iPhone 5 - black version scuffs (merged)

[blue-bear]

just got back from the apple store not long ago to swap over my iphone that kept dropping off the wifi.

got a week 41 (DN Factory) and i have to say its absolutely flawless

[solarman36]

The black anodizing finish sucks. Why didnt they make it with stainless stell as in 4. The scratches didnt show up as much on edges.

Has anyone tried teh castello davarg cases in leather? I am planning to get one but i need some feedback if it works well. Looks good in their website.

[Scott2345]

I heard they fixed the problem on the black model is this true? I sure hope so, I ordered a factory unlock black.

[mgb1120]

I'm in the same boat, have until the 15th to get it replaced I have a 16gb black and the back has some spots on it, yet the bezel is perfect no nicks or scuffs. Ugh. Anyone think they fixed the issues with the black or no?

[itjw]

Originally Posted by Scott2345

I heard they fixed the problem on the black model is this true? I sure hope so, I ordered a factory unlock black.

There is no "problem" to fix. Aluminum shows marks easier than steel. If you receive one with damage out of the box (unlikely but possible), exchange it for another until your level of OCD is satisfied (nearly everything, even $200K Bentley's, have SOME miniscule flaws if you look hard enough... it's all about how hard you look).

As a reward for it being aluminum it's thinner, lighter, doesn't shatter, and is much more likely to survive a drop and still be usable. But ya, it does scratch slightly easier if you don't care for it...

The "problem" is with user expectations. Not the best iPhone ever produced (the 5).

Enjoy the phone

[Jimrod]

Originally Posted by itjw

There is no "problem" to fix. Aluminum shows marks easier than steel. If you receive one with damage out of the box (unlikely but possible), exchange it for another until your level of OCD is satisfied (nearly everything, even $200K Bentley's, have SOME miniscule flaws if you look hard enough... it's all about how hard you look).

As a reward for it being aluminum it's thinner, lighter, doesn't shatter, and is much more likely to survive a drop and still be usable. But ya, it does scratch slightly easier if you don't care for it...

The "problem" is with user expectations. Not the best iPhone ever produced (the 5).

Enjoy the phone

The phone is five inches long, not fifteen feet, it's easier to make "perfect", if the material is too soft use something else. If the materials aren't up to daily wear and tear as a device that's used in the hand they shouldn't be used, nothing to do with OCD.

My black iPhone 5 is fine btw, just saying for people who have issues with theirs.

[sewer-surfer]

I also wanna throw in my 2 cents about the iphone 5 (black) build quality:
I received my iPhone 5 two weeks ago and it had a dent on the left frame, right out of the box. There was also a glue stain on the top.
Apple customer service was very helpful and they sent me a new iphone.

I took the new one out of the box and it didn´t show any dents, scratches etc. However, after only 3 days of using it, I can already see some silver spots (sice of a dust particle) on the frame. It´s the black coating comming off. I am absolutely sure that I have not damaged the iphone myself, since the spots are right on the edge of the frame (just where it touches the display) and you can´t even touch that spot with your fingers. Also, I carry it in a soft pouch.

My question is if this is "normal" and something you simply have to life with with the black iphone 5 or if it´s yet another faulty iphone and should be replaced again.
I am really not searching for problems and I get that not every product can be a 100 % perfect, but I don´t wanna be stuck with an iPhone where the frame sort of destroys itself.

[JohnnyAndre]

It's normal, something you have to deal with if you own a black iPhone 5. That's why I bought a Lumia 920.

[Sedrick]

Originally Posted by itjw

There is no "problem" to fix. Aluminum shows marks easier than steel. If you receive one with damage out of the box (unlikely but possible), exchange it for another until your level of OCD is satisfied (nearly everything, even $200K Bentley's, have SOME miniscule flaws if you look hard enough... it's all about how hard you look).

As a reward for it being aluminum it's thinner, lighter, doesn't shatter, and is much more likely to survive a drop and still be usable. But ya, it does scratch slightly easier if you don't care for it...

The "problem" is with user expectations. Not the best iPhone ever produced (the 5).

Enjoy the phone

Whew, good thing you clarified that no one has any problems with the materials, build quality or finish of the iPhone 5 (I'm sure maps works great for you too). I guess the internet can go home now.

[ferganer]

Got a week 47 iPhone yesterday. What a beautiful and solid phone. It does have a small dent on one of the corners OOB. But I am not OCDing over it. As long as it's not something like dead pixels, battery problems, signal issues, I don't care.

Overall, I am super happy. Let's see what long-term durability is like.

[solarman36]

I think the black edge design is poorly thought out by Apple. Anodizing does not last on sharp edges. Apple could have used a PVD or used a rounded edges to prevent the edges from being 'broken' in.

I dont like bulky cases, so I settled with the Davarg case, which almost looks like an expensive leather wallet. The edges protrude out so hopefully it gives more protection than the bare phone.


After all this is real leather and made in USA and from everything I have seen so far, it is going to outlast the iPhone 5 life cycle.

http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/010..._large.jpg?280

[itjw]

Originally Posted by Sedrick

Whew, good thing you clarified that no one has any problems with the materials, build quality or finish of the iPhone 5 (I'm sure maps works great for you too). I guess the internet can go home now.

THANK YOU! Finally SOMEONE who GETS IT!!! *big hugs*

The VAST majority of folks have NO problems.

Might a few abberations exist? Sure. Luckily, unlike our plastiphone Samsung frenemies, iPhone owners can arrange a simple swap in the event they do receive one of the few hundreds of phones that have actual problems.

If you need to return dozens of phones I've got news for you: The phone isn't the one with the problem

[Nale72]

Originally Posted by itjw

Might a few abberations exist? Sure. Luckily, unlike our plastiphone Samsung frenemies, iPhone owners can arrange a simple swap in the event they do receive one of the few hundreds of phones that have actual problems.

Just out of the iPhone 5 owners in the world finding this very thread on this forum, appr. 788 users (so far) got scuffed phones out of the box (and if any of these got several scuffed ones, they still just count as one in the survey). This leads me to believe that there are a tad more than a few hundred phones with a problem out there (if a scuffed phone out of the box is concidered a problem that is).

But I agree that its very likely that the vast majority out there have no problems (if the crappy maps are not considered a problem that is )

[itjw]

Originally Posted by Nale72

Just out of the iPhone 5 owners in the world finding this very thread on this forum, appr. 788 users (so far) got scuffed phones out of the box (and if any of these got several scuffed ones, they still just count as one in the survey). This leads me to believe that there are a tad more than a few hundred phones with a problem out there (if a scuffed phone out of the box is concidered a problem that is).

But I agree that its very likely that the vast majority out there have no problems (if the crappy maps are not considered a problem that is )

Right. 788 users, on a rabid fanboy forum (myself included, no offense intended) with no verification (they might not even OWN an i5 let alone one with scuffs), and no way to tell otherwise.

Again, not saying there aren't cases of machining marks happening out of the box, just that it has been blown WAY out of proportion (especially when you consider that with all of the pages of replies we have here, there have STILL been less than 1000 claims).

Apple has not confirmed any problems at all. TIME magazine named the i5 the "gadget of the year" (over the SGS3 and Note 2 BTW). The phone is still selling as fast as they can make them, nearly 3 months AFTER launch.

"Scuffgate" isn't real. It's a way for those with OCD to justify returning phone after phone in the search for "perfection" and to not feel as crazy as they look in doing so. It's ok. They are well within their rights to return it as many times as Apple will let them, but I stand by my statement: The phone isn't the one with the problem.

[nwmtnbiker]

I don't know why I keep clicking on this thread I feel like an idiot lol...

[desistyle]

Here's mine. 1.5 months of use - slight nicks on the backside (last 2 pics):

[thedonutbandit]

Originally Posted by Advil

You're an idiot.

I second that, my good sir. I am testament to not being overly OCD about my phone. I had several iphone 5s with little scratches I could live with. But even those who are not OCD got busted up phones. In fact, one of the times I was at the apple store, the genius opened 5 replacements.

He did not do this because I asked him to (the phone I had brought in had a large chip in the screen), he continued opening iphone 5s because he said he would not give me something that looked like it had been dropped and dragged against concrete. Oh and when I finally got a phone that didn't look like crud, two weeks later , the screen goes completely dead. My replacement arrives tomorrow in the mail.

[swervinsuburban]

My phone has SIM card problems, I do think that this phone was rushed to the market with some known flaws.

[Kukulcan]

Have mine for a month now, flawless out of the box and not a single nick yet (no case, front pocket but without extra money or keys, lies it on hard surfaces all day, not really going easy on it).

[CasperRooney]

This is what mine looks like after 6 weeks. Using AIAIAI TMA-1 headphones.


Hope they give me a new one, then I will wrap it up all good, and newer use a headset again!

[mackandproud]

I really don't understand how you expect the phone NOT to get scratches if you aren't using a case. Seems obvious.

Also surprised so many people carry their phones without a case.

I'm definitely getting a case if i get a 'smart'phone.

[mattopotamus]

Originally Posted by Nale72

Just out of the iPhone 5 owners in the world finding this very thread on this forum, appr. 788 users (so far) got scuffed phones out of the box (and if any of these got several scuffed ones, they still just count as one in the survey). This leads me to believe that there are a tad more than a few hundred phones with a problem out there (if a scuffed phone out of the box is concidered a problem that is).

But I agree that its very likely that the vast majority out there have no problems (if the crappy maps are not considered a problem that is )

Something to think about though is that if someone has a problem the first thing they do is go to the internet. When you just google "iphone 5 nicks" macrumors is one of the first links. It is not like people are just happening to stumble across these forums....and I would venture to say a TON of those 788's are new users.

Originally Posted by desistyle

Here's mine. 1.5 months of use - slight nicks on the backside (last 2 pics):

Attachment 383000

Attachment 383001

Attachment 383002

Attachment 383003

Attachment 383004

I would say that is exactly how mine looks and I got it at launch. A few very small speckles that someone would have to look for to notice.

----------

Originally Posted by CasperRooney

This is what mine looks like after 6 weeks. Using AIAIAI TMA-1 headphones.
Attachment 383039

Hope they give me a new one, then I will wrap it up all good, and newer use a headset again!

Honestly, without applecare+ they may not give you a new phone. However, that is definitely caused from the headphone cable rubbing on the bottom...and there is nothing you could have done to prevent that. I could see if it looked like stab marks from trying to plug it in and missing, but that is clearly caused by the friction in normal usage. That should be consider a manufacturing flaw IMO

[CasperRooney]

Honestly, without applecare+ they may not give you a new phone. However, that is definitely caused from the headphone cable rubbing on the bottom...and there is nothing you could have done to prevent that. I could see if it looked like stab marks from trying to plug it in and missing, but that is clearly caused by the friction in normal usage. That should be consider a manufacturing flaw IMO

I hope they find the coloring to poor, and thats why the raw alu is showing.
It should hold up better than that. I have my headset plugged in 2 times a day about 30 min.
But your right about the friction point. The jack on the cable is angled, so it gets turned alot, therefor the friction. People with "normal" straight jack cables wont get the same friction, so maybe it´s not a problem for others.

But I cross my fingers for a new one!

[mattopotamus]

Originally Posted by CasperRooney

I hope they find the coloring to poor, and thats why the raw alu is showing.
It should hold up better than that. I have my headset plugged in 2 times a day about 30 min.
But your right about the friction point. The jack on the cable is angled, so it gets turned alot, therefor the friction. People with "normal" straight jack cables wont get the same friction, so maybe it´s not a problem for others.

But I cross my fingers for a new one!

I have heard of them offering people applecare+ when something like this happens even if they are outside of the 30 days. May not be free, but $150 (applecare+ and deductible) is much better than the $229 out of warranty price.

[AbSoluTc]

Originally Posted by CasperRooney

This is what mine looks like after 6 weeks. Using AIAIAI TMA-1 headphones.
Attachment 383039

Hope they give me a new one, then I will wrap it up all good, and newer use a headset again!

It's what happens when you have metal to metal contact on a coated surface. Friction will cause that. It's not a defect. Nothing is permanent.