iPhone X How to remove scratches on the stainless steel on silver iPhone X

[newellj]

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: The SG will not scratch with normal handling. When I say “normal” handling, I mean without throwing the phone around naked, bumping it to hard surfaces.

The silver band should be handled the same way but the main difference is that it will show “micro-scratches” after getting in contact with hard surfaces, putting a case on and off or by simply wiping it with micro-fibre cloth that is contaminated by sand or similar material hardness.

I’m not even recommending using polishing cloth that is wet because that may damage anything inside the holes on the band.

My SG X has been in and out of its case with no single sign of a micro-scratch...and this is observed under bright lighting.

A lot of people are getting the silver because they simply want change from their usual black/grey phones without realizing the silver band will scratch really easily (or are aware of this but don’t mind polishing every so often). One of my friends did the exact same thing and he is now having buyers remorse...worse yet, he is beyond the return period.

I don't think we really know how the Space Gray will hold up. It's a PVD coating on stainless, not anodized aluminum. The thread linked above is admittedly at the tougher-use end of the spectrum, but if people are careless with Lightning cables or keep other things in their pockets that an exposed part of the band rubs again, you could see some ugly wear. If you search watch forums, you'll find a lot of reports of PVD-coated watches showing quite noticeable wear.

How likely that is, I don't know. I have had a Jet Black iPhone 7 in an Apple leather case since launch and it shows no scratches you can see, at least none you can see without a magnifying glass, even in bright light. Properly done, both finishes (anodizing and PVD) can be very hard. We'll have to see what develops.

 

[donster28]

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/here’s-why-i-changed-my-mind-from-space-grey-to-silver.2090788/

Again...that is the result of rough handling.

The silver one that it's compared to is not showing much scratching because of the lighting and the highlights are obviously overblown. If you see that in real life, you will see the scratching and it's much worse than what's pictured.
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I don't think we really know how the Space Gray will hold up. It's a PVD coating on stainless, not anodized aluminum. The thread linked above is admittedly at the tougher-use end of the spectrum, but if people are careless with Lightning cables or keep other things in their pockets that an exposed part of the band rubs again, you could see some ugly wear. If you search watch forums, you'll find a lot of reports of PVD-coated watches showing quite noticeable wear.

How likely that is, I don't know. I have had a Jet Black iPhone 7 in an Apple leather case since launch and it shows no scratches you can see, at least none you can see without a magnifying glass, even in bright light. Properly done, both finishes (anodizing and PVD) can be very hard. We'll have to see what develops.

Rough handling can change the perspective of things. I also don't rough-handle my phones like you and if the coating on the SG band start peeling off only after a few months on mine, then there must be something wrong.

 

[newellj]

Again...that is the result of rough handling.

The silver one that it's compared to is not showing much scratching because of the lighting and the highlights are obviously overblown. If you see that in real life, you will see the scratching and it's much worse than what's pictured.
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Rough handling can change the perspective of things. I also don't rough-handle my phones like you and if the coating on the SG band start peeling off only after a few months on mine, then there must be something wrong.

I think (guess) that it's pretty clear why the store demo unit(s) in the OP's pictures are so beat up. I can't think of much (other than carrying your phone naked in your pocket with loose change, a pocket knife or other hardware/hard objects) that would subject a phone to more abuse than what happens when an iPhone is being picked up and jammed back down on the docks on the tables in an Apple Store. The angle is wrong, the height is wrong, no one who's handling the phones cares about them - so the phones get beat up quickly.

 

[VodkaPear]

Since we can polish the scratches off from the stainless steel. How abt the 4 white band around the corner?

While we polish, do we need to avoid that area?

Or it can be polished as well?

 

[donster28]

Since we can polish the scratches off from the stainless steel. How abt the 4 white band around the corner?

While we polish, do we need to avoid that area?

Or it can be polished as well?

No one knows what polish will do to those. The band is not meant to be polished and you therefore run the risk of introducing problems to your phone.

 

[19callum93]

Cape cod polishing cloth

Hey man, I was just looking at these on eBay. Reckon they’ll work on silver iPhone X and stainless steel Apple Watch then?

 

[Gav2k]

Hey man, I was just looking at these on eBay. Reckon they’ll work on silver iPhone X and stainless steel Apple Watch then?

I use them on my Apple Watch once a month they work amazingly well

 

[posguy99]

So is it true that the space gray can't be polished in the same way as the silver?

It can be if you want it to be silver.

 

[Galiocho]

Put a case on. I'd suggest Spigen, or tech21 or UAG.

I did from the first day.
The iPhone X edge is scratched, that’s unbeliveable for “the best iPhone of ever”!
Apple must replace it for free!!!!

 

[wproct]

Using a phone and trying to keep it pristine as new is like a dog chasing it's own tail. Put a case on it that you really like and enjoy. Even then the phone will eventually suffer some wear.

 

[Galiocho]

Using a phone and trying to keep it pristine as new is like a dog chasing it's own tail. Put a case on it that you really like and enjoy. Even then the phone will eventually suffer some wear.

After one month is not possible!!!

 

[CarlG95]

1) put it in a case
2) relax

I've tried two cases (not cheap ones either) both have allowed small little particles inside the lip of the case that have left little marks on the stainless steel. Sad times.

 

[posguy99]

I've tried two cases (not cheap ones either) both have allowed small little particles inside the lip of the case that have left little marks on the stainless steel. Sad times.

<shrug> It's a physical device. It's used in the real world. It will show marks. Get a grip, move on.

 

[44267547]

I've tried two cases (not cheap ones either) both have allowed small little particles inside the lip of the case that have left little marks on the stainless steel. Sad times.

What exactly is sad about it? I don’t believe you understand the nature of stainless properties. The fact that surgical stainless steel scratches relatively easily Is a very dense, soft metal and it’s not Uncharacteristic for stainless to acrrue minor scratches. The stainless Apple Watch is the same way, it’s the nature of 316L stainless to develop a pattern of minor scratches.

 

[paulschofield76]

I've used the Cape Cod cloths in a couple of areas on my silver iPhone X.
I've noticed what looks like a residue but it won't wipe away. It's almost like a misty mark that's only visible at certain angles, almost like a very small amount of shine has been taken off. It would be impossible to show in a photo.
Has anyone else noticed this when polishing?

 

[44267547]

I've used the Cape Cod cloths in a couple of areas on my silver iPhone X.
I've noticed what looks like a residue but it won't wipe away. It's almost like a misty mark that's only visible at certain angles, almost like a very small amount of shine has been taken off. It would be impossible to show in a photo.
Has anyone else noticed this when polishing?

Are you rubbing too hard with the Cape Cod cloth? My thoughts are that if you are applying too much pressure when using the polishing cloth, it may have a caused a permanent discoloration with the surgical stainless.

 

[paulschofield76]

Are you rubbing too hard with the Cape Cod cloth? My thoughts are that if you are applying too much pressure when using the polishing cloth, it may have a caused a permanent discoloration with the surgical stainless.

I did wonder about that but I just use the tip of one finger to rub the cloth over the phone. I'd say I'm pressing fairly firmly but not exactly digging in or pressing hard.
It's also possible that it's more noticeable to me as I tape off a small square area around the area I'm polishing, so what I mentioned is visible as a small square.

 

[MarcMller]

My silver is scratched up like crazy from a case i used at first.. i dont even care lol IUP will just take this phone back in a year anyway

 

[NaveedRafaqat]

How much that Polish cost you?

 

[Baginz10]

Cape cod polishing cloth

Do you think this stuff would work on a gold xs? Worried it may take the gold colour off.

 

[Jordan921]

Do you think this stuff would work on a gold xs? Worried it may take the gold colour off.

The gold is just a coating. Yes there is a chance that it’ll buff off the gold color.

 

[lenard]

The stainless steel finish on the side of the iPhone X is very easily scratched. Mine already has many fine scratches. Just wanted to see how you guys buffer/treat scratches. Any recommended solutions that I can mix myself, or is there a cheap one I can buy online?

Put in a case.

 

[DDustiNN]

Do you think this stuff would work on a gold xs? Worried it may take the gold colour off.

Definitely do not do that.

 

[Pez555]

Used my X for 11 months naked. At the end of its life it was scratched up pretty bad. Used some autosol metal polish and it was literally good as new. Silver is a great colour if you want to re-sell.

 

[paulschofield76]

I've successfully used the cape cod cloths on my silver X.
The only problem is there's some very fine dents in the metal, the sort of thing that can only be seen close up but the cloths won't remove them.
They're tiny though, can't be felt with a fingernail and u think it's from removing a hard case I had.