Some iPhone 12 models are losing color from their aluminum chassis, according to a new report from Svetapple.sk, which contains photos of a PRODUCT (RED) iPhone 12 model that has noticeably leached in color.
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The side of the iPhone 12 near the power button has faded to an orange hue and there is a clear demarcation where the red color has worn off.
Svetapple.sk says the iPhone was used in a clear case so friction from a hand hasn’t been a factor, although it’s not clear if the case itself caused the problem.
There are similar reports of blurring from iPhone 11 and iPhone SE 2 users. MacRumors For example, the t101 reader has shared photos of an iPhone 11 with a dramatic color loss at the edges. That iPhone model had also come in a clear case. While many of the reports focused on the red iPhone models, the blur was seen less frequently on iPhone 11 models in different colors.
Some MacRumors readers speculated that the color fading is due to UV exposure enabled by the clear case, but the problem would likely be more widespread if it were a UV exposure issue. It has also been speculated that the problem could be caused by a chemical reaction with a case, but there is no clear explanation.
There are a limited number of reports of color fading, but this is an issue that seems to have persisted for years as there are also complaints about the iPhone XR. Apart from the iPhone 12 photos shared by Svetapple.skwe have not seen comparable reports of color loss on other iPhone 12 devices, and this may be a manufacturing defect that is not widespread.
Apple likely considers the color fade to be a cosmetic issue, so it is not known whether devices that suffer color loss will be replaced.