iPhone 5 has some scratches

Keep it, it's fine. The scratches are from the case.

Do you mean replacement? Or a actual return.. In your situation sand or grit/debris most likely gotten in your case and scratched the phone. Its a terrible misconception, people think "oh let me throw a case on, i will never get a scratch" but if you dont clean your phone and case every few days or once a week, your phone will get scratched no questions asked.

There is always sand/debris in pockets and sliding your phone in and out gets the sand/debris in the opening of your case and thats how it happens

Tmurray315 said:

So I had the iPhone 5 since day 1 I pre ordered it I had a case and screen protector on it I took my case off and noticed on the sides of the phone has some Knicks and scratches should I care about it I know it can't stay perfect but I'm
Not sure if I should go to Apple and return it

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Has this been caused by grit or dirt getting into the case and rubbing against the iPhone? Presumably the marks weren't there when you first put the case on?

Incidentally, is the iPhone black or white?

Tmurray315 said:

Ya it is when I first got the phone it was flawless no scratches or anything I put a front screen protector on it and got a case and its probably from the case. I do put it in my back Pockett alo I just got a speck case hopefully it won't get scratched anymore. Should I keep it or get it replaced it sounds stupid but not sure

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I doubt that Apple will replace it if the scratches have been caused by the case.

Do you have a black or white iPhone? If you have a black one, you can probably try the marker mentioned in this thread.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1464248/

Scratches can be from either the case or defective anodizing coating. If you can get the black to rub off with normal wiping, the anodization is defective and you should be able to swap it out under warranty. If not, it's caused by the case and Apple won't replace it.

Tmurray315 said:

So I had the iPhone 5 since day 1 I pre ordered it I had a case and screen protector on it I took my case off and noticed on the sides of the phone has some Knicks and scratches should I care about it I know it can't stay perfect but I'm
Not sure if I should go to Apple and return it

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So you know your phone is scratched from something you did and are asking if you should return it?

I'm sure whatever scratches you have are not noticeable to the naked eye.

Put the case back on and carry on with your life

MassiveAttack said:

So you know your phone is scratched from something you did and are asking if you should return it?

I'm sure whatever scratches you have are not noticeable to the naked eye.

Put the case back on and carry on with your life

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Sounds like OP's more worried about it getting worse, which is perfectly fine seeing as it's barely even a month old device. It ain't about being OCD, it's the fact that a month old phone shouldn't be getting scratched this easily. Lots of people don't like that, and if that bothers you, then look the other way and carry on with your life.

Rhythmic- said:

Sounds like OP's more worried about it getting worse, which is perfectly fine seeing as it's barely even a month old device. It ain't about being OCD, it's the fact that a month old phone shouldn't be getting scratched this easily. Lots of people don't like that, and if that bothers you, then look the other way and carry on with your life.

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The OP will have no problem swapping it out if he can demonstrate that the anodization is indeed defective, but there are some pretty poorly made cases that will scratch even the 4/4S so it's not necessarily an issue unique to the iPhone 5, especially if you're not careful with dirt and gunk infiltrating the case over time.

Rhythmic- said:

...it's the fact that a month old phone shouldn't be getting scratched this easily. Lots of people don't like that...

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Well said, it is not acceptable for such an expensive item to have such abysmal durability.

It's a phone live with it.

Vundu said:

It's a phone live with it.

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A very expensive phone supposedly made too the highest quality... oww wait

I've had mines since Thursday. Out of the box, it was perfect. Just noticed a little nick near the bottom where the mic goes but nothing big. I didn't notice it til I took the case off (which may have done it).

The glass on my iPhone 4 got literally hundreds of nicks/scratches around the edges of the front and back around the camera lens from a hard plastic case I had on it. I thought it was protected and when I took it off those we're all there along with dust, dirt, etc. I was not rough on my phone, I never got it noticeably dirty, but I had in my pocket all the time. Overall I am turned off by cases, unless they are TPU or something soft, which I am not convinced the dirt under them wouldn't scratch a phone either.