White iPhone 4 Slightly Thicker Than Black iPhone 4

MacRumors · Apr 28, 2011, 03:46 PM

Earlier today, a MacRumors reader notified us that the white iPhone 4 is ever so slightly larger than the black iPhone 4. It's a small difference, but enough that the white iPhone 4 wouldn't fit in his Incase slider case:

Quote:

Just picked up the white iPhone 4 and realized it doesn't fit into my Incase slider case. It appears that Apple has increased the size of the plastic that borders the glass on both sides by about 1mm.

Ryan Cash of Marketcircle noticed the same and noticed it just by picking it up.

Quote:

A colleague of mine just picked up a 16 GB iPhone 4 in white. I was a bit surprised when I picked it up off his desk (I had my black 32 GB in my other hand at the same time) – it immediately felt thicker.

Cash offers some comparison photos between the white and black iPhone 4 showing the slight difference. The small different may be enough to affect tight fitting slider cases as evidenced by our reader's experience.

Article Link: White iPhone 4 Slightly Thicker Than Black iPhone 4

ouimetnick · Apr 28, 2011, 03:47 PM

Does Apple's website specs show this?

EDIT. Nope. Still 9.3 mm thin

Rogue. · Apr 28, 2011, 03:48 PM

If I can't get my hand around it, then it's a deal breaker for me....

HiRez · Apr 28, 2011, 03:50 PM

Sounds like a "who cares?" kind of thing, but that's actually kind of a big deal if it creates case fragmentation. Not good. Hopefully inaccurate.

ten-oak-druid · Apr 28, 2011, 03:51 PM

They look the same to me in the picture. The white one is tipped slightly so that you see the front face surface a little. I think this makes the difference in appearance.

Stevesbodyguard · Apr 28, 2011, 03:51 PM

I held one earlier today and it felt .0001 oz. heavier. Perhaps it is just my super human ability to weigh things instantly that told me this....but still....

Kajover · Apr 28, 2011, 03:52 PM

We'll just have to grind it...

maybe it has something to do with the antennagate issue

stukick · Apr 28, 2011, 03:53 PM

Well, us Apple folk have to find something to bitch about don't we?

Jako7286 · Apr 28, 2011, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ten-oak-druid

They look the same to me in the picture. The white one is tipped slightly so that you see the front face surface a little. I think this makes the difference in appearance.

Ditto. And if they are different, it's definitely NOT 2mm (1mm per side) like the post says. If anything, it's a quarter of a mm each side MAX.

HarryKeogh · Apr 28, 2011, 03:53 PM

I'm guessing that extra millimeter is what was needed to give the right amount of opaqueness to the white face.

Skika · Apr 28, 2011, 03:54 PM

So you actually get MORE iPhone in the white model.

intradestings

TwistedPain · Apr 28, 2011, 03:55 PM

If this is true, I'll be highly disappointed. I wonder how long till case makers respond or if they will even bother?

I'll take photos as soon as my verizon shipment comes in. (Most likely by Monday).

blondepianist · Apr 28, 2011, 03:55 PM

How on earth could you feel the difference in your hand? I'd like to see a photo with calipers.

coolbreeze · Apr 28, 2011, 03:56 PM

First, the volume switch issue, then this. I feel sorry for case manufacturers. What a nightmare.

HahaHaha321 · Apr 28, 2011, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stukick

Well, us Apple folk have to find something to bitch about don't we?

So you don't think it's a problem that a regular iPhone 4 case doesn't fit the white model. Ok.

citi · Apr 28, 2011, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HiRez

Sounds like a "who cares?" kind of thing, but that's actually kind of a big deal if it creates case fragmentation. Not good. Hopefully inaccurate.

Case Fragmentation? HAAA! The funniest thing I have read all day.

chris975d · Apr 28, 2011, 03:57 PM

That actually isn't surprising. I've noticed that all of the aftermarket "OEM" white based replacement backplates (any using the white housing for colored glass...yellow, all the whites, green) are always just slightly thicker and can prevent tighter fitting cases from going on the phone. I always just chalked it up to aftermarket parts not being as exact as genuine Apple parts, but now it seems like it's actually a legitimate difference.

Adidas Addict · Apr 28, 2011, 03:57 PM

Someone get a micrometer or vernier caliper and check this, looks the same size on the photos to me.

citi · Apr 28, 2011, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolbreeze

First, the volume switch issue, then this. I feel sorry for case manufacturers. What a nightmare.

Uh no. This is a good thing for manufacturers. This means you have to buy another case. The last thing they want is for you to use the old one.

Noodlefarmer · Apr 28, 2011, 03:58 PM

that's a deal breaker then.

Warbrain · Apr 28, 2011, 03:58 PM

Highly doubt it. Might just be an issue that a few devices are having but not across the board.

ryanbates · Apr 28, 2011, 03:58 PM

The white is definitely a little bit thicker than the black. I managed to get it in my Incase Slider (snuggly) that I used with my black, but it is next to impossible to get it out. This post explains why...

joeshmo2010 · Apr 28, 2011, 03:59 PM

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8H7 Safari/6533.18.5)

I thought it was thicker after I just bought... Guess I was right! but it fits in all the cases I have just fine. The white bumper plus the white iPhone looks AMAZING

DotComName · Apr 28, 2011, 03:59 PM

I'm pretty sure it's just an illusion because of the color difference and the angle of the shot. Makes no sense why Apple would need to or want to do that.

bobbytallant · Apr 28, 2011, 04:00 PM

I have both the white and black 32gb iPhone 4's next to me now. How anyone can say one feels immediately thicker than the other is beyond me lol.

Apr 28, 2011, 03:47 PM	#2
ouimetnick macrumors 68020 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Beverly, Massachusetts	Does Apple's website specs show this? EDIT. Nope. Still 9.3 mm thin __________________ Rest in peace. Steven Paul Jobs 1955-2011 (56) Thanks for your intelligence, role model, and innovations. I miss you.
	3

Apr 28, 2011, 03:48 PM	#3
Rogue. macrumors regular Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Telford. UK.	If I can't get my hand around it, then it's a deal breaker for me.... __________________  2010 27" iMac i7 16GB  2010 15" MBP i7 matte  iPhone 4S 16GB  iPad (3rd gen) 64GB 4G  Apple TV (3rd gen) 
	8

Apr 28, 2011, 03:50 PM	#4
HiRez macrumors 68040 Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Western US	Sounds like a "who cares?" kind of thing, but that's actually kind of a big deal if it creates case fragmentation. Not good. Hopefully inaccurate. __________________ Go outside, the graphics are amazing!
	0

Apr 28, 2011, 03:51 PM	#5
ten-oak-druid macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jan 2010	They look the same to me in the picture. The white one is tipped slightly so that you see the front face surface a little. I think this makes the difference in appearance. __________________ Sure Timothy Dolan looks nice in that flamboyant robe but he is just too intolerant to respect.
	-2

Apr 28, 2011, 03:51 PM	#6
Stevesbodyguard macrumors newbie Join Date: Feb 2011	I held one earlier today and it felt .0001 oz. heavier. Perhaps it is just my super human ability to weigh things instantly that told me this....but still....
	15

Apr 28, 2011, 03:52 PM	#7
Kajover macrumors member Join Date: Feb 2010	We'll just have to grind it... maybe it has something to do with the antennagate issue
	6

Apr 28, 2011, 03:53 PM	#8
stukick macrumors regular Join Date: Sep 2000	Well, us Apple folk have to find something to bitch about don't we?
	10

Apr 28, 2011, 03:53 PM	#10
HarryKeogh macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jun 2008	I'm guessing that extra millimeter is what was needed to give the right amount of opaqueness to the white face.
	9

Apr 28, 2011, 03:54 PM	#11
Skika macrumors 68000 Join Date: Mar 2009	So you actually get MORE iPhone in the white model. intradestings __________________ Macbook Pro, iPad, iPhone
	27

Apr 28, 2011, 03:55 PM	#12
TwistedPain macrumors member Join Date: Apr 2011	If this is true, I'll be highly disappointed. I wonder how long till case makers respond or if they will even bother? I'll take photos as soon as my verizon shipment comes in. (Most likely by Monday).
	1

Apr 28, 2011, 03:55 PM	#13
blondepianist macrumors member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: USA	How on earth could you feel the difference in your hand? I'd like to see a photo with calipers. __________________ Apple Certified Macintosh Technician Apple Certified Support Professional 2.66 GHz 13" 2009 MacBook Pro. 16GB Black iPhone 4. 30GB Black iPod Video. TV 2 & 40GB TV.
	-1

Apr 28, 2011, 03:56 PM	#14
coolbreeze macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: UT	First, the volume switch issue, then this. I feel sorry for case manufacturers. What a nightmare. __________________ Nexus 4 & iPhone 5 for work 2013 MBP Retina 15/2.7/16/512 (Samsung Panel/Sandisk SSD) & Lenovo X230t for work
	5

Apr 28, 2011, 03:57 PM	#17
chris975d macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Georgia, USA	That actually isn't surprising. I've noticed that all of the aftermarket "OEM" white based replacement backplates (any using the white housing for colored glass...yellow, all the whites, green) are always just slightly thicker and can prevent tighter fitting cases from going on the phone. I always just chalked it up to aftermarket parts not being as exact as genuine Apple parts, but now it seems like it's actually a legitimate difference.
	0

Apr 28, 2011, 03:57 PM	#18
Adidas Addict macrumors 65816 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: England	Someone get a micrometer or vernier caliper and check this, looks the same size on the photos to me. __________________ The phrase is: "Couldn't care less"
	0

Apr 28, 2011, 03:58 PM	#20
Noodlefarmer macrumors member Join Date: Nov 2008	Well... that's a deal breaker then.
	-10

Apr 28, 2011, 03:58 PM	#21
Warbrain macrumors 603 Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Chicago, IL	Highly doubt it. Might just be an issue that a few devices are having but not across the board. __________________ WARBRAIN Twitter \| Blog MacBook Pro 15" \| iPad 3 32 GB LTE \| iPad 2 16 GB \| iPhone 4S 16 GB White \| iPod touch 4G 64 GB \| iPhone 4 16 GB Black
	-1

Apr 28, 2011, 03:58 PM	#22
ryanbates macrumors member Join Date: May 2010	The white is definitely a little bit thicker than the black. I managed to get it in my Incase Slider (snuggly) that I used with my black, but it is next to impossible to get it out. This post explains why... __________________ 13" MacBook Air, 1.8 GHz i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD ; 32GB Black iPhone 5 (Verizon) Mobiture - YouTube
	2

Apr 28, 2011, 03:59 PM	#23
joeshmo2010 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Seattle, WA	Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8H7 Safari/6533.18.5) I thought it was thicker after I just bought... Guess I was right! but it fits in all the cases I have just fine. The white bumper plus the white iPhone looks AMAZING __________________ iPad mini 4G LTE 16 GB Black Verizon iPhone 5 Black 32gb AT&T 15" Macbook Pro (2010) 2.4GHz Intel Core i5 8gb Ram Airport Express (2012 model), Apple TV (3rd Gen), 2nd gen Apple TV (MIA...)
	0

Apr 28, 2011, 03:59 PM	#24
DotComName macrumors member Join Date: Feb 2011	I'm pretty sure it's just an illusion because of the color difference and the angle of the shot. Makes no sense why Apple would need to or want to do that.
	-1

Apr 28, 2011, 04:00 PM	#25
bobbytallant macrumors 6502 Join Date: Apr 2010	I have both the white and black 32gb iPhone 4's next to me now. How anyone can say one feels immediately thicker than the other is beyond me lol. __________________ rMBP 15" iPhone 5 Black
	3

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