iPhone 12 Dust inside iPhone 12 Screen Edge

[rebelbasesloaded]

Update: My replacement phone has arrived, and there are no gaps between the glass and frame on any of the edges, front or back. The tolerances on this new device are so close that it is not possible to even slide a single piece of paper between the glass and frame.

@Redirected Best of luck with getting a replacement for your defective device as well.

@louis0nfire Is seems, from our shared experience with multiple different devices, that getting one with or without these gaps might simply be luck of the draw. That being said, I'm happy to now have one of the ones that's been perfectly assembled rather than almost perfectly.

Edit: Also of note, using the serial numbers I was able to determine that the old phone (with the gap) was made by Foxconn in Zhengzhou. The new phone and my girlfriend's phone (without any gaps), were both made by Foxconn in Chengdu. It's a small sample size, but perhaps the quality control standards are better at the Chengdu factory.

 

[Redirected]

Update: My replacement phone has arrived, and there are no gaps between the glass and frame on any of the edges, front or back. The tolerances on this new device are so close that it is not possible to even slide a single piece of paper between the glass and frame.

@Redirected Best of luck with getting a replacement for your defective device as well.

@louis0nfire Is seems, from our shared experience with multiple different devices, that getting one with or without these gaps might simply be luck of the draw. That being said, I'm happy to now have one of the ones that's been perfectly assembled rather than almost perfectly.

Edit: Also of note, using the serial numbers I was able to determine that the old phone (with the gap) was made by Foxconn in Zhengzhou. The new phone and my girlfriend's phone (without any gaps), were both made by Foxconn in Chengdu. It's a small sample size, but perhaps the quality control standards are better at the Chengdu factory.

Great that you were able to get a replacement, they inspected mine and said that it is designed like this and water won't get into it because there is a seal underneath. But they took notes so that something good lol.

 

[rebelbasesloaded]

Great that you were able to get a replacement, they inspected mine and said that it is designed like this and water won't get into it because there is a seal underneath. But they took notes so that something good lol.

Yeah, that's exactly what the Genius Bar told me too. Try calling Apple Support again and see if maybe they'll replace it for you.

 

[jm31828]

Update: My replacement phone has arrived, and there are no gaps between the glass and frame on any of the edges, front or back. The tolerances on this new device are so close that it is not possible to even slide a single piece of paper between the glass and frame.

@Redirected Best of luck with getting a replacement for your defective device as well.

@louis0nfire Is seems, from our shared experience with multiple different devices, that getting one with or without these gaps might simply be luck of the draw. That being said, I'm happy to now have one of the ones that's been perfectly assembled rather than almost perfectly.

Edit: Also of note, using the serial numbers I was able to determine that the old phone (with the gap) was made by Foxconn in Zhengzhou. The new phone and my girlfriend's phone (without any gaps), were both made by Foxconn in Chengdu. It's a small sample size, but perhaps the quality control standards are better at the Chengdu factory.

Crap, I looked at mine and there is a very slight gap all along the back of my Mini- I can slide the edge of a piece of paper all the way around my phone. Are there any real concerns with this from the tech's perspective other than dust maybe getting caught in there? The paper slides in, but it is so narrow that I cannot envision much of any dust really getting in there.

I hate to exchange mine because I do not want to get stuck getting a refurb unit to replace the one I bought new, or lose the screen lottery when the one I have actually has a good screen that is not very yellow.

 

[appleincognito]

It's normal. Every 12 Pro Max I have seen has a small gap somewhere you can fit paper. You may get lucky and get one where the gap is slightly smaller, but it's there and it shouldn't affect water resistance. I can see the two metal columns near the bottom through the gap too.

 

[rebelbasesloaded]

It's normal. Every 12 Pro Max I have seen has a small gap somewhere you can fit paper. You may get lucky and get one where the gap is slightly smaller, but it's there and it shouldn't affect water resistance. I can see the two metal columns near the bottom through the gap too.

Gapless FTW. When paying a grand for something, I expect the build quality to be impeccable. Glad they replaced mine, but also not impressed with the inconsistency Apple support has shown regarding whether it's a defect or not.

 

[appleincognito]

Gapless FTW. When paying a grand for something, I expect the build quality to be impeccable. Glad they replaced mine, but also not impressed with the inconsistency Apple support has shown regarding whether it's a defect or not.

Prove it. Run paper around every edge on video and post it here. Yours most certainly has a gap.

 

[rebelbasesloaded]

Prove it. Run paper around every edge on video and post it here. Yours most certainly has a gap.

Ha! Ain't nobody got time for that. But if you've got lots of extra time on your hands, then just take a piece of paper with you into an Apple Store and compare a few different phones' gaps. Then also use that abundance of extra time to report back to us here on your findings.

 

[jsnuff1]

Man...some of you will find issues no matter where you look. Its impossible to have a "gapless" display, there needs to be some sort of tolerance built in otherwise they would never be able to assemble millions of these without half the displays needing to be thrown out.

Enjoy your phone and stop looking at it under 10x zoom to find an issue.

 

[rebelbasesloaded]

Man...some of you will find issues no matter where you look. Its impossible to have a "gapless" display, there needs to be some sort of tolerance built in otherwise they would never be able to assemble millions of these without half the displays needing to be thrown out.

Enjoy your phone and stop looking at it under 10x zoom to find an issue.

Those tolerances do indeed vary though. And if one was able to choose their specific device, like having the ability to choose a nice apple at a supermarket, everyone would select the one with less visible gaps.

Anyway, I didn't need to look at mine under a microscope to see the gaps. If they weren't large enough to be collecting loads of dust, I'd never have even noticed.

 

[appleincognito]

Ha! Ain't nobody got time for that. But if you've got lots of extra time on your hands, then just take a piece of paper with you into an Apple Store and compare a few different phones' gaps. Then also use that abundance of extra time to report back to us here on your findings.

I have checked store ones and can see the gaps with my eye. They all have gaps to varying degrees. Your ignorance or choice not to notice or check for it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.

 

[Ram65]

Was cleaning my Black iPhone 12 this morning and noticed these dust particles in between the screen and the metal frame. is anyone also having the same issue?

View attachment 1675133

Oh hell no take that S. H. I. T back what wrong with apple

 

[rebelbasesloaded]

I have checked store ones and can see the gaps with my eye. They all have gaps to varying degrees. Your ignorance or choice not to notice or check for it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.

Ah, well that's unfortunate. Anyway, based on your research of such a large sample size of devices, I'm just glad I've got one of seemingly rare ones with smaller gaps.

 

[Guruprasad.r]

It’s a defect. I have a 12PM and at the bottom I have a gap between the screen and bezel - I can see the connector prongs from the lighting port in certain light.

Same I have it. What happened. Apple gave replacement?

 

[appleincognito]

Same I have it. What happened. Apple gave replacement?

That’s normal. They all have those two little metal lines. It’s not the lighting port or internals it’s just non-coated metal you can see on the ifixit tear down.

 

[DanUC6]

1. I hate that I read this thread. Haha.
2. If I look hard gap is there. If I look harder some gaps are bigger than others (Both on Pro vs Pro Max).
3. Older phones had a rubber gasket. Not sure why these models don’t.
4. It would benefit us all to just simply enjoy our phones. If the worst problem you have is your gaps are off it is a good day!
5. Also, I wrote this for self-therapy. Lol.

 

[rebelbasesloaded]

1. I hate that I read this thread. Haha.
2. If I look hard gap is there. If I look harder some gaps are bigger than others (Both on Pro vs Pro Max).
3. Older phones had a rubber gasket. Not sure why these models don’t.
4. It would benefit us all to just simply enjoy our phones. If the worst problem you have is your gaps are off it is a good day!
5. Also, I wrote this for self-therapy. Lol.

Honestly, the gaps themselves wouldn't be a big deal. It's all the dust and debris that gets stuck in them that you have to look at whenever you look at your phone that are the problem. If the gaps on your device aren't big enough to attract those things, then I'd say don't worry about it.

 

[DanUC6]

Honestly, the gaps themselves wouldn't be a big deal. It's all the dust and debris that gets stuck in them that you have to look at whenever you look at your phone that are the problem. If the gaps on your device aren't big enough to attract those things, then I'd say don't worry about it.

Don’t look at your camera lenses. Guess what? Those have gaps too. It’s dust. Blow it out. Or better yet. Ignore it. Read a book. Drink a beer. Play with your kids. Talk to your partner. Listen to an album fro start to finish. Do anything and the gaps will go away. Do it for your sanity. Trust me, I know.

 

[rebelbasesloaded]

Don’t look at your camera lenses. Guess what? Those have gaps too. It’s dust. Blow it out. Or better yet. Ignore it. Read a book. Drink a beer. Play with your kids. Talk to your partner. Listen to an album fro start to finish. Do anything and the gaps will go away. Do it for your sanity. Trust me, I know.

Or if you're unlucky enough to get a device with gaps large enough to collect dust and debris... but then lucky enough to notice it within 14 days of getting the device, and then able to exchange it... then you've got the win-win of having a gapless device and being able to forget about it and carry on with all the rest of those things you mentioned.

But if someone just isn't bothered by the gaps to begin with, then that's great. But I'd question why they're searching for information about the issue on a Macrumors forum if that were the case.

 

[DanUC6]

Or if you're unlucky enough to get a device with gaps large enough to collect dust and debris... but then lucky enough to notice it within 14 days of getting the device, and then able to exchange it... then you've got the win-win of having a gapless device and being able to forget about it and carry on with all the rest of those things you mentioned.

But if someone just isn't bothered by the gaps to begin with, then that's great. But I'd question why they're searching for information about the issue on a Macrumors forum if that were the case.

When you are a macrumors fan as long as I have been you don’t search. It’s been a part of me for a long time. I read many forums. I am just sharing that every iPhone 12 has a gap. It’s how they are made. Im not criticizing anyone for exchanging. That is their right.

 

[418608]

after reading occasionally about this “gap between glass and the rim”, I decided to check out mine and my wife’s....

As you can see in the picture, the gap is present on mine - its not everywhere, just some spots.

I assume many models might be affected, as also mentioned by many on here..

I know it’s an issue that affects our OCD, and for that there are ways to deal with
But the question is whether this is something that will eventually affect negatively the phone. Dust or other particles

Out of curiosity I also checked out the iPhone XR. As the second picture shows, some gaps are present on that one too,
less wide. Paper needed to be pressed a bit more, while in the 12 the paper goes down more easily.

1


Xr



Video to show how easily the paper “goes in”: