Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

A Design Defect Is Breaking iPhone 6 Pluses

ifixit.org

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

181–190 of 209 posts

Re: A Design Defect Is Breaking iPhone 6 Pluses

#181

Post by euyyn »

Synaesthesia wrote: post #126
wepple wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Yeah it lost signal when held wrong but was still superior to other phones. My definition of 'superior' doesn't involve having to hold a phone a particular way for it to make a call.

It lost signal when held that way. It didn't drop calls. As explained in the anandtech article, they couldn't get it to drop a call once.

Curious: What happens when, during a call, you lose signal and don't recover it? If the call doesn't drop, does it just stay connected, waiting for the signal to come back?

Re: A Design Defect Is Breaking iPhone 6 Pluses

#182

Post by Animats »

This is inept design. If Apple wants to make devices so thin that they flex, they have to make them more rigid where necessary and allow for more flexing. There are true flexible PCBs, ones with parts on them, not just wiring harnesses.[1]

This isn't the first product where Apple has had this problem. It's embarrassing, or ought to be.

(I don't have this problem; I own a Cat phone (yes, Caterpillar Tractor) which can be run over by a truck [2][3] and still work.)

[1] http://www.tendtronic.com/Flexible-PCB [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Xaq3pduPv4 [3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVPku-xItv8

Re: A Design Defect Is Breaking iPhone 6 Pluses

#183

Post by donkeyd »

y04nn wrote: post #44

Note that in Europe, whatever Apple says, you have a 2 years warranty for this kind of problem. Also, do the chip really need a replacement, or a simple reflow would work?

Do note that the exact implementation differs per country. In the Netherlands, legally, after 6 months the burden of proof moves to the buyer. Which means you need to prove that your product already had a defect at the moment of purchase. Good luck with that... Most people here seem to be completely unaware of this caveat though and I often get into heated discussions for pointing it out.

Re: A Design Defect Is Breaking iPhone 6 Pluses

#184

Post by DigitalJack »

tuna-piano wrote: post #152
gerbilly wrote: post #8

>“But the fact remains—compared to earlier iPhone models, the iPhone 6/6+ is kind of a ‘bendy’ phone. Its slim form factor and larger surface area subject the logic board within the phone to mechanical flexion pressure that no other iPhone has had to deal with[...]” Thank god they are rumoured to be making phones even slimmer then, _and_ getting rid of the headphone jack as well! Apple seems to be putting form ahead…

It frustrates me to no end. I (and I assume many others) would instantly upgrade my iPhone if the next iPhone was thicker but had 2x the battery life. That would be a real improvement in my life. But they'll probably come out with one about the same size, with ~10% more battery life due to software and hardware changes - and call it a great increase. They even realize the battery thing is a problem, so Apple, the man…

I wouldn't buy a thicker one. Well, I might, but I wouldn't be as happy. By the time I put a case on my 6s+, it's as thick as I care to go.

There are plenty of cases that have a battery at the expense of thickness. Why not use that?

Re: A Design Defect Is Breaking iPhone 6 Pluses

#185

Post by shinratdr »

mikeash wrote: post #116
akerro wrote: post #99

Have there been any iPhone without "design defect"? Does any one think "design defect" is not made by accident since Apple fights everyone who tried to fix their iPhone on their own?

The 4 had the "you're holding it wrong" antenna. The 6+ is too bendy. What else has there been?

The iPhone 5 black paint chipping problem, the iPhone 5 sleep/wake button failure, the iPhone 5 battery problem. The bending issue extends to the regular 6 as well, I've encountered multiple devices in the wild that have it. That's about it though.

I would also argue that all of these issues are more isolated than reports make it seem. No doubt, they are all grounds for a good extended warranty program at the very least but they aren't dangerous, recall-worthy or a case where all devices are affected. Just a significant enough number that if it occurs, it should be a free repair or replacement.

For a quick glance at all the recent acknowledged design flaws Apple has copped to, this page is a useful resource: https://www.apple.com/ca/support/exchange_repair/

Re: A Design Defect Is Breaking iPhone 6 Pluses

#187

Post by wildmusings »

kesselvon wrote: post #156
wildmusings wrote: post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's all fine and dandy, but it isn't free. That's the point I'm making.

Apple made $7.6 billion USD in net income in the last quarter; I'm pretty sure they have plenty to cover the cost of repairs because of poor manufacturing quality.

That's not how it works. They're going to sell it for as much margin as any given market can optimally support. This is basic supply and demand.

Re: A Design Defect Is Breaking iPhone 6 Pluses

#188

Post by [deleted] »

kesselvon wrote: post #156
wildmusings wrote: post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's all fine and dandy, but it isn't free. That's the point I'm making.

Apple made $7.6 billion USD in net income in the last quarter; I'm pretty sure they have plenty to cover the cost of repairs because of poor manufacturing quality.

[deleted]

Re: A Design Defect Is Breaking iPhone 6 Pluses

#189

Post by DigitalJack »

jdietrich wrote: post #177
nharada wrote: post #170

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand this. You say you want more battery in exchange for a larger device. Isn't that exactly what this case is providing? You call it "monstrous" but it's precisely what you're asking for -- more width in exchange for more battery.

It's a bulbous protrusion that completely ruins the design aesthetic of the phone. There's no way Ive would design an iPhone with a big lump sticking out of the back. Why bother with a beautifully finished aluminium chassis if you're going to wrap it in silicone? http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MGQL2LL/A/iphone-6s-smart-...

The same reason your car has front, rear, door-ding bumpers.

Re: A Design Defect Is Breaking iPhone 6 Pluses

#190

Post by DigitalJack »

JoeAltmaier wrote: post #157
TazeTSchnitzel wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple's engineering is good too, it enables them to actually deliver on those designs.

...except for the OP's whole point - they break easy. For instance, cords. There's never been a load coil on their cords, because they look clunky. So they are noisy as heck. Their cords have no strain relief - again because it looks clunky. So their cords are the #1 replacement item due to breaking all the time right at the connector.

All the cords I've ever seen have stress relief. It's not nearly adequate in my opinion, but they do have it.
Post reply on HN