Careful! Motor Vibration Can Damage iPhone Camera


 If you often ride a motorcycle while placing your iPhone in a holder mounted on the motorcycle handlebars, you should think twice. Apple has just warned users that the vibration of the motor that is too tight can damage the iPhone camera.

In its latest Support document, Apple says iPhone owners should be careful because the camera on their phone can be damaged if exposed to high-amplitude vibrations, such as vibrations emitted by high-powered motors.


Apple explains that iPhone cameras equipped with optical image stabilization (OIS) or closed-loop autofocus (AF) are susceptible to damage caused by vibration due to the presence of a gyroscope and/or magnetic sensor that helps reduce vibration or movement when taking photos or videos.



"The OIS and closed-loop AF system in iPhone is designed for durability," Apple wrote in its Support document, as quoted from MacRumors, Monday (13/9/2021).


"However, as with many electronic products that have systems such as OIS, long-term direct exposure to high-amplitude vibrations of a certain frequency can degrade the performance of these systems and lead to poor photo and video quality. It is recommended to avoid iPhone from high-amplitude vibrations for long periods of time. ," he continued.



OIS itself is a feature that allows users to take sharp photos even if they are taken in moving conditions. While closed-loop AF is used to help the camera stay focused.


All iPhones from the iPhone 7 series and above already have these two features. OIS was introduced on the iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s Plus and iPhone 7, while closed-loop AF was introduced on the iPhone XR, XS and XS Max.


Because of this risk, Apple advises users not to place the iPhone directly on the chassis or motorcycle handlebars because the vibrations are transmitted through these two sections.


Users can still place their iPhone in a mount in a smaller engine vehicle such as a moped or electric scooter, as long as they use a mount that can dampen vibrations to minimize the risk of damage.


Previously, Apple had warned users that the OIS system and closed-loop AF on iPhone cameras could be affected by magnetic interference from some iPhone accessories. This issue can be solved by removing the accessories from the iPhone, but if the damage is caused by vibration, it is more permanent.

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