Not a widespread problem so far, Apple tight-lipped

Mar 15, 2021 17:45 GMT  ·  By

One of the big differences between the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 12 mini versus the iPhone 12 Pro and the iPhone 12 Pro Max is the material used on the side edges, as Apple used aluminum on the cheaper models and stainless steel on the more expensive siblings.

In theory, this shouldn’t necessarily produce such a major difference when holding these devices in hand, though it allows for some cost saving, which Apple obviously needs given the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 a little bit more affordable.

But as it turns out, there’s a chance the aluminum used on these two cheaper iPhones might suffer from discoloration, as a report from Svetapple shows the paint has faded in some areas on the edges.

The affected model is an iPhone 12 in the (PRODUCT)RED version, and as you can see in the photo here, the red finish has turned into a shade of orange. The aforementioned source claims the iPhone 12 has always been stored in a transparent case since new, and the device has never been exposed to any kind of substances that could have caused the paint to fade.

Apple obviously tight-lipped on the whole thing

At this point, however, this doesn’t seem to be a widespread problem, though it looks like some others have also complained of similar issues on the iPhone 11 and iPhone SE (2020). Both use aluminum edges, with the paint suffering from a minor discoloration in certain parts.

Apple has obviously remained tight-lipped on the whole thing, and there’s a chance the company would never comment on it anyway given it’s a singular case so far. But more interesting would be whether Apple replaces these iPhones under warranty, though for the time being, no information in this regard has been offered.

We have also reached out to Apple to ask for clarification if iPhones suffering from discoloration qualify for a full replacement under warranty.