sorry about my crappy webcam. the video is pretty much worthless, but the audio should suffice.

it may seem like i'm pounding on my phone due to the close proximity of the camera, but i'm only giving it light taps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuLc2vAJtXw

I tried it without the sim and sim tray, pressing down on the sleep/wake button, silent switch, and volume rocker, so it is def. something internal.

the earliest genius bar appt. i could get is on thursday at 4! eeeee!

I too notice this internal rattle from the top area of the phone. I did some searching online and came across this thread: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=730934
and this one: http://discussions.apple.com/thread...9700509#9700509

Looks like there are others with the same sitaution. I'm beginning to believe that the rattling is actually part of the autofocus camera. If you look at the camera lens itself while it is focusing, you can see that it actually moves to bring the image into focus. I think that this mechanism is spring loaded and just happens to move/rattle with the right tapping or placing down on a table.

Still, it will be interesting to see if all 3GS' have this issue or if it is isolated to a certain "batch" of them.

When I shake my phone I hear some rattling too, but it is nowhere near as loud.

The rattling that I hear on mine is not as loud as in the OP's video either. Maybe his camera/mic is too sensitive?

It is comforting to see others with this rattle though. I still think it has to do with the autofocus system. The rattle definitely comes from the top of the phone and doesn't rattle at all of I tap in the middle or bottom areas. If I turn the phone over and tap near the camera, it rattles but if I tap on the other side near the top, no rattle. This has to be the camera then.

Keep the info coming.

@OP: Please let us know how it goes at the genius bar. I'm curious to see of this rattle is normal. Thanks and good luck!

Only hear a noise when silent switch is on vibrate..

Pretty sure there's some moving parts now with the camera due to the auto focus, right?

Correct. You can see the lens move when it is focusing.

with my silent switch on vibrate, I also hear a rattle that is audible by just shaking the phone. Only when I tap the phone against something like my palm is when I hear the internal rattle.

So even is the genius bar contends that the internal rattle is within spec, I should be able to get a replacement for the loose silent switch.

I only hear the rattle when in silent mode.

I have the same issue, I though "what a POS. $199 and it rattles like a cheap toy" I hear it when I set it on any surface, I thought it was the silent button.

I found this with my 3G and thought something was wrong. Since then, every iPhone I come in contact with, I shake. They all make some degree of rattling.

mine has the rattle too. It's not any of the buttons (held them all) or the sim tray (i removed it). As for it being the focusing mechanism, I'd like to believe that's what it is. But looking at the lens while focusing, I can't see or hear any evidence of focusing. Anybody have a link describing the focusing mechanism as mechanical rather than in software? (I looked but came up empty.)

EDIT: After some more thought, for me this is a minor issue. On the 2g and 3g, I went thru multiple phones and still ended up with flaws on both. My 3GS is absolutely perfect, except for this tiny little annoyance. No way I'm going to risk yellow screen, dead pixels, misaligned bezel, goofy buttons, etc. to swap this one for another one.

Still would like to see confirmation of the auto focus being mechanical though.

I went to a local apple and the first two 3gs I inspected had loose silent switches and rattled.

the first two out of how many? lol

hey guys i too have a 3gs with this rattling i got mine from apple on launch day and had an issue with the screen and had a loud rattle. my rplacement i got monday has a light rattle and i held the vibrate switch and volume rocker to see if they were the culprit. but i do belive like absjazz said it is most likely the camera because if you shake it or tap near your ear thats the region it is coming from. mine is very quiet and i have to hold it to my ear to even hear it faintly though.