So, can a motorcycle ruin an iPhone or not?
Apple unveiled the iPhone 13 at its big September event on Tuesday.
After running through its features (Faster chip! Narrower notch! Cinematic mode!), Apple aired a video showing the new iPhone 13 in action.
For a large portion of the video, the iPhone 13 was mounted on a delivery driver’s motorcycle as they went about their day.
You can see it here.
Credit: Apple
And here.
Credit: apple
And here.
Credit: apple
It was certainly an interesting choice, as Apple recently told users to not do that very thing.
Just a few days ago, Apple added a new page to its website warning users against exposing their iPhone to a “high-power or high-volume motorcycle engine.”
Apparently, the vibrations from these engines can fry the cameras in iPhones with optical image stabilization (OIS) or closed-loop autofocus (AF), which have been in every iPhone since the iPhone 6 Plus.
So, why show the iPhone 13 mounted on a motorcycle right after publishing that alert?
Apple’s messaging specifically states: “High-power or high-volume motorcycle engines generate intense high-amplitude vibrations, which are transmitted through the chassis and handlebars. It is not recommended to attach your iPhone to motorcycles with high-power or high-volume engines due to the amplitude of the vibration in certain frequency ranges that they generate.”
And here is a close-up of the iPhone 13 in Apple’s video mounted on the handlebars of a motorcycle.
Credit: apple
Apple did say that “attaching your iPhone to vehicles with small-volume or electric engines, such as mopeds and scooters, may lead to comparatively lower-amplitude vibrations, but if you do so a vibration dampening mount is recommended to lessen the risk of damage to your iPhone and its OIS and AF systems.”
The vehicle in the video could be classified as a scooter — but, as Apple says, that can still cause damage. Also, the mount used in the video looks pretty standard.
Apple also warned riders of mopeds and scooters to “avoid regular use” of mounted iPhones “for prolonged periods to further lessen the risk of damage.”
A delivery driver making their daily rounds certainly seems like prolonged use to me.
Is the new iPhone 13 line not affected by the motorcycle engine vibration issue? Does Apple’s recent alert really just concern motorcycles of the hulking Harley Davidson variety? Or was the visual of an iPhone 13 being used on a fast motorbike just too cool to pass on, despite the recent warning?
Mashable has reached out to Apple for more information. We will update this piece when we hear back.
