01-22-2012, 09:06 PM

I’m finding that my iPhone 4S does not feel as though it was constructed as well as earlier phones. I had my 3GS for almost 3 years and it was the most well made gadget I have ever had but my 4S has a rattle in the back by the camera lens and the back plate shifts back and forth ever so slightly if I hold it a certain way.

I was thinking about making an appoint to get it looked at but the nearest Apple store is 100 miles away. The phone works fine but I keep thinking that either this phone slipped through the quality control at the manufacture or these phones are just not as well made.

I know most of us here are very happy with our Apple products but has anyone had this thought about the iPhone 4S?

01-22-2012, 09:46 PM

Originally Posted by maxwell2112

I’m finding that my iPhone 4S does not feel as though it was constructed as well as earlier phones. I had my 3GS for almost 3 years and it was the most well made gadget I have ever had but my 4S has a rattle in the back by the camera lens and the back plate shifts back and forth ever so slightly if I hold it a certain way.

I was thinking about making an appoint to get it looked at but the nearest Apple store is 100 miles away. The phone works fine but I keep thinking that either this phone slipped through the quality control at the manufacture or these phones are just not as well made.

I know most of us here are very happy with our Apple products but has anyone had this thought about the iPhone 4S?

My wife has had the iPhone 4 since launch and I have the iPhone 4S. Neither of us have these issues, nor have I ever heard of them. Sounds like you got a lemon. It happens. Call Apple.

01-23-2012, 02:31 AM

No iPhone 4S I've seen (nor iPhone 4) has a "rattle" or a "shifting back plate" (!!). There is definitely something wrong there. You might call Apple up and explain your remoteness, maybe they can do a mail exchange with you or something.

01-23-2012, 05:47 AM

Ah ha! The "infamous" iPhone rattle.

My iPhone 4 does this, my sister's boyfriend's iPhone 4 does this. My Dad's 4S does this. My colleague's 4S also does this. Now, me being me just went "meh - still works" but my colleague however tried to complain about this rattle which happened after a few days after receiving his 4S. He tried to complain to Vodafone, who told him he'd have to send it back and they would replace it with a refurbished one. He wasn't happy with this so trudged into the local Apple store, only to be told by a genius "Yeah, mate, this is a recognised fault on iPhone 4/4S.... If you want it replaced we'll give a refurb, chances are that will do it aswell".

Bottom line, Apple know it makes this rattle noise, just can't be bothered to do anything about it, not permanently anyway. So this would suggest standards are slipping, perhaps.

Haven't come across your other issue though, I'll keep an eye out.

01-23-2012, 08:05 AM

iPhone 3GS? Well made? not at all.

The back casing is the most prone thing to cracks i have ever seen. About 90% of the them that turn up at work I have to turn away due to either hairline cracks near the headphone jack or huge cracks by the 8pin connector.

iPhone 4's on the other hand rarely give me any jip

01-23-2012, 08:45 AM

mine has no rattle, no hum, no moving parts (that shouldnt be moving). Neither do my parents' 4s'. As many iPhones as there are out there, I am sure some show issues - but it will be a very low percentage.

01-23-2012, 07:56 PM

Thanks for the interesting array of responses.

I called Apple and the guy explained that the rattle is the shudder on the camera and that is just the way it is. The back plate is lose and they offered to exchange it. The guy said he didn't know if it would be a re-built (he refused to use the word "refurb") phone or a new one but most likely a new one.

I couldn't be with out it because I use it for my work e-mail so they put a hold on my credit card for the full price but will release it as soon as I ship the old phone.

It was easier than I thought it would be, I was prepared to deal with some hard-*** policy stuff but was pleasantly surprised.

01-24-2012, 03:06 AM

I only have five iPhone 4's and 4S's in my immediate circle of friends, but I asked them to give it a shake and report back. No rattles in the bunch, nor should there be.

01-24-2012, 03:21 AM

You wouldn't hear it by shaking it, you hear the noise by tapping it at the back near to where the camera is situated, but that's by the by...

Anyway, we all agree that it shouldn't be rattling, truth of the matter is - some iPhones rattle and Apple just accepts it as part of the design. Maybe they should make a camera that doesn't rattle next time around.

OP - glad they are sending you another... Let us know if this one rattles to!

01-24-2012, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by Chuckoir

You wouldn't hear it by shaking it, you hear the noise by tapping it at the back near to where the camera is situated, but that's by the by...

Well whaddya know… mine does do that.

Originally Posted by gjb11

The rattling is normal. It is the gyro that is near the camera.

This sounds like a perfectly reasonable and acceptable explanation and I'm satisfied with it. If it DIDN'T rattle, I think I'd be concerned. After all, this is a moving part. Nothing to see here folks.

01-24-2012, 12:33 PM

Ahhhh, well if it's the gyro then that makes sense. Panic over.

01-24-2012, 01:11 PM

What panic?

01-24-2012, 01:23 PM

I wasn't being literal.

01-26-2012, 09:59 AM

The rattle is from the lenses in the camera.

01-26-2012, 09:57 PM

Why would a MEMs gyro rattle - at least rattle at a level that a human could hear? I'm going to cast a vote for the lenses as indicated above.