Existing users, 
Cases may cause yellow-tinted iPhone 3G screens
Posted 13 July 2008 @ 6pm in Troubleshooting
A number of iPhone 3G purchasers have reported yellow-tinted displays. Apple reportedly claims that the tint is a result of a warmer display that will generally produce more accurate colors and deeper blacks.
Richard Baguley conducted some tests on an iPhone 3G and a first-generation ipHone using a CS-200 chroma meter and Erica Sadun’s Light application. The color temperature was between 6800-7054k on the iPhone 3G vs. 8294k on the 2G. At maximum brightness, the iPhone 3G is noticeably brighter.
It appears that cases may be exacerbating, if not causing, this issue for some users.
Jonathan Zdziarski, the author of the “iPhone Open Application Development” and an iPhone Forensics Manual for Law Enforcement told us:
“As many have reported, I’ve too noticed a yellow tinge on the screen. What I found, however, was that this seemed to be due, in part, to the case I was using, which was blocking the new light sensor. This caused the iPhone to think it was constantly dark. Using a hole punch, I punched two holes to the left of the speaker hole in my case (use a flashlight to find the exact positions). This fixed both my light sensor and my proximity sensor (so that the screen would shut off when using it for calls). One side effect to this was that the yellow tinge seems to have gone completely away. I suspect this might have something to do with the backlight being somewhat tinted when on its lowest settings.”
Feedback? info@iphoneatlas.com.
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4 Comments
Posted by damnlove
14 July 2008 @ 6pm
very informative, thanks, I never know this stuff before. May be that why there are 3 holes on some iPhone cases , see http://www.sourcingmap.com/iphone-cases-c-983_1757.html
Posted by Sooth Sayer
15 July 2008 @ 8am
I have no case for my 3G and placing my old iPhone next to it you can very obviously see that the screen is tinted yellow - even at full brightness. The old iPhone is pure white on a white page. The 3G is yellow.
So either it is a different screen than the original, or there is something in OS 2.0 software causing the tint. I suspect the former… a cheaper component to bring the price down.
I guess I’ll get used to it, but it sure makes all my existing photos look odd. I’d call it a downgrade on that front.
Posted by tacit
15 July 2008 @ 2pm
Could be something as simple as the color management settings.
Most computer monitors and devices–and the iPhone is a computer–have a monitor white point of about 9300 K. This isn’t white; it’s blue. A device that has been color calibrated for maximum color accuracy and fidelity is typically set to a much lower color temperature.
When you look at a color-calibrated monitor next to a monitor that isn’t calibrated, te color-calibrated monitor looks yellow, because you are used to seeing monitors everywhere you go that are blue. Once you get accustomed to looking at a calibrated monitor, then uncalibrated monitors no longer look white to you–they are a harsh, glaring blue.
Posted by jhersco
23 July 2008 @ 5pm
I spoke to Apple Tech Support today about this problem. While claiming it’s intentional, the rep couldn’t explain why three iPhone 3G models in my local Apple Store displayed three different tints — one blue white, one yellow and one pink! It seems like a quality control issue to me.