Overview

• Bloomberg reports Apple instructed retail staff to clean demo phone backs using a solution mixed with a salt substance to lift transferred material.
• Shoppers have spotted silicone rings added to MagSafe display stands, including at Apple’s Ginza store, to reduce hard-edge contact with phones.
• Apple told 9to5Mac the visible imperfections are material transfer from worn stands rather than scratches, and the residue can be removed with cleaning.
• 9to5Mac’s author said a water-and-sea-salt mix cleared marks on an iPhone 17 Pro more effectively than water or isopropyl alcohol in an anecdotal test.
• Stores are updating display hardware and tightening maintenance routines to keep demo units presentable and prevent new blemishes.