iPhone camera lenses with optical image stabilisation (OIS)
or closed-loop autofocus (AF) are susceptible to this damage due to their use
of gyroscopes and/or magnetic sensors to help compensate for movement and
vibration when shooting photos or video.
The OIS and closed-loop AF systems in iPhone are designed
for durability.
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.
It is recommended to avoid exposing your iPhone to extended
high-amplitude vibrations, the report said.
Due to this risk, Apple recommends that users should not
attach their iPhones directly to the chassis or handlebars of such motorcycles,
as the direct transmission of vibrations can be intense.
Apple even recommends that users mounting their devices to
lower-powered devices like mopeds and electric scooters at least use a
vibration-dampening mount to minimise the chances of any damage.
The timing of releasing the support page is interesting as
Apple is currently preparing for its September 14 event where the iPhone 13
series is expected to be unveiled.
For the last several months, several users have discussed on
multiple online forums including Apple's own Communities forums about degraded
iPhone camera performance after using them on motorbikes. Various retailers
are, however, still selling motorcycle mounts both through online and offline
channels that are claimed to be meant for the iPhone.