Apple recently launched a recall program for a select number of iPhone 6 Plus units with faulty camera modules. Here’s how to tell if your iPhone 6 Plus camera needs replacing.
The iPhone 6 Plus has the same camera as the iPhone 6, but comes with optical image stabilization as a special feature. This is probably why the iPhone 6 Plus is the only iPhone model affected by the issues, though Apple says it only affects a small number of units.
The issue some users are having is resulting in blurry and out of focus pictures when the photos weren’t supposed to be blurry in the first place. Fortunately, users experiencing this issue can replace their camera modules free of charge by Apple as long as a few criteria are met.
Also, if you’re not sure if your iPhone 6 Plus is experiencing this issue, there are some things you can look for when taking a photo that could indicate a problem with the camera itself.
Here’s how to tell if your iPhone 6 Plus camera needs replacing.
iPhone 6 Plus Units That May Be Affected
On Apple’s support website, the company published details About the iPhone 6 Plus camera recall and which units may be affected by the issue.
First of all, Apple says the affected units “fall into a limited serial number range and were primarily sold between September 2014 and January 2015.” You can enter the serial number of your iPhone 6 Plus on the support page and see if your unit is particularly affected. If so, your iPhone is eligible for a camera module replacement.
But your iPhone should also show signs that the camera is not working properly. If your serial number is available for the backup camera module, that really just means you’ll get a free fix if you encounter blurry photos.
The good news here is that this new replacement program is good for three years from the date you bought your iPhone 6 Plus, so you have plenty of time for your camera module to fail.
What Should You Pay Attention To?
If your iPhone 6 Plus is eligible for camera module replacement, how do you know if your iPhone is producing the blurry photos Apple describes?
Example of a blurry photo taken from an affected iPhone 6 Plus unit.
One of the easy ones to find is to take some still shots of a still object and see if they come out of focus or out of focus. these are some great sample photos About what Apple is talking about. These are still shots, but they come out really blurry and out of focus, meaning there’s a good bet it’s probably a faulty camera module.
If your iPhone 6 Plus is affected by the issue, there are a few things you can do. You can take your iPhone to an Apple Store or call Apple support to arrange a shipment to send your phone to Apple for repair. You can also go to an Apple authorized service provider to have your iPhone repaired. You can do find one here.
The iPhone 6 Plus camera is currently one of the best cameras on the smartphone market thanks to its optical image stabilization technology, but some users may not have the best time with it. Fortunately, there is a free fix for those who have issues.
If you have an iPhone 6 Plus, it might be a good idea to go to Apple’s support web page for the issue and see if your iPhone unit is replaced for free, but don’t do it if it’s currently OK. Don’t bother picking it up to replace it, as Apple will only replace units that display blurry photos.
