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iPhone X Apple Leather Case Color Fading (Cobalt Blue)

C

chemistry76

macrumors member
Original poster
Jun 22, 2011
65
6
It is less than a month in to using my iPhone X. I purchased an Apple leather case - the cobalt blue and put it on the moment I got it.

I know leather wears and gets a patina - I look forward to that. However, this leather isn't wearing like that. The blue color is wearing off and black is showing up underneath. It's like the blue has been painted on. Anyone else noticing this with the new leather cases?

I had a leather case I used on my 6 and again on my 6S. The dark blue one. It got darker with a patina, but it did not have the finish wear off to a black base layer.
 
chemistry76 said:
It is less than a month in to using my iPhone X. I purchased an Apple leather case - the cobalt blue and put it on the moment I got it.

I know leather wears and gets a patina - I look forward to that. However, this leather isn't wearing like that. The blue color is wearing off and black is showing up underneath. It's like the blue has been painted on. Anyone else noticing this with the new leather cases?

I had a leather case I used on my 6 and again on my 6S. The dark blue one. It got darker with a patina, but it did not have the finish wear off to a black base layer.
Click to expand...

If you can, take it to an Apple store, show them the case and they will likely exchange it even if it's past your return date if they believe it's a defect. That is assuming, you did purchase it from Apple.
 
Relentless Power said:
If you can, take it to an Apple store, show them the case and they will likely exchange it even if it's past your return date if they believe it's a defect. That is assuming, you did purchase it from Apple.
Click to expand...
You are correct. The time limit is on getting your money back, but exchanges last up to a year. I had to return the Smart Case twice since the lightning connector dies so easily. If the case is showing wear and tear this early then I think that would fall into the defect category and so it shouldn't be a problem.
 
chemistry76 said:
It is less than a month in to using my iPhone X. I purchased an Apple leather case - the cobalt blue and put it on the moment I got it.

I know leather wears and gets a patina - I look forward to that. However, this leather isn't wearing like that. The blue color is wearing off and black is showing up underneath. It's like the blue has been painted on. Anyone else noticing this with the new leather cases?

I had a leather case I used on my 6 and again on my 6S. The dark blue one. It got darker with a patina, but it did not have the finish wear off to a black base layer.
Click to expand...

Please post pics for our future reference :)
 
TedJustAdmitit said:
You are correct. The time limit is on getting your money back, but exchanges last up to a year. I had to return the Smart Case twice since the lightning connector dies so easily. If the case is showing wear and tear this early then I think that would fall into the defect category and so it shouldn't be a problem.
Click to expand...

Apple is really good about understanding defects when it comes to their own products. I know in the past, other Apple Watch owners have purchased Apple Watch sport bands and there was defects with those, an Apple happily exchange those out for a new one in the store. Their products are not cheap and we expect results when paying a premium for a leather phone case or $50 sport band, and they stand behind that.
 
I’m not worried about Apple replacing it. I think they will. However I want to know if others are seeing this issue on the “non-natural” style leather cases. I may look at other options if this is normal on this generation of cases.
977d02cc1c47d23588510553c5f6d250.jpg
b32450e21f2162cf7dc5f4dc7eff8b22.jpg
adc5a8df6baa55869ca3b3b797ce8f43.jpg
 
Looks like normal wear to me. Not bad at all.

Try a dab of leather cleaner/conditioner on one small corner, you may be able to restore the factory finish.
 
I'll revisit this thread when it gets worse. It's definitely the blue layer wearing off to reveal a black substrate.
 
chemistry76 said:
I’m not worried about Apple replacing it. I think they will. However I want to know if others are seeing this issue on the “non-natural” style leather cases. I may look at other options if this is normal on this generation of cases.
Click to expand...

Let me guess, you keep your phone in your back pockets? Actually, that's not black underneath. That's black over the top. It's happening to mine too. It's patina-ing really quickly. Embrace the beauty!
 
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Medusa3 said:
Let me guess, you keep your phone in your back pockets? Actually, that's not black underneath. That's black over the top. It's happening to mine too. It's patina-ing really quickly. Embrace the beauty!
Click to expand...

Front left. It's the friction points that are wearing off - not a patina from skin oils and moisture.

What color did you get?
 
This is totally normal wear and what my blue leather iPhone 7 case looks like. It gets darker so if this is going to be an issue for you I highly recommend swapping it for a cobalt blue silicone case which I now have on my iPhone X.
 
chemistry76 said:
I’m not worried about Apple replacing it. I think they will. However I want to know if others are seeing this issue on the “non-natural” style leather cases. I may look at other options if this is normal on this generation of cases.
Click to expand...

Looks like normal patina, it will look better after a while when everything is broken in.
 
If you say that leather is wearing down showing the black plastic or so, there should be rips. Case looks good by the way!
 
yanki01 said:
that would rule on normal in my book. my iP6 midnight blue case looks almost black at times.

iP6 saddle brown (2yrs of usage) vs new iPx saddle brown. it will age and darken over time.


iPhone X by Robert, on Flickr
Click to expand...

Love that patina! Guess I’m going out to buy me a saddle brown one for dressed up occasions!
 
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chemistry76 said:
It is less than a month in to using my iPhone X. I purchased an Apple leather case - the cobalt blue and put it on the moment I got it.

I know leather wears and gets a patina - I look forward to that. However, this leather isn't wearing like that. The blue color is wearing off and black is showing up underneath. It's like the blue has been painted on. Anyone else noticing this with the new leather cases?

I had a leather case I used on my 6 and again on my 6S. The dark blue one. It got darker with a patina, but it did not have the finish wear off to a black base layer.
Click to expand...
I ordered that same color case with my pre-order and the minute I took it out of the box I thought it looked cheap and not like real leather. The saddle brown one I also ordered looked the same. I thought it looked like pleather and not worth the price tag. I had had many leather cases for my 6's and 7's and for some reason, the one's I got for the X looked cheap. Returned both.
 
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ducatiti said:
If you say that leather is wearing down showing the black plastic or so, there should be rips. Case looks good by the way!
Click to expand...

This is my old case from my 6 &6S. It has patina and wear down to the plastic layer. It was real leather. The new leather cases Apple is selling has a colored coating applied to the “leather” material. The color is wearing off, not black wearing in, not patina. You can see the blue is applied to the black substrate and the substrate is becoming exposed.

It’s not the end of the world, but this is a faux blue. It’s probably still a material from an animal underneath, but the surface is more like a paint.

252ddf391230f0e9a1ceb2ba71c289b6.jpg


e9e37ef6c6612b4065ff4ace4f6801cb.jpg
 
chemistry76 said:
This is my old case from my 6 &6S. It has patina and wear down to the plastic layer. It was real leather. The new leather cases Apple is selling has a colored coating applied to the “leather” material. The color is wearing off, not black wearing in, not patina. You can see the blue is applied to the black substrate and the substrate is becoming exposed.

It’s not the end of the world, but this is a faux blue. It’s probably still a material from an animal underneath, but the surface is more like a paint.

252ddf391230f0e9a1ceb2ba71c289b6.jpg


e9e37ef6c6612b4065ff4ace4f6801cb.jpg
Click to expand...

Don’t agree. The leather is color soaked all the way through. I agree with the many other commenters saying it is patina. It’s just that different colors patina differently.
 
Last edited:
Reading up on the leather case threads revealed the patina is natural & a favourite for many.

I'm not one of them personally & will most likely opt for the Silicone or a third party case that keeps its original look for as long as possible. If the leather cases did maintain their original look, I'd be all over them....the black leads the way here, so it may be one you can go for?

TinyChip said:
Apple does not sell a cobalt blue leather case, but they do sell a Cosmos Blue leather case.
Click to expand...
Lol. This helps the OP supremely.
 
jlczl said:
Don’t agree. The leather is color soaked all the way through. I agree with the many other commenters saying it is patina. It’s just that different colors patina differently.
Click to expand...


I can second the experience of the OP. I have this exact same Cosmos Blue case and the blue coloring is wearing off. It is not anything on top of the blue.. I repeat, THE BLUE IS WEARING OFF.

After I first noticed this, I followed the Apple leather care instructions and gently wiped the black spots with a damp cloth and the cloth turned blue and even more of the black substrate was revealed. Apple replaced my case but I'm not very optimistic about the new one either.
 
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