We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
TWO OF APPLE’S iPhone range are said to be vulnerable to what is being called ‘touch disease’, a hardware problem which prevents the touchscreen from working properly.
Both iPhone 6 and 6 Plus devices affected by it show a grey flickering bar at the top of the screen. In the worst case scenario, the screen is left inoperable.
The problem was spotted by the repair site iFixit which says is caused by two chips which are at risk of detaching from a circuit board over time.
The Touch IC chips, which controls how the screen responds to touch, is connected by solder balls. If the phone twists or bends slightly over time, these balls end up cracking and lose contact with the board.
The same problem that led to ‘bendgate’, where the phone would bend if you left it too long in your back pocket, is causing this problem to surface.
Apple’s support forums have complaints from some iPhone 6 and 6 Plus users about the issue since the start of the year.
IFixit says a way to rectify it is to press down on the screen or twist the phone’s body. This would allow the chips to reconnect but over time, this would stop working. But the only options would be to replace the phone, replace the logic board or replace both Touch IC chips on the board.
Apple has acknowledged problems with the iPhone in the past. When the iPhone 4 was released back in 2010, some users had problems with the antenna while some iPhone 5s users had battery problems.
Another software problem involved Error 53, which disabled iPhones that replaced the connector that ran between the Touch ID sensor in an iPhone’s home button. Apple released an iOS update which fixed the problem.
Apple is getting ready to unveil the latest addition to its iPhone range next month. It hasn’t announced a date yet but it’s expected to happen on 6 September.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
My solder balls haven’t given me any issues so far, but if they do. . I shall bring them into the doctor for a gander.
Hilarious.
This issue is old, not new, why is the journal reporting this, the iPhone 6 and 6 plus released 2 years ago. The touch issue first came up not long after that. Hardware and software problems with all technology, not sure why the journal seems to overly report on issues with apple products.
The trick is not to be a sheep and use a product that doesnt have an apple logo.
Yes Gavin because non-Apple products never have problems? Unfortunately with the rapidity of modem product development and production cycles problems like this will arise from time to time no matter what the product or the supplier. As long as the manufacturer is reasonable and replaces the faulty product it isn’t a big deal.
Meh the trick is to buy electronics as cheaply as possible as it’s all made in sweatshops in China.
Or don’t have it in your back pocket.
my Sammy S5 has been in and out of pockets so many times without any problems…dont get an iphone..simple
@Gavin: Indeed
Solution: Buy a HTC.
Triied that. It broke in less than two months.
Broke,how? You buying the cheap models?
Hopefully Apple will go back to the glass and carbon fibre in the 5,5s been holding off upgrading as the six is no where near the same quality.
Carbon fibre?
Don’t touch one, with a bargepole.
stop or you will wake the isheep
My phone’s better than your phone.
Grow up.
But, my phone actually is better than your phone. Really.
Yep… I have been that Soldier… I’m just after getting my 4th iPhone 6+ over the last 10 weeks. The first one had this problem when within warranty and the 2 replacements developed the same problem (one within 3 weeks and one as soon as I turned the phone on). I was back and forth to Three with these replacements (turns out you don’t get new phones but refurbished ones).
Anyhow after 3 replacement phones and 8 weeks without a phone, I gave up on Three and went straight to Apple who have me a new phone (after a lot of back and forth).
Turns out this is an issue with the 6plus but not with 6S.
iPhones are useless. All upgraded models are just cosmetic now.
iPhones are not useless as my 6plus and iPhone 4 still work perfectly,And I have Andriod devices aswell.all depends on the users needs,and capabilities.
Ok Ken – But they are way over-hyped & over-priced.
The iShit strikes again.
Wouldn’t you be sickened after spending all that money
You’d be diseased
I have never had this issue with my iPhone 6plus(9.3.3)64gb wounded does it happen only on 16gb?
Have my 5s over 2 years ago & yes battery is poo in it but other then that I’m lucky it hasn’t given me any hassle apart from a weak wifi signal sometimes but few ppl have said it could be down to otterbox case but I kinda need to hold on to this for as long as I can so the case stays!
have your say