like it’s broken.

Regardless of what is wrong with the device I’m not going to put up with something that I paid a premium for rattle and have a possible issue down the road, and always leave it to apple to call it a design choice that your phone has a rattle feature.

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