Black iPhone 5 Looks Awful, Should I Polish The Bezel?

[travis.hansen]

The anodization on the bezel of my black iPhone 5 looks awful now. Apple says they won't do anything about it at this point. (bought on launch day) I'm thinking of polishing it.

I found this video (link below) on youtube that shows one done, it looks nice but I know nothing about sanding/polishing... Any thoughts or ideas? (the before and after photos at the end are like night and day!)

UPDATE 11/9 7:56PM MST: I will be going ahead with the polish. Will post pictures when it's complete

[ARSC]

post some pictures.

[travis.hansen]

Originally Posted by ARSC

post some pictures.

Pictures of mine or picture of the polished phone from the video? I'm not sure how I would post pics from a youtube video? I tried just posting the video to this forum but it couldn't figure out how.

[JayLenochiniMac]

I call BS on them. If it has defective anodizing coating it should be replaced under warranty. Mine is still flawless.

[Minhimalism]

Originally Posted by JayLenochiniMac

I call BS on them. If it has defective anodizing coating it should be replaced under warranty. Mine is still flawless.

It's not scratch proof- it will wear with heavy usage.

[travis.hansen]

Originally Posted by JayLenochiniMac

I call BS on them. If it has defective anodizing coating it should be replaced under warranty. Mine is still flawless.

We have two Apple stores around my location. I made appointments with both Genius bars and the answer was the same at both, since I purchased it over a month ago it can't be replaced under warranty.

[mKTank]

Originally Posted by JayLenochiniMac

I call BS on them. If it has defective anodizing coating it should be replaced under warranty. Mine is still flawless.

Who gives a crap? That's not the point of the video.

[lamerica80]

Originally Posted by travis.hansen

Pictures of mine or picture of the polished phone from the video? I'm not sure how I would post pics from a youtube video? I tried just posting the video to this forum but it couldn't figure out how.

Pictures of your phone off course..

[travis.hansen]

Originally Posted by lamerica80

Pictures of your phone off course..

I hope you can see, I took the pic with another iPhone. It's pretty much like that all the way around front and back, worse in the back though.

[lamerica80]

Originally Posted by travis.hansen

Attachment 375333


I hope you can see, I took the pic with another iPhone. It's pretty much like that all the way around front and back, worse in the back though.

Thats sucks man. Im still waiting for my black 64. Do you keep in a case?

[travis.hansen]

Originally Posted by lamerica80

Thats sucks man. Im still waiting for my black 64. Do you keep in a case?

No, but if I can find a reason to get it warrantied in the future (e.i. battery life, sticky button etc...) I will make sure to keep the new one in a case. I loved the look of the black so much I didn't want to cover it up. Plus I don't like the bulk that most cases ad, and the ones that aren't bulky usually don't offer much protection anyway.

Originally Posted by lamerica80

Thats sucks man. Im still waiting for my black 64. Do you keep in a case?

Are you waiting still because they are sold out?

[lamerica80]

Originally Posted by travis.hansen

Are you waiting still because they are sold out?

Yep. Im going to keep mine in a sleeve like with the iphone 4.

[travis.hansen]

Originally Posted by lamerica80

Yep. Im going to keep mine in a sleeve like with the iphone 4.

Good thinking. I wish I would have waited... I hear they tightened their quality control and have fixed the scuff issue, or at least it's tougher to mess up now.

[rollingstart]

Originally Posted by travis.hansen

We have two Apple stores around my location. I made appointments with both Genius bars and the answer was the same at both, since I purchased it over a month ago it can't be replaced under warranty.

That doesn't make sense. The warranty is 1 year. I'm assuming you can't claim defective anodized coating, and they're claiming wear and tear?

[bushido]

Originally Posted by rollingstart

That doesn't make sense. The warranty is 1 year.

but its not covered by warranty, they claim that kind of scuffing is normal

[travis.hansen]

Originally Posted by bushido

but its not covered by warranty, they claim that kind of scuffing is normal

Yeah, what they said, and I quote, "Scuffing is normal over time. We only cover cosmetic issues if it comes that way out of the box".

[roxxette]

You need to know that aluminum corrodes almost instantly without coating, specially if have sweat hands you will start to see prints from your fingers.

Anyway 150 grit sandpaper will do the trick, after that you need to buffed up (dremel hands down) and finish with a polish compaund or go for a brushed finish

[travis.hansen]

Originally Posted by roxxette

You need to know that aluminum corrodes almost instantly without coating, specially if have sweat hands you will start to see prints from your fingers.

Anyway 150 grit sandpaper will do the trick, after that you need to buffed up (dremel hands down) and finish with a polish compaund or go for a brushed finish

Aluminum does corrode very quickly, but one of the unique properties of aluminum corrosion is that it turns into aluminum oxide which looks and feels a whole lot like aluminum. It hardens fast and protects the aluminum underneath. That along side of it's light weight is why is why it's a choice material for making airplanes, helicopters, dirt bike frames, iPhone 5's and whatnot. It should be fine without a polish compound at least until it starts looking dull, then I'll polish it back up.

If you click the link I posted initially with the thread the guy uses 1500 grit sandpaper the whole way around. IT may be too easy to mess it up or sand off too much with 150 grit.

[arashb]

Originally Posted by roxxette

You need to know that aluminum corrodes almost instantly without coating, specially if have sweat hands you will start to see prints from your fingers.

Anyway 150 grit sandpaper will do the trick, after that you need to buffed up (dremel hands down) and finish with a polish compaund or go for a brushed finish

150 grit?! Way to coarse to only scuff up the corners, will definitely scratch unwanted areas and will also leave it looking worse since it won't be brushed.

I did this to my blackberry bold with 1000 grit sandpaper, didn't turn out nice but that's because it wasn't a smooth surface to begin with. Lots of people have done this method with the original iPhone up to the 3GS to brush the aluminum bezels that got scratched easily. They used nail filers I believe.

[roxxette]

I never told him how to apply lol if he rubbed gentle it wouldnt have any problem plus it all depends on the anodize; anyway great tips guys if op wants to go for it he have all the info he need and will be great if he posted before and after pictures if i had a iphone 5 i would have done it ! Mirror finish

[2ndchancephones]

I was going today to get a black 5....might have to go for a white one.

[S.L.]

why not just a full coverage clear skin? i plan to do this since i don't like cases either.

[HowardSmith]

Originally Posted by JayLenochiniMac

I call BS on them. If it has defective anodizing coating it should be replaced under warranty. Mine is still flawless.

You need to get out in the REAL world. I have three friends who have no case on their 5 and every one has scratches or other defects and nothing else stays in their pocket. Anodized aluminum is STILL soft and can and WILL be scratched. Just the fact that the aluminum is so soft should tell you that.

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Originally Posted by rollingstart

That doesn't make sense. The warranty is 1 year. I'm assuming you can't claim defective anodized coating, and they're claiming wear and tear?

Scratching is not a defect!

You car is not warranted against scratches nor is the soft aluminum on your phone!

[travis.hansen]

Originally Posted by 2ndchancephones

I was going today to get a black 5....might have to go for a white one.

if I could go back I would have gone w/ white

[Nevzorus]

Originally Posted by HowardSmith

You need to get out in the REAL world. I have three friends who have no case on their 5 and every one has scratches or other defects and nothing else stays in their pocket. Anodized aluminum is STILL soft and can and WILL be scratched. Just the fact that the aluminum is so soft should tell you that.[COLOR="#808080"]

What colour do they have?