Wired.com Reader’s Leather Case Caused Discoloration on His iPhone

It’s appearing more likely that discoloration of some white iPhone 3GS units is due to contact with certain third-party cases rather than overheating. Wired.com reader Charles Sola sent a photo of his discolored iPhone (right) and concluded that the cause was a leather case (below, right) he bought off eBay.

“This is a very important information because in almost all other forums I’ve searched people think the discoloration comes from inside,” Sola wrote in an e-mail. “And this is not true. It’s superficial, caused by contact between iPhone and the case.”

What kind of case? A black Tonino Lamborghini; Sola provided a link to his eBay auction. He reported that he was able to wipe the discoloration off with alcohol.

The theory, then, is that the materials of some iPhone cases are rubbing off on the iPhone. This is plausible, as Sola points out that different pictures documenting iPhone discoloration reveal that the markings are appearing in varying positions — probably because there are different cases causing the same problem. So much for the overheating theory.

Tonino Lamborghini was not immediately available for comment. We’ll continue looking into which cases might be causing discoloration, and we’ll keep you posted.

See Also:

• IPhone 3GS Handsets Overheat, Turn Brown
• Battery Issues Likely Cause of iPhone 3GS Overheating
• Battery Tests Confirm iPhone 3GS Improvements, But Complaints …

Photos courtesy of Charles Sola

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