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After One Day the iPhone 4 Demo Models Are More Scratched Up Than the iPhone 3GS Demo

MICHAELSD

MICHAELSD

macrumors 603
Original poster
Jul 13, 2008
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I went to an AT&T store to finally check out the iPhone 4 while I wait impatiently for an Apple Store or Best Buy to get a new shipment. Everything was how I expected except the glass. It was badly scratched. Both the screen and the back had numerous deep scratches and a lot of hairline scratches. The hairline scratches were usually grouped together. It was just awfully damaged after 30 hours. The iPhone 3GS demo models never got this scratched up after a year, the screen nor the back.

On top of that, I was able to get the signal down to one bar on purpose. Then I was holding the iPhone how I normally would without paying attention to how many bars I had and I noticed the reception went down to two bars. What happened to extensive testing of products? I wouldn't expect Apple to release a product that gets scratched up so terribly (it was really bad how scratched up it was) and that loses a few bars of coverage when you use it. Nonetheless, I'm still anxiously waiting to own an iPhone 4 and a few good cases.

It's even worse when you realize the glass on the original iPhone never got noticeably scratched on any demo models I've seen after a year (or the one I owned). Apple used such scratch-resistant glass in the past, so I was happy when we found out the front and back of the iPhone 4 were glass.
 
The iPhone 4 demo models looked really bad, and after only 24 hours. It makes the iPhone 4 look like touching it will scratch it; the iPhone 4 doesn't have the same durable characteristic that I thought it would, and that Apple has achieved with glass in the past. Has anybody else noticed this on demo models, or were the demo models at this AT&T store ran threw a paper shredder (or something :rolleyes:)?
 
it was probably the oleophobic coating thats getting scratched, at least I hope it is....

I have a few hairline scratches on my front too, only visible in certain light though.

I am sure it went something like this:

worker: Mr. Ive, I have overlooked the production of a new glass I think you should use on the new iPhone
Ive: well lets see, is this highly scratch resistant?
worker: from our tests, no....
Ive: is it shatter proof?
worker: based on our tests, no....
Ive: well then tell me, what does this glass have over the one we use right now?
worker: IT'S HIGHLY BENDABLE!!
Ive: F**K YES! Let's put it on both the front and back, this will be huge.....

gahhhhhhhhhhhh
 
palmerc2 said:
it was probably the oleophobic coating thats getting scratched, at least I hope it is....

I have a few hairline scratches on my front too, only visible in certain light though.
Click to expand...

Many were too deep to be hairline scratches. Seriously, under light the bottom right corner looked like plastic that was scratched to hell with many fine scratches, though those may have been scratches on the coating. There were more than a few deep scratches, too, though. I wonder what these demo models will look like after a year. At the rate it's going now, the demo models will be falling apart a while before the new iPhone comes out.
 
You do realize a demo model is going to be touched, held and used by likely thousands of people on a near 24-hour basis, right? Not to mention, like kids, are going to be excited to see the device. Of course they're going to be rough with it, much rougher than an individual would be with their own device (that they paid good money for.)
 
MICHAELSD said:
Many were too deep to be hairline scratches. Seriously, under light the bottom right corner looked like plastic that was scratched to hell with many fine scratches, though those may have been scratches on the coating. There were more than a few deep scratches, too, though. I wonder what these demo models will look like after a year. At the rate it's going now, the demo models will be falling apart a while before the new iPhone comes out.
Click to expand...
Also, you're confusing cosmetic damage for actual hardware durability. Glass and stainless steel may scratch, but they're very durable and should be able to last for years of usage.
 
Steve Ballmer said:
You do realize a demo model is going to be touched, held and used by likely thousands of people on a near 24-hour basis, right? Not to mention, like kids, are going to be excited to see the device. Of course they're going to be rough with it, much rougher than an individual would be with their own device (that they paid good money for.)
Click to expand...

+1 No offense OP but seriously? Judging based on demo models?

I used to work at a Circuit City and a Best Buy years ago and I can easily tell you most demo models get abused the first day. EVERYONE wants to touch and play and break. We were constantly replacing them.
 
If what you report is accurate (I'm inclined to believe you but there is always the possibility of a troll attack...) then the only explanation is sabotage. People here have used their iPhones in the field for many more than 30 hours without a scratch. The only way an iPhone 4 can get deep scratches like that is if you drop it OR if you intentionally scratch it with something very hard such as a diamond.

Imagine putting one of the Android fanbots in front of an iPhone for a few minutes... yeah, I don't think it's unreasonable to see them doing something dumb to it.
 
And people still forget that yes, dropping the iPhone 4 from a height or intentionally running over it with a car will, in fact, probably cause some damage.
 
Juan007 said:
If what you report is accurate (I'm inclined to believe you but there is always the possibility of a troll attack...) then the only explanation is sabotage.
Click to expand...

It is accurate. I wouldn't troll here (or anywhere for that matter). It's just really disappointing after watching previous iPhones get aggressively keyed for minutes on video without a scratch.

I'm waiting on PC World's scratch, liquid, and drop "torture" tests for the final verdict. It should be up soon, though this is the longest it has taken. They had a "torture tests" video for every iPhone released so far and for the iPad.
 
D3lta said:
Did you ever think that maybe they have replacements for demo models? (which is why the 3GS probably looked so good "after a year"):rolleyes:
Click to expand...

This. They replace demo models. And since they last replaced the 3GS, I doubt anyone has touched it.

I mean who would mess with the 3GS, when there's a iPhone 4 to play with instead?
 
Apple stores ones have ZERO scratches. It's either they constantly replaced them, which seem unlikely, stores are always packed.
 
br0adband said:
One can always go to an Apple Store and pull out a house key, yanno... ;)

If only the iPhone 4 could mimic this:

http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/29/dell-streaks-gorilla-glass-screen-torture-tested-for-your-amus/

Disclaimer: if you haven't seen that video (and you really do have to watch it to understand), it's almost painful to watch but the results with have you smiling from ear to ear... ;)
Click to expand...


It can take a pounding, sure, but like any glass, when dropped from the right angle, it will still shatter:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuuWRB43HCE
 
All the demos in my local store are pretty much mint. The 3GS scratched by breathing on it, the 4 is far more durable in terms of scratching.


Plastic back/cheap chrome material < Glass/Stainless Steel
 
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