Gold Version of iPhone 12 Pro Apparently Has a More Fingerprint Resistant Stainless Steel Frame - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Gold Version of iPhone 12 Pro Apparently Has a More Fingerprint Resistant Stainless Steel Frame

iPhone 12 Pro reviews hit the web today, and one of the more interesting tidbits came from TechCrunch's Matthew Panzarino, who revealed that the Gold version of the device apparently has a more fingerprint resistant coating applied to the stainless steel frame.

iphone 12 pro gold
From his review:

Most of the iPhone 12 Pro finishes still use a physical vapor deposition process for edge coating. But the new gold (which I do not have in person but looks great) uses a special high-power, impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) process that lays down the coating in a super dense pattern, allowing it to be tough and super bright with a molecular structure that mimics the stainless steel underneath — making it more durable than "standard" PVD. One side effect is that it's easier to wipe clean and takes on less fingerprints, something that my blue model was, uh, definitely prone to.

Panzarino said the new coating is also "more durable" than the one applied to other iPhone 12 Pro finishes, suggesting that the Gold version of the device could be at least slightly less susceptible to scratches, nicks, or other wear and tear.

While this information presumably comes from Apple, it appears that all reviewers were provided with the Pacific Blue version of the iPhone 12 Pro, so we'll have to wait and see exactly how much more durable and fingerprint resistant the Gold version proves to be. The device will begin arriving to customers starting this Friday.

We've rounded up iPhone 12 reviews, iPhone 12 Pro reviews, and unboxing videos of both devices ahead of Friday's launch.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

Four iPhone 18 Pro Colors Mock Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Tuesday May 26, 2026 6:32 am PDT by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not launching until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. It was initially reported that the iPhone 18 Pro models would have fully under-screen Face ID, with only a front camera visible in the top-left corner of the screen. However, the latest rumors indicate that only one Face ID component will be moved under the...
iphone 17 pro black feature

iPhone 18 Pro's Camera Upgrade Will Cost Apple 50% More

Friday May 29, 2026 3:44 am PDT by
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max's all-new variable aperture lens will cost Apple 50% more than the camera unit used in current models, according to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Variable aperture has been one of the most persistent iPhone camera rumors of the past few years. Kuo first flagged the feature in late 2024, and it has since been corroborated by multiple reports and...
Rivian Explains Why CarPlay Debate Will Become Completely Obsolete Feature

Rivian Explains Why CarPlay Debate Will Become 'Completely Obsolete'

Thursday May 28, 2026 9:48 am PDT by
On the latest episode of The Verge's Decoder podcast, Rivian's software chief Wassym Bensaid explained why the EV maker still refuses to offer Apple CarPlay. In short, Bensaid said Rivian does not want CarPlay to fully take over the software experience. "The challenge with screen mirroring solutions is that they take over every single pixel in the car," he said. Instead, Rivian prefers ...

Top Rated Comments

Apple Knowledge Navigator Avatar
73 months ago
It's quite astonishing, really. We now live in an age were we have a supercomputer in our pocket and worry about the amount of fingerprints on part of its case.
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
thejadedmonkey Avatar
73 months ago
So what I'm hearing is that Apple cheaped out on providing proper protective coatings for the majority of these phones?
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mazz0 Avatar
73 months ago

I use a case. who cares
Other people?
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nameste Avatar
73 months ago
gold looks #1
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NewYorkRanger Avatar
73 months ago
This is only a “problem” for people who go caseless. Non-issue for the vast majority who use a case.

I would mention gold is great, I love the gold edges but the back is basically cream, not sure why they didn’t choose a different darker tone.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
pioneer9k Avatar
73 months ago
I just went silver so I can always polish the “chrome” anyways. Plus I use a case lol
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)