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Are you experiencing discoloration of your newly bought iPhone and wondering what is causing the issue? Do you find it strange that your iPhone’s stainless steel frame’s color is fading even when it’s been just a few months since you purchased it?
If yes, you are not alone. Thousands of iPhone users have recently reported the discoloration issue with their device, and numerous reasons for this stated by users are prevailing all over the web.
The iPhone stainless steel discoloration can happen because your device gets heated up too often. Usually, the discoloration occurs around the edges of the iPhone from where you generally hold the phone.
Discoloration can also happen because of the iPhone’s overexposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays. Some of the fixes you can try to fix your iPhone discoloration include the use of polishing cream, changing the phone’s body, or consulting Apple’s official store for repair.
We have put together a guide for you explaining the reasons for the iPhone stainless steel discoloration issue, along with some simple fixes to help you get out of this problem.
Reasons for the iPhone Stainless Steel Discoloration Issue
Fortunately, not many cases of the iPhone discoloration issue have been reported yet, which is why it’s hard to find the correct reason for this problem. But we were determined to provide accurate information, so we contacted multiple users facing the discoloration issue lately.
Through all the data we have gathered, here are some reasons we managed to figure out.
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Overexposure to UV Rays
Who isn’t aware of the harmful effects of UV rays from the sun? They aren’t just damaging to your skin but can equally harm the objects around you. iPhones are made of stainless steel, which can get damaged if your phone is exposed to the sun for a long time.
The good news is that the damaging effect of UV rays isn’t too devastating for stainless steel objects, but the color coating on the iPhones isn’t too robust. This is why, if your iPhone is overexposed to the UV rays for an extended time, it could peel off its coating, eventually resulting in discoloration of your device.
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Heating Up of iPhone
While buying an iPhone, you receive a set of instructions from the people at the store and in the manual guide provided with your device. One prominent guideline you are asked to follow is not to overcharge your iPhone.
It’s because overcharging the device gives rise to many problems, and discoloration is one of them. If you have forgotten to take your iPhone off of charging, your device gets all heated up, which could peel off the iPhone’s upper coating, causing discoloration.
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Using Disinfectants & Cleaning Sprays
If you have a habit of keeping your devices clean and tidy up all the time, which is why you can’t help but use disinfectants and cleaning sprays every time you see fingerprints on your phone’s screen, you are likely to experience the discoloration problem.
These disinfectants and cleaning sprays are usually equipped with a lot of chemicals that can easily damage the upper coating of your iOS device resulting in the discoloration of your iPhone.
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Coating Getting Peeled Off Over Time
Another reason for the discoloration of your iPhone’s stainless steel frame is its regular wear and tear. Though this isn’t common among the masses, as there have rarely been any cases reported where users have experienced the discoloration issue while using the phone regularly, it’s still better to be extra cautious while using your iPhone.
Over time, your iPhone’s upper coating could start peeling off, eventually causing its discoloration.
Fixing iPhone Stainless Steel Discoloration Issue
If this is your first time facing the discoloration problem with your iPhone you have spent your hard-earned money on and you can’t figure out how to get yourself out of this problem, our 4 simple solutions will help you do this without much hassle.
Method #1: Use iPhone Case
As stated earlier, one of the main reasons for you to face the discoloration issue is the overexposure of your device to the sun. If your work needs you to be out in the sun for most of the day, you can’t protect your device from the UV rays coming from the sun.
But one thing that you can do to keep your iPhone protected in this case is to use phone cases. Fortunately, you can find numerous cases in the market, including some that can protect your iOS device from all sides.
Using these cases will protect your iPhone from damage or scratches and keep it away from harmful sun rays. So, if you don’t want to get your device to discolor anymore, start using iPhone cases.
Although it’s better to use cases right from the start to avoid discoloration of your device, even if you haven’t used one before, it’s not too late.
Another cause of discoloration you can eliminate through iPhone cases is the over usage of disinfectants and cleaning sprays. For best results, it’s better to use flip covers.
Method #2: Don’t Overcharge Your Phone
Overcharging your iPhone isn’t wise, even if you occasionally do that. It will give rise to many software and hardware issues that will be hard to eliminate later.
Discoloration of your iPhone is majorly caused by the heating up of the device, which can be avoided by plugging off the charger once your phone is completely charged.
Note: It’s recommended not to charge your iPhone above its battery health percentage. So, if you want maximum efficiency from your iPhone, charge it till or below its battery health percentage only.
Method #3: Use Polishing Cream
Another fix for the iPhone stainless steel discoloration issue is to use a polishing cream. You must have heard of the polishing creams in the market used for removing stains from stainless steel objects and vehicles like motorcycles, cars, etc.
Here is what you need to do to eliminate the discoloration of your iPhone’s stainless steel body using a polishing cream.
- Firstly, get a small tub of polishing cream from the market. (Ensure to buy one you trust the most).
- Use tissue paper to clean the surface of your iPhone, especially the edges and the speaker area where the discoloration generally happens.
- Once the targeted area is cleaned, apply the polishing cream to it using your fingers.
- You can also use a Q-tip to apply the polishing cream, but by using your fingers, you will be able to distribute the cream evenly across the phone’s surface.
- Once you have evenly distributed the cream on your iPhone’s discolored part, wait for around 3 to 4 hours to see the magic happen.
- After a few hours, remove any leftover cream from your iPhone’s surface to find its surface all tidied up.
Method #4: Contact Apple Support
If none of the above-mentioned methods has worked for you, you can contact Apple Support on their official website and report the problem.
Here is what you need to do for this:
- Go to Apple’s official contact us page.
- Select “iPhone” from the devices section.
- You will find two options on the screen: “Contact Carrier” and “Bring in for Repair.”
- If you don’t want to visit an Apple store, select “Contact Carrier” to enquire about your problem.
Note: One thing you need to be mindful of here is that Apple doesn’t cover the discoloration issue under the official warranty they provide for iOS devices. But there is nothing wrong with trying your luck with the store once.
Conclusion – iPhone Stainless Steel Discoloration Issue
This guide has incorporated all the possible reasons for the iPhone stainless steel discoloration issue. We have also covered some solutions that have worked for multiple users facing the same problem across the globe.
Hopefully, one of these fixes will work for you, too, and if it does, don’t forget to share your experience with us in the comments section. Till then, stop worrying about the discoloration of your iPhone and enjoy your experience with the device.
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