“We just received (and verified headers of) an email exchange from a 9to5Mac reader to Senior Vice President of Marketing Phil Schiller, where the Apple executive gave his take on the small amount of scratches and chips that black iPhone 5 users have experienced,” Seth Weintraub reports for 9to5Mac.
“Our reader noted his black iPhone 5 saw some ‘scuffs, scratches and marks’ around the band, and he wondered if Apple had any plans to fix or address the issue,” Weintraub reports. “Schiller responded: ‘Any aluminum product may scratch or chip with use, exposing its natural silver color. That is normal.'”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Phil should have forgone “This is normal” and instead closed with “And water is wet.”
Soon some people will be so stupid they’ll require reminders to breathe. Idiocracy wasn’t just a movie, it was a window to the not-so-distant future:
This was one of the major reasons I opted for the white model. So far so good, no scratches. The silver band is silver, so I don’t think it will shown any paint rubbing off!
It isn’t paint. It’s anodised, an electrolytic coating, that’s harder than natural aluminium. The iP4/4s has a stainless steel frame, which is much harder, but heavier.
Me too! I specifically went with white so the aluminum wouldn’t show through worn or chipped anodizing.
I’ve dropped my 4S several times. Nary a scratch on my OtterBox!
Warning: If you drive a car, you may end up far from home!
+1mm
The white one is no longer “for women”. It is for non-gender-specific intelligent people… who understand that “paint” on aluminum… scratches… and eventually may simply wears off due to oils and such on peoples’ hands. I am surprised Apple did not attempt to use a “denim overlay”.
Typical anodizing can create colour depending on the depth of the oxidized layer of the aluminium.
However, black is not among the spectre of colours that could be arranged this way. So pigment has to be used — even though the process is still anodizing.
So yes, you can use word paint without inverted commas. (Though this word could be used only as noun, not a verb, since anodizing and painting processes are totally different.)
It shows less fingerprints too, doesn’t it?
Has anyone with a white iP5 notice scratches on the backplate or is this a more common issue with the black version?
Hey, I fired my iPhone 5 at 700 mph from an air cannon into the window of a 747.. you know, just for testing… and now it doesn’t work. Is Apple going to fix that?
Wish I’d seen that!
But I’ll bet that the iPhone 5 still works! 🙂
Oh, YOU’RE the reason I had to deplane? Thanks a lot!
I hope you turned it off first!.
I bought the white one because the USA Today review said the black one shows bright silver scuff marks on the antenna band after a while as the black coating chips off.
The white one isn’t coated, just plain silver, no scuffs. Very happy with it. I don’t think Apple should have coated the antenna band on the black iphone… silver would look good on that model too and silver doesn’t show scratches and doesn’t have a coating to chip off.
Leo Laporte is screwed. Good Apple.
There are two issues here. One is silver colored scratches on a black iPhone. That cannot be avoided. Black is not the natural color of aluminum; it has been coated with something to achieve that color, so if you scratch it, the silver color will show. There are some highly scratch resistant coatings like DLC but I doubt Apple would have used those (would have cost far too much).
The second issue is the some phones being scratched and scuffed out of the box. There is an easy remedy for that – return your phone and get another one. It might take some time for the replacement phone to arrive but I don’t think Apple will have any issues taking the phones back.
– HCE
I have a new car and it scratches.
I have a guitar and it scratches.
I have wood floor and it scratches.
I have a cat and it scratches.
I saw a monkey on youtube
and it scratched its butt and smelt it.
I think that was BLN
you mean you had a scratching post and it got scratched 😉
I have an itch that needs scratching.
It’s probably a tumor.
I said, it’s not a Tuna.
My Spigen SGP leather pouch has kept my 4s completely pristine for months, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.
Correct me if I’m wrong, aren’t the blemishes right out of the box brand new? If so I would be pissed also. I understand shit happens but after shelling out $199 I want a perfect phone. I would not expect a new car to have a scratch or ding either. Maybe I’m just fussy but that’s me. If it happened due to my own actions then so be it. Then it’s my fault and I live with it, but not out of the box.
A couple point on this worth mentioning.
1) I preordered an iPhone5 day one, and got it delivered bright and early on the 21st. I opted for the black one, because I love the anodized black finish. Yes, I know it scratches, and yes, I know it is my fault if and when it does. That being said, there seems to be an issue (at least in a limited case of 1) with either their manufacturing process or their packing process. When I took it out of the box, and took the plastic off the front and back, I noticed a small nick on the rear chamfer at the center top. It was not terribly noticeable other than the fact that whenever I saw it, I could replay Jon Ivy’s talking of the beauty of the diamond tooling process used to cut the case 🙂
2) I took it back to the Apple store, and talked to the manager about it. He immediately went to the back and got me a new one to replace the one that had the nick. It is what I have come to expect from Apple, and why I do business with them. In the end analysis, they are the classy company others wish they were. I don’t care that the case can scratch, or that the maps app is not a perfect solution yet for Google maps. Apple had me at ‘hello’!
A black Sharpie works great for black anodized products with nicks and scratches, make sure and clean with denatured alcohol first.
In my best Charlie Brown,
GOOD GRIEF!
This is real easy:
If your iPhone was scratched when you took it out of the box, take it back and you will get a replacement.
If you dropped your iPhone, threw it around the living room, or shot it into the window of a 747, the scratches are your fault. Shut up and deal with it. And if the scratches get too much for you to handle, buy a case, SlickWrap, or wrap it in bubble wrap.
The inevitable Wabi Sabi of new technology is always in effect.
I need my back scratched…
Q: Are we not men?
A. I am DEVO.
I saw DEVO once. They rocked…
(Lalapalooza ’96)
for those that need the black color to return to their iPhone
WORKIN’ IN A COAL MINE
GOIN’ DOWN DOWN
WORKIN’ IN A COAL MINE
WHEW ABOUT TO SLIP DOWN
LORD I AM SO TIRED
HOW LONG CAN THIS GO ON?
Apple should have made the iPhone 5 out of plastic – that doesn’t scratch.💅
But it sure as heck gets nicked a lot easier.
When buying antiques, people cherish the look of a used item. It is referred to as the patina. Removing the patina is usually reduces the value of the antique.
So enjoy the development of your new iPhone’s patina.
So far my iPhone doesn’t have any patina.
I was really p*ssed with the fist ding on my BMW years ago. Dealer wouldn’t take it back. So I kept it for 19 years. Never had to uupdate the BMWos.
First thing I did with my iPhone 4 was get a clear shield/film on both sides. You can’t tell its there, until its worn out as hell. Then you just rip it out, put in another one and its good to go looking brand new!
i did the same with my 4 and 4S. I picked up a cheap screen protector today for my 5, but will probably buy a front/back one from Bodyguardz one of these days.
When I sold my 4 the guy thought I only had it for a few weeks… not year and a half and not one scratch on it anywhere. (front and back, and even had the sides covered)
I also have a case on order for the 5, I always have a case on all my iPhones at all times. I want them to look great/new a year from now, when I Upgrade 🙂
As a matter I literally just removed by screen protector from Zagg for my 4S just prior to reading this thread. The screen protector that I had – to my eyes – made the display that much less crisp. I have had the screen protector on since day 1 for my iPhone 4S. I just got fed up with making the screen less crisp. (And yes the screen looked fuzzy on day one with the protector so I don’t think it is an issue with a build up of dirt. I do clean the screen periodically too.) As my wife and I do not have any kids we are pretty “gentle” with the phones and are going to “risk” using the phone without a screen protector.
Out of curiosity though, are there any brands of screen protectors that you would recommend?
@Tim
Mine is super clear. I use the Steinheil Ultra Crystal Clear version.
Thanks Jubei ! Will check that out.
yeah I had a ZAGG once..
I came to the same conclusion, fuzzy. Did it protect? hell yeah… but it made retina look like a cheap android screen.
I have used many over the years, but I always get a crystal clear type. Never Matte… and run from ZAGG.
I have never tried Stienheil myself, but have never heard anything bad either..
I have a Bodyguardz screen on my iPad 3 right now, and love it. It’s one of those Gel/wet type ones.. you get a gel packet that you put on the screen protector and rub it around, then put it on the iPad and squeegee it out. I was skeptical after I took everything out of the box and started putting it on… but holy crap did it turn out clear. It’s a hard plastic protector, not the rubber feel ones like other “Wet apply” (ZAGG etc)
I picked up some cheap screen for the iPhone 5 like I said above, it’s a temp solution. I’ll probably grab a bodyguards or maybe Stienheil this time for it.
I always use screen protection, and a Case.
Maybe it’s cause I actually drop the cash on my iPhones… But I take care of them. I see so many people that have their iPhones in their back pocket… while they sit down… or drop them all the time. (and of course bitch at Apple when it scratches/breaks)
+1
Is there a case I can get for my new Toyota Tundra when I pick it up on Saturday? I watched the iPhone video Agent Provocateur posted, then tried the ring scratching and key pounding test on my old ’07 Tundra’s hood and it scratched and dented the hell out of the paint (there goes the trade in value)! I know it’s a truck and I plan on using it like a truck every day, but really, Toyota! I paid over $30,000 for this ’12 version and I’m betting it can be damaged just as easily as the ’07!
Yes, but isn’t the question why Apple choose to build a device that is normally and naturally exposed to opportunities for scratching in every day use out of a very soft material that is particularly prone to scratching and denting? I’ve never felt a need for my 4s to be lighter, so perhaps the decision to choose a material that is inherently more easy to damage is the wrong compromise to make in order to make an unnecessary weight saving? That’s the issue. Not “duh, if you scratch something it scratches”. That’s just obfuscating fanboyism.
every electronic device is very scratchable. I guarantee 100%. but people have higher expectation for iPhone 5. we pay hard earned cash to buy. when we find its scratch, we can’t stand because apple is well known for high quality. Schiller just made excuse. don’t say if you can’t response.
Here’s an idea, don’t put your phone in the same pocket as your keys!!! Treat it like the expensive product it is.
It’s not made of diamonds, so of course it will scratch. DUH!