One of our members bought a new iPhone 4 late last year and was startled to find a sliver of light along the edge of the screen.
The phenomenon is called "light leak" and causes a lightening of the screen along the edge where it occurs.
Chris returned his phone and received back a refurbished model (second-hand Apple products that are repaired before being offered for sale). The refurbished phone had the same problem as the first one.
After contacting Apple in Sydney we discovered that the light leak suffered by Chris's phone was within industry and factory tolerances for manufacturing quality. This means that the leak didn’t interfere with the working of the phone or drastically alter its appearance … and it isn’t considered a fault.
We agree: if the problem is within standard accepted manufacturing tolerances, then the Consumer Guarantees Act doesn't require it to be replaced. (And even if Chris had been given a new phone as a replacement there was still a chance it would have the leak.)
We didn’t notice any light leakage when we reviewed the iPhone 4 and haven't received any other complaints about this. However, it may be something for you to factor in when you’re deciding which brand of phone to buy.
More from consumer.org.nz
- Consumer Guarantees Act - our guide to your rights
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Hadyn Green's reply is simply a 180 degree about turn, while still in denial. It would be nice if Consumer had the integrity just to admit that it was wrong.
I would like to apologise that I wasn't clear enough in the original article.
We do not agree that replacing a new product with a refurbished one is acceptable in any situation.
As for the light leak itself, Apple has said that it is something wrong with the design of their phone, much like the antenna issues. And so if you purchase one new now, it is something else to look at and consider. However we still think that, as with the antenna, if have previously purchased a phone that suffers from light leak and it significantly alters the appearance of the phone then you can exchange it/have it repaired under the CGA.
I apologise again for the confusion.
Hadyn Green
Tech Writer
I agree entirely with both previous posts. This "light leak" will impact significantly on the phones appearance and for most apple product users, aesthetics were most likely a factor in their choosing their apple product in the first place. The other thing I have issue with is Apple replacing the faulty phone with a second hand phone. This could have been misused in any number of ways in it's "previous life"- the new owner has no control over this. What other supplier replaces faulty product with second hand product? Only Apple from what I can see...
I disagree with your conclusion that the light leak is acceptable under the Consumer Guarantees Act. The definition of "Acceptable Quality" in the Act includes "...acceptable in appearance and finish; and ... free from minor defects.." The light leak fails both those tests. There is no mention in the Act of a problem being "within accepted manufacturing tolerances", and even if there were, I, for one, would not agree that it falls within those tolerances, and just because Apple says it falls within them does not make it so. (iPhone 4 owner and lawyer).
I think that this explination is rubbish. A simple question: is the phone designed to have that light strip ? answer no . Then it is faulty and should be replaced by the manufacturer, lets face it its not like the phone is a cheak item to start with.