About two weeks ago, I ordered a new iPhone 3Gs from AT&T. It arrived quickly (within two business days) and I rushed over to pick it up. Once activated, I tested it out and everything seemed to be working well, so I headed home.
Unfortunately, once I got home I noticed a dark spot on the iPhone camera. It appeared on the display as a dark spot about the size of the tip of my pinky finger (see below). My first spot was that there was a problem with the display. However, it looked fine in other apps, and the dark spot was actually present in the pictures when I downloaded them from the camera.
Note that the above pic is a crappy photo of a yellow wall in poor light. Not my best work, but it illustrates the problem reasonably well. If only I knew how to take an iPhone screenshot when I was having the problem!
Since the problem wasn’t the faulty display, my next thought was that there must a smudge or some sort of gunk on the lens. As it turned out, however, the lens was as clean as could be. That meant the dark spot must have be coming from inside my beautiful new iPhone.
The next day, I headed back to AT&T and they verified the problem. Unfortunately, once you walk out the door with an iPhone, AT&T can’t (or won’t?) help you. Instead, you have to deal with Apple. The good news here is that Apple service rocks.
All I had to do was call 1-800-MY-IPHONE (1-800-694-7466), explain the problem, and they set up a replacement. They shipped the phone out that afternoon, and I had it the next morning around 10AM. Also, since the 3Gs is such a new model, I got a brand new iPhone instead of a refurb.
Anyway, it seems that this is pretty rare problem, as I couldn’t find any other mentions, even after extensive Googling. While I’ve found multiple reports of dead pixels, black spots caused by a bad spot on the sensor, etc., I haven’t come across any reports of mysterious dark spots. Thus, I thought I’d document the problem here in case someone else runs into it and is likewise compelled to search the web for answers.
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{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
i have the exact same problem. Only on the camera and it appears in the pictures taken. Too bad its not in the shape of Jesus. then i can be rich. Guess i’m getting another iphone.
Thanks for your comment, Tom. I’d be curious to know how common this problem is. The good news is that Apple should swap it out quickly for you.
I bought iphone 3gs on the release date and today got the similar problem where black triangular shaped spot showing up on the camera and the picture i took.
I am gonna see how apple responds when I give them a call tomorrow.
I have the exact same issue with my new 3GS.
Dark spot is the size of a pencil eraser.
I have only found one other instance googling.
I called the number you provided (thanks for making it easy, btw) and have arranged to go to the Apple Store for an exchange.
I think someone sneezed on the assembly line.
Henry: Out of curiosity, which 3Gs did you get? Mine is a black 32GB model. Just wondering if there’s a pattern to which phones are affected.
Have the same issue, thanks for posting this i thought I was nuts and unlucky at first. I just got the phone yesturday as well. It’s also a 32g black g3s. There may be a pattern in the quality control with them trying to pump these quick enough to meet demand.
My G3s 32 Gig is one week old and has started to evidence the exact same issue. Heading to the apple store today.
Hi, I also have the same problem. My phone camera has been fine for 2 months then this developed out of the blue. Any idea of the cause?
Hi you guys!
Had the exact same problem.
Got it when I dropped my phone from 2 feet(!) onto rubber floor (at the gym).
Resolved it by slap my baby with the cam side agains my knee two times!!
No more dark spots in cam mode nor in photos taken! hehe!
Not the vanilla-way to go maybe, but well worth a shot for you who don´t want to wait in line for a new phone once again (,me included).
Will send it to service later if this problem happend again.
Let me hear if this works for you too!
oh, have a iPhone 3G[S], 32Gb Black
I’ve been having the same problem, which also started when I dropped my iphone.
i’ve just given your knee slapping trick a try gStAV, and guess what – it’s fixed it!!!
Thanks very much for the tip!
Same problem on my 3GS shortly after a drop. Didn’t try the knee slap. Just took it in a got a new one at the Apple store.
hey! thanks for the tips, i slap it a few times and the dark spot eventually disappear. been having this problem for quite a while.
now the problem is solved and hopefully the slapping didnt damage the camera much. =)
Knee-slap didn’t help me, but I’m glad to know that I’m not the only one with the problem!
Apple store friends, here I come……
gStAv October 13, 2009 at 11:17 am
Hi you guys!
Had the exact same problem.
Got it when I dropped my phone from 2 feet(!) onto rubber floor (at the gym).
Resolved it by slap my baby with the cam side agains my knee two times!!
No more dark spots in cam mode nor in photos taken! hehe!
Not the vanilla-way to go maybe, but well worth a shot for you who don´t want to wait in line for a new phone once again (,me included).
Will send it to service later if this problem happend again.
Let me hear if this works for you too!
Dude i had the same problem (after a bad fall for my phone) and my phone is out of warranty so i was fearing the worse , i thought I’d give the slap on knee solution a shot and IT WORKED !!!! You are a genius mate !
I had the same problem.
If physically cleaning does not work, download the powerful free editing software GIMP at http://www.freeze.com/download.....4362974540.
Then use the cloning tool to eliminate the spots on your pictures
1) Select the Clone tool from the toolbox (looks like a head and torso)
2) Point your mouse over the area that is to be copied over the dark spot i.e. a piece of sky in an outdoor shot, and hold down the CTRL key.
3) Release the CTRL key and use your mouse to brush over the dark spot.
This worked great for me to touch up my pictures with unremovable spots that began to appear using my Canon A570.
Good luck.
I had the same problem and lightly tapped against my palm (camera side down) a couple times, and the spot is now gone. It must have been some residue left over from the factory. Anyway, thanks for the great tip!
Hey thanks so much for making this blog. I was having the same problem with my flip video camcorder. I spent quite a while searching google, but nobody seemed to be having the same problem… Anyways, I was in the middle of filming a youtube show with it (which I already put hours of sweaty work towards) when the problem showed up. I did not want to hake to spend another $100 dollars for another camera. Anyways, I tried the knee-slapping method and after one slap the spot was totally gone! THANK YOU SO MUCH gStAv!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!