Overall, the iPhone is a solid, well-built device. But sometimes something goes wrong in the manufacturing process. Take the iPhone 15 Pro that belongs to Reddit user “mr_rakue.”
Photos of the device, shared on Reddit by the device's owner, show what appear to be frayed edges just below the right corner of the rear panel. The owner of the device uses a modular case but does not connect the use of the accessory with the deterioration of the phone.
On Reddit, “mr_rakue” writes: “I noticed that the edges of my
iPhone had some sort of adhesive peeling off along the edges of the back. Have any of you encountered this? I use a Rhinoshield Mod NX but I don't. I don't see how this can have any effect on the back. I'm actually surprised this type of adhesive even exists on the back. It feels like the whole back is a sticker that's about to peel off.
Another Redditor, “JDT33658”, noticed a similar problem with his
iPhone 15 Pro after two days. He took the device to Apple (presumably the nearest Apple Store) and was told that the adhesive used to hold the back glass down was not applied correctly. Apple said the phone started peeling because material was protruding from the edge of the device.
If this happens to your iPhone, resist the temptation to spot the fault or remove it. Additionally, until you are able to take the phone to an Apple Store or authorized repair center, be very careful when exposing the device to water, as the material that comes apart could be related to the phone's IP68 dust and water resistance.
Other suggestions mentioned by Redditors include the possibility that the phone is fake, or that the phone was already repaired and the new back glass panel was installed incorrectly (this was denied by the owner).
Another post came from a Reddit user named “TheManchot” whose iPhone 15 Pro the stock unit suffered from the same problem. He wrote: “If yours is the same as mine, don’t shoot it. This is the adhesive for the back glass (between the titanium frame and the glass) and it probably has an IP68 rating. I had an extremely small amount and used a very sharp tool. , thin razor blade and slide it along the back – be careful not to have the blade so vertical that it might scratch or gouge the frame, but cut the adhesive. It's a shame it left the factory.
This appears to be a manufacturing defect, but it will be up to Apple to make that decision. If you notice this happening on your iPhone, plan to visit the Apple Store or an authorized service center as soon as possible.
