iPhone 6(S)/Plus iPhone 6s Plus aluminium chipping

[maxsix]

I think it'll be interesting to see what the cause is, if it's ever revealed.

Of the many 6S models at work it's only been in the last week that these are breaking out like pimples on a juveniles face.

Both my wife and daughters had the condition. Returning to the Apple Store today the genius took the briefest of glances, didn't even look as though he was inspecting them, Immediately reached under the counter retrieving two new replacements with not one additional word said.

Bought two returned two, 100% defect rate.

I've never been in and out of the Apple Store so fast. Now we'll see if these hold up.

 

[HARCRACK]

I think it'll be interesting to see what the cause is, if it's ever revealed.

Of the many 6S models at work it's only been in the last week that these are breaking out like pimples on a juveniles face.

Both my wife and daughters had the condition. Returning to the Apple Store today the genius took the briefest of glances, didn't even look as though he was inspecting them, Immediately reached under the counter retrieving two new replacements with not one additional word said.

Bought two returned two, 100% defect rate.

I've never been in and out of the Apple Store so fast. Now we'll see if these hold up.

Let us know

 

[alleggerita]

Let us know

Unless this issue gets more widespread, if not I doubt we will ever know from Apple themselves.

But one thing's for sure, 7000 series is easier to corrode than 6000 series. And chances of these chipping issues being caused by corrosion is quite high.

 

[alleggerita]

I think it'll be interesting to see what the cause is, if it's ever revealed.

Of the many 6S models at work it's only been in the last week that these are breaking out like pimples on a juveniles face.

Both my wife and daughters had the condition. Returning to the Apple Store today the genius took the briefest of glances, didn't even look as though he was inspecting them, Immediately reached under the counter retrieving two new replacements with not one additional word said.

Bought two returned two, 100% defect rate.

I've never been in and out of the Apple Store so fast. Now we'll see if these hold up.

Were your two 6s still within the 2 weeks exchange period or over?

 

[Brian Y]

I am sad to join the very small iPhone 6s aluminum chipping club.

My space gray iPhone 6s is starting to get the same kind of chips along the antenna bands. I have owned this phone for about a month. It has always been in a Spigen Ultra Hybrid case. My usage patterns have always been the same as my previous iPhones. So not sure why this is happening when my previous iPhone, an iPhone 5s that I kept it, is still pristine.

I think it'll be interesting to see what the cause is, if it's ever revealed.

Of the many 6S models at work it's only been in the last week that these are breaking out like pimples on a juveniles face.

Both my wife and daughters had the condition. Returning to the Apple Store today the genius took the briefest of glances, didn't even look as though he was inspecting them, Immediately reached under the counter retrieving two new replacements with not one additional word said.

Bought two returned two, 100% defect rate.

I've never been in and out of the Apple Store so fast. Now we'll see if these hold up.

Out of interest, have either of you used the phone (or live) in areas of high humidity? Or are the phones exposed to sweat at all?

From the couple I've seen, that seems to be the most likely cause so far.

 

[RadioGaGa1984]

It's probably your case doing the damage. Dust and such getting under the case. Unless you are just completely inept at holding a phone, a case usually does more damage than it's worth.

 

[alleggerita]

It's probably your case doing the damage. Dust and such getting under the case. Unless you are just completely inept at holding a phone, a case usually does more damage than it's worth.

I doubt it's dust or sand particles between the cover and aluminium causing the damage. The anodized coating is pretty tough and the only way it can get damaged is if there's corrosion going on, wearing off the coating.

 

[convergent]

I doubt it's dust or sand particles between the cover and aluminium causing the damage. The anodized coating is pretty tough and the only way it can get damaged is if there's corrosion going on, wearing off the coating.

There is no corrosion going on with normal use in a week or two. Not going to happen, so something is being done to abuse the phones. I don't think anyone is going to believe that the sweat from a hand is corroding aluminum unless you are some sort of superhero from another galaxy. I would much more believe grit between the case and phone... I've seen that happen.

 

[NovemberWhiskey]

There is no corrosion going on with normal use in a week or two. Not going to happen, so something is being done to abuse the phones. I don't think anyone is going to believe that the sweat from a hand is corroding aluminum unless you are some sort of superhero from another galaxy. I would much more believe grit between the case and phone... I've seen that happen.

False. Uploaded a pic of the corrosion on my MacBook Pro. Simply from hand sweat.

The guy either had a phone with a bad manufacture, or there is a problem with the new aluminum they are using. **** happens. Stop the fanboy disbelief. I don't get how some people are so adamant that one guy got a bad phone.

 

[Ulenspiegel]

@NovemberWhiskey: How old is your Mac, if I may ask?

 

[RadioGaGa1984]

I doubt it's dust or sand particles between the cover and aluminium causing the damage. The anodized coating is pretty tough and the only way it can get damaged is if there's corrosion going on, wearing off the coating.

Since it seems everyone's answers are to your disliking, perhaps you should just take it to Apple and see what they say that you won't like.

 

[MrJM]

Cant believe this is still a thing!!

 

[Conan86]

Since it seems everyone's answers are to your disliking, perhaps you should just take it to Apple and see what they say that you won't like.

Dude, he has already got the device exchanged and Apple did acknowledge that those parts that had chipping were unusual..

I don't understand how so many people cannot understand that the OP had used many other iPhones before in the same usage pattern with case but had not experienced such issues until the 6s. Clearly there's something that was wrong with his unit. We're not saying that every single 6s has this issue but having seen a few users posted about this problem it is safe to say that this issue does exist. We should also understand that not everyone would attribute this as manufacturing defect and wouldn't report as they simply blame themselves that the chipping occurred as it looks like a wear and tear. This kind of wear should not be present on a device that is at most 60 days old (as of today).

 

[convergent]

False. Uploaded a pic of the corrosion on my MacBook Pro. Simply from hand sweat.

The guy either had a phone with a bad manufacture, or there is a problem with the new aluminum they are using. **** happens. Stop the fanboy disbelief. I don't get how some people are so adamant that one guy got a bad phone.

That happened in a week from sweat? That is the claim I called BS. No fan boy disbelief here... I just have common sense and don't believe everything I read on the Internet.

I don't care how many pictures you show, I don't believe with normal use that sweat will corrode aluminum in a week. There is misuse involved.

And just because an Apple Genius exchanged it doesn't mean anything.. They let people exchange perfectly good iPhone because they don't like their chips.

 

[NovemberWhiskey]

I didn't read every post in this thread, but is it limited to only Rose Gold phones? Because it could be an issue with that mixture of metals/coloring that's causing the chipping.

Not saying that there is a widespread problem, just that it is potentially a cause IF there is a problem to being with.

 

[convergent]

Dude, he has already got the device exchanged and Apple did acknowledge that those parts that had chipping were unusual..

I don't understand how so many people cannot understand that the OP had used many other iPhones before in the same usage pattern with case but had not experienced such issues until the 6s. Clearly there's something that was wrong with his unit. We're not saying that every single 6s has this issue but having seen a few users posted about this problem it is safe to say that this issue does exist. We should also understand that not everyone would attribute this as manufacturing defect and wouldn't report as they simply blame themselves that the chipping occurred as it looks like a wear and tear. This kind of wear should not be present on a device that is at most 60 days old (as of today).

One device with some bizarre defect... Sure. A person randomly getting multiple devices with the same bizarre defect when there isn't a widespread problem? Time to buy a lottery ticket.

 

[NovemberWhiskey]

That happened in a week from sweat? That is the claim I called BS. No fan boy disbelief here... I just have common sense and don't believe everything I read on the Internet.

I don't care how many pictures you show, I don't believe with normal use that sweat will corrode aluminum in a week. There is misuse involved.

And just because an Apple Genius exchanged it doesn't mean anything.. They let people exchange perfectly good iPhone because they don't like their chips.

No it did not happen after a week. It first started wearing away after a few months of use, with very minor nicks and pits. That is the accumulation of years of use. I've seen many other macbooks in the same condition.

It disproves your belief that sweat cannot wear away Apple's metal products. It can.

Just stop with the fanboy nonsense. Some people have issues with their individual devices. You are unaffected. Stop blaming it on misuse when you have nothing to do with that unit, that person, or even the issue at hand.

 

[convergent]

No it did not happen after a week. It first started wearing away after a few months of use, with very minor nicks and pits. That is the accumulation of years of use. I've seen many other macbooks in the same condition.

It disproves your belief that sweat cannot wear away Apple's metal products. It can.

Just stop with the fanboy nonsense. Some people have issues with their individual devices. You are unaffected. Stop blaming it on misuse when you have nothing to do with that unit, that person, or even the issue at hand.

I guess you didn't read. I said the claim I was calling false was it happening in a week. There are several different people with different problems in this thread. Stop with the "stop the fan boy nonsense" nonsense. I'm welcome to my opinion the same as you. If you don't want opinions then don't post your stories.

 

[NovemberWhiskey]

Opinions are fine so long as they are valid. When you have not personally observed his usage, have no expertise in manufacturing or metallurgy, and simply don't know whether this defect was caused by misuse or not, your opinion just makes you sound pompous. You have no real reason to speculate that he abused his phone in some way, except your personal bias that you don't think Apple could have put out a single, or many phones that were defective.

His whole issue is that it happened within a week. That is the issue. That is why he believes it is a flawed product that deserves an exchange. And yes, that IS possible. The most superficial layer of a product wearing away after a few days, a week, two weeks? Entirely possible. A new color, a new alloy, a new formulation...there are many possibilities.

Might I point out that there were at least hundreds of iphone 5 units that came OUT OF THE BOX with nicks and scratches on them. I saw at least 3 myself, personally.

I have no idea whether his defect was caused by misuse, manufacturing, or design. I don't make that judgment on him because I wasn't there. I have no idea. I can only identify the possibilities.

And that is the difference between your absurd opinions and my own. Mine are fair. Yours are pompous and based on nothing but bias.

 

[convergent]

Opinions are fine so long as they are valid. When you have not personally observed his usage, have no expertise in manufacturing or metallurgy, and simply don't know whether this defect was caused by misuse or not, your opinion just makes you sound pompous. You have no real reason to speculate that he abused his phone in some way, except your personal bias that you don't think Apple could have put out a single, or many phones that were defective.

His whole issue is that it happened within a week. That is the issue. That is why he believes it is a flawed product that deserves an exchange. And yes, that IS possible. The most superficial layer of a product wearing away after a few days, a week, two weeks? Entirely possible. A new color, a new alloy, a new formulation...there are many possibilities.

I have no idea whether his defect was caused by misuse, manufacturing, or design. I don't make that judgment on him because I wasn't there. I have no idea. I can only identify the possibilities.

And that is the difference between your absurd opinions and my own. Mine are fair. Yours are pompous and based on nothing but bias.

Once again you can't read. Having one person get multiple phones at random from a store on different days, with the same bizarre problem that causes their phone to corrode in a week, when no one else is reporting it, is statistically near impossible. My opinion is valid.

I think it's pretty pompous of you to claim that your opinions are the only ones valid. You don't know what expertise I have by the way, so your opinion on that is invalid. And your opinion that I don't believe Apple could produce a single defect is also invalid. I've had defective Apple products. Any company selling millions of anything will have a percentage of defects. And I've suggested to people in other threads here today that they may have a defective iPhone... One of them five minutes ago! So who's pompous?

 

[NovemberWhiskey]

Once again you can't read. Having one person get multiple phones at random from a store on different days, with the same bizarre problem that causes their phone to corrode in a week, when no one else is reporting it, is statistically near impossible. My opinion is valid.

I think it's pretty pompous of you to claim that your opinions are the only ones valid. You don't know what expertise I have by the way, so your opinion on that is invalid. And your opinion that I don't believe Apple could produce a single defect is also invalid. I've had defective Apple products. Any company selling millions of anything will have a percentage of defects. And I've suggested to people in other threads here today that they may have a defective iPhone... One of them five minutes ago! So who's pompous?

You are. Again, because you a judging him and making a presumption about him without ever having observed his use of the product.

It is not a "bizarre problem". The finish on his product is wearing away prematurely. Let me use an example that completely disproves how problems like these are entirely possible:

I received THREE (3) Apple Watches with a weird scuff on the top left side of the watch. They were all the same type, where it looks like something wore through the surface layer, and there was a bit of a yellow/brown substrate. Perhaps it was oxidation, I am not sure. But it was not just a normal scuff/scratch. I have NEVER seen anyone else complain about this problem, online, and no one at Apple has ever heard of it. But sure enough, I have received THREE of them myself. Why was I the only one? It's likely that I wasn't, and that there were more, but those people never noticed it. It was tiny, and I inspect my products as soon as I get them. The typical consumer is just going to open the package, slap the watch on, and enjoy. Even for those that do notice, only a small number of them will complain, and even a smaller number of them will be on this message forum. Of those people actually on here, only a small number will have seen the thread, and even a smaller number will take the time out of their busy lives to post about it. Of those that do, even a smaller number will bother with pics.

Now, hypothetically, let's say that I was the ONLY person with that problem. That's entirely possible too. For one hour, one day, or one week, something went wrong with manufacturing. Someone put in the wrong mix in the metal alloy mix, or the coloring, or turned the temperature too high in some process that uses heat. There are so many steps in the process, any one small misstep could have produced this result in a very small number of phones.

It is not statistically impossible. It is entirely plausible, actually. Keep in mind that the 6S was just released a month or two ago, and lots of people have them in cases. Again, of these people, how many have taken them out of the case to inspect? How many are actually on this forum? How many would actually bother to post or complain? Very few.

It takes a long time for something to reach critical mass wherein an actual acknowledgment and/or recall is made. It took Apple nearly a year for the iphone 5 power button switch. When I got my new iphone 5, I knew that there was something wrong with teh button. It felt wrong. But the genius could not identify it, and Apple would not acknowledge it. Sure enough, 10 months or so later, there is a recall.

Not that this is a widespread problem. Just that your using what you think is statistics is not dispositive of much.

 

[NovemberWhiskey]

Now let me show you how you could make a fair observation to argue that his problem is caused by misuse:

You would start by using his pics, and base your argument on those. You would observe that the white antenna bands look pretty badly worn for a week-old phone, and look to be discolored. You could also see a lot of scratches and chips in the headphone port. Based on these observations, it looks like his phone was used much more than he said, or was put through much more than normal wear.

Hard for me to say, personally, as I was not there.

On the contrary, you could say that based on the fact that he is using front and back film protectors, that IF he was also putting the phone in a case, he is likely OCD and a careful person. However, if he was using only those protectors, that could explain why he is seeing so much more chipping where those areas not covered. Although these are only guesses as to his personality, and not dispositive of anything.

You see, all these observations are fair because they don't assume anything about him, but only point out what is possible and likely. They never make definitive conclusions simply because they are unpopular with a crowd that likes a company's products.

 

[jonstatt1]

Couldn't it simply be that the anodized aluminium on the new models is more prone to being chipped than the old models. If you baby the phone, nothing will happen. But if a bit of dirt is pressing against the metal in a tight case, or the phone gets knocked against something, that it chips more easily than the previous model. So then you can argue over the term "abuse". But what I am getting at is that it could be true, that if you treat a 6S or 6S+ exactly the same as a 6 or 6+ that it could chip whereas the previous model wouldn't....simply because it can cope with "less" abuse than previous models.

Also, I am still puzzled over this corrosion concept. According to google:-
Aluminum corrodes but it does not rust. Rust refers only to iron and steel corrosion. Aluminum is actually very prone to corrosion. However, aluminum corrosion is aluminum oxide, a very hard material that actually protects the aluminum from further corrosion.


7000 series aluminium has about 5 percent Zinc. And Zinc is actually used to prevent steel corroding as a barrier, often used in cars, so that's not the factor either.

 

[alleggerita]

Couldn't it simply be that the anodized aluminium on the new models is more prone to being chipped than the old models. If you baby the phone, nothing will happen. But if a bit of dirt is pressing against the metal in a tight case, or the phone gets knocked against something, that it chips more easily than the previous model. So then you can argue over the term "abuse". But what I am getting at is that it could be true, that if you treat a 6S or 6S+ exactly the same as a 6 or 6+ that it could chip whereas the previous model wouldn't....simply because it can cope with "less" abuse than previous models.

Also, I am still puzzled over this corrosion concept. According to google:-
Aluminum corrodes but it does not rust. Rust refers only to iron and steel corrosion. Aluminum is actually very prone to corrosion. However, aluminum corrosion is aluminum oxide, a very hard material that actually protects the aluminum from further corrosion.


7000 series aluminium has about 5 percent Zinc. And Zinc is actually used to prevent steel corroding as a barrier, often used in cars, so that's not the factor either.

I've also seen a fair share of articles detailing how 7000 series is easier to corrode than 6000 series.

But first, let me just say I have no idea what they mean by "easier to corrode", because yes you're right a corrosion in aluminium simply means a layer of aluminium oxide forming on the surface.

Maybe the articles meant that 7000 series aluminium's anodized coating is prone to wearing off due to the zinc content. Causing a pockmarked and uneven surface.

 

[alleggerita]

And may I also add that my replacement unit so far has been mostly flawless. Haven't found any chips yet.

So yes, this is definitely a very very isolated issue. But as I've said, many people put their phone into a cover and hardly remove it again. So this issue might be bigger than it seems, just that not a lot of people are as anal as me and inspect my phone every now and then.