7 Plus Rear Chassis Separated (Pics)

[matty1551]

Just noticed my iPhone 7 Plus rear chassis/housing is starting to separate. No clue how it could have happened. Phone is always in a case and has sustained no damage. And no, I don't keep my phone in my rear pocket so don't ask if I sat on it.

Anyone ever seen this before?

UPDATE:
Visited the Genius Bar and was told that since it's "physical damage" that they wouldn't be able to replace it without me paying. Given that the rest of the phone is flawless, I said maybe it was a defective back casing or the battery was swelling but they insisted that neither of those situations was plausible. Trying to consider any other options before paying for a replacement.

I just find it hard to believe that if I caused this damage I would be able to inflict that amount of force without any other signs of physical damage to the device.

 

[eyoungren]

Just noticed my iPhone 7 Plus rear chassis/housing is starting to separate. No clue how it could have happened. Phone is always in a case and has sustained no damage. And no, I don't keep my phone in my rear pocket so don't ask if I sat on it.

Anyone ever seen this before?

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Yeah. But not with the 7+ (I don't have one) and not with the back.

I've had three iPhone 5's with swelling batteries and they all pushed the screen up causing separation from the frame.

Have you had any battery issues lately?

 

[cgross]

Just noticed my iPhone 7 Plus rear chassis/housing is starting to separate. No clue how it could have happened. Phone is always in a case and has sustained no damage. And no, I don't keep my phone in my rear pocket so don't ask if I sat on it.

Anyone ever seen this before?

View attachment 704676 View attachment 704678 View attachment 704680

Wow I would take it in to the Apple Store and or try and fix the screws

 

[blaine07]

Wow. Didn't even know it wasn't a solid piece there

 

[DeltaMac]

Could be a swelling battery.
Take to an Apple store. They might replace that on the spot.

 

[matty1551]

Yeah. But not with the 7+ (I don't have one) and not with the back.

I've had three iPhone 5's with swelling batteries and they all pushed the screen up causing separation from the frame.

Have you had any battery issues lately?

Battery seems solid. I managed to google instances of the screen portion coming apart but have never seen any posts about this part of the upper chassis coming apart.

Wow I would take it in to the Apple Store and or try and fix the screws

It's definitely going to an Apple Store this week so I will update after my visit. It still works fine minus the vibrate switch which appears to have been obstructed from when the chassis shifted.

 

[matty1551]

Post updated after my Genius Bar visit.

 

[slippery-pete]

Post updated after my Genius Bar visit.

I had the same issue. Apple said phone was bent. Phone has been in a case since day 1 and never in a back pocket. At first, they wanted me to pay, but after about 5-10 minutes of talking to the tech he replaced it for free.

 

[SoN1NjA]

I had the same issue. Apple said phone was bent. Phone has been in a case since day 1 and never in a back pocket. At first, they wanted me to pay, but after about 5-10 minutes of talking to the tech he replaced it for free.

Yes, I would try and ask for an exception or go online and speak to someone different OP

 

[Gibson88]

Definitely try online don't don't mention you've already been in store.

 

[tkukoc]

Agree with others, go a different route and discuss with someone else at Apple. Either online or get someone different at the store.

 

[Phishdon]

Just noticed my iPhone 7 Plus rear chassis/housing is starting to separate. No clue how it could have happened. Phone is always in a case and has sustained no damage. And no, I don't keep my phone in my rear pocket so don't ask if I sat on it.

Anyone ever seen this before?

UPDATE:
Visited the Genius Bar and was told that since it's "physical damage" that they wouldn't be able to replace it without me paying. Given that the rest of the phone is flawless, I said maybe it was a defective back casing or the battery was swelling but they insisted that neither of those situations was plausible. Trying to consider any other options before paying for a replacement.

I just find it hard to believe that if I caused this damage I would be able to inflict that amount of force without any other signs of physical damage to the device.

View attachment 704676 View attachment 704678 View attachment 704680

I just noticed the EXACT same thing has happened to my iPhone 7 Plus in the EXACT same place. It looks exactly like your photos. In additions, the phone does not sit flush on a surface because the back is curved slightly toward the screen in the location of the separation.

I have had my phone in an otterbox commuter case from day 1. I never put my phone in my pocket and it is never placed in the same location repeatedly. There is no physical damage, other than the separation.
This is clearly a design flaw or defect.
I’m going to bring it to the Genius Bar this week and I’ll let you know what they say.