Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
In Italy there is a saying.
When the fox does not get to the grapes, he says it is unripe :D

I am calm after watching the disassembly videos, everything is in order in my opinion, there is no defect and no problem, it is simply the assembly that has meant that on some models the upper space is greater than the lower one. That's all. :)
So that’s why you see a little bit of metal shining through above the earpiece?
 
So that’s why you see a little bit of metal shining through above the earpiece?
Yes exactly, it is simply metal that shines.
From the videos it looks good, or it is because the screen is more closed towards the bottom and leaves more space at the top, or because it is "stripped or scratched" during assembly, or it is simply the gasket that closes before where it should , revealing the metal part that "normally" should have been covered by the glue. Nothing more.

There is just nothing in that industry that could have been unsealed or left out, without the aesthetics, stability, and functionality of the screen and sensors being affected.
 
  • Like
Reactions: michael31986
I am calm after watching the disassembly videos, everything is in order in my opinion, there is no defect and no problem, it is simply the assembly that has meant that on some models the upper space is greater than the lower one. That's all. :)
I’m glad your calm… and satisfied after watching the teardowns. Someone should be. Im def calm, but unsatisfied. I didn’t post on here to go in circles with someone. Merely to post my side of the story. Like I’ve said previously. Your opinion on us over reacting is Interesting especially after admitting to swapping 4 of your own devices for a screen tint… last year. which I believe also is a qc issue. However after all this back and forth, a screen with a tint can be replaced under warranty unless there’s water damage. When water gets in the phone you have to pay out of pocket. We are worried about water damage not a screen tint. Threads like this are good at either helping people understand there is no issue. Or that there’s is an issue. If you feel there is no issue, I’m glad, that’s your opinion. Thanks for your opinion

In my head I say perfection is nothing without imperfections, and then get over it usually. But should we let a company as big as Apple make mistakes or should we question all defects… because that’s the right thing to do…
 
Not really sure, gonna sleep on it tonight. It’s most likely not that big of a deal it’s just the one spot. I’m not willing to go through the hassle of returning the phone just to get another one with the same issue. If their is an issue I’ll return the phone and stick with my perfectly functioning iPhone 11 Pro Max. I know my 11 is still water proof so I wouldn’t have to worry.
Did you decide on keeping it or returning it?
 
Thank god! Someone took the 'plunge' so to speak ;)

So can we all agree it doesn't affect the phone one bit, time to enjoy the device
lol cuz we love looking down at the phone and see metal reflecting off the light into our eyes
 
This just proves what I was saying, all phones have it and it’s completely normal. Apple can’t be producing 95% defective phones. Had it been a defect we would have seen it only in 5-10% of the phones.
Just because it’s widespread- doesn’t really prove anything.

I actually spoke to one of the lead apple Genius Bar managers at an NY store, and he agreed it doesn’t seem normal and said he raised it to the engineer group. He then called me back and said the engineer team is aware of the issue, and are still reviewing if they deem it to be a legit issue or just part of the production/tolerance of this year’s line. So if the actual engineers for apple aren’t sure, you certainly shouldn’t be either.

They also checked one of the “replacement” units they have for service issues(which he said are all brand new right now since there is no refurbs), and that one also had the issue so there was no point in me swapping it. Next step is they are going to try to hold a new one for me when inventory comes in to see if that batch also has it. At some point I’ll just accept it as almost every iPhone I’ve had has had SOME kind of small cosmetic issue out of the box it seems, but as some mentioned it’s a bit annoying as any time the lighting is right it catches your eye as the piece you can see is metal. I’d happily take a scratch on the frame or something over that.
 
Last edited:
This just proves what I was saying, all phones have it and it’s completely normal. Apple can’t be producing 95% defective phones. Had it been a defect we would have seen it only in 5-10% of the phones.
Just got my Max today and absolutely I don't have it. Unless we are talking about two different things and everybody who says they have it is being crazy OCD. but taking a photo and looking at it at all angles I see nothing out of the ordinary of what I would expect.

So I stand by my assertion that if you can see uncolored metal, it's wrong.

If you do have it and it seems quite a few do, then I feel for you. This isn't right.
 
This just proves what I was saying, all phones have it and it’s completely normal. Apple can’t be producing 95% defective phones. Had it been a defect we would have seen it only in 5-10% of the phones.
This is nonsense, I’ve pored over my sierra blue 13 pro and it absolutely does not have this or anything like it. It may or may not be a cosmetic (not functional) issue and it may or may not be acceptable to you, but it is absolutely not normal or present on every phone.
 
  • Like
Reactions: smoking monkey
This is nonsense, I’ve pored over my sierra blue 13 pro and it absolutely does not have this or anything like it. It may or may not be a cosmetic (not functional) issue and it may or may not be acceptable to you, but it is absolutely not normal or present on every phone.
You guys got too serious 😂. What I meant was that every phone has gaps along the sides(even Samsungs and google pixels). Some are visible to the naked eye while for some you have to slide in a thin piece of paper to find them. I talked to two engineering teams at Apple, they both said that smaller gaps are part of the design and within the manufacturing tolerances while the gaps where the internal components are visible are considered defective. Every phone since the iPhone 6s has had one. These gaps can be found all along the chassis. Some are near the earpiece while some near the charging port.
 
Just because it’s widespread- doesn’t really prove anything.

I actually spoke to one of the lead apple Genius Bar managers at an NY store, and he agreed it doesn’t seem normal and said he raised it to the engineer group. He then called me back and said the engineer team is aware of the issue, and are still reviewing if they deem it to be a legit issue or just part of the production/tolerance of this year’s line. So if the actual engineers for apple aren’t sure, you certainly shouldn’t be either.

They also checked one of the “replacement” units they have for service issues(which he said are all brand new right now since there is no refurbs), and that one also had the issue so there was no point in me swapping it. Next step is they are going to try to hold a new one for me when inventory comes in to see if that batch also has it. At some point I’ll just accept it as almost every iPhone I’ve had has had SOME kind of small cosmetic issue out of the box it seems, but as some mentioned it’s a bit annoying as any time the the lighting is right it catches your eye as the piece you can see is metal. I’d happily take a scratch on the frame or something over that.
Pleased keep us updated on what Apple is saying. As long as it is just cosmetic, I can live with it. And you're right: Every - and I mean every - iPhone I had, had one or two cosmetic issues.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.