How To Get the Most From Your iPhone’s Warranty

Identifying the defect with your iPhone.

This section will walk you through some of the common, but easily missed, iPhone problems that Apple has frequently deemed to be defects and, therefore, grounds for iPhone replacement. These defects may have been there from the first day you bought your iPhone or they may have developed more recently.

You should take the time to rigorously test your iPhone for the maladies listed, as Apple has routinely found such problems to be defects that require iPhone replacement.

1. Cracks in plastic body. Many iPhone users have reported cracks in the plastic body of their iPhones. They are often described as “hairline fractures.” They usually appear around the iPhone’s buttons and ports but have been reported to appear just about anywhere. While it is unlikely that a Genius will replace your iPhone if it appears that your iPhone has been dropped or mistreated, you should still consider bringing it in for replacement. These cracks are a documented defect and Apple has routinely replaced iPhones because of this defect. (See also Engadget and Wired.com)

Hairline cracks have been known to form in the iPhone's body.

2. Bubbles under screen. Some iPhone users have noticed small bubbles forming underneath their iPhone’s screen. Take a very close look at your iPhone’s screen. If bubbles are present, you may have identified a defect and your iPhone should be replaced. Apple has replaced iPhones that possess this defect.

Bubbles have been reported to form underneath the iPhone's screen.

3. Light bleeding. Some iPhone users have reported light bleeding around the edge of the iPhone’s screen. Light bleeding will be apparent if your black iPhone screen has white light around the edges. Although this problem seems to be quite rare, if your iPhone has this defect then you may want to consider bringing it in for replacement.

4. Assembly defects. The manufacturing process is not perfect. Some users have reported defective parts of the iPhone ranging from spaces in the seams to misshapen buttons. Although this is a physical problem, a Genius may deem it to be defective if is obvious or bothersome.

5. GPS problems. Some users have had their iPhones replaced because the GPS unit was defective. Problems with the iPhone’s GPS unit usually manifest in the form of poor accuracy or complete dysfunction. If your GPS locator is routinely inordinately inaccurate or completely non-functional then you want to bring your iPhone in for replacement.

6. Screen discoloration. When this happens it usually occurs in the upper right portion of the screen. You will see the discoloration when the phone heats up, usually after a long phone conversation or extensive video usage. It looks like a light blob when the background is black, and like a yellowish blob when the background is white. Apparently this issue will get worse over time, so you should seriously consider taking your iPhone in for replacement if you are experiencing this problem. When going to the Apple Store, take the time to heat up your phone so that when you sit down with the Genius the problem is clearly visible. They should replace your iPhone.

An example of screen discoloration.

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