Reset it and remove iCloud lock, then return it while it’s still under warranty.
Larkin said:
Reset it and remove iCloud lock, then return it while it’s still under warranty.
Thanks for your reply! The thing is, there is no official Apple Store in my country, so I don’t have that option. The store where I bought it told me that I should have inspected the phone at the time of purchase. Kinda sad.
@Bright
Hi there! Sorry to hear about the issue you’re facing with your iPhone 16 Pro Max. I’ve worked at Apple before and let me clarify something for you: the store where you bought the phone is obligated to assist you with warranty-related issues as long as they are an authorized Apple reseller. Are they an authorized Apple reseller? Apple’s agreements with resellers require them to handle warranty claims, even if there are no official Apple Stores in your country.
The dust inside your camera lens should be covered under warranty, as it’s not a result of misuse or damage on your part. If the store keeps refusing, you might need to escalate the situation.
Send them an email explaining your situation and insist that this is a warranty issue, not a repair request. Ask for a clear explanation of why they are not honoring your claim. Mention that as an authorized Apple reseller, they are required to handle warranty claims. State that failure to do so may violate Apple’s policies for authorized resellers.
Even if there’s no official Apple Store, you can contact Apple Support online or by phone. They might provide direct assistance or intervene with the reseller on your behalf.
And also… The claim that you “should have inspected the phone for cosmetic defects before purchase” is absurd. How the f… were you supposed to inspect a sealed phone in a box without breaking the seal first?
@Torrance
Guarantee you a store that says “should’ve inspected the phone before purchase” would also claim they can’t do anything because the seal was broken and how do they know it was user error that caused the damage.
@Bright
Have you tried using the Apple customer support online? What do they suggest doing?
I got my iPhone 15 Pro replaced under warranty for the same thing.
Does it affect the pictures when using the lens? Since that’s the telephoto lens, try using the 5x zoom and see if there’s any dots in the pic. If there’s not, then it shouldn’t bother since it won’t affect your photos.
@Rex
Thanks for the answer! No, it absolutely doesn’t affect the photo quality at all. It’s just that I can be very particular about small details, and I don’t want to see any dust inside a new phone, especially when it’s brand new 
@Bright
If it doesn’t affect the photos, then I would just stop examining the lens. Why do you care about a speck of dust that doesn’t affect anything while your whole camera module is already covered with dust in that photo?
@Adler
Because the outside dust can be cleaned, and I’d rather my $1000 piece of “luxury” tech at the bare minimum come without literal unremovable dirt inside it.
As a paying customer, I’m allowed to care about the device I bought with my hard-earned money.
@Reagan
It could also mean the water-resistant seals have issues, which is not good.
There is only one way to solve your problem—go to the seller.
It’s the universe speaking to you.
That pale blue dot is us - Carl Sagan.
u/GrapeSlight3945 is spot on!