As cool as Apple’s MagSafe system on the iPhone 12 is, it apparently also attracts more than magnets, as the combination of the speakers, optic images stabilizers in the cameras, and MagSafe itself, has been reported to attract assorted debris.
A Reddit post from an iPhone user in Tahoe showed an interesting image of an iPhone covered in ferrous debris arranged around the magnetic parts of the device. The post said “the sand in Tahoe is magnetic and stuck to my phone.”
Sand is composed of all kinds of particulate rock that has been pulverized by the elements over time. In the case of the sand around Tahoe, which consists of several types of iron oxides, pyrite, and magnetite, all of these elements are attracted to the magnets on the back of a MagSafe-compatible iPhone. Even the dust of a ferrous metal in sand or shavings from a workshop can cling to the phone.
Albeit a spiffy discovery, the sand itself can enter the small openings in the iPhone 12.
Regular sand will damage the glass on the rear of the iPhone, scratch the display on the front, and potentially even damage the camera lenses depending on the sand’s makeup. While the ferrous metal in question isn’t as hard as the screen, and probably won’t scratch the glass, if it gets into the device it can wreak havoc on the electronics, since ferrous materials also are electrical conductors.
If at all possible, try to keep your iPhone 12 away from any sand, whether it be on the beach or in the desert. If you’re in an industrial area, or around a beach or visiting a hazardous area with ferrous dust, try to keep the iPhone in a sealed case, or in a sealed bag.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via AppleInsider and Reddit