Loose black back piece?

[Shirazik]

something that has really been bugging me is the quality on these phones. This is my 5th phone now and 4 out of those 5 have had loose black backs. I find this ridiculous considering its $600 and that every single iPhone in the Apple store has no such loose back on it. My 14th day is up his friday and im getting pretty pissed that all these phones im getting have poor construction. I'm wondering if anyone else has these loose black backs and what series your LCD is. I find it that a lot more 7 series have poorer construction than the 5 series.

Something interesting to note is that all the store phones are 5 series and they are built like a rock but all the ones Ive returned have been 7 series AND the black part is loose. I dunno what I'm going to do because this phone that I have now, although its loose, has great battery life so im scared to return it. Im going to San francisco tomorrow so we'll see if they understand me....

I didn't know Apple is capable of products like this...

 

[Zman-iPhone]

what do you mean by 'loose'? because i have a series 7 and nothing budges.

 

[Shirazik]

Loose as in if you squeezes the sides of the black piece it moves.

I'm not saying that all 7 series have it, that would be stupid to say, i'm saying MORE 7 series have it than 5 series, in my experience.

 

[Zman-iPhone]

yes mine doesn't do that.

 

[EJW2202]

I'm on my third and all of them have done it. You're so right though about the ones in the store. All of them have everything perfectly lined up and nothing jiggles or anything. It seems like they are better quality while the paying customers should get the better ones considering the demo one's in the store are being beat around.

 

[webb]

I don't understand. Do you mean the black cover is extremely loose as in you could just take it off with my trouble whatsoever? Or does it just "squeak"?

The black cover is designed to come off. It's not held on by screws like the aluminum backing.

Fred

 

[klmckenzie03]

I was noticing the same thing with my iPhone. Sometimes when grabbing or using the phone this black piece squeaks and if you push on it you can tell that it moves. Ever since I bought the phone I couldn't help but wonder what this piece was even for? Why isn't it just aluminum like the rest of the phone?
I considered that maybe it was a different kind of plastic to help resist some of the wear on the phone from insterting it into the dock. I also considered that maybe it had something to do with replacing the battery. However, if they were going to make some cheap ass black cover much like they did that we still cannot take off and change the battery; Why didn't they just A) Make the whole phone totally sealed like an iPod, or B) Give us a quality, removable battery door in which we can change our own battery much like EVERY other cell phone on the market? Come on Apple!

 

[Tinman]

I considered that maybe it was a different kind of plastic to help resist some of the wear on the phone from insterting it into the dock. I also considered that maybe it had something to do with replacing the battery. However, if they were going to make some cheap ass black cover much like they did that we still cannot take off and change the battery; Why didn't they just A) Make the whole phone totally sealed like an iPod, or B) Give us a quality, removable battery door in which we can change our own battery much like EVERY other cell phone on the market? Come on Apple!

The plastic covers the antenna. You wouldn't like the reception if the antenna was shielded by metal. The plastic has little to do with a battery door (battery isn't under it).


--
Mike

 

[klmckenzie03]

The plastic covers the antenna. You wouldn't like the reception if the antenna was shielded by metal. The plastic has little to do with a battery door (battery isn't under it).

Ohhh, ok! Thanks for the logical explanation as I was scratching my head over this for some time now. I figured at some point it would probably come apart anyway and I would find out for myself what was inside.

 

[808flip]

I'm having th same exact problem! I'm on my second phone now and not only does th back piece squeak but the glass on the screen is not on perfectly straight thereforee allowing dust to slip inbetween the edge I the glass and the metal chrome looking thing. To me this is quite unnacceptable with a 600 dollar phone, but I'm honestly scared about returning it. First of all, would the store have to give me a new one or could they turn me away and simply tell me I'm being OCD.? Or even if they don't, what if the next one is even worse? What would you guys do?

 

[iPhobos]

You paid 600 dollars for the most revolutionary cell phone in years. AND you bought it from a company who has always had unparalleled products in quality, design and capabilities to others in their market. Therefore I would be taking the phone back immediately if it didn't hold up to those standards.

I have a 5 series phone and haven't had any hardware or software problems and I feel bad for those who have. If I would have received a phone with any of the problems listed above or on this forum I would definitely be returning the defective device.

 

[GMAN901]

I have the exact same issue. I notice when I pull it out of my case, it sometimes feels like something is "creaking." I am not sure where it is happening, but I think it happens around the plastic black backing. I think my wife's is fine, but my iPhone seems to have the problem. I am way past my 14 days, and I just exchanged one of the BT headset that had a lot of problems. I don't think the Apple Store would let me exchange my iPhone over a squeak or creaking noise. Also, when I feel around the black piece after I hear (or feel) the creak, I can't seem to find anything loose. I think I am like most of you who feel $600 should buy a quality product. Should I call Apple or leave it be? I guess as long as nothing falls off, I should be good until the next version of the iPhone comes out!

 

[webb]

normal

I have the exact same issue. I notice when I pull it out of my case, it sometimes feels like something is "creaking." I am not sure where it is happening, but I think it happens around the plastic black backing. I think my wife's is fine, but my iPhone seems to have the problem. I am way past my 14 days, and I just exchanged one of the BT headset that had a lot of problems. I don't think the Apple Store would let me exchange my iPhone over a squeak or creaking noise. Also, when I feel around the black piece after I hear (or feel) the creak, I can't seem to find anything loose. I think I am like most of you who feel $600 should buy a quality product. Should I call Apple or leave it be? I guess as long as nothing falls off, I should be good until the next version of the iPhone comes out!

I believe the creaking is normal. That is the piece they remove to get to the rest of the guts of the phone. Mine does it and it still feels very very solid. I don't think there is anything to worry about.


Fred

 

[el31415]

something that has really been bugging me is the quality on these phones. This is my 5th phone now and 4 out of those 5 have had loose black backs. I find this ridiculous considering its $600 and that every single iPhone in the Apple store has no such loose back on it. My 14th day is up his friday and im getting pretty pissed that all these phones im getting have poor construction. I'm wondering if anyone else has these loose black backs and what series your LCD is. I find it that a lot more 7 series have poorer construction than the 5 series.

Something interesting to note is that all the store phones are 5 series and they are built like a rock but all the ones Ive returned have been 7 series AND the black part is loose. I dunno what I'm going to do because this phone that I have now, although its loose, has great battery life so im scared to return it. Im going to San francisco tomorrow so we'll see if they understand me....

I didn't know Apple is capable of products like this...

after the 5th phone maybe it's time to switch to a different kind of phone
iPhone doesn't like you that's all

 

[beej]

If I press on the sides of my black cover, it "pops" very slightly. Unless yours is really loose (by that I mean rattling around), I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

Have all of your exchanges been for this "problem?"

 

[ColsTiger]

Guess I got lucky. Mine's a pretty solid fit on the back.

 

[klmckenzie03]

I'm having th same exact problem! I'm on my second phone now and not only does th back piece squeak but the glass on the screen is not on perfectly straight thereforee allowing dust to slip inbetween the edge I the glass and the metal chrome looking thing. To me this is quite unnacceptable with a 600 dollar phone...

I don't think the glass issue is as much of a defect as it is a design flaw. Mine also has a gap between the glass and chrome piece, which I never noticed until after about a week of being stored in my pocket. Apple definitely should have sealed this off somehow. I just bought a can of compressed air last week and this seems to work well for blowing the dust out.

Another thing I do to help cut down on the dust in between the screen is to keep my phone in an iPod sock! I tried out two different iPhone cases and found them all to be quite worthless and cheapy. So, I decided to try out the iPod socks. The iPhone fits into these perfectly!

 

[RyanFavre]

i noticed the same thing as well, it creeks alittle when you press down hard or squeeze that area. If you were seriously returning four iPhones for that, I want to thank you for driving up the price of the iPhone. That's about as anal as you can get.

 

[w5ttx]

Just spend $6 and get BSE (plastic skin) and you want have to worry at all. I don't notice any movement with mine installed not to mention the protection against scratches and dents.

 

[JPizzzle]

the noise from the black case is normal, I asked a "genius" and he said that some of them do make that noise and it should not be an issue unless the black piece is coming off. In regards to the light coming through, i've been through my fair share of iPhones and the majority that i've had have the light issue to some degree. The "genius" said that it is the area where the screen is mounted, but he would exchange it. I suggest that if the light leak is not that bad on your phone (cannot be seen when directly looking at the phone) then don't worry about it since there are phones that have worse light leak issues. Good luck