iPhone 13 Pro iPhone 13 Pro: gap at top in between speaker and chassis?

[orion1234]

So I thought I didn’t have this issue but all I needed to do was use a more powerful light to see the metal part. The gap is uniform and doesn’t appear to be a typical manufacturing defect to me but I think it is sloppiness on Apple’s part. As long as it doesn’t affect the watertight seals it’s not enough of an issue for me to contend with device replacement.

iPhone 13 Pro (not Max) here.

 

[richard13]

So I thought I didn’t have this issue but all I needed to do was use a more powerful light to see the metal part. The gap is uniform and doesn’t appear to be a typical manufacturing defect to me but I think it is sloppiness on Apple’s part. As long as it doesn’t affect the watertight seals it’s not enough of an issue for me to contend with device replacement.

iPhone 13 Pro (not Max) here.

See, that's the thing. If Apple would have just said to me that "this is a cosmetic issue and you have nothing to worry about" I would have been ok with it and still had my iPhone 13 Pro. But no, its "I don't see it", "Oh, it's PROBABLY nothing to worry about". Ahem. Can I get that in writing? Like later on when I go for a walk and it starts raining and I now have water damage due to it... will it be "Well, it's water damaged, sorry"?

 

[orion1234]

There is indeed a gap. Even the people saying "I don't have a gap" and then proceed to post pictures showing an obvious gap, have them. It's there... and likely needs to be. The real problem here is that the OP is reporting seeing things in the gap. Something that looks like metal. If I look at my 13 Pro it looks totally normal. But at certain angles, where the light is hitting it just right I can see what the OP is talking about. It's likely that's just the way this edition is. But I'm going to the Apple Store tomorrow to double-check.

I had to just look closer to find mine. If you’re not at the right angle you won’t see it and the gap is so uniform that if you cannot see the metal part it seems like you don’t have an issue.

 

[richard13]

I had to just look closer to find mine. If you’re not at the right angle you won’t see it and the gap is so uniform that if you cannot see the metal part it seems like you don’t have an issue.

Oh, I agree. And I hope you are right. As I said, I was willing to overlook it and say "it's normal". But with no clear indication from Apple (wouldn't have killed them to do this) I felt I should return and re-order when they may have more information. BTW, not trying to put doubt in your mind. I was in your shoes a few days ago and hope it's all ok!

 

[dstew201]

I had to just look closer to find mine. If you’re not at the right angle you won’t see it and the gap is so uniform that if you cannot see the metal part it seems like you don’t have an issue.

I saw it looking straight at the phone! I didn’t need to twist and contort to see it.

maybe my case was an anomaly…. But this replacement appears to be tight as a drum!

 

[absolutkev]

The gap can be seen very well at 3:08 minutes in this video. This will be the case with every iPhone 13 Pro (Max). But if the gap is one millimeter smaller, because the display was placed a little higher, it can sometimes be seen more or less.

 

[Superrenz]

Just had a word with my local Apple representative. They said that the gap is within tolerance and doesn’t harm IP rating. Therefore: No issue.

 

[dstew201]

The gap can be seen very well at 3:08 minutes in this video. This will be the case with every iPhone 13 Pro (Max). But if the gap is one millimeter smaller, because the display was placed a little higher, it can sometimes be seen more or less.

Interesting!!

I prefer the less ?…. I’m trying to duplicate the angle, granted my lighting may be different.. but I do not see the reflective metal. Guess this phone is a keeper! ?

 

[TheSynchronizer]

If you have to look for it it’s not an issue. Don’t go crazy over small insignificant tolerances. You will go crazy.

But the thing is I didn’t actually look for it. I unboxed the phone and just assumed brand new = flawless.

Then as I was going about my day, suddenly the top of the phone started brightly reflecting light at me with the metal framing that I pictured. If not for that (i.e. if Apple painted the framing black) I would’ve neither noticed nor cared about the issue.

And sure, 90% of the time I don’t see it. But the 10% of the time that I do it’s definitely an annoyance even if it’s just a first world problem, and simply not something I expected from a brand new phone at this price tag

 

[Hrti]

But the thing is I didn’t actually look for it. I unboxed the phone and just assumed brand new = flawless.

Then as I was going about my day, suddenly the top of the phone started brightly reflecting light at me with the metal framing that I pictured. If not for that (i.e. if Apple painted the framing black) I would’ve neither noticed nor cared about the issue.

And sure, 90% of the time I don’t see it. But the 10% of the time that I do it’s definitely an annoyance even if it’s just a first world problem, and simply not something I expected from a brand new phone at this price tag

That's the problem IMO. Still got both the 13 Pro and Pro Max lying around as I'm undecided about which one to keep. The Pro Max has a huge (relatively speaking) gap above the ear piece as the screen is mounted as low as possible. It's visible in daylight no matter the angle, so it's something I noticed by accident and not something I had to look for. The Pro on the other hand has tiny gap, and the metal is only visible if looking for it at certain angles and in certain lighting. Both still probably only cosmetic, but paying 1700USD for the 256GB Max here in Norway I really expect not seeing the internals of the phone whenever looking at the ear piece. First world problems and all that, but nevertheless annoying price considered

 

[michael31986]

Probably not the best advise TBH. But at your own risk.

You think anyone is strong enough to break a phone by squeezing?

 

[Scyeung]

Do you guys think if I replace my phone through express replacement, they will take it as a defect?

 

[levels]

Do you guys think if I replace my phone through express replacement, they will take it as a defect?

100% they will.

 

[michael31986]

So you just press it top down? How hard do you press? You push on the steel band right?

You won’t break the phone they are meant to withstand drops. You pressing won’t hurt it.

 

[michael31986]

Based on the tear down videos. It’s just the stainless steel under not painted or the silver component. It’s nothing to return a phone over. It makes sense there is a little gap there. It’s cause of the speaker separating to the border.

 

[Phone Junky]

Based on the tear down videos. It’s just the stainless steel under not painted or the silver component. It’s nothing to return a phone over. It makes sense there is a little gap there. It’s cause of the speaker separating to the border.

"But it's not perfect". You can see it when you shine a light of a thousand suns at it and take a picture and blow it up 10 times. How anyone can accept such "garbage" is beyond me. /s

 

[coso]

The gap is also needed to reduce the chance of the screen cracking in case of a fall. It's definitely there by design.

 

[Superrenz]

Based on the tear down videos. It’s just the stainless steel under not painted or the silver component. It’s nothing to return a phone over. It makes sense there is a little gap there. It’s cause of the speaker separating to the border.

Thx! You nailed it

 

[richard13]

Based on the tear down videos. It’s just the stainless steel under not painted or the silver component. It’s nothing to return a phone over. It makes sense there is a little gap there. It’s cause of the speaker separating to the border.

Interesting theory and based on the tear down videos I initially came to the same conclusion. However, I would expect to see the stainless steel all the way along the gap. On my iPhone I could only see the metal for about a fourth of the way on the right side, and just tiny bit on the left.

 

[IconIc215]

Interesting theory and based on the tear down videos I initially came to the same conclusion. However, I would expect to see the stainless steel all the way along the gap. On my iPhone I could only see the metal for about a fourth of the way on the right side, and just tiny bit on the left.

I think this post from Reddit sums up what many are trying to illustrate since the design change of the IPhone 12/13's:

"The gap tolerance has to remain that way, that’s how they’re able to remove and replace your display if it gets cracked.

Also, glass/ceramic hybrid materials expand and contract with temperature fluctuations, so where the glass meets the chassis, it can’t be completely flush, otherwise the material will crack...much in the same way a skyscraper has to be able to sway in the wind...if it can’t, it will break."

Bottom line is gaps are there in the frame whether you know it or not....obviously some more apparent than others. Its a non-issue. If you want to take the chance in playing the return game, do what makes you happy. There is a very good chance you end up with this problem again in addition to something else judging by how bad Apple QC is anymore with chips, scratches, bad screens, scratches on screens, dust in the camera lenses all coming new out of the box.

 

[richard13]

I think this post from Reddit sums up what many are trying to illustrate since the design change of the IPhone 12/13's:

"The gap tolerance has to remain that way, that’s how they’re able to remove and replace your display if it gets cracked.

Also, glass/ceramic hybrid materials expand and contract with temperature fluctuations, so where the glass meets the chassis, it can’t be completely flush, otherwise the material will crack...much in the same way a skyscraper has to be able to sway in the wind...if it can’t, it will break."

Bottom line is gaps are there in the frame whether you know it or not....obviously some more apparent than others. Its a non-issue. If you want to take the chance in playing the return game, do what makes you happy. There is a very good chance you end up with this problem again in addition to something else judging by how bad Apple QC is anymore with chips, scratches, bad screens, scratches on screens, dust in the camera lenses all coming new out of the box.

As I have said several times on this thread and others like it. I do not care about the gap and I understand the need for them. My comment was focused on the "metal bits" in the gap.

 

[IconIc215]

As I have said several times on this thread and others like it. I do not care about the gap and I understand the need for them. My comment was focused on the "metal bits" in the gap.

Well this thread is about the gap spacing not whatever metal bits your talking about. Sounds like you have a problem so just return it. I don't see any threads for "metal bits" anywhere on MacRumors.

 

[michael31986]

As I have said several times on this thread and others like it. I do not care about the gap and I understand the need for them. My comment was focused on the "metal bits" in the gap.

It’s not metal bits. It’s the component underneath that you see cause of the gap.

 

[jdlnmia]

I don't have that gap on either of the phones in my household - iPhone 13 Pro Max & iPhone 13 Pro, both Sierra Blue. The screen and earpiece sit perfectly flush with the metal band with no gap.

 

[IconIc215]

I don't have that gap on either of the phones in my household - iPhone 13 Pro Max & iPhone 13 Pro, both Sierra Blue. The screen and earpiece sit perfectly flush with the metal band with no gap.

Your light isn't bright enough : )

Yours may not be at that exact spot but its somewhere.