IPhone 7 users beware – tech experts are calling it “loop disease,” essentially a next-generation cousin of the iPhone 6’s “touch disease.”
The disease, which some are calling an epidemic, can potentially affect both the iPhone 7 and the 7 Plus. It also comes at a particularly inopportune moment, as many iPhone 7 users are just beginning to come out of warranty, catching them at a cusp in which their phones are still in otherwise good shape – but are now more expensive to fix.
What is loop disease?
Similar to its predecessor that affected iPhone 6 models, loop disease is a loosening of a chip on the motherboard – in this case, the audio chip. A fix necessitates removing the chip and soldering a small section of wire called a jumper beneath it to repair the connection.
Loop disease is not to be confused with another condition that experts says is caused by the loosening of a different chip – the Qualcomm chip – that is also prone to weakening over time, and which causes some phones to display a “no service” notification. Apple recalled some iPhone 7 models that exhibited symptoms of the Qualcomm loosening earlier this year.
But despite the similarities that loop disease has with touch disease, experts are saying that it’s actually worse.
What are the symptoms of loop disease?
Symptoms get worse over time as the chip continues to detach, but early on users report occasional:
- freezing
- a greyed-out voice memo icon
- a greyed-out speaker icon during phone calls
- callers can not hear you
- Siri can not hear you
- sound does not record on videos
- you hear static on calls
As the disease progresses, the phone can get stuck displaying the Apple logo on start-up, hence the name “loop disease.”
In many cases, the final stage of loop disease – the Apple logo on “infinite loop” – will not manifest itself until a user resets their phone. It is therefore possible that the problem can be present for days or even weeks without the owner knowing it, as many people are not prone to shutting or resetting their phone frequently.
What causes loop disease?
While there is a consensus that loop disease is caused by the audio chip coming loose from the motherboard, exactly how and why that happens is up for debate. Experts disagree whether the chip becomes disconnected due to acute instances of short drops that jar the chip loose, or whether it is the result of repeated bending that takes place over time.
Solution
If your phone is showing symptoms of Audio issues or loop disease get in touch with Fone Fixit, we have a solution and can get your phone up and running in a short period of time.
