Paul Morris·

Apple Confirms Certain Vibration Frequencies Can Damage iPhone Cameras

A new support document published by Apple has confirmed that certain vibrational frequencies are capable of causing permanent damage to an iPhone’s camera. This could definitely be a cause for concern for iPhone users who also have a love of high-powered motorbikes.

In particular, iPhone models that have a camera installation that offers Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) or autofocus (AF) are in danger of becoming damaged due to the fact that they rely on the internal gyroscope and magnetic sensors in order to get the best camera performance and stability that counteracts device movement.

Apple says that long-term exposure to “high-amplitude vibrations within certain frequency ranges” may degrade device performance.

he OIS and closed-loop AF systems in iPhone are designed for durability. However, as is the case with many consumer electronics that include systems like OIS, long-term direct exposure to high-amplitude vibrations within certain frequency ranges may degrade the performance of these systems and lead to reduced image quality for photos and videos. It is recommended to avoid exposing your iPhone to extended high-amplitude vibrations.

Apple claims that this is the case with many other consumer technology devices that have a similar system in place and isn’t specifically unique to the iPhone. The company recommends not strapping the device directly to the chassis or handlebars of a vehicle as this can put the iPhone directly in contact with the most extreme vibrations. If mounting is required, then owners should consider minimizing the risk by using a vibration dampening mount that is capable of absorbing a fair amount of the vibrating.

It seems like a rather bizarre topic for Apple to cover out of the blue, which leads us to believe that there has been an increasing number of official complaints or support requests for damages to iPhones that have been caused by this type of exposure. If you’re wondering if your device could be affected by this, then it’s worth noting that AF and OIS are present in all iPhone models from the iPhone 7, so the likelihood is a resounding yes.

You may also like to check out:

You can follow us on Twitter, or Instagram, and even like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple, and the Web.