Apple warns iPhone owners who ride motorcycles of damage; know how to cut risk

A new support document from Apple has issued a warning for motorcycle riders who own iPhones and it’s going to change how they use their devices.

Apple has warned that if the iPhone is attached to the bike during rides, the camera system could get damaged. (Apple)

Apple has issued a warning for all iPhone owners who ride motorcycles. A new support document has some important information for iPhone owners who like attaching the smartphone to their bikes instead of carrying them on their person. Apple has warned that if the iPhone is attached to the bike during rides, the camera system could get damaged. “Exposing your iPhone to high amplitude vibrations within certain frequency ranges, specifically those generated by high-power motorcycle engines, can degrade the performance of the camera system,” Apple said.

The issue in question is with the optical image stabilisation (OIS) feature that iPhone cameras have. While Apple says that the OIS system is designed for durability, long-term exposure to vibrations of a certain frequency can degrade its performance. “However, as is the case with many consumer electronics that include systems like OIS, long-term direct exposure to high-amplitude vibrations within certain frequency ranges may degrade the performance of these systems and lead to reduced image quality for photos and videos,” Apple explained. Apple further added that “it is recommended to avoid exposing your iPhone to extended high-amplitude vibrations.”

Apple says that it is only high-power or high-volume motorcycles, mainly super bikes, that generate a lot of vibrations which are transmitted through the chassis and handlebars of the bikes. “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,” Apple said.

However, this does not exactly exempt smaller mopeds or scooters either that generate low-amplitude vibrations. The company recommends not attaching the smartphone to these either. If you really want to though, “a vibration dampening mount is recommended to lessen the risk of damage to your iPhone and its OIS and AF systems”. Overall, attaching iPhones to two-wheelers regularly should be avoided as it only increases the risk of damage to the camera system.