White iPhone 3GS units discoloring from excessive heat

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Comments

  • Reply 21 of 140
    solipsismsolipsism Posts: 25,726member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by OC4Theo View Post


    Just put a case on the phone, and stop whining for every little thing. If the phone does not function, then that is a problem. In this case it is definitely not.



    STOP WHINING!



    The discoloration is simply a sign of a larger problem and anyone with it should take it for a replacement. If you have a black iPhone and you feel that it's getting too hot under normal use and that the battery is not holding a charge in standby for as long as it should then get it replaced. You have the right to get the product you were promised.



    Also, anyone who is now so upset with Apple because their 3GS was one of the few duds doesn't want a replacement you are all within the 30-day return policy.
  • Reply 22 of 140
    The photo contrast could be improved. In order to show a brown tint on a white phone a contrasting background would help. Due to the way our eyes work the brown background masks the brown tint.



    Thanks for the article.
  • Reply 23 of 140
    I got the white 3GS 32Gig on Friday.



    Did a 15 minute video recording on Sunday, it got Really Hot, not quite burning but very uncomfortable. I wouldn't consider that general use but not un-natural, one would imagine that Apple would test it recording till the battery went flat.



    I suspect it was only going to get hotter.



    As a side note, it did that 15 minutes with only 10% charge and exited very politely when it powered down. So on that very unscientific sample of one perhaps it can record 2.5 hours on a charge which is a solid effort. Might have melted though
  • Reply 24 of 140
    mactrippermactripper Posts: 1,328member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by cy_starkman View Post


    I got the white 3GS 32Gig on Friday.



    Did a 15 minute video recording on Sunday, it got Really Hot, not quite burning but very uncomfortable. I wouldn't consider that general use but not un-natural, one would imagine that Apple would test it recording till the battery went flat.



    I suspect it was only going to get hotter.



    As a side note, it did that 15 minutes with only 10% charge and exited very politely when it powered down. So on that very unscientific sample of one perhaps it can record 2.5 hours on a charge which is a solid effort. Might have melted though





    Take it back,



    No matter how much we like a product and try to defend our choice of purchase, a defective product is a defective product. If it's a problem now, it's going to shorten the life of your iPhone and when it's out of warranty your screwed.



    If Apple issues a iPhone 3.0 update that "fixes" the problem, you still got damage done to the value of your device, it could die sooner regardless.



    I'm guessing here, but if the cost to build is apx $200 and they sell it for $600, (plus more depending upon carrier kickbacks), that a replacement cost is figured in somehow.



    I'd take it back while the iron is still hot.
  • Reply 25 of 140
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by solipsism View Post


    The discoloration is simply a sign of a larger problem and anyone with it should take it for a replacement. If you have a black iPhone and you feel that it's getting too hot under normal use and that the battery is not holding a charge in standby for as long as it should then get it replaced. You have the right to get the product you were promised.



    Also, anyone who is now so upset with Apple because their 3GS was one of the few duds doesn't want a replacement you are all within the 30-day return policy.



    Solipsism is correct on every point but one. Is this a matter that can (given Apple's history) drag on for months to come, even if they finally admit there is a problem or are you stuck with a phone that Apple is going to bring down the processor speed, limit the battery to make it work so they don't have to recall the phone.



    Also, given the fact that 3.1 is being rushed to release, the 3GS was pushed to market PRE maturely (I'm sure you'll get the pun).



    Tech Stud. Take his advice or buy the iPhone 3GS and experience what you've been reading for 2 years.



    Edit for Tech Studs sake.

    If Apple added multi-tasking it would blow up given the heat from running GPS plugged into a power source in your car.



    Buy a phone that you can't use all of the features because it gets to hot and is a danger (Google iPhone 3GS recall) or keep what you have as you are obviously not in any hurry to upgrade given the fact you don't own an iPhone.
  • Reply 26 of 140
    When issues such as these arise for any company, the first thing they have to be able to do is replicate the problem. If this is only happening to a small number of iPhones then it gets harder for Apple to narrow down exactly what the cause of the issue is. So far I've only seen one site that has pictures of a iPhone with discoloring and then a number of people claiming that their iPhone is 'hot' which is rather subjective.
  • Reply 27 of 140
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by iPhone1982 View Post


    Solipsism is correct on every point but one. Is this a matter that can (given Apple's history) drag on for months to come, even if they finally admit there is a problem or are you stuck with a phone that Apple is going to bring down the processor speed, limit the battery to make it work so they don't have to recall the phone.



    Also, given the fact that 3.1 is being rushed to release, the 3GS was pushed to market PRE maturely (I'm sure you'll get the pun).



    Tech Stud. Take his advice or buy the iPhone 3GS and experience what you've been reading for 2 years.



    Edit for Tech Studs sake.

    If Apple added multi-tasking it would blow up given the heat from running GPS plugged into a power source in your car.



    Buy a phone that you can't use all of the features because it gets to hot and is a danger (Google iPhone 3GS recall) or keep what you have as you are obviously not in any hurry to upgrade given the fact you don't own an iPhone.



    I don't see how 3.1 is being 'rushed' to release, just because it is being released not long after 3.0 doesn't mean it's rushed.
  • Reply 28 of 140
    iphone1982iphone1982 Posts: 109member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Caballera View Post


    I don't see how 3.1 is being 'rushed' to jum, just because it is being released not long after 3.0 doesn't mean it's rushed.



    Then PLEASE tell me one case when Apple didn't put out iPhone X.xx after a phone release?



    Going from Firmware 3.0x to 3.1 (Apple's firmware releases have gone for months) without a jump from X.0x to X.1. Or in this case 3.0 to 3.1.



    Pre Release.



    Edit. Explain the WHITE iPhones with a Tan. I'm sure there is an explanation to explain the release but I'm sure many will justify it and accept it as the norm.
  • Reply 29 of 140
    splinemodelsplinemodel Posts: 7,311member
    Having designed electronic devices in the past, I would be surprised if this problem could be tracked back to mere carelessness on Apple's part. It sounds A LOT more like a quality control problem with the batteries, which are likely made in a crappy chinese factory. Chinese build quality has never been great, but it's approaching abysmal these days. With these sorts of high-capacity batteries, there are pretty tight tolerances in the manufacturing. It would appear as if many if not all of the production batteries are not meeting the specifications, and as a result are breaking-down under the electrical loads of the iPhone (which, might I remind you, are LESS than the loads of the previous model). The quick fix would be for Apple to pay the extra $1 per unit and have the batteries manufactured in Germany, USA, or Japan.
  • Reply 30 of 140
    solipsismsolipsism Posts: 25,726member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by iPhone1982 View Post


    Then PLEASE tell me one case when Apple didn't put out iPhone 1.xxx after a phone release?



    Going from Firmware 3.0x to 3.1 (Apple's firmware releases have gone for months) without a jump from X.0x to X.1. Or in this case 3.0 to 3.1.



    Pre Release.



    The numbering is arbitrary. Apple chooses how they wish to do the numbering and it would seem that adding an x.1 over an x.x.1 is more indicitive of a lot changes, not just an underclocking of the CPU which would be easy and quick and truly warrant the x.x.1 change, based on their history.



    It's been nearly a month since the GM build of v3.0, and while it's worlds better than v2.0 at launch, there are plenty of boggling little issues that made me question why it was made Gold.



    I'd wager that this update won't downclock the CPU as it seems to be a small

    number of bad batteries causing the issue, and I'm guessing there's will be a lot of those occasional bugs resolved.
  • Reply 31 of 140
    vito_webvito_web Posts: 9member
    If Apple would produce their iPhone 3GS in US, then there would not be such problems.

    Apple will loose customers because of this. All of us buy Apple products because they had and have high quality, but now, for what to pay them if they relies on chinese.
  • Reply 32 of 140
    dhkostadhkosta Posts: 150member
    Why does Apple keep using white plastic, and why does anybody buy it anymore? White plastic is less durable by nature.



    Seriously, scrap the white plastic. And the Chinese batteries made by children without safety glasses. And AT&T's lazy asses (in 2011).
  • Reply 33 of 140
    r00fusr00fus Posts: 245member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by vito_web View Post


    If Apple would produce their iPhone 3GS in US, then there would not be such problems.

    Apple will loose customers because of this. All of us buy Apple products because they had and have high quality, but now, for what to pay them if they relies on chinese.



    They would also cost several hundreds of dollars more. I'd say it's a good trade-off, but I'm not sure the majority would.
  • Reply 34 of 140
    messiahmessiah Posts: 1,689member
    WTF?



    How hard can it be to design a product in white plastic?



    I mean really, it's not like there aren't any other products out there that are manufactured from white plastic.



    It amazes me that a company like Apple - who have some of the highest paid product designers in the business - can get even the most elementary of things wrong.
  • Reply 35 of 140
    messiahmessiah Posts: 1,689member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by iPhone1982 View Post


    Is this a matter that can (given Apple's history) drag on for months to come, even if they finally admit there is a problem or are you stuck with a phone that Apple is going to bring down the processor speed, limit the battery to make it work so they don't have to recall the phone.



    Yeah, I think there should be a law against this.



    If you have to limit the performance of a device in order to stop it from failing, then that isn't a fix in my book.
  • Reply 36 of 140
    vito_webvito_web Posts: 9member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by r00fus View Post


    They would also cost several hundreds of dollars more. I'd say it's a good trade-off, but I'm not sure the majority would.



    I agree to pay several hundreds $ more, but get stable and not discoloring enclosure
  • Reply 37 of 140
    irnchrizirnchriz Posts: 1,617member
    So far only one iPhone has been pictured like this and it was from some french website. The image has been circulated around the web but no others have surfaced. This all sounds like lazy reporting with the techie reporters jumping on the bandwagon.



    I had read on one of the reports that the original (and ONLY iPhone seen with discolouration) had been left in the sun on the users dashboard in their car.
  • Reply 38 of 140
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by iPhone1982 View Post


    Solipsism is correct on every point but one. Is this a matter that can (given Apple's history) drag on for months to come, even if they finally admit there is a problem or are you stuck with a phone that Apple is going to bring down the processor speed, limit the battery to make it work so they don't have to recall the phone.



    Also, given the fact that 3.1 is being rushed to release, the 3GS was pushed to market PRE maturely (I'm sure you'll get the pun).



    Tech Stud. Take his advice or buy the iPhone 3GS and experience what you've been reading for 2 years.



    Edit for Tech Studs sake.

    If Apple added multi-tasking it would blow up given the heat from running GPS plugged into a power source in your car.



    Buy a phone that you can't use all of the features because it gets to hot and is a danger (Google iPhone 3GS recall) or keep what you have as you are obviously not in any hurry to upgrade given the fact you don't own an iPhone.



    Pretty good post. What people do not realize is that ALL phones get hot. It is the chemical process within the battery. Increased usage requires more energy, thus requiring the battery internals to become more stimulated. Same thing happens with a laptop, or Nokia, or SE phone. Apple most likely chose the wrong plastic materials or did not consider how to dissipate the heat properly.



    The good thing for places where the iPhone is not yet released is that they will hopefully see the fix first.
  • Reply 39 of 140
    winterspanwinterspan Posts: 605member
    Big surprise... I'm so sick of the shitty product quality coming out of China...



    I'd MUCH rather pay 25+% more for products knowing they are manufactured to high tolerances with good quality control. Not to mention manufactured in countries that have decent working conditions and don't support oppressive and fascist regimes.



    This is clearly from poor quality lithium-polymer batteries that are overheating. In fact, It is probably dangerous, and I wouldn't be surprised if we see an iPhone or two that ends up melting down or exploding.
  • Reply 40 of 140
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Caballera View Post


    I don't see how 3.1 is being 'rushed' to release, just because it is being released not long after 3.0 doesn't mean it's rushed.



    Does it matter if it is rushed? Who really cares? Just get a release out the door that fixes the problem. Why debate the obvious?
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