iPhone 7 Plus Matte Black Paint Chipped

I have chips forming on the left side (side with the volume buttons) Iphone 6, 256GB . The bottom one is just below the antenna separation line, and the top one is just before the curvature to the top edge. Is less than 2 months old. I don't use a case, but I have a screen protector (tempered glass) on the front, and a mylar type on the back. I am very careful with handling of it. It is either in my hand, shirt pocket (no the shirt material is not rough nor do I move much when it is there...if I am moving, it's in my hand). I have a soft leather anti-slip pad in the car so and secure spot where even if I had to brake hard, it's not going to bang against anything. Beyond that, it's on a desk or nightstand charging. The only way to handle it more safely is to simply not use it.

I don't use bumpers or cases because I simply do not drop or bang it against things and my experience with cases in the past is that dirt gets in them and creates micro scratches and pitting. So I just don't drop it.

The fact the paint is coming off, is very disturbing. I work in automotive and we anodize and powder coat all the time. It would be completely unacceptable and a definite warranty issue when there is paint peal. Cosmetic damage is not covered under warranty in the automotive industry either, but there is a difference between cosmetic damage and manufacturing defect with paint adhesion.

I will be taking my phone to the Apple store as soon as I get a chance. Hopefully they will not give the cosmetic excuse and require me to take it to the lab and prove that this is an adhesion problem...because then they will have a much bigger issue to deal with. Claiming an adhesion problem is cosmetic wear is as insulting and ridiculous as it would have been if Samsung claimed their battery issue was due to a thermal exposure not covered under warranty. The paint is part of the product and should not fall off over normal use any more than the screen should pop off or screws fall out. This is a product quality problem.

Exactly that is a manufacturing issue... I hope Apple will clarify what happened to some lots.

I also hope that the ones in this thread who really had the chipping problem, to find a solution. I am constantly checking my phone so if I see something I would do the exact same thing you are doing right now...

exactly what I told them in response was. "I don't care what your warranty covers or not, it is absolutely uninteresting." It is a manufacturing issue, otherwise it is not explainable that others use phones without bumper and have no "paint" chipping off. Then I went on and asked whether they would be fine with ****** up paint on their newly bought AUDI. Yes the car would be fully functional but warranty or no warranty, a car manufacturer wouldn't get away with that.

So why am I paying more to get less? Even the customer support starts sucking. This is exactly the arrogance that let apple going down the drain before. We the apple users did so much to convince people of the superiority of Apple products and now they let everyone down again. I really loved what they did and now I am selling all the stuff that I purchased the last 13 years.

Hi All,

Yesterday Apple replaced my "chipped" iPhone with no cost.

Bravo for customer service, and as should be expected from Apple... (in fact this should be expected from any company... in a perfect world).

It was not covered by warranty, and the IT told me it was the first one he had seen (and this Apple Store is always incredibly crowded). He knew (by media) some iPhones had this issue, but told me he had no idea if Apple was looking for it. He needed to talk with his supervisor prior to replacement, and my feeling is they approved the replacement as a "commercial gesture". My impression is that it seems there are very few cases, and they will check one by one as they appear.

First I should recommend chat with Apple Customer Service (web) and send them some pictures... and with them programa a visit to Apple Store.

My problem is solved... and I hope this thread and my case helps someone else.

You've always paid much more for less with Apple products. Just look at all the adapters you need for their products. Look at the prices you put for entry-level specs and hardware just cause it looks nice. They've always been about form over function and since the original iPhone, have done nothing innovative in the market and their device feature sets pale in comparison to their competition. Even the iPad pro which is billed as "super" and "computer" is neither, is designed for an accessory that needs to be charged, and isn't included. While Samsung's note tablets for example have had that same feature and more for years, and it actually comes with the device and can be replaced inexpensively if lost or damaged. If that's not just one example of paying more for less I don't know what is. I'm not even an Apple user myself, just peruse the forums because I find the entitlement of Apple's millions of customers amazing. You've all bought into this illusion of quality and think you're owed something when your devices don't last like you think they should, regardless of how you treat them.

Well, when the class action suit happens, Apple Shareholder Equity will reduce to pay the attorney's and the class will end up with a bottle of touch up paint.

Simple metallurgy tests will easily prove damage by use or Apple's inability to anodize aluminum properly. I have $20 anodized patio furniture that takes far more 'normal wear' abuse that holds up better than the $900 phone that now looks like crap.

As more complaints come in and word gets out that Apple quality died with Steve and marketshare continues to erode, they'll wake up before the die like they almost did before....this is classic memories of System 8 and 9 and the crap they were building then....There won't be another NeXT rescue.

Sad when a company doesn't learn from their own history.

I own a iphone 7 matte black and this happened to me. The paint is chipping off at my speaker grille. Initially, i thought i have scratched it but it seems that this problem is encountered by many others. How are we going to resolve this?

I think the best is to immediately complain to Apple.

A good way is to use the Chat Support and send them a picture of the issue. This was also the way i got mine replaced. The Chat Support said that they will propose to the Apple Store that i visit to replace the device but they can't make any promise. When i went to the Store then i got immediately a replacement.

The bad think is, i have the replacement phone now since a month or so and its already chipping again at the SIM card tray. To bad...

What Sat99 says is the best option right now... and exactly how I got mine replaced. Start with chat support (and "tick" option to save the chat so you can show to the Apple Store). Ask in the Chat for and appointment in the Store and ask there for a replacement. Hope this helps!

SebRem, I hope too it opens some door... but at least the "informed customer" have a way to have reparations... if they study it an find some lots have this issue (as it seems to me at least) they should call them for reparation. Now they have mina at least for study 😉

The same happened with my phone within the first one month. Their customer service wasn't really helpful and informed me that cosmetic damage wasn't covered in the warranty.

I used the phone with a spigen case from the very first day and yet the color came off.

Update: Apple answered. They say it's cosmetic damage and thus I won't get any free replacement.

I must say I'm pretty disappointed. It's the 5th iPhone I bought over the last 10 years. Now I know that it will be the last one. I still like the Apple's UI and software but I won't pay that much money again for a product of such bad quality 😕

I am also having this issue. Paint scratch, and also many many small blotches that won't get cleaned.

It's ridiculous to have to pay this much for a phone, protect it with covers, and then still end up with a cosmetically degraded phone.

Apple? Any comments? Are you going to do anything?

HI! I have an iPhone7 Matte Black and the paint is going off just like when I had an iPhone5....... I was reluctant to buy this finish as this brought my bad memories about the iPhone5.... but I thought Apple learned the lesson. But it seems that not at all! My iPhone7 is loosing its paint.... and it's only 5 months old!!!! And I'm very very careful with it..... in extreme.... Way too much disappointed......

I am very disappointed by this. For the iPhone, I gave all the money I am saving so long (28390czk = 1113usd) and the phone begins its color t! This is a huge problem! and the need to do something! I love Apple, but can not give us less quality than it should. I am sad and disappointed! Perhaps Apple will solve this!

I was using my phone for about 40 days when I noticed this and went to one of their stores in Mumbai. They couldnt care less. I contacted them and sent them regular mails . I even had 3 "seniors" at apple call me when i told them that i will be sharing this on all social media platforms. They still had the same reply that its cosmetic damage. I recently went to another apple store for a different issue and asked whether they had similar cases of paint coming off. They said they had no cases

So i dont think they are going to replace the devices.