Apple high failure rate?

ElliorR

ElliorR

ElliorR

Soldato
Joined
20 Feb 2009
Posts
10,438
Location
Not where I'd like to be
Do Apple products suffer from a higher than normal failure rate or have I just been unlucky?

Excluding a few iPods over the years I've had, in order....

Original iPad with no problems and it's still going strong with the person who now owns it.

iPhone 4 that on the day of purchase had a faulty camera that when used always had the aperture closed so I had to pop to an Apple Store to get it exchanged. the 2nd iPhone 4 was fine.

iPad 2 that after about 9 months developed screen burn so I took it to an Apple Store and it was exchanged.

My iPad 3 has developed a malfunctioning home button that doesn't always want to work and I'm going to take it back to Apple.

The last 3 Apple products I've had have developed a fault and I have to say it's somewhat annoying.

Is this just a case of me being unlucky?
 
They are no worse than any other company of this nature, Samsung, HTC, etc.

The huge advantage Apple have here is that swapping the device is fairly effortless. With other companies it can be a huge pain.
 
iPod touch 1st gen fine.
iPod touch 3rd gen fine.
iPad 1 fine
iPod nano 1st gen fine
iPad 3 - Fine so far (all others have been sold)(

My MBP was also fine for the 3 months I had it.

As Robbo said though if you have problems getting them sorted is effortless. Not sending a phone back and waiting weeks.... Walk into a Apple store, get it sorted there and then.
 
I've had one iPod Touch, its been dropped, stood on, sat and crushed in a reclining chair mechanism and still works perfectly. I would just say you have been unlucky really.
 
poker_999 said:
They are built as cheaply as possible and it shows.
Click to expand...

Clearly trolling - Apple are renowned for their excellent build quality.

I would say you were just unlucky - Although I've had Applecare with most of my hardware, I've never had to use it :)
 
Robbo said:
They are no worse than any other company of this nature, Samsung, HTC, etc.
Click to expand...

Apparently Which? tested a few thousand laptops and concluded they're all pretty much the same as far as reliability is concerned: 86%±2.
 
Last edited:
Based on my experiences, I'd say that Apple products don't have a higher failure rate, and getting a replacement is far easier for obvious reasons.

In terms of Macs, have only ever had one problem, which was a power supply going with a G4 Cube. Was replaced by the seller with a Power Mac G4.

As for the iOS devices...the originals don't seem to have too many issues themselves, but the refurbs can be terrible. The iPod touch 2Gs replacements I received had light leakage, random death, loose displays, to name a few. The first 4S replacement I had, comparing to the one I've just got, had stiff buttons, the vibrate buzzing (the main reason it went back), and oddly, poor sound quality in comparison to the first and current refurb.

EDIT: For accuracy, I'll make an amendment. My current 4S has a minor buzz. Very minor, happens once or twice then stops. Should really be perfect at this price, but it's no big deal. Also, the vibrate switch has a bit more vertical movement than it should, but it isn't a worrying amount. I'd expect better at the price, to be honest.
 
Last edited:
poker_999 said:
They are built as cheaply as possible and it shows.
Click to expand...

Yea and lemons are really sweet.

If anything the apple build quality is absolutely fantastic, but there's no exception that electronic products whether apple or not do develop faults, its in a products nature to do so.

I think you've just been unlucky OP. Where the apple service is really at is that you can just walk into a store and get a replacement, you can't say that for many other companies.
 
I touched on this in other thread. In my experience they are averagely reliable. No better or worse than their major competitors.

I do agree though that Apple have consistently good customer service.
 
Looks like I am on an Apple jinx at the moment. I'll have to get it to the store and get the new iPad exchanged as it's getting to the point where I want to punch it.
 
ElliorR said:
Looks like I am on an Apple jinx at the moment. I'll have to get it to the store and get the new iPad exchanged as it's getting to the point where I want to punch it.
Click to expand...

Out of interest, what's wrong with it?

EDIT: Just remembered it's in the OP - Dodgy home button? Unfortunately, this is a common problem that Apple should be getting on top of :( Good thing is that Apples Customer Service are fantastic, and they will probably replace it no questions asked :)
 
1st gen nano, works perfectly when plugged in, but due to being vomited on by my cousin, the battery doesn't work :(

1st gen (i mean 1st 8GB) Touch, STILL going strong, apart from the battery, but iv'e neglected it in that respect :p

3gs was perfect until some **** took it out of my pocket...

2009 MBP perfect, 80% battery left, and I used it as a desktop for a year.
Still with original charger, and iv'e really not took care of that, the end was in a bowl of milk for hours (turned on) and its still going.

Iphone 4 (release date 32GB) had it replaced for the fault home button they seem to be plagued with, and that one is going nicely (maybe they fixed the defect).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom