Some iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 Models Losing Color From Aluminum Body

[Mr. Dee]

Urrr.... let me get back to you on that... 😂

 

[Kiimora]

We‘d better not have a “colourgate” across all spectrum only 4 months in 😗. I think the matte plasticky bordered models may fall into the fading category. Loving my PB PM btw😊

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Interesting pattern for the color loss. Almost like it was sandblasted or wiped off with solvent (which it almost certainly was not). If it was inside a case, mold release inside a case?

Apple should obtain the phone (exchange for a new one), talk to the owner and figure out what happened.

My S&W has the black worn off in certain areas. I kept it in a jeans pocket, and the denim wore the color off like sandpaper. Supposedly a local guy can 'recolor' it (a Sharpie sounds cheaper), but it'll only wear off again. *shrug*

It's aluminum. It's hard to get colors to stick unless they are anodized, and even then it'll eventually wear off.

Wait, is it aluminum? Now I don't remember. Hmm...

 

[Eso]

Sell it on steam, some counter-strike player will probably pay $10,000 for it

 

[Marshall73]

Maybe a reaction of sweat, light, heat on the case reacting with the anodised aluminium, who knows what plastic cases are made from these days. Or could be a failure in material prep before anodisation which has causes premature fading. I believe decorative anodisation is only really good for 5 years before fading dependent on colour choice and method of application. Either way, its less than 6 months old and should be replaced by Apple.

 

[Tofupunch]

Remember Hyper Color back in the day? Your t-shirt changed colors based on body temperature. That iphone looks like a hyper color phone. How cool would that be!
Except when your pits are a different color than the rest of your shirt.

 

[routine_analyst]

Reminds me of the PowerBookG5 I had years and years ago. So sad.

 

[SactoGuy18]

My iPhone 12 sits in a Razer Arctech Pro case. No problems so far! (crossing fingers 🤞🏻)

 

[technole]

Based on the photo it is clear the customers are holding the telephone incorrectly.

 

[mattym42089]

This happened with my moms Green iPhone 11. When I got her the 12 I was so confused when I took it to turn in at T-Mobile and most of the color from the aluminum was gone. She had a clear/flower case on it.

 

[x-evil-x]

Maybe this person has really acidic sweat?

But only showing up on the part of the phone you touch the least amount? top right corner you barely are ever holding or touching.

 

[SkippyThorson]

You know what - this is the first problem that's not really a problem; I actually like the patina created as it wears like that.

 

[BaltimoreMediaBlog]

Maybe this person has really acidic sweat?

Yes, you are onto something. I had a roommate who once told me his sweat was extremely acidic, burned holes in his socks even. Yeah, that's the ticket. I asked him if he was a member of the X-MEN. NO WARRANTY FOR YOU! HAHA! 😂

 

[DHagan4755]

While sure it purely cosmetics and doesn't affect the performance of the device in any way do not a sizeable number of people buy, and accept "higher prices" of, Apple products for the cosmetic appeal? Not everyone buys their phones, and other things, based on the technical and the performance of the A-series processor aspects.

This is disappointing to be sure. I'm just saying it's not limited to phones. Google space gray discoloration & you'll see that this has been happening for 5 years now with that particular finish on MacBooks & iPads. So something in the anodizing process is either flawed or a certain chemical in some people's oils causes this to happen.

 

[BuffaloTF]

Hmmm... appears to be a Gold or Rose Gold aluminum? I wonder what lay under the other colors... could turn this into a mod if they were silver instead of that ugliness.

 

[sw1tcher]

Reminds me of the PowerBookG5 I had years and years ago. So sad.

Tell us more about your PowerBook G5

 

[1rottenapple]

i'm patenting "fade-gate"

 

[satchmo]

It's the newest iPhone colour, Gradient Red.

 

[CJ Dorschel]

i'm patenting "fade-gate"

This takes me back to the iPhone 5 days. How time - and colour - fade. *le sigh*

 

[mazz0]

It looks kinda nice though!

 

[Apple_Robert]

Not good, Apple. Get on it before it goes viral.

Too late. Once it hits the front page of MR, its over with, as far as the handful of people are concerned.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Who can defend this? Gross, Apple.

How do you know it is a manufacturing defect? At this point in time, we don't know what has caused the fade in each reported case. All we can do is speculate. And from some reports, the fading in some instances could be due to UV exposure when the phone(s) have been in a transparent case.


Until we know for sure, I don't think it is right to blame Apple.

 

[1258186]

It’s a two tone phone. Ska lives on.

 

[aknabi]

This has been a known issue since iPhone 7.

If you want it to last, don't get red and expose it to direct sunlight.

100% this... totally the customer's fault for buying Red and not knowing about the issue that's been there since the iPhone 7... tired of folks blaming Apple for customer mistakes like this

(/S for the clueless)

 

[now i see it]

Project Orange