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Is Apple's leather case defective?

H

heyyoudvd

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 13, 2011
224
83
I recently picked up a black Apple leather case for my iPhone 6, and while I really like the fit, the feel, and the slim profile, there's a big problem with this case.

It keeps forming these 'blisters'. Spots on the surface raise up in these 'bubbles' that just don't look very good. I noticed that this happens if I lay the phone down on any moisture. I don't mean that I'm getting it really wet or anything, rather, if I have a glass on the table and then I put the case down where the glass had been sitting, the little bit of condensation from the glass seems to get absorbed into the leather and form these permanent 'blisters'.

I don't know if the leather is expanding or if the outer layer is separating from the inner, but either way, this is unacceptable. The Apple leather case for my 5S never did anything like this. I've had the case for only 5 days, and it already looks like this and is getting worse:


qxaPEC3.jpg



So my question is, did I get a faulty case or are all of them defective like this? Should I simply try to exchange it for another one, or should I swap it for the Apple silicone case?
 
I have the red one for my 6+ and it does not have that issue. I would advise you contact Apple for an exchange. Worse case scenario, you can choose a different case.
 
heyyoudvd said:
I recently picked up a black Apple leather case for my iPhone 6, and while I really like the fit, the feel, and the slim profile, there's a big problem with this case.

It keeps forming these 'blisters'. Spots on the surface raise up in these 'bubbles' that just don't look very good. I noticed that this happens if I lay the phone down on any moisture. I don't mean that I'm getting it really wet or anything, rather, if I have a glass on the table and then I put the case down where the glass had been sitting, the little bit of condensation from the glass seems to get absorbed into the leather and form these permanent 'blisters'.

I don't know if the leather is expanding or if the outer layer is separating from the inner, but either way, this is unacceptable. The Apple leather case for my 5S never did anything like this. I've had the case for only 5 days, and it already looks like this and is getting worse:


Image


So my question is, did I get a faulty case or are all of them defective like this? Should I simply try to exchange it for another one, or should I swap it for the Apple silicone case?
Click to expand...

Mine hasn't done that and I've had it on my 6+ since the launch day. I have seen other posts with similar problem though.
 
Totally unacceptable, I call Blistergate!

Seriously though, it looks like the case has absorbed water (wherever it was sitting). I would say it's a normal leather behavior? Try keeping it under the sun to dry and see what happens. At any case, return it if you can and if this persists.

----------

...maybe the cow from which this case was made was sick or had chickenpox (cowpox??).
 
hbennis said:
Totally unacceptable, I call Blistergate!

Seriously though, it looks like the case has absorbed water (wherever it was sitting). I would say it's a normal leather behavior? Try keeping it under the sun to dry and see what happens. At any case, return it if you can and if this persists.

----------

...maybe the cow from which this case was made was sick or had chickenpox (cowpox??).
Click to expand...


Is that really normal, though? I had the leather case for my 5S and it never did that.

I take very good care of my devices, and I haven't even let it get exposed to rain, but it's simply impossible to steer clear of all moisture. Once in a while, it's bound to touch a damp surface. And the second it does, it forms these blisters. I don't think that's acceptable for a product like this.
 
heyyoudvd said:
Is that really normal, though? I had the leather case for my 5S and it never did that.



I take very good care of my devices, and I haven't even let it get exposed to rain, but it's simply impossible to steer clear of all moisture. Once in a while, it's bound to touch a damp surface. And the second it does, it forms these blisters. I don't think that's acceptable for a product like this.
Click to expand...


You are right, it's not acceptable for a product this quality, you should return it/get it replaced. I have received a brown leather case for 3 days now, I haven't seen the blisters yet.
 
Yes, I think if you place something made of thin leather in water, this will happen.

Have you waterproofed your case? What did you think would happen when you put leather on top of a drop of water? It does not naturally bead off, and you trapped the water between the surface and the case, so it absorbed. Water can damage leather. This is not design defect. This is physics.
 
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cypressc said:
Yes, I think if you place something made of thin leather in water, this will happen.

Have you waterproofed your case? What did you think would happen when you put leather on top of a drop of water? It does not naturally bead off, and you trapped the water between the surface and the case, so it absorbed. Water can damage leather. This is not design defect. This is physics.
Click to expand...

I had the Apple leather iPhone 5S case for a full year and nothing of the sort every happened to it. It stayed in great shape even after all that time.

If the 6's case can be in significantly worse shape after a couple days than the 5S's case was after a full year, then there's a problem. I didn't treat them any differently.
 
Is Apple's leather case defective?

Already posted in another similar thread but...I bought an olive brown case a week ago and yesterday I noticed that the border around the camera cutout are started to peeling off. Very subtle but I noticed it. I baby my phone so haven't done anything unusual with it. I don't even put it in my pockets yet.

Feels like there is a very fine brown layer covering the case like a film. That is peeling off. Strange type of 'leather'. Feels faux tbh.

Will keep an eye on it and swap it for a new one in a week time.

It's unacceptable for £35 as I read about quite a few cases with this problem now.
 
Last edited:
heyyoudvd said:
I recently picked up a black Apple leather case for my iPhone 6, and while I really like the fit, the feel, and the slim profile, there's a big problem with this case.

It keeps forming these 'blisters'. Spots on the surface raise up in these 'bubbles' that just don't look very good. I noticed that this happens if I lay the phone down on any moisture. I don't mean that I'm getting it really wet or anything, rather, if I have a glass on the table and then I put the case down where the glass had been sitting, the little bit of condensation from the glass seems to get absorbed into the leather and form these permanent 'blisters'.

I don't know if the leather is expanding or if the outer layer is separating from the inner, but either way, this is unacceptable. The Apple leather case for my 5S never did anything like this. I've had the case for only 5 days, and it already looks like this and is getting worse:


Image


So my question is, did I get a faulty case or are all of them defective like this? Should I simply try to exchange it for another one, or should I swap it for the Apple silicone case?
Click to expand...

I would simply say that there is a big problem with the case your got and not that the Apple Leather case in general is bad. Return it for a replacement. Why bring the matter here?
 
It's not the case in this instance it's the dumb OP putting the phone on a wet, damp surface and then blaming the case
 
heyyoudvd said:
So my question is, did I get a faulty case or are all of them defective like this? Should I simply try to exchange it for another one, or should I swap it for the Apple silicone case?
Click to expand...

Is it absorbing moisture somehow? That's all I got.

Moisture would be the answer if they go away over time...
 
mhdena said:
It's not the case in this instance it's the dumb OP putting the phone on a wet, damp surface and then blaming the case
Click to expand...

No offense, but this is a stupid post.

I did not drop the case in a swimming pool or sink get it drenched in any way. I'm talking about normal, acceptable usage. Not every surface you put your phone on is always going to be 100% dry. Occasionally there might be condensation from a glass that had previously been there or slight dampness from something. That's expected. It's impossible to avoid those things.

I take good care of my iPhone 6 and case, just as I took good care of my iPhone 5S and case (also the official Apple leather case). And after a full year, the 5S's leather case never had any problems, while the 6's case had blisters on it within mere days. The problem is with the case, not with my usage.
 
I feel like you should stop comparing the iPhone 5S case with the 6 case.
The texture and look of the 5S case is much smaller than the 6. The 6 has a more coarse texture and a bigger grain.

Don't expect things like that, don't expect that since the 5S doesn't do it, the 6 won't either.

Just because little Susie passed the test doesn't mean big Susie will.
 
I had a similar problem with mine. Called Apple for an exchange. No problem with the second one.
 
parajba said:
Already posted in another similar thread but...I bought an olive brown case a week ago and yesterday I noticed that the border around the camera cutout are started to peeling off. Very subtle but I noticed it. I baby my phone so haven't done anything unusual with it. I don't even put it in my pockets yet.

Feels like there is a very fine brown layer covering the case like a film. That is peeling off. Strange type of 'leather'. Feels faux tbh.

Will keep an eye on it and swap it for a new one in a week time.

It's unacceptable for £35 as I read about quite a few cases with this problem now.
Click to expand...

These cases aren't real leather, they are bonded leather, which is cheap crap. That's why they peel. It should last you longer than a week and a half, but eventually they'll all start to flake off. That's why higher quality leather sells for more and is thicker. Top grain leather is the good stuff, and there's no way that's what's on these cases.

I never had an apple case for my iphone 5, so I can't compare it to that version.
 
Hustler1337 said:
Did you have to return your old one back?
Click to expand...

Yes, I had to return the original one. I noticed the leather patterns on the two cases are different. Also, I tested the blistering one with a leather spray and the treated areas did not blister.

Had a leather 5S case that I treated with spray. Never had a problem. Learned my lesson for the second 6 leather case and treated it before using. No problem since.

Hope that helps.
 
Update:

I've been using the replacement case they gave me, and after a few weeks, it's starting to blister, as well.


The iPhone 6 leather case is nowhere near as high quality as the 5/5S leather case was. It's a real shame because I like everything else about the case. I like how it's slim, I like how it offers a lip on the front, I like how it fits, and I like how the bottom is open and allow me to plug in any pair of headphones.

It's a shame that Apple used such crappy leather this time around.
 
I'm going to return mine today for refund. Thought I was alone as to this blistering effect. I can't have a case that I like that is so susceptible to casual dampness. One dot of water will affect the cosmetic appearance and that'll drive me up a wall.
 
I have a midnight blue on my 6+ and haven't seen any blistering in months of use... I've even rubbed it around in a bit of water on a table and nothing happened. Who knows, maybe getting it all wet helps it in some way from blistering.
 
My olive brown one got bubbles in a few areas including right in the middle of apple logo :( Besides the edges started to turn dark, and I just couldn't stand it. Have Powersupport Air Jacket on right now but it's kind of bland and a little slippery, so getting a Speck Candyshell Grip soon.
 
I have leather cases from Apple for many devices (IPads, IPhones). Never had any problems with them. Good fit good leather and look. Months ago I bought IPhone 6s and realize to buy same Apple leather case. I returned first 2 (scratches and bubbles) came to apple and was opening and returning 10 cases (black, orange) and none of them was perfect. So I tried 12 cases. I gave up and bought silicone case. I do not know what happened with apple leather cases but it's complete garbage today, never buy it again...
[doublepost=1452865321][/doublepost]and it's not cheap at all...considering today's very bad chines quality it should cast $5 - $10...
 
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