FaceTime camera appears off-center

jdvl116 wrote:

I had this issue with my first iPhone 6(Black, 16gb) and it was fine when I got it. A week or two later, I noticed the issue with the camera. I then took it to apple, they tried a screen replacement that didn't help. They then replaced the phone, and that one was fine. A week and a half later (never dropped the phone or anything) I noticed the same issue. My mom has the iPhone 6 in white and I haven't noticed the problem on hers. I may ask if I can get a replacement unit and change the color. I think it is weird to have two defective units in a row, or maybe this is an issue with all, but only a few are noticing it.

It's not an issue with all as neither of my two iPhone 6 have any issues, nor does anyone's iP6 in my office have issues. But it could certainly be that some who do have an off-centered front facing camera haven't notice it. Especially if it doesn't effect the normal operation of the camera.

My phone was exhibiting this as well, but it also lost a screw on the bottom. I took it to the Apple store and the replaced it. Either issue would have warranted a replacement, I was told. Now my second phone is also exhibiting this issue with the camera.

As someone pointed out, this is not something that is easy to see affecting the camera, but it will. It causes a general softening of the entire image. The amount of softening is proportional to the fraction of the opening that is obscured. That whole area is needed by the camera. They don't cut out extra space that's not needed. So if you can see any reasonable amount of obstruction, it's affecting the image. It may be hard to notice, but your images will have lower contrast and softer edges, and it will gradually worsen.

And regardless, people DO buy Apple products because of aesthetics, and Apple certainly takes pride in the aesthetics of their devices. If you take a product to Apple which is aesthetically flawed because of manufacturing, (not usual wear and tear over time) they are required to help not only because of the wording of their warranty, but by their own standards of business. Since this manifests within days/weeks of getting a phone and is entirely internal, it's pretty clear it's a manufacturing defect and everyone who is bothered by it should be getting it fixed.

If it doesn't bother you, then great, you don't have to go through the hassle of restoring your phone and swapping it out. But don't go telling others they aren't entitled to get what they paid for. I could care less if it's a refurb or not, as long as it's fully functional and aesthetically as advertised.

I'm going to give mine a little longer to see how much worse it gets, but I'll be heading back to the Apple store about it.

Thank you, you are so right!!!!!!!!

Exactly. You are not going to know whether your picture is affected unless you take two identical images with one affected phone and one that is unaffected. And yes, I think it would manifest itself as a slightly darkened, less detailed photo. You might see some shadowing in bright high angle sunlight.

The shifted spacer has nothing to do with opinion. It is a fact that is has shifted. It is a fact that it's not supposed to. It is a fact that something that is not as it should be or is designed to be qualifies as a defect, whether functional or aesthetic.

Also, take into account the fact that these shift are getting worse over time. Many people have mentioned this, but you seem not to hear. This means what may well be aesthetic, turns out to be a functional problem at a later time. Would you like to simply wait and find out, or are potentially grainy, darkened images aesthetic problems too?

On that note, see the post by tsanga (Re: FaceTime camera appears off-center) where he clearly understands how an aberration like this would manifest itself in pictures. You're not necessarily going to know it's effecting your pictures without some method of direct comparison, especially when your phone is new to you and you have no mental basis to compare it to.

I suspect this slipping of the spacer inside there was due to some sort of vibration (sitting in my pocket, on the dash of my car, etc), and I'm very habitual about the orientation I place it in my pocket and other places. So I decided to flip the orientation of the phone when I set it down in the car and in my pocket.

And to little surprise, I found the spacer walking back the other direction, to the point that now I can barely see it. It's not perfect, and still shows a little, but it's a pretty good indication that it's not properly glued. My guess is that the adhesive or whatever other mechanism that's supposed to be holding it in place isn't working as expected under certain conditions (some frequency of vibration, gravity/orientation, temperature, combination them, whatever).

AAfter my third replacemnt of a space grey showing the same problem, I swithed to a silver. No problem so far after three weeks, finger crossed

I've read the same thing online and I have the same problem myself. The article I read states that Apple is replacing phones/screens if you have this problem. Unsure if its true but if so all the better!

Apple will first try to replace the screen and if unsuccessful, then they will give you another phone. I went in this past weekend and they replaced my phone on the spot bc they did not have any displays in stock. Just go in and they will take care of you in no time.

jdrewrd wrote:

The shifted spacer has nothing to do with opinion. It is a fact that is has shifted. It is a fact that it's not supposed to. It is a fact that something that is not as it should be or is designed to be qualifies as a defect, whether functional or aesthetic.

Also, take into account the fact that these shift are getting worse over time. Many people have mentioned this, but you seem not to hear. This means what may well be aesthetic, turns out to be a functional problem at a later time. Would you like to simply wait and find out, or are potentially grainy, darkened images aesthetic problems too?

On that note, see the post by tsanga (Re: FaceTime camera appears off-center) where he clearly understands how an aberration like this would manifest itself in pictures. You're not necessarily going to know it's effecting your pictures without some method of direct comparison, especially when your phone is new to you and you have no mental basis to compare it to.

Just because it's shifted doesn't mean that A) the image will be distorted or B) it will continue to shift over time.

And there is often a degree of tolerance allowed for many components. In many, many cases, there is shifting allowed. I'm not even going to bother listing how many devices I've worked on that allow such tolerances. Additionally, camera lens can shift without distorting an image. Which is why I'd been asking to see a picture taken with an 'affected' device.

And the evidence would be a shadowing effect for example. I've worked with photography for many years. Believe me, I can tell from a picture if there's a significant issue with a lens or lens assembly.

I Didn't pay $1000 to buy a premium device with a shifted camera. Just like I didn't pay $50k to buy an Audi if it is slower than a smart for 2. If you are satisfied with low standard defective product that I think you are out of tuned for premium product owners who care about both form and function of their iPhones. or perhaps owners who see the chance of problem propagating further.

Well it looks like the issue has finally received notice

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/s/one-more-iphone-6-problem-aware-175412811.html

domlee2010 wrote:

I Didn't pay $1000 to buy a premium device with a shifted camera. Just like I didn't pay $50k to buy an Audi if it is slower than a smart for 2. If you are satisfied with low standard defective product that I think you are out of tuned for premium product owners who care about both form and function of their iPhones. or perhaps owners who see the chance of problem propagating further.

If the 'off-center' lens does not impair the function of the camera or the quality of the images, and if it is within the build tolerances of the design, then I'd have no problem with it.

If you think it's defective, take it to an Apple store. If they agree, they'll replace it if it's within warranty.

All I've asked for is to see a picture taken with one of these 'off-center' lens. It's odd that no one wants to post one.

And don't worry, friend. I'm definitely a 'premium product user' who is well versed in this technology. 😉 Been working with Apple products (as well as a lot of other manufacturer products) for a very, very long time.

jjcooney wrote:

Well it looks like the issue has finally received notice

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/s/one-more-iphone-6-problem-aware-175412811.html

And I especially like the part where the article says:

"The good news, though, is that this flaw doesn’t seem to be affecting its performance."

&

"the company does replace affected iPhones on the spot"

In other words, it's not actually causing problems for anyone (other than finicky cosmetic aesthetic concerns, no actual technical or usage problems), but Apple is swapping them out anyways if it's too annoying for you to handle.

Exactly, it's good that apple has acknowledged that it's a problem and is swapping them out.