iPhone 15 Pro Sharp edge between glass and titanium frame

[Dave1954]

Yeah and If you go 2 years you can pocket the money from the sale.

TL;DR - you both made valid points. However I do prefer the simplicity and predictability of IUP. Selling/trading in all the time is less predictable. It also means money in and money out all the time vs simple monthly payments. And dealing with selling to strangers and the complexity of that (I’ve done eBay before). Also it means I have to take care of my phones to a very high priority vs (honestly) me being pretty careless since I know IUP has got me covered. I enjoy that luxury.

Technically speaking, might be missing something, but how would you do that mid cycle with trade ins? The whole point of IUP for me is I like getting a new phone every year. I don’t want to wait 2 years, or else I wouldn’t be on IUP. I would be paying upfront and then be getting money back.

The IUP program doesn’t require this sort of upfront payment for the first gen ordered. It’s a simple month to month thing. So as I said, it might make sense in the long term (not sure about the math) but for sure isn’t as easily accessible to begin with and has a lot more caveats.

Also, IUP is a sure thing. Trade in values can fluctuate with the years. Happy to hear your thoughts regarding these points

P.S. @Bstephens, thanks for your advice regardless, I’m sorry for any lack of patience on my part before.

 

[absolutkev]

I looked at about 30 devices at the Apple Store today. Pro and Pro Max. About two of them had smooth transitions as they should be. All the others had the sharp edges. Sometimes more, sometimes less. My device has them as well but acceptable. What to do. If I now exchange the iPhone at Apple, there is a risk that the exchange device will have sharper edges.


The transition from the display to the edges can also be felt. Maybe it's normal because it's built differently than the fully recessed glass on the 14 Pro Max.

Of course, it is extremely difficult to place the glass on the back so precisely on all four sides that it is flush with the titanium frame. That's why one side is sometimes better, sometimes worse. But does that ultimately fall under manufacturing tolerance? It's a roulette to get one that fits within micromillimeters. To despair … 🥺

 

[vroom2]

I looked at about 30 devices at the Apple Store today. Pro and Pro Max. About two of them had smooth transitions as they should be. All the others had the sharp edges. Sometimes more, sometimes less. My device has them as well but acceptable. What to do. If I now exchange the iPhone at Apple, there is a risk that the exchange device will have sharper edges.


The transition from the display to the edges can also be felt. Maybe it's normal because it's built differently than the fully recessed glass on the 14 Pro Max.

Of course, it is extremely difficult to place the glass on the back so precisely on all four sides that it is flush with the titanium frame. That's why one side is sometimes better, sometimes worse. But does that ultimately fall under manufacturing tolerance? It's a roulette to get one that fits within micromillimeters. To despair … 🥺

If "acceptable" means doesn't bother you while using ( I assume so) keep it!

 

[Dave1954]

If "acceptable" means doesn't bother you while using ( I assume so) keep it!

Yeah it doesn’t practically bother me, I just typed a long response and didn’t think about it at all. The moment I read your comment I became aware of it and then I cared again. It’s one of those things that for me is forgettable after a few days.

If it was super rare I’d care to go through the effort, but since many phones have this issue it can just be a huge waste of time, with iCloud restores and IUP issues etc which will just create more pain and also E-waste.

 

[timshundo]

My pro max does not have this issue. That sounds like it def warrants a replacement.

One of my pro phones in the past, i think it was the 12, used to rip my hairs out when i put the phone up to my ear. They'd get caught in a microscopic gap in between the frame and the screen, and it was just my phone specifically. They def don't always get the fitting right.

 

[vroom2]

My pro max does not have this issue. That sounds like it def warrants a replacement.

One of my pro phones in the past, i think it was the 12, used to rip my hairs out when i put the phone up to my ear. They'd get caught in a microscopic gap in between the frame and the screen, and it was just my phone specifically. They def don't always get the fitting right.

omg forgot about this, all the iPhone 6 style designs especially did this, it was a big issue for some.

 

[vroom2]

Yeah it doesn’t practically bother me, I just typed a long response and didn’t think about it at all. The moment I read your comment I became aware of it and then I cared again. It’s one of those things that for me is forgettable after a few days.

If it was super rare I’d care to go through the effort, but since many phones have this issue it can just be a huge waste of time, with iCloud restores and IUP issues etc which will just create more pain and also E-waste.

Based on your in store testing, consider yourself lucky, I would even go as far as to say it sounds like you got a good one.

 

[Dave1954]

Based on your in store testing, consider yourself lucky, I would even go as far as to say it sounds like you got a good one.

it’s enough within the norm for me to understand that it’s not worth dealing with. I’m still definitely disappointed at the quality control. 12-13-14 pros were perfect, it was like a high quality watch!

omg forgot about this, all the iPhone 6 style designs especially did this, it was a big issue for some.

Damn - yes definitely!!! It hurt like hell, I had non stop issues like that. Puts this into perspective. My iPhone 6 would rip out my facial hair all the time.

 

[drew0020]

It’s normal. These things are mass produced in 3rd world countries (this is not high end jewelry, nor a high end watch and they are relatively cheap around $1K). Not sure what people expect, but good luck once you start playing the exchange lottery. You fix one problem and create another.

 

[itsboi]

Mines not perfect, don’t think every iPhone is. I’ve noticed my bottom right is a tiny bit more seamless than the left. The micro-analyzing that happens every year and then everyone forgets the week after. Unless it’s like a burnt or dead pixel on a screen you look at daily, it’s nothing to go through the exchange for when it seems like a normal thing.

 

[Surfsalot]

It’s normal. These things are mass produced in 3rd world countries (this is not high end jewelry, nor a high end watch and they are relatively cheap around $1K). Not sure what people expect, but good luck once you start playing the exchange lottery. You fix one problem and create another.

lol try over $2K here. AU. you work at apple?

 

[drew0020]

lol try over $2K here. AU. you work at apple?

Nope, but I have $20K Rolexes that aren’t perfect. Like I said these are mass produced in 3rd world countries. Can’t expect much more than what we get even if its a lot of money for the person buying it. At the end of the day its still pretty cheap at under $1.5K

 

[Beetsalad]

Picked up Natural 15 Pro today, had this issue right out of the box both with back and front margins. Not too bad but quite noticeable in comparison to my spouse's Blue 15P. Tried to negotiate an exchange on the spot with the Apple staff overseeing my trade-in but they brushed it off as not a defect.

I checked multiple display units and about 50-60% of them had similar issues of varying severity, some were even sharper and some completely smooth. Seems like a gamble.
Decided to not bother exchanging mine as it's not taking skin off the fingers (yet?) like it did for somebody else but definitely a disappointment, even if minor, for a 1K+ device.

 

[Surfsalot]

Decided to not bother exchanging mine as it's not taking skin off the fingers (yet?) like it did for somebody else

where did you see that?

 

[Beetsalad]

where did you see that?

Someone mentioned they experienced papercut-like effect earlier in the thread.

 

[Nik]

A friend of mine and I just got our iPhone 15 Pro Max, and both of us noticed the glass is slightly down below the edge of the titanium band. And it creates this cheese grater like effect when your fingers rub over the glass out past the band that it cuts at your fingers like a cheese grater.

It's really rather unpleasant and actually giving me these little paper cut like scuffs when I dont pay attention to it.

Is anyone else experiencing this?

The top glass, for both of us, is fine an smoothly transitions to the band. But the back is like a mini cheese grater, and really not usable. Curious if it's just us that got a bum build or is this a design "feature" of the new phones?

Updated with Photo: Tried to get a shot of how the glass is inset/counter-sunk a little. Tough to get an angle that really shows it, but your fingers definitely feel it.

View attachment 2276226

Good recipe for class action I assume.

 

[vroom2]

Nope, but I have $20K Rolexes that aren’t perfect. Like I said these are mass produced in 3rd world countries. Can’t expect much more than what we get even if its a lot of money for the person buying it. At the end of the day its still pretty cheap at under $1.5K

I don’t think the point of this thread is looking for perfection (I realize that’s common with Apple on these forums though) this is about (for me anyways) it being comfortable in the hand while using, I think that’s fair, regardless of price etc.

 

[Fat_Guy]

I felt up a bunch of phones today and it is real. It “could” also be the reason why some back glass is easier to shatter. Someone messed up with the back glass tolerances.

 

[Cryates]

It’s normal. These things are mass produced in 3rd world countries (this is not high end jewelry, nor a high end watch and they are relatively cheap around $1K). Not sure what people expect, but good luck once you start playing the exchange lottery. You fix one problem and create another.

Ah yes, China: third world country.

 

[shadow82x]

Mine is definitely not sharp and edges are mostly flush. I can feel the separation in materials but that's about it.

Blue/256/15PM

Ironically, I did have a similar issue to OP my 13PM but I exchanged it and the new device was fine.

 

[Harmonious Zen]

Mines not perfect, don’t think every iPhone is. I’ve noticed my bottom right is a tiny bit more seamless than the left. The micro-analyzing that happens every year and then everyone forgets the week after. Unless it’s like a burnt or dead pixel on a screen you look at daily, it’s nothing to go through the exchange for when it seems like a normal thing.

Exactly. You'll drive yourself insane with this level of OCD.

 

[NdTonks]

Blue 15 PM 512. Absolutely smooth and comfortable for me.

 

[ChoiMinji]

.

 

[vseera]

I have this, although it’s not sharp or anything. Just annoying. And also on the power button side at the back.

I’ve touched the edges of the whole back in different ways and sometimes I feel it more, sometimes less. But it does feel a bit weird when I pick up the phone.

Went to the Apple Store today and felt up a bunch of phones lol. I’d say 90% had this “issue” in varying degrees. Quite surprising really. Some felt worse than mine, most were okay, noticeable but not problematic. However, I did find 1-2 which were perfect and soft so this is definitely not normal.

However, after touching a bunch of them, I’ve realised it’s not really such an issue and my phone is great otherwise so I’ll just live with it as it’s quite a hassle to do the exchange, specially right now.

 

[itsboi]

It seems to be the same case for the titanium Watch Ultra and intentionally designed that way. Someone mentioned it's meant to keep the glass from breaking when absorbing impact from a drop or due to the thermal expansions (extreme hot/cold) of the metal frame, components, etc. It's normal on maybe all phones to a certain degree, some more noticeable than others and those who don't notice aren't as OCD as Apple enthusiasts on MR/Reddit. The tolerance is as tight as it can be.