Why Apple decided to paint the bezel of the black iphone 5

lke · 01:08 PM

I don't understand why Apple decided to paint the bezel of the black iphone 5.

I am sure that someone at Apple decided to paint the bezel at the last minute of production and because of this it is almost impossible to have a perfect iphone 5 even if you take care of it like nothing else.

On the iphone 5 website they write this:

Look at iPhone 5 and you can’t help but notice the exquisite chamfer surrounding the display. A crystalline diamond cuts this beveled edge. It’s what gives iPhone 5 its distinctive lines. Fitting for a phone so brilliant.

If you have seen a white iphone you will love that mirror finish on the bezel, but on the black iphone someone decided to paint it to black and because of this bad decision almost all iphone 5 have scuffs and scratches on the black bezel.

In the video Jony Ive say this:

We then use crystalline diamonds to cut the chamfers. it is so exact that you're left with a near mirror finish.

Why Jony Ive or else decided on the last minute to paint the chamfers or bezel to black, the mirror finish is amazing I could still don't understandy why they decided to paint it to black.

Maybe some day I will decide to polish the bezel to keep my iphone 5 looking good for years instead of only days.

Here are some photos of the production of the iphone where the machine polish the chamfers.

Tulani · Dec 18, 2012, 12:23 PM

It might just be wise to stick with the white one then till next iPhone iteration

Mrbobb · Dec 18, 2012, 12:46 PM

I have to say, when Ive finally writes his memoirs, the i5 would not be his favorite.

Leonard1818 · Dec 18, 2012, 12:54 PM

Best part of that post: the pics.

Sent from my flawlessly chamfered and painted iphone 5

vastoholic · 01:26 PM

You're generalizing too much. "Almost all iPhone 5 have scuffs on the black bezel." Show me how that statement is true. You can't. You only know what you see online.

My black iP5 does because I've gone caseless and don't care if it gets a few scuffs. But my chamfered edge has an extreme mirror finish. Catching the reflection of the sun off of it sometimes is actually a pain and I sometimes wish it was the same finish as the back and sides. It's the most reflective part of my phone actually.

I'm not sure from your post whether you have a white or black. It sounds like you currently have a white one. Have you owned the black one?

Jordan921 · Dec 18, 2012, 12:59 PM

The white phone looks great but I like the black phone alot better. The chamfered edges look great to me.

ppdix · Dec 18, 2012, 01:13 PM

I've had all the previous iPhones since 2007... This one (iPhone 5 Black) is by far the worst as far as durability goes.
First, the black sides are painted so dropping or scratching the sides is very noticeable. Also there are 2 pieces of glass in the back. Why? What for? I already cracked one of them!

I must say the aluminum slate back is perfect No scratches and it seems to be more oleo-phobic than plastic...
Still. I am glad i bought Apple Care, so for $50 i get a refurb iPhone.
I will wait to drop it a couple more times and then get it changed.

vastoholic · Dec 18, 2012, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ppdix

I've had all the previous iPhones since 2007... This one (iPhone 5 Black) is by far the worst as far as durability goes.
First, the black sides are painted so dropping or scratching the sides is very noticeable. Also there are 2 pieces of glass in the back. Why? What for? I already cracked one of them!

I must say the aluminum slate back is perfect No scratches and it seems to be more oleo-phobic than plastic...
Still. I am glad i bought Apple Care, so for $50 i get a refurb iPhone.
I will wait to drop it a couple more times and then get it changed.

The glass is for reception. Signal can't pass through aluminum effectively. That's why they are there. You know, for someone who has had every single iPhone and been a member since 2001, I would expect you to know that by now.

Jordan921 · Dec 18, 2012, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ppdix

I've had all the previous iPhones since 2007... This one (iPhone 5 Black) is by far the worst as far as durability goes.
First, the black sides are painted so dropping or scratching the sides is very noticeable. Also there are 2 pieces of glass in the back. Why? What for? I already cracked one of them!

I must say the aluminum slate back is perfect No scratches and it seems to be more oleo-phobic than plastic...
Still. I am glad i bought Apple Care, so for $50 i get a refurb iPhone.
I will wait to drop it a couple more times and then get it changed.

Maybe you shouldn't drop or scratch your sides and you wouldn't have anything to worry about.

SnowLeopard OSX · Dec 18, 2012, 01:26 PM

The iPhone 4/4S' glass is a more elegant design, although they don't handle drops very well. iPhone 5 handles drops a lot better (doesn't shatter the entire phone, but tiny nicks and scratches are noticeable if and when you bump your phone around (which is bound to happen).

Design-wise, iPhone 4/4S wins in my book.

Dec 18, 2012, 12:20 PM	#1
lke macrumors member Join Date: Jun 2009	Why Apple decided to paint the bezel of the black iphone 5 I don't understand why Apple decided to paint the bezel of the black iphone 5. I am sure that someone at Apple decided to paint the bezel at the last minute of production and because of this it is almost impossible to have a perfect iphone 5 even if you take care of it like nothing else. On the iphone 5 website they write this: Look at iPhone 5 and you can’t help but notice the exquisite chamfer surrounding the display. A crystalline diamond cuts this beveled edge. It’s what gives iPhone 5 its distinctive lines. Fitting for a phone so brilliant. If you have seen a white iphone you will love that mirror finish on the bezel, but on the black iphone someone decided to paint it to black and because of this bad decision almost all iphone 5 have scuffs and scratches on the black bezel. In the video Jony Ive say this: *We then use crystalline diamonds to cut the chamfers. it is so exact that you're left with a near mirror finish.* Why Jony Ive or else decided on the last minute to paint the chamfers or bezel to black, the mirror finish is amazing I could still don't understandy why they decided to paint it to black. Maybe some day I will decide to polish the bezel to keep my iphone 5 looking good for years instead of only days. Here are some photos of the production of the iphone where the machine polish the chamfers. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by dejo; Dec 18, 2012 at 01:08 PM. Reason: Fixed spelling to avoid derailing.
	1

Dec 18, 2012, 12:55 PM	#5
vastoholic macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Tulsa, OK	You're generalizing too much. "Almost all iPhone 5 have scuffs on the black bezel." Show me how that statement is true. You can't. You only know what you see online. My black iP5 does because I've gone caseless and don't care if it gets a few scuffs. But my chamfered edge has an extreme mirror finish. Catching the reflection of the sun off of it sometimes is actually a pain and I sometimes wish it was the same finish as the back and sides. It's the most reflective part of my phone actually. I'm not sure from your post whether you have a white or black. It sounds like you currently have a white one. Have you owned the black one? __________________ View my flickr sets....if you want. They're not too exciting. Last edited by vastoholic; Dec 18, 2012 at 01:26 PM. Reason: Thread title spelling fixed.
	2

Dec 18, 2012, 01:13 PM	#7
ppdix macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Miami Beach	The worst iPhone in durability... I've had all the previous iPhones since 2007... This one (iPhone 5 Black) is by far the worst as far as durability goes. First, the black sides are painted so dropping or scratching the sides is very noticeable. Also there are 2 pieces of glass in the back. Why? What for? I already cracked one of them! I must say the aluminum slate back is perfect No scratches and it seems to be more oleo-phobic than plastic... Still. I am glad i bought Apple Care, so for $50 i get a refurb iPhone. I will wait to drop it a couple more times and then get it changed. __________________ 12-core 2.66Ghz Mac Pro, 32GB, 1TB Accelsior PCIe SSD Drive, 18TB, ATI 5870, 2X 27" Apple LED Cinema Displays , 64GB iPhone 5, 64GB WiFi New iPad, 8GB iPod Nano, Canon 1D X, EPSON Photo 1400
	0

Dec 18, 2012, 01:26 PM	#10
SnowLeopard OSX macrumors 6502a Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Southern California	The iPhone 4/4S' glass is a more elegant design, although they don't handle drops very well. iPhone 5 handles drops a lot better (doesn't shatter the entire phone, but tiny nicks and scratches are noticeable if and when you bump your phone around (which is bound to happen). Design-wise, iPhone 4/4S wins in my book. __________________ iPad 4th gen Black/ 32GB/ iOS 6.1.3 iMac G4 1.0 GHz/ 1.25 GHz PPCG4 (7445) iPod \|Classic Black/ 80GB\|U2 edition 20GB iPhone \|4S White/16GB/ iOS 6.1.3\|3G White/16GB iOS 4.2.1
	0

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Dec 18, 2012, 12:23 PM	#2
Tulani macrumors regular Join Date: Dec 2012	It might just be wise to stick with the white one then till next iPhone iteration
	0

Dec 18, 2012, 12:46 PM	#3
Mrbobb macrumors 68020 Join Date: Aug 2012	I have to say, when Ive finally writes his memoirs, the i5 would not be his favorite.
	1

Dec 18, 2012, 12:54 PM	#4
Leonard1818 macrumors 68000 Join Date: Nov 2011	Best part of that post: the pics. Sent from my flawlessly chamfered and painted iphone 5
	3

Dec 18, 2012, 12:59 PM	#6
Jordan921 macrumors 68020 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Bay Area	The white phone looks great but I like the black phone alot better. The chamfered edges look great to me.
	0