Apple has completely redesigned the basic structure of the iPhone 15 Pro. Instead of stainless steel, the case is now made of a mixture of aluminum and titanium. This means that the smartphone should be lighter and still durable. However, according to initial user reports, the whole thing is associated with some initial difficulties.
On social media, early buyers of the iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max are reporting numerous problems with the premium smartphone. While the iPhone 15/15 Plus has practically no defects, the Pro has more and more complaints about the new titanium housing and inadequate quality control. TECHBOOK editor Adrian Mühlroth summarizes the reports and explains what those affected can do.
Delicate titanium case
The new housing of the iPhone 15 Pro was actually intended to eliminate one of the biggest problems of its predecessors: its high weight. Titanium is lighter than stainless steel and still very durable. However, the metal is expensive and difficult to process. The inner frame is therefore made of aluminum and only an outer border about one millimeter thick is made of titanium. Since the metal cannot be easily colored – a coat of color would quickly peel off – Apple relies on a process called physical vapor deposition. In physical vapor deposition – PVD for short – a material in the desired color is vaporized in a vacuum and then deposited on a surface.
The problem with PVD is that the surface material can temporarily discolor when touched by dirty or oily fingers. In fact, users on Reddit are reporting exactly this discoloration, which appears to occur primarily around the volume buttons, the power button and the action button.
Apple is aware of this behavior. In his Support Articles For proper cleaning, the company added a paragraph specifically for the iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max: “For iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, oil from your skin may temporarily change the color of the outer band. Wiping the iPhone with a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth will restore its original appearance.”
However, the coating not only seems to be prone to discoloration, but according to user reports, it also scratches very easily. Even a case from a low height should already leave scratches and dents. Even a protective cover could according to one user do not protect the housing from damage.
iPhone 15 Pro quality control issues?
It is relatively common for buyers to receive defective units on the first batch of a majorly redesigned product. However, with the iPhone 15 Pro, quality control does not seem to have identified blatant manufacturing problems.
Users on Reddit and Immediately after unpacking, some buyers noticed that their iPhone already had dents and scratches in the case. The display glass and the back of the glass are also said to have occasional scratches. There are also reports of dirt deposits under the camera lens.
There appear to be further problems with the color coating of the iPhone 15 Pro from the factory. A section about a centimeter wide between the SIM card slot and volume buttons has a different color than the rest of the frame. There are also isolated reports of display units that not aligned correctly with the frame and thereby leave gaps, as well as unclean transitions between the antenna bands in the outer band.
Overheating during normal use
In the iPhone 15 Pro, Apple is using a new chip that has the “Pro” suffix for the first time. The A17 Pro is said to be able to display triple-A console titles on the iPhone. “Assassin’s Creed Mirage”, “Death Stranding” and “Resident Evil Village” have already been announced exclusively for the iPhone 15 Pro.
But the chip seems to be causing problems for some users, causing the iPhone 15 Pro to overheat to more than 40 degrees. Even during normal use, the smartphone should become so hot that it can hardly be touched:
What affected users can do
It is not uncommon for buyers to discover a manufacturing defect immediately upon unpacking. In this case, the statutory warranty or the manufacturer’s guarantee applies. In the first six months after purchase, the manufacturer must prove that a defect did not already exist at the factory. To be on the safe side, buyers who order online should check the goods immediately upon receipt and make use of their 14-day right of withdrawal. It also doesn’t hurt to document the error directly with a photo or video.
If damage occurs at a later date, the situation becomes difficult. As a rule, these cases are considered to be your own fault and are therefore not covered by the statutory warranty. The only exception to this is additional guarantees such as AppleCare+, provided that damage such as scratches is explicitly covered. If in doubt, it’s best to contact Apple Support first.
Otherwise, those affected can only hope that there is actually a production error and that Apple admits it. At this point it is not yet clear how widespread the problem with the coating really is.
TECHBOOK has reached out to Apple for comment and clarification on what affected buyers can do.