Newly published September 10, 2021

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212803

Exposure to vibrations, like those generated by high-powered motorcycle engines, might impact iPhone cameras

Exposing your iPhone to high amplitude vibrations within certain frequency ranges, specifically those generated by high-power motorcycle engines, can degrade the performance of the camera system.

The iPhone camera helps you take great photos in any situation—from everyday moments to studio-quality portraits. The advanced camera systems in some iPhone models include technology like optical image stabilization and closed-loop autofocus to help you capture great photos even in difficult conditions. These systems work to automatically counteract movement, vibrations, and the effects of gravity to let you focus on taking a great shot.

If you accidentally move a camera when you take a picture, the resulting image can be blurry. To prevent this, some iPhone models have optical image stabilization (OIS).1 OIS lets you take sharp photos even if you accidentally move the camera. With OIS, a gyroscope senses that the camera moved. To reduce image motion, and the resulting blur, the lens moves according to the angle of the gyroscope.

Additionally, some iPhone models have closed-loop autofocus (AF).2 Closed-loop AF resists the effects of gravity and vibration to preserve sharp focus in stills, videos, and panoramas. With closed-loop AF, on-board magnetic sensors measure gravity and vibration effects and determine the lens position so that the compensating motion can be set accurately.

The 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.

High-power or high-volume motorcycle engines generate intense high-amplitude vibrations, which are transmitted through the chassis and handlebars. It is not recommended to attach your iPhone to motorcycles with high-power or high-volume engines due to the amplitude of the vibration in certain frequency ranges that they generate. Attaching your iPhone to vehicles with small-volume or electric engines, such as mopeds and scooters, may lead to comparatively lower-amplitude vibrations, but if you do so a vibration dampening mount is recommended to lessen the risk of damage to your iPhone and its OIS and AF systems. It is also recommended to avoid regular use for prolonged periods to further lessen the risk of damage.

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» “What do you expect to find there? Well, if I knew, I wouldn’t go there!” — Jacques Cousteau

This goes for any phone with a mechanical OIS or an AF system, not just the later model iPhones.

I've been using an iPhone XR on a R1200 GSA for over a year with a Quad Lock handlebar mount, it also has the anti vibration dampeners.

Trouble free 20K+

brian

Not to disparage R1200GS etc, but I think they're talking high-performance as in high revving 4 cylinder bikes, which have a very high frequency buzz as opposed to the very low frequency umm, er, what would you call it, of a GS twin?

Modern high revving Singles might well also cause an issue.
So leave it in your tank bag as I do, and use a real GPS as they are hardened against vibes, or buy a 1200GS
Any other experience with this issue?

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Grant Johnson
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I took that to mean Harleys but, as they say, other shakers are available.

I tend not to use iPhones as routine sat-navs (in fact Google maps on my wife's recent iPhone lasted about 20mins of day one in France before I switched it off - and that was less than two weeks ago) but I know others do. I don't suppose Apple are going to distinguish between bikes for warranty claims from now on. It'll be no motorcycle use at all - even if it's in your pocket. Fortunately I'm still using my old iPhone 6 (until next Aug anyway when my next hand me down is due) and that seems to predate the dodgy camera modules.

My experience with bike breakages has been that harmful as low frequency vibes are (double vision / fillings falling out etc ), high frequency stuff is just as bad. I've had components break off from circuit boards before with high frequency (two stroke) vibes, bulb filaments break and plates come loose inside batteries. Usually though it doesn't take much rubber to cut those out. The lower frequency / bigger amplitude vibes are harder to isolate (think old British bikes). Hit a resonant frequency and nothing much will survive.

Its kinda logic not to use an expensive Iphone (or other brands) on a motorbike handlebar exposed to vibrations, sun, rain, flying objects etc etc. I have a 150 € Huawei Android phone with a big screen that has worked well for the most part. Used it in heavy rain once and the screen got shot and had to be replaced.

Next time I will buy an Ulephone or Outkitel or something more rugged….

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Train passengers who put their phone on the table by their seat will get the same problem eventually.

I'm actually thinking it's because these systems will be active whenever the device is powered. If they turned them off they'd get complaints from tik-tok kiddies that it took a second or too to fire up the camera . The battery would actually last a bit longer though. If this is the case just wait until someone getting rid of all their other bloatware does the update for them.

As someone who buys an android device and runs it until it dies I already have a selection and it's an ancient Samsung that goes on the bar mount on the odd occasion I want sat-nag. It wouldn't be my first choice of camera, but I'm usually carry five of those on other devices! I have enough computing power to get to mars at less cost than a months rental on some i-thing. The pictures, music and comms are just fine.

Andy

The amplitude of the vibration is required to be high to cause issues according to Apple. This implies low frequency - if it is high frequency as well as high amplitude then there is certainly a lot of energy involved and the phone camera may be the least of your worries.

Typically the vibrations on train tables are low amplitude with occasional bumps due to track condition - otherwise the tea and coffee would spill too easily and no railway engineer worth their salt would stand for that. There is far more energy flying about on motorcycle handlebars.

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You will have to do without pocket handkerchiefs, and a great many other things, before we reach our journey's end, Bilbo Baggins. You were born to the rolling hills and little rivers of the Shire, but home is now behind you. The world is ahead.

I'm no expert here BUT
I drive a 2020 Kawa Versys X 300. (Don't laugh! At 58, this is my first bike and I'm LOVING it! Besides, I don't drink coffee so don't need a machine to take me to Starbucks)
Anyway, I feel that this is exactly what did in my less than 1 year old iPhone 11. In my case, I use the Ram mount but was actually recording video while mounted and driving (on paved roads). Soon after, I noticed that all of my still photos were coming out blurry. I could hear a high pitch buzzing sound coming from the camera on the phone and guessed that this was the little motor in there trying to stabilize itself when maybe that was not necessary. I took it back to (Verizon) and thought my warranty would cover it but after the deductible and other fine print came into play I walked out with an iPhone 12, etc. etc.
Long story short, I do still use the mount, but I certainly won't ever record video while doing so. Just my opinion based on what happened to me. George

Yep, this is the issue they're discussing here. It's not really news. I've heard several stories about this, even where the camera has never been deliberately used while mounted.

As far as I understand the issue, riding with a phone in your pocket should not be an issue. The inertia of both your body (which is only loosely connected to the vibrating object in question, eh, your bike) and the phone (which jumps around in a soft pocket) should make sure vibrations are not transferred to the phone. When it is mounted in a holder, the vibrations are transferred directly.

So, basically, don't mount expensive electronic stuff that's not designed for motorcycles directly on the handlebar. It will break due to vibrations, sooner or later. And I won't even to go down the rabbit hole of the vibration resistance of various solder methods...

Also: If you have metal panniers, you probably shouldn't put your phone next to the walls or the bottom, but inside some soft stuff. Your computer should be in a vibration reducing case. Many of the components in a laptop are relatively heavy, and if it is not constructed to withstand vibration, they may simply fall off. Same goes for other electronics.

For automotive electronics to be certified in the EU, they have to go through extensive vibration tests. This is one of the reasons why certified automotive electronics are chunkier, heavier, less efficient and pricier than seems reasonable.