5 hardware issues Apple had with the iPhone

The iPhone, Apple’s most prized product in its arsenal, has been around for almost 10 years now. It’s latest release, the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, have recently rolled out in the market. Although revered by consumers, the iPhone had its own shares of hardware issues, some of which are very controversial. Here are five of them.

Antennagate in iPhone 4

Apple impressed its audience with the iPhone 4 (2010) mostly because of its new design. It had a glass front and back, and a stainless steel frame which doubles as an antenna. The latter caused the issue as users started experiencing reception degradation when held in a certain way.

Apple’s first remedy is to tell owners to “avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band,” or just use a bumper case. The company then started offering free bumper cases to those experiencing reception issues.

Battery defect in iPhone 5

The iPhone is not really known for its long-lasting battery, but in 2014 Apple determined that some iPhone 5 (2012) units “sold between September 2012 and January 2013 and fall within a limited serial number range” were installed with a defective battery. Apple then launched a battery replacement program where the company will replace the eligible iPhone 5’s battery, free of charge.

Bendgate in iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus

The iPhone 6 (2014) and iPhone 6 Plus were introduced in the market with a redesigned chassis with the former touted as the thinnest iPhone at 6.9 mm. However, the new design has its flaws as users found out that it’s susceptible to bending under pressure. Apple learned from this issue and reinforced the chassis on the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, but for iPhone 6 users, some might have to endure another issue…

Touch Disease in iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus

Due to the lack of rigidity in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, the said smartphones were also susceptible to losing its connection to its logic board. The result is malfunctioning touch display and grey bars appearing on the top of the screen. Apple is yet to address the issue.

Hissing sounds in iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus

Barely a week since the iPhone 7 became available, users are already experiencing an issue where they would hear a hissing sound when the phones are being used heavily. The exact cause is yet to be determined and Apple is yet to issue a statement, but reports are pointing to a possible defective A10 chip. iPhone 7 owners who are experiencing the problem are encouraged to contact AppleCare for a replacement.