Cracked iPhone 4... weird

[Wicked1]

Looks like a Flex crack like if you leaned against the wall an half your phone was touching the wall and the other half was bending to the other side.

You normally get these stress fractures when glass bends ever so slightly.

Not sure why this would happen because I do remember Apple touting this Glass was used with the same process as they use to make Helicopter windshields and High Speed train windshields so these things should be way stronger.

 

[itsmemuffins]

If they refuse to replace it and try to take $199 to replace it, just remove the two screws and push the back glass up. It'll pop right out and you can just buy another 'back'.

$33 from here.

I get a WOT warning that the site has poor reputation.

 

[nowise]

My wife's i4 cracked this morning while riding in a bookbag with clothes and other soft things. It was on the top and not subject to any hard bumps, drops, flexing, etc. It was fine in the morning, then we drive to work and then it was cracked.

One crack going from one end of the phone to the other. I will be trying to return this for replacement as I don't really see how this is our fault.

 

[Sherifftruman]

80 dollars for a case is insane!

But I have to say, that thing looks sweet. I just bought a $20 totally clear case, but if I end up going with a bumper type solution, I just don't see how I can keep from buying that thing, so far it is the only case that looks worthy of the design of the iPhone 4. It gives me a semi-boner. If someone came out with that so quickly, who knows what might come out in a few months time. I would kill for a version of the Vapor case in all Carbon Fiber!

 

[HelloMikee]

User error? People are idiots sometimes. Return it.

With over 1 million iPhones being sold, I'd be tripping out if there weren't cases of bad units.

It's common, it's life, is't real and they'll deal with you professionally and don't take anything less.

 

[miamialley]

TWO of my friends have had this happen. Very strange and definitely should not happen.

 

[rotobadger]

Sounds like what can happen to auto glass when going from one temp to another quickly. People in New Mexico who travel from Albuquerque to the mountains or northern NM get this a lot because of the change in temp from one area to another.

Maybe the phone was hot from being outside and then cooled quickly in the A/C?

 

[miamialley]

Sounds like what can happen to auto glass when going from one temp to another quickly. People in New Mexico who travel from Albuquerque to the mountains or northern NM get this a lot because of the change in temp from one area to another.

Maybe the phone was hot from being outside and then cooled quickly in the A/C?

Hmm...

My friend went to sleep and notice a very slight crack in the glass of her phone, then woke up to a long crack. The temperature in the room was constant. I could see that happening more quickly as a result of temperature change. Well, maybe the initial crack could be from temp...I dunno, interesting.

At least it wasn't scratched!

 

[iKurisu]

i remember on the apple site before the iphone4 launch that there was a video introducing the iphone4 - going through manufacturing processes, design notes etc, and I remember when they were talking about the aluminosilicate (or whatever) glass they showed a video of some stress testing of it or something. A machine holding the glass on both ends (top and bottom) and a press slowly pressing down in the center. The glass bent pretty far, but did not break. Would this happen to be the same glass that was cracked in the OP, or...is the video showing some other glass...

 

[Hutch1]

Looks like a Flex crack like if you leaned against the wall an half your phone was touching the wall and the other half was bending to the other side.

You normally get these stress fractures when glass bends ever so slightly.

Not sure why this would happen because I do remember Apple touting this Glass was used with the same process as they use to make Helicopter windshields and High Speed train windshields so these things should be way stronger.

Might be the same glass but the helicopter windshields and high speed train windshields are way thicker than a couple of millimeters.

 

[Hutch1]

It could be yet another design issue, that being differential rates of expansion between the nice metal frame and the glass. If there isn't a way for the glass or the connection between the glass and the frame to allow for the expansion somethings got to give.

Yes I know just don't take your phone outside.

 

[Frenchjay]

If they refuse to replace it and try to take $199 to replace it, just remove the two screws and push the back glass up. It'll pop right out and you can just buy another 'back'.

$33 from here.

Found a cheaper one!!
http://www.eketshop.com/goods.php?id=2464

I'm considering buying this because I like the white on the back with the front of the phone staying black.

Video on how to take of the glass back on the iPhone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKez7oPVkxc&feature=youtube_gdata

 

[michalko.j]

Found a cheaper one!!
http://www.eketshop.com/goods.php?id=2464

I'm considering buying this because I like the white on the back with the front of the phone staying black.

Video on how to take of the glass back on the iPhone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKez7oPVkxc&feature=youtube_gdata

Has anyone ordered one of these? It doesn't appear to include anything but the glass. I see no camera lens, metal ring, plastic/rubber trim or mounting hardware around the glass. Without those things it's about as useful as the front glass without the digitizer for the 3G/3GS.

 

[Frenchjay]

Has anyone ordered one of these? It doesn't appear to include anything but the glass. I see no camera lens, metal ring, plastic/rubber trim or mounting hardware around the glass. Without those things it's about as useful as the front glass without the digitizer for the 3G/3GS.

This one is non oem so I would get the one from the previous link provided from truth supplier.

I am going to order soon to keep safe in the event my back gets scratched or cracked. I think around 40£ with delivery is better than paying apple alot more to unscrew two screws and fit it just the same as I would.

I can't wait to see what kind of custom ones people bring out

 

[Sherifftruman]

i remember on the apple site before the iphone4 launch that there was a video introducing the iphone4 - going through manufacturing processes, design notes etc, and I remember when they were talking about the aluminosilicate (or whatever) glass they showed a video of some stress testing of it or something. A machine holding the glass on both ends (top and bottom) and a press slowly pressing down in the center. The glass bent pretty far, but did not break. Would this happen to be the same glass that was cracked in the OP, or...is the video showing some other glass...

Funny thing about any kind of glass. It can bend a very surprising amount under the right conditions, but in the wrong conditions, it will break and it is often very unpredictable. This is especially true for any type of heat treated glass. The edges are very sensitive yet the rest is very strong.

Take the old frameless bar windows on Trans Ams and Camaros. They had long doors and it was actually possible to just pull and bend the piece of glass from the corner and bend it enough that your arm could get in and unlock the door.

Hit that same piece of glass on the edge with a hammer and bam, it shatters. You can even hit it in the middle with the right tool (hardened chisel for instance) at the right amount of force and it will shatter.

 

[Glam]

I wanna buy your old cracked one PM me if you wanna sell it!

 

[AbSoluTc]

It's a stress crack.

How it happened was explained when you posted your problem. You had it in your pocket. Sometime during it's ride in your pants, it was bent by the stress of your pants around it when you sat, squatted or whatever. Be careful next time.

 

[Carniphage]

80 dollars for a case is insane!

Unless you protect it with a meta-case!

C.

 

[youngplaya0228]

It's a stress crack.

How it happened was explained when you posted your problem. You had it in your pocket. Sometime during it's ride in your pants, it was bent by the stress of your pants around it when you sat, squatted or whatever. Be careful next time.

I wonder what Steve Jobs would say as a response to this problem if it becomes mainstream???

 

[DERMOTGY]

me too cracked up

pretty much the same story

the crack on mine is finer and goes through the p part of iphone

definitely no trauma

i am very careful

off to complain...

 

[DravenGSX]

It's a stress crack.

How it happened was explained when you posted your problem. You had it in your pocket. Sometime during it's ride in your pants, it was bent by the stress of your pants around it when you sat, squatted or whatever. Be careful next time.

Your kidding right? Be careful next time? Now we can't put our phones in our pocket?

 

[WhySoSerious]

The design on these phones weren't thought out very well

yes they were. i'm sure that was one of the giggling points in the apple design meeting.

"hey, let's make the phone all glass, so they are more prone to cracking and people have to re-buy a new phone!"

 

[Goldinboy17]

User error? People are idiots sometimes. Return it.

With over 1 million iPhones being sold, I'd be tripping out if there weren't cases of bad units.

It's common, it's life, is't real and they'll deal with you professionally and don't take anything less.

You're right. Maybe the glass had some sort of defect? I had the same issue with mine cracking, but it was in a silicone case. In my pocket, on my desk, hand or bed. The only places I've left it since purchasing it. Surprisingly, I'm not overly annoyed by the crack. It's definitely there, but it's hardly noticeable. It doesn't resemble at all the looks if an iPhone that was dropped or smashed.

 

[knatsch]

Mine also had a crack on the backside out of nowhere. Crack was small in the beginning but was growing fast just by carrying the phone around in my empty pocket.
Never dropped it btw. Went to the Apple Store and they replaced it for free. Still I am scared that this might happen again eventually.

 

[scaredpoet]

I wonder if the new glass is heat sensitive. I live in Las Vegas and the temperatures right now are over 100 degrees and dry. Anyone else with cracked glass live in high heat areas?

It's possible, but I'm an area where we've been in a record heat wave for the past couple of weeks. Been going in and out between near 100-degree weather and 70-degree air conditioned buildings, and my glass hasn't cracked yet.

besides, there's glass products that go through rapid heat changes all the time (windshields, glassware through dishwashers, etc.). I would HOPE Gorilla glass is tempered for changes in temperature.