macnn
07/30/2008, 10:25am, EDT
Wednesday, July 30th
iPhone 3G owners reporting mysterious cracks
Cracks have been developing on iPhone 3Gs belonging to a number of owners, according to media and customer reports. The damage appears to consist mostly of hairline fractures, typically around the volume and vibrate controls, but also in some cases around corners, speakers or the headphone jack. Affected models also appear to be white as a majority, though at least one black phone has displayed signs. Critically, the owners all claim not to have abused their phones, only subjected them to normal use.
Apple has so far honored a number of complaints by offering replacement iPhones, but staff may choose to refuse an exchange on the basis that the damage is cosmetic, or that the issue is not yet formally recognized. Carriers such as Rogers may be more resistant to providing new hardware.
Filed under: iPhone, troubleshooting
Other story tags: iPhone 3G
, 
, 17
, 
, 
, 
, 
, 
, 
Top
subscribe to comments
for this article
iPhone Owerns Unite!
iPhone 3G owerns reporting mysterious cracks??
Who here owerns an iPhone...
Not to mention...
Not to mention "Cracks have been arising on iPhone 3Gs belonging to a number of owners..."
Who here finds the use of the word 'arising' a bit out of place?
I am not an English major and have had my fair share of mutilating the English language both spoken and written, but was this a rushed edition, of a 'read all about it' type thing where the editorial staff did not get the chance to proof?
That first sentence seems really out of whack?
Cracks on the iPhone
When I went through the new iPhone 3G's body construction in the Apple store I noticed specifically the metallic function key's extremely sharp edges which for me shows very bad workmanship in the product of this nature and brand name. According to the low level of finishing touches it would not surprise me at all, if the material chosen for the plastic body of this phone would be too sensitive for a creation of cracks of this nature.
Re: Not to mention...
Nothing rushed about this article at all. MacNN writers have been faithful thesaurus users for a long time which results in some pretty awkward language sometimes.
3g iPhone doomed to
failure. Shoddy construction by underage Chinese slave labor leads to massive hairline fractures to the point of the rear case just completely disintegrating upon contact. Owners are up in arms and have taken to storming Apple retail stores demanding immediate replacement. I don't own an iPhone yet and already I want my money back. Now I understand how the angry crowd in the Hunchback of Notre Dame felt.
(I'm being sarcastic) However, the cracks are probably due to lousy quality plastic. If it is also happening with the black models, Apple will get crucified.
White shows more
I just picked up my white 16GB iPhone. small cracks over time with plastic are inevitable, but it is only the back. However, they should not appear this quickly.
Overall, the handling and feel (even "sharp" buttons) is better than the first gen iPhone.
Work
In 2007, Foxconn (in PRC) was 'investigated' and found to be paying its' employees $50.00 per MONTH, for their 80 hour weeks. (Where iPods & other Apple components assembled). Maybe someone was not too alert, or were dreaming where they'd send their $1.66 that day.
so wait...the white ones are crackers?
Hadn't been looking...
Hadn't been looking that closely at my white 16GB model lately, but indeed, there it is. Volume button side, but about a half inch from the bottom of the phone instead.
Tiny little crack, and if you think I'm gonna go through the hassle of returning it over THAT, you're NUTS. I love my little gadgets and I'm taking especially good care of this one, but when my VAJA case shows up later this month I won't ever see this little crack again.
Wake me up when entire backs are falling off our phones. 'Cause this is much ado about nothin.
reminds me of the cube
...except these are really cracks. There is definitely no way of playing off that photo as a mold line.
I'm not one to snap to judgment, but this seems significant to me (I'd certainly be upset if it were my iPhone). I guess the question is a matter of scope... how many devices does or will this issue affect over time?