iPhone 18 Pro finish worn glossy by Apple Wrist Strap

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Level 1

4 points

iPhone 18 Pro finish worn glossy by Apple Wrist Strap

I'm using an iPhone 18 Pro with Apple's TechWoven Case with MagSafe and Apple's Wrist Strap. I attached the strap as described in Apple's support article: the cord loop goes from the outside through one of the small openings at the bottom corner of the case, then back out through the second opening.

This means a short piece of the cord sits between the inside of the case and the phone. After about 1–2 weeks of normal use, I found two shiny spots on the bottom edge of the frame, right where the cord touches the phone. The matte finish there has been polished glossy. It's not residue: the spots are still there after wiping with an alcohol wipe.

Both the case and the strap are Apple accessories, attached the way Apple instructs, so I didn't expect them to wear down the phone's finish.

- Has anyone else seen this with the Wrist Strap or the Crossbody Strap?

- Has Apple acknowledged this or offered a fix?

- Any tips to stop it from getting worse, like putting a protective film at the contact point?

iPhone 18 Pro, iOS 27

Posted on Oct 6, 2026 4:09 PM

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Answer 1

LotusPilot

Level 10

329,872 points

Oct 6, 2026 5:00 PM in response to pu169

Matt finishes are notoriously difficult to maintain unless all possible sources of friction/abrasion can be eliminated. Clearly using a fitted case to protect the finish of your iPhone will help, but should anything that can move (such as a strap) be in local contact with the finish, this can alter the appearance. Even the process of installing the iPhone in a tight fitting case can cause localised polishing of the matt finish.

Minor cosmetic changes to the iPhone's finish is generally not considered by Apple to be a warranty defect. Any marks will not impact the performance of the iPhone.

While not dismissing your evident disappointment, perhaps consider that when in the case the slightly polished areas are not visible. Armed with your knowledge, you might consider placing a very thin buffer material inside the case at the rub-points prior to installing the iPhone.

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