Does the paint come off after just two rubs? Apple customer service responds: high-concentration alcohol may cause this.

On November 18th, the topic "iPhone 17 Pro Max's color rubbed off by wet wipes" trended on social media, sparking intense discussions among netizens.

Apple's customer service in mainland China later responded to the related concerns.

According to Qianjiang Video, a staff member stated that "wiping with ordinary wet wipes will not affect the color of the phone body, but wet wipes containing high - concentration alcohol or corrosive liquids may cause the paint to peel off."

The staff member said that Apple currently has no operational reminders for customers in this regard. The staff member also added that "using normal tap water will definitely not have any impact."

It is understood that high - concentration alcohol usually refers to solutions with an alcohol content of ≥60%. Commonly, the concentration of medical alcohol is 75%, and that of industrial alcohol is as high as 95%. All three fall into the category of high - concentration alcohol.

This type of high - concentration alcohol has strong volatility and corrosiveness. When in long - term or direct contact with the coating of electronic products, it may damage the surface protective layer, leading to problems such as color fading and paint peeling.

Notably, the iPhone cleaning guide on Apple's official website in China states that users can gently wipe the exterior of the iPhone with 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes, 75% ethanol wipes, or Clorox disinfectant wipes. However, products containing bleach or hydrogen peroxide are prohibited, and users should avoid getting the device openings wet and not immerse the device in any cleaning agents.

It is reported that this controversy originated from a post by a user on an overseas platform.

The user posted that after wiping their Starry Orange iPhone 17 Pro Max with a wet wipe, a large area of the coating on the lens edge and the frame peeled off, revealing the silver aluminum alloy substrate.

Regarding the cause of the color fading, many netizens believe it was due to "improper cleaning," such as using bleach or hydrogen peroxide, which led to the color loss.

Regarding the cause of the coating problem, some analyses suggest that it may be related to the aluminum alloy material and the anodizing process used in the iPhone 17 Pro series. Aluminum alloy has weaker corrosion resistance than the previous titanium alloy. If the anodized protective layer is not properly sealed, oxidation or insufficient coating adhesion may occur.

This is not the first time this model has been involved in coating - related controversies.

Shortly after the first batch of models were released in October, some users reported color - fading issues with the Starry Orange color.

The originally bright orange gradually turned into a color similar to rose gold, with the area around the camera being the worst - affected. Some dark - blue models were also reported to have turned yellowish or whitish.

Currently, Apple has not issued an official statement. Only through customer service responses has it initially defined the impact of some cleaning methods. Another source said that Apple has retrieved some models with color - fading problems for evaluation and plans to improve the relevant processes next year.

This article is from the WeChat official account "Bianews" (ID: bianews8). Author: A Apple. It is published by 36Kr with authorization.