We have just been notified that there are multiple reports of the iPhone 3G vibrate switch falling out. This does not bode well for Apple, especially when it has only been about 24 hours since launch.
Pictured below is one of our 3G iPhones that was purchased at yesterday’s launch. The vibrate button was a little stiff and, when fully engaged, snapped completely off from the unit.
Upon taking the broken iPhone back to the Apple Retail Store where it was purchased, we were told that no replacement parts were currently in stock and we would need to come back in a few days. We then placed a call to Steve Jobs asked for a manager and was given a replacement iPhone on the spot.
Some people are already reporting similar experiences:
I was on my way out to buy the new 3G today, but this makes me think twice.
And all you fools queued up at midnight for this junk?!
This makes think me, in Spain we have few hereterminal,: ( reason why I have not run to by mine, also the company that has the exclusive right, it put prices abusive, reason why without free terminals, I will have to wait for a prudential time, that reason why I see is good idea.
steve jobs will spin this into an bonus feature. iPhone 3g, now with removable buttons!
Thank God I decided to wait!!!!!!!
Yeah mines got the same problem. I send it back to T-Mobile. What a crap.
I have had the same thing happen as well, mine broke this morning on my 3g iPhone. I am going to be returning mine for another as well.
mine is still good.. But with all new things there can be problems.. We will just see I guess. If it happends apple will replace them im sure
Mine was painfully stiff too but I would not have thought much of it if I had not seen my brother’s iPhone 3G also. I would have just assumed that it would have loosened up over time or something. Unlike others’ experience, mine has more difficulty switching off than on (it is near impossible to do with one hand without risking dropping it). That’s opposite of most reports I see.
If it makes a difference, ours are white 16-tigers.
Got a broken one too. Mine wasn’t really stiff, I would say it worked/felt great. However it broke anyway, just from normal usage. Seems like it’s a low quality part.
The iPhone’s in for repair now and I’m left with a comparatively speaking useless old Nokia which can’t even sync my contacts. And the repair will take about 2 weeks, That’s way more time than any repair on my good old macbook ever took. Great service from Telia (Sweden).
Mine broke off a few days ago…I stopped by AT&T on my way home from work and they said I would have to go to an Apple store to have it replaced. I’ve got an “appointment” at the Genius Bar this afternoon. We’ll see how that goes. This is a big disappointment!
another reason i hate apple
Mine is the opposite… so loose that I bump it all the time. Just holding the phone and lightly brushing my fingers over it swtches it, both directions. Very frustrating missing calls or ringing when I need silence.
mine is fine. I have had no issues other than a couple apps causing issue.
mine has just fallen off tonight will be going into an o2 shop on my day off to get it replaced, still love the phone but i hope it dosnt happen again like ive been reading about
Mine just broke about 30 minutes ago, and I’m so angry I had to sit down for awhile. I was told by O2 to return it to the store and they’ll fix it. which means several days without a phone. I think I’m gonna go to the apple store though first.
went to the apple store and they replaced it….
Way back in the late 70’s when Apple II came to the world to threaten the giant IBM, I was already involved with Apple when we developed the Citibank worldwide network called Citiflash. Let me.remind you that the web was only a figment of the imagination then.
We used Apples then to make the various programs for the main frames, using seven platforms in machine language. I am now a tech gadget trader in the the whole East Asia, headquartered in Hongkong, and I am still very happy using Apple products, except the for iPhone, simply because I find the mobile device very primitive.
What do I get from my other phones? I can now simultaneously watch a movie, get a steady stream of stock quotes, look at a map showing the epicenter of a recent earthquake, and compose/read my SMS. Yes, I get all these all at the same time. I use my phone as a debit card to pay for my various needs – groceries, dining, etc… including fare for the rail transit. I was pleasantly surprised that I can even shop with my phone in the malls in the Philippines, Malaysia, & Thailand. My celebrated iPhone 3G could not handle any of these.
If I were to make a list of the ten best mobile phones, it may land last of the ten. I strongly suggest that you examine the mobile devices available worldwide so that you can have a wider perspective.
my silent button is very mobile. Easy to the touch. !!! So easy to the touch that I am always having to pay attention to it. I miss calls all the time , because it seems to move to the vibrate mode when I put it back in the case. I too have already been to the ” smart ” bar to have my phone completely erased and reprogramed. It was getting so hot to the touch I actually thought is was going to blow up. No one at the bar was smart enough to actually tell my what was wrong. But they did all look at each other with this inside look like “. Not another one “. At least they are seeming to cover Apples but. But any ” smart ” employee would. That’s ok. It’s sad the whole world fell into their marketing trap. ” Can you here us now “.
You people ever heard of super-glue?
Unfortunately the space is so small where the button fits, superglue doesn’t work. Plus, the button is so stiff, the button would just pop right back off anyways. Trust me, those thoughts already crossed my mind, and probably many others’.
Switch on my 3g fell off after about 30 days. I have not had time to go back to apple store yet. I was in an AT&T store and asked the clerk of she had heard of this problem. She at least acted as if she had not.
Jan here again. Same as post #27. Took my phone back to Apple store two days ago and they exchanged for a new phone, no questions asked. That’s service.
mine broke too. after only 2 weeks of operation! took it back to ATT, they sent me to Apple. had to wait for a day to get an appointment with a Genius. the genius took out a little microscope thing with a light and looked into the headphone jack. handed the phone back to me and said: “sorry, your phone has water damage, so the warrantee is void”. water damage? excuse me? “yes, the water damage indicator has been tripped (turns red) when exposed to water or water vapor”. the genius suggested that i keep a finger over the headphone jack when i leave the controlled environment of the house! what?! im stuck with a broken ringer and a useless warrantee + Apple Care extended warrantee! f u apple.
My sister is on her 3rd phone in less than 6 months. If it breaks again, I’m telling Apple to refund her the money for the phone, otherwise I’m suing Apple under the lemon law.
3 days after I bought my new iphone it fell into a fire with hot coils, but I have the leather case . About 7 seconds being in the fire I found it, burnt my hand, case and phone. Some how it all works. No damage on screen, leather case was f$%&ed, black metal casing was burnt!
Wow… My vibrate button was stuck one day on vibrate one day, and when I went to go switch it over the button popped right off. I went through hours of time on the phone with people who seemed like they could barely understand what I was saying, and after sending it in and everything, I still can’t get a new one! The screen is cracked so apparently absolutely every warrantee is void?! WHAT?! I never tried sending it in for the screen, but lets get real… What am I supposed to do now? I mean if they don’t service them.. Give me a phone with the button and broken screen I DON’T CARE!
I was given the same reasoning as carl comment 29 but with the added reason that apparently water corrodes circuitry, when I informed the tech that water does not corrode and is not an acid but would simply short out the phone he became all flustered and ran off for his manager who came over and told me to give him my details and he’d call me the following day,,,, guess what no phone call!!! Am going in this week to have it put with them !!
I found out that the Ringer Mute button of my 3G was broken a few days ago, have no idea when did it happen. Brought it to the Apple Store today, they told me to pay them $199 and they will replace it with a new one! Are you f-ing kidding me?? I thought I was the ONLY unlucky one, now I found out it’s a common issue !! I am definitelty going back to get it replaced for FREE !!!
I have this problem of the broken MUTE SWITCH with my iphone 3G which is still under warranty and the Singtel SINGAPORE staff who escalated to their HIGHER MANAGEMENT says they cant help me because ONE of the 2 litmus paper (located near the connector) turned color.
1. If you place the litmus paper at the connector, either the humid weather or the natural wet breath from your mouth when you talk can likely activate the litmus.
2. Because Apple Singapore provides strict rules, and Singtel cant think , they say I have to write to APple to escalate the case.
I thought the litmus paper is there for Apple to protect itself against warranty claim for water damaged iphones. BUT FOR PERFECTLY WORKING iPhones with broken switch, how can they use the LITMUS paper trick to absolve themselves of their manufacturing and design defect and warranty ??
I’ve had my iPhone 3G for less than a year. I’ve taken extremely good care of it. Keep it in a case, never dropped it, etc, etc. I’ve never had any problems with it, and I’ve never had any telling signs of problems to come… Until yesterday.
The mute button just popped off as I was turning the ringer back on. It hadn’t been loose (or too tight) before. I’ve thought about superglueing it back on, but as someone else noted here, the space is extremely small, and I’m worried that it would not only invalidate the warranty, but it could possible glue the switch and make it inoperable.
There are no official Apple stores here in the Czech Republic–only resellers. I plan to go to the O2 shop where I purchased the phone, but I have no idea what to expect from them.
I had my iPhone 3G “come apart” the same way. The switch just fell off. Luckily I was covered by warranty, but unluckily my phone is a Apple-unlocked iPhone from Belgium. (I used to work in Brussels.) Now that I live in the US, they wouldn’t fix my phone. They would swap it to a AT&T locked phone, but come’on!
Took a month and calls to dozen different people. I heard all kind of bull about phones being differen in different countries. All iPhones (within model lines) have same/fully compatible hardware. Only difference is the firmware & software. But even modem firmware can be updated and Apple CAN unlock ANY iPhone they wish. I have personally seen two iPhones that were purchased as regular sim/operator-locked, but later unlocked by Apple. Both cases where original owner’s contract with operator was ended for a reason mid term.
Finally a senior support (manager?) offered a solution. – We’ll see how that works out.
My switch on my new 3gs isnt broke of but when I put it on vibrate it doesnt always go to vibrate.
Is there anything i can do?