- “Intense” vibrations, especially from motorcycle engines, can damage iPhone camera systems over time.
- According to an official Apple support post, these vibrations could affect phones’ OIS and autofocus systems.
Motorcycles may not be the safest way to get around at the best of times, and it can be tricky for iPhones, too. According to a new support post from Apple (h / t MacRumors) The “intense high amplitude vibrations” caused by powerful motorcycle engines can degrade the “performance” of iPhone camera systems over time.
Apple explains that long-term exposure to these vibrations can be devastating for closed-loop autofocus and optical image stabilization systems (OIS). The latter system was first introduced on the iPhone 6 Plus in 2014 and uses a gyroscope to dampen the phone movement while taking a picture, thereby improving the picture quality. Continuous jitter could interfere with this mechanism. OIS has become relatively commonplace on iPhone models introduced since then.
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Apple doesn’t recommend motorcycle owners swap their two wheels for four. However, it does recommend buying a cushioning mount for your devices. The company also advises that owners of lower powered electric scooters or mopeds may not need to worry about harmful vibrations.
The warning will likely affect a select group of users, but it’s worth noting how strong vibration can affect phone cameras. It is unclear if phones from other brands are similarly affected, but either way, it’s worth paying attention to the warning.
If you have an iPhone and a motorcycle, have you had problems? Let us know in the comments below.