Is there dust inside camera lens of iPhone 5?

there must be a design defect in the iPhone 5 resulting in poor seal between the camera lens and camera sensor module inside the case.

My original iPhone 5 got a LOT of dust inside the lens after owning it only a few months - picture quality from the camera was severely affected, to the point where I stopped bothering to take pictures.

There were maybe half a dozen large specks causing dark visible splotches in all pictures plus many more soft out-of-focus lighter splotches visible in photos with light backgrounds or lots of sky - the type of splotch that's familiar to anyone with a DSLR and out-of-focus dust on the sensor.

I never had this problem previously with my iPhone 3GS or my iPhone 4S.

After about 5 months I luckily had my iPhone 5 replaced under warranty for a different issue (power button problem) - I then had a perfectly clean/new camera again and no more spots in the photos.

But now after only 2 months of using this refurbished iPhone 5 I can once again see some specs of dust INSIDE the lens. Luckily they're not in the middle of the lens, nor are there too many dust specs (yet) so picture quality is still good. But it looks like only a matter of time before the dust problem once again takes over and affects the images.

sigh. oh well at least I still have time remaining on my AppleCare+ warranty, I will be sure to bring it back to the Apple Store when the problem gets bad again...

This happened to mine also, the front camera was blurry and the rear camera was unusable. I went to the Genius bar last night and they said it was water damage from sweat. Even though the water sensor cleary was not tripped, they said sweat got in the upper part. I had to pay the $49 replacement fee for AppleCare Plus (Grrrr.) This reasoning by Apple was highly dubious at best, the "genius" would not tell if Apple then recommends only using the headsets, because I pointed out that if you held the phone to your head you were bound to get sweat on the phone. Thus causing "water damage", the "genius" had no answer. I was really, really disappointed this was a total cop out to get me just to pay the $49 and move on.

I can report that Apple replaced my iPhone 5 with a refurb because of dust inside the camera:

The iPhone 5 had AppleCare on it and therefore the replacement was free of charge, but....the refurb has dust inside the camera as well, albeit not as prominent as the old one...

I am very disappointed. A few weeks ago I also noticed a dust inside lens. It's awfully visible on the picture.

Today I visited Apple Store and they confirmed dust is on the lens and were very surprised how it happened. Apparently this is not fixable, I have to replace phone. Of course my phone is out of warranty, therefore I would have to pay $269. I am asking WHY? It clearly is production issue and product needs to be recalled! Apple, do you care about products and customers?

this is fixable. if there is dust in there, just need to go in there and use a can of compressed air to blow the dust specs out. if you cannot get the apple store to do that for you, then go to a local repair shop that specializes in iphone repairs and ask them to do that for you. or if you are not afraid to open up your iphone, well you can do it yourself. did that myself for my iphone 5. there is a youtube video that shows how to do this.

Thanks for quick response. Actually they used compressed air and it did not help. In my case dust is on the sensor itself.

did they actually open up the iphone and blow out the camera area? not just blow compressed air through the bottom of the iphone?

or did they recommend to install a new camera (sensor) if the dust got into that part? you first said this was on the lens. that's different from the sensor. if just on the lens, then really have to open it up and blow out the lens.

if they gave you a high price (if no longer under warranty) to replace the part or replace the whole phone like you said, then personally myself would get an outside repair place to do the fix. the place where get my repairs done would do a camera fix for $35. still fixable it seems to me since the camera (sensor) is a replaceable part. seems like they want you to buy a new phone (the whole replacement iphone) and not do the specific simple fix-it work.

Just be aware that the advice you are giving about going to a local repair shop will mean Apple will no longer give service or support for the phone under any circumstance.

MirekM wrote:

I am very disappointed. A few weeks ago I also noticed a dust inside lens. It's awfully visible on the picture.

Today I visited Apple Store and they confirmed dust is on the lens and were very surprised how it happened. Apparently this is not fixable, I have to replace phone. Of course my phone is out of warranty, therefore I would have to pay $269. I am asking WHY? It clearly is production issue and product needs to be recalled! Apple, do you care about products and customers?

Sure they do. But you have a responsibility, as a customer, to report a problem to a manufacturer within the agreed upon time.

You agreed to the one year time frame, or two year time-frame if you bought Apple Care.

Now you want to alter the agreement. But you need permission from the other party to alter the agreement.

If Apple chooses not to alter the agreement, then you stand by the original agreement.

You failed to report the issue within the agreed upon time. Therefore, you use the out-of-warranty option.

yes of course that goes without saying. my iphone 5 is no longer under warranty and personally don't expect the apple store to do any repairs on my iphone. but for everyone else, if you are still under warranty, get the apple store to fix it. the person who my responses were to had an iphone out of warranty and was apparently not getting much help from the apple store except being told to buy a replacement iphone. it's like no hope for a repair at the apple store it seems to me. if out if warranty, then going to a reputable third-party repair shop, or even daring to do it yourself, are viable options. otherwise, get the replacement iphone. or even better, get the NEW iphone :-)

oh let me tell you that my experiences with third-party repair shops have been good. only went to two although there seem to be a bunch in my area in san diego county. one was near the apple store and at the time they were good for a home button repair done a few years ago but nowadays the yelp reviews now not so good for that shop. instead more recently now have gone to a better shop for three of my iphones and have been happy with the repairs (screen replacements, power button fix, battery replacement). if anyone is looking for a repair shop, search on yelp and read the reviews. for this situation on my iphone 5 with only needing to blow out the dust specs on the lens but not actually detaching the camera sensor, that was easy to do myself because the iphone 5 is relatively easy to open up if you are careful. it's when the logic board has to be removed to get to do everything else is when you need a professional at the apple store or at a repair shop to do it for you.... or just be done with it and get the NEW iphone :-) lol

what did the apple store say? this has happened to me but my warranty ran out last month... and I'm not too keen on paying a lot to get it fixed

In my iphone 5s same problm servce centres solve mi problem but nxt day agn dust in my rear camera what can i do