Complaints Of Yellow And Washed Out Screen Issue On Black iPhone 4S
October 19, 2011
Some iPhone 4S users are racing back to exchange their new devices because of a yellow screen issue. Enough reports are piling up with this new Apple device, that it has earned the nickname of “Yellowgate.” What makes this particular yellow screen issue interesting is that it seems to only be happening on the black iPhone 4S.
According to CNET, iPhone 4S users are turning to the Apple Support Forums and finding other users with the same issue. The same yellow screens also appear to be washed out and have less contrast compared to the iPhone 4 and the white iPhone 4S.
A similar issue has appeared before, as users complained of a yellow tint on the iPhone 4. The cause of this problem seemed to be the glue. After about three weeks, the glue cured and the tint went away.
However, if this is only a glue issue, the contrast and colors should not appear washed out. One iPhone 4S user said:
My 4S screen is less contrasty, and the whites are more yellow (beyond 'warm') compared to my iPhone 4 screen. The colors are less vibrant, and some are pretty washed out. I've also noticed that the screen is more directional than the 4 screen, and in some viewing angles it's more yellow, and in others it's more contrasty. I'm really hoping this is a glue issue, which could improve. I don't think I'll be able to get used to this.I saw this issue in person when I visited a local Apple Store. I wanted to make sure I was happy with my white iPhone purchase, so I compared the black and white models side by side. Right away, I noticed the black iPhone had a yellow tint and the white iPhone had a crisp cool color. At first I thought maybe there was a new way to calibrate the iPhone screen that I did not know about, because it was so different. I asked a sales person about the difference. She came over and started looking herself and was also stumped. When I asked if there was anyone in the store that would know, she responded by saying “not at this level.” Then she went and double-checked with one of their techs. When she came back, she said no one at the Apple Store knew about this issue. It is not yet clear what the actual problem is with some of the black models of the iPhone 4S. Apple has not made any kind of official statement about the yellow screen issue, but hopefully the mystery will be solved soon. Let us know, in the comments, if you have a Yellowgate iPhone.