Some iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 models lose color due to aluminum body

Some iPhone 12 models have lost some color from their aluminum chassis, a new report from Svetapple.sk, which includes photos of a PRODUCT (RED) ‌iPhone 12‌ model that has been visibly washed out of color.

The side of the iPhone 12‌ near the power button has changed to an orange tint and there is a clear delineation where the red coloring has worn off.

Svetapple.sk says the iPhone was used in a clear case, so rubbing with one hand was not a factor, although it is not clear whether the case itself may have caused the issue.

There have been similar reports of discoloration from iPhone 11 and iPhone SE 2 users. MacRumors reader t101, for example, shared photos from an ‌iPhone 11‌ with dramatic color loss at the edges. This ‌iPhone‌ model was also in a clear case. While many reports have focused on red ‌iPhone‌ models, discoloration was seen less frequently on ‌iPhone 11‌ models in different colors.

A few MacRumors Readers speculated that the color fading is due to UV exposure activated by the clear case, but the problem would likely be more widespread if it was a UV exposure problem. There has also been speculation that the problem could be caused by a chemical reaction with a case, but there is no clear explanation.

There are a limited number of reports of color fading, but this is an issue that has seemed to persist for years as there are complaints about the iPhone XR as well. Aside from iPhone 12‌ photos shared by Svetapple.sk, we haven’t seen similar reports of color loss on other ‌iPhone 12‌ devices, and it could be a manufacturing defect that is not widespread.

Apple likely views the discoloration as a cosmetic issue, so it’s unclear whether devices that suffer from color loss will be replaced.