Reports of outbreak of `touch disease’ turning iPhone 6 Plus into unusable bricks

With Apple set to release its new iPhones in weeks, today there are reports of the “touch disease” that is turning iPhones into bricks.

Repairers have reported “Touch Disease” is breaking people’s iPhones

WITH just weeks before the new iPhone is unveiled Apple is facing reports of an outbreak of “Touch Disease” turning iPhones into unusable bricks.

Customers complaining of the problem say it starts with a flickering bar at the top of the iPhone screen and develops until screen is unresponsive.

IFixIt today describes the problem as “incredibly common”. The problem reportedly is not with the screens but with the controller chip which is soldered on the logic board.

I'm on my fourth iPhone 6 replacement because of this issue, and I never put it in my back pocket. https://t.co/zbuPbq3qLg

— Andy Peatling (@apeatling) August 23, 2016

There are many complaints about the problem on Apple’s discussion boards dating back to the start of the year.

“It was happening sporadically, but now has increased to the point that my phone is useless,” one person said of the problem with his phone at the start of the year.

“The home button still works, so I can use Siri to make phone calls and can use the headphones to make calls still, but even that’s not working well anymore since random apps are opening and my calls get cut short randomly. So frustrating!”

Reports of the problem are not new but have increased in recent months.

iPadRehab documented the problems in a blog post in April.

“The Apple genius is not surprised when you hand him your 13 month old unresponsive iPhone 6+ with flickering grey bar at the top of the display,” the blog says.

“The guy next to you in line is there with the exact same problem.”

The problem is reportedly more likely to affect the iPhone 6 Plus, with some people linking this to the Bendgate issue in which reports of the iPhone 6 Plus phablet bending when people sat on them.

The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus were released on the market nearly two years ago. The problem does not appear to affect the newer iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, which are newer and were built with a stronger frame to avoid the Bendgate problem.

Under Australian consumer law, customers can seek a replacement phone from Apple within two years of purchase if a product is faulty.

News Corporation has sought comment from Apple.

Originally published as Reports of outbreak of `touch disease’ turning iPhone 6 Plus into unusable bricks