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iPhone 5 coating report, mine is nearly scratch proof.

R

Radiating

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Dec 29, 2011
1,018
7
So I got an iPhone 5 with a rear camera defect and I'm set up to receive a warranty replacement. In the mean time I thought I'd investigate all the rumors of scratching the coating off the aluminium as my phone will be replaced with a perfectly new one anyways.

I've pretty much done everything possible to scratch the phone within reason:

- carried it in a pocket with a ring of sharp keys every day (which scratched my iPhone 4 in the first 2 days fyi)
- dropped it onto the floor a few times
- physically hit it against countertops
- dragged the side against a peice of plywood
- dragged the metal tip of a pen across the side
- played hockey with it on a wood floor
- dropped it 3 feet onto marble floors repeatedly
- thrown it across counters at every opportunity
- dragged a penny across the edge HARD

And my report is that there are no scratches or paint peeling off at all. Apple did a very good job.

I looked through a few threads and saw the pictures of the coating coming off. My theory is that if the coating does come off, it's a deffective phone. Several of the phones have shipped with partially applied coatings brand new, so if it does come off it's probably on a thin spot.

Just thought I'd contribute. Anyone else finding the coating especially durable?
 
Last edited:
I

IllIllIll

macrumors 65816
Oct 2, 2011
1,110
331
Radiating said:
I've pretty much done everything possible to scratch the phone within reason:

- carried it in a pocket with a ring of sharp keys every day (which scratched my iPhone 4 in the first 2 days fyi)
- dropped it onto the floor a few times
- physically hit it against countertops
- dragged the side against a peice of plywood
- dragged the metal tip of a pen across the side
- played hockey with it on a wood floor
- dropped it 3 feet onto marble floors repeatedly
- thrown it across counters at every opportunity
- dragged a penny across the edge HARD

And my report is that there are no scratches or paint peeling off at all. Apple did a very good job.

I looked through a few threads and saw the pictures of the coating coming off. My theory is that if the coating does come off, it's a deffective phone. Several of the phones have shipped with partially applied coatings brand new, so if it does come off it's probably on a thin spot.

Just thought I'd contribute. Anyone else finding the coating especially durable?
Click to expand...

You're pretty hard on your mobile electronics. I'm honestly having trouble figuring out if you're serious or just trolling.
 
dmccloud

dmccloud

macrumors 68030
Sep 7, 2009
2,967
1,679
Anchorage, AK
IllIllIll said:
You're pretty hard on your mobile electronics. I'm honestly having trouble figuring out if you're serious or just trolling.
Click to expand...

I've seen a couple of people drag x-acto knives, keys, etc across the back of their black iPhone 5s and it's done nothing to the coating. It's anodized aluminum, so if applied properly it should be nearly indestructible.
 
Funkymonk

Funkymonk

macrumors 6502a
Jan 7, 2011
773
0
Good to hear. I got a white one that is in pristine condition but I've been paranoid as hell and super protective of it while waiting for my case to come in so reading this thread makes me feel a bit better.
 
T

TM WAZZA

macrumors 68000
Sep 18, 2010
1,967
1
Hamilton, New Zealand
Obvious-troll-is-obvious.jpg
 
R

Radiating

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Dec 29, 2011
1,018
7
IllIllIll said:
You're pretty hard on your mobile electronics. I'm honestly having trouble figuring out if you're serious or just trolling.
Click to expand...

Read the thread again. Jesus. The phone is being replaced under warranty. I wouldn't do this to a phone that I'm going to keep.

I'm actually trying to put it through a stress test to see if I can go without the screen protector and bumper combo I had to use on the 4/4S to keep them scratch free.
 
I

IllIllIll

macrumors 65816
Oct 2, 2011
1,110
331
dmccloud said:
I've seen a couple of people drag x-acto knives, keys, etc across the back of their black iPhone 5s and it's done nothing to the coating. It's anodized aluminum, so if applied properly it should be nearly indestructible.
Click to expand...

There are differing degrees of anodization. I have a bunch of Surefire flashlights that are Type III hard anodized aluminum. You can drive over them with a car without a problem. That doesn't mean the iPhone's anodized aluminum is the same type.

Regardless, I was referring to the fact that the OP claimed to be repeatedly dropping his iPhone onto a marble floor from 3 feet up and throwing it around.

----------
Radiating said:
Read the thread again. Jesus. The phone is being replaced under warranty. I wouldn't do this to a phone that I'm going to keep.

I'm actually trying to put it through a stress test to see if I can go without the screen protector and bumper combo I had to use on the 4/4S to keep them scratch free.
Click to expand...

OK, calm down. I just found it somewhat illogical that you'd beat up a device that's slated for warranty replacement, especially when Apple might accuse you of abusing the device.
 
dmccloud

dmccloud

macrumors 68030
Sep 7, 2009
2,967
1,679
Anchorage, AK
IllIllIll said:
There are differing degrees of anodization. I have a bunch of Surefire flashlights that are Type III hard anodized aluminum. You can drive over them with a car without a problem. That doesn't mean the iPhone's anodized aluminum is the same type.

Regardless, I was referring to the fact that the OP claimed to be repeatedly dropping his iPhone onto a marble floor from 3 feet up and throwing it around.
Click to expand...

I have no way of knowing if the OP is legit or not, which is why I was just recounting what I've seen either live on TWiT or live in person.
 
T

Tubamajuba

macrumors 68020
Jun 8, 2011
2,185
2,443
here
This is reassuring and disappointing, all at the same time. I'm happy that some devices are properly anodized, but it seems like the amount of these pristine devices is proportionally quite low.

As they say though, the squeaky wheel gets the grease- it's difficult to quantify how many people have flawless outer coatings due the decreased likelihood of them actually reporting it.
 
T

TheDLade

macrumors member
Sep 22, 2012
96
1
The one's with the scuffs are defects, there's a video on YouTube about a Foxconn worker who said 90 out of 100 iPhones are defected atm. It's not supposed to scratch that easy.
 
R

Radiating

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Dec 29, 2011
1,018
7
IllIllIll said:
There are differing degrees of anodization. I have a bunch of Surefire flashlights that are Type III hard anodized aluminum. You can drive over them with a car without a problem. That doesn't mean the iPhone's anodized aluminum is the same type.

Regardless, I was referring to the fact that the OP claimed to be repeatedly dropping his iPhone onto a marble floor from 3 feet up and throwing it around.

----------



OK, calm down. I just found it somewhat illogical that you'd beat up a device that's slated for warranty replacement, especially when Apple might accuse you of abusing the device.
Click to expand...

The defect is already noted with the manager. Apple doesn't care if you turn in a scratched phone for warranty replacement and I confirmed this with the manager.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not going to break it beyond repair, but in the past I've accidentally droped my phone at least once a week from a small height and if it's going to go without protection I need to know it will last. All the electronics are solid state and the only risk is the screen cracking which won't happen from a short height. I'm not willing to risk really breaking it.

TheDLade said:
The one's with the scuffs are defects, there's a video on YouTube about a Foxconn worker who said 90 out of 100 iPhones are defected atm. It's not supposed to scratch that easy.
Click to expand...

Link? I've been a little worried about getting a deffective replacement, would like to see this.
 
A

apierrec

macrumors 6502
Sep 18, 2012
415
1
Why did you do this?

:apple: thank you, if true (I kinda believed you)

Are you rich? You bought at least 2?

;)
 
J

JayLenochiniMac

macrumors G5
Nov 7, 2007
12,819
2,389
New Sanfrakota
Radiating said:
The defect is already noted with the manager. Apple doesn't care if you turn in a scratched phone for warranty replacement and I confirmed this with the manager.
Click to expand...

I hope they don't care about shattered iPhones either, as you could've done that by dropping it 3 feet on marble floor or throwing it around.
 
entatlrg

entatlrg

macrumors 68040
Mar 2, 2009
3,385
6
Waterloo & Georgian Bay, Canada
Radiating said:
So I got an iPhone 5 with a rear camera defect and I'm set up to receive a warranty replacement. In the mean time I thought I'd investigate all the rumors of scratching the coating off the aluminium as my phone will be replaced with a perfectly new one anyways.

I've pretty much done everything possible to scratch the phone within reason:

- carried it in a pocket with a ring of sharp keys every day (which scratched my iPhone 4 in the first 2 days fyi)
- dropped it onto the floor a few times
- physically hit it against countertops
- dragged the side against a peice of plywood
- dragged the metal tip of a pen across the side
- played hockey with it on a wood floor
- dropped it 3 feet onto marble floors repeatedly
- thrown it across counters at every opportunity
- dragged a penny across the edge HARD

And my report is that there are no scratches or paint peeling off at all. Apple did a very good job.

I looked through a few threads and saw the pictures of the coating coming off. My theory is that if the coating does come off, it's a deffective phone. Several of the phones have shipped with partially applied coatings brand new, so if it does come off it's probably on a thin spot.

Just thought I'd contribute. Anyone else finding the coating especially durable?
Click to expand...

Show us with a video, anyone can make a post, video removes speculation...
 
JS82712

JS82712

macrumors 6502a
Jul 1, 2009
799
0
Radiating said:
So I got an iPhone 5 with a rear camera defect and I'm set up to receive a warranty replacement. In the mean time I thought I'd investigate all the rumors of scratching the coating off the aluminium as my phone will be replaced with a perfectly new one anyways.

I've pretty much done everything possible to scratch the phone within reason:

- carried it in a pocket with a ring of sharp keys every day (which scratched my iPhone 4 in the first 2 days fyi)
- dropped it onto the floor a few times
- physically hit it against countertops
- dragged the side against a peice of plywood
- dragged the metal tip of a pen across the side
- played hockey with it on a wood floor
- dropped it 3 feet onto marble floors repeatedly
- thrown it across counters at every opportunity
- dragged a penny across the edge HARD

And my report is that there are no scratches or paint peeling off at all. Apple did a very good job.

I looked through a few threads and saw the pictures of the coating coming off. My theory is that if the coating does come off, it's a deffective phone. Several of the phones have shipped with partially applied coatings brand new, so if it does come off it's probably on a thin spot.

Just thought I'd contribute. Anyone else finding the coating especially durable?
Click to expand...

Pics or it didn't happen. :rolleyes:
 
T

TheDLade

macrumors member
Sep 22, 2012
96
1
Radiating said:
The defect is already noted with the manager. Apple doesn't care if you turn in a scratched phone for warranty replacement and I confirmed this with the manager.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not going to break it beyond repair, but in the past I've accidentally droped my phone at least once a week from a small height and if it's going to go without protection I need to know it will last. All the electronics are solid state and the only risk is the screen cracking which won't happen from a short height. I'm not willing to risk really breaking it.



Link? I've been a little worried about getting a deffective replacement, would like to see this.
Click to expand...
http://api.viglink.com/api/click?fo...gdata_player&jsonp=vglnk_jsonp_13484647528042
 
M

MuddyPaws1

macrumors 6502
Jul 14, 2012
399
0
JS82712 said:
Pics or it didn't happen. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

x2

Call billshit on dropping it on a marble floor several times with no dents or damage. My wife bounced hers off the couch cushion onto a wood floor and it dented pretty good.

Video of all of the above or it didn't happen.
 
S

schizbomb

macrumors 6502
May 14, 2011
313
0
Texas
I dropped mine from about 5 feet on asphalt and it didn't nick or scratch

luckiest day of my life I was freaking out
 
AppleRocks2011

AppleRocks2011

macrumors member
Apr 21, 2011
90
33
Ontario, Canada
This is really good to know!

Hi there! I'm really glad that I came across this forum. When I bought my brand new iPhone 5 on Saturday, I was really concerned that the back if my iPhone would scratch.

I have not put a case on my phone. My view is that the phone was made to be used, and it should be used without restriction. However, that doesn't mean that I'm going to abuse it, in fact, quite the contrary! I'm going to do all I can to try and keep my phone safe, but again, it's made to be used.

I really hope that the back of the phone doesn't scratch, and by the looks of it, the aluminum back looks quite strong.
 
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