You're failing to realize that 1) some of us have flawless units that we can't get to scratch for the life of us so it can't be the anodizing coating across the board and 2) demand has never been higher than in the past (including the 4/4S) so the workers may be deliberately allowing damaged units to slip past QC just to satisfy the higher demand under a time gun, at least until Apple put a stop to it.
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Increased iPhone 5 Quality Control Standards to Address Scratches Slowing Production
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You're failing to realize that 1) some of us have flawless units that we can't get to scratch for the life of us so it can't be the anodizing coating across the board and 2) demand has never been higher than in the past (including the 4/4S) so the workers may be deliberately allowing damaged units to slip past QC just to satisfy the higher demand under a time gun, at least until Apple put a stop to it.
Well, I'm a white American male, so my jeans heh. The volume buttons have broken once, the power button twice, the battery holds half its charge, and the charging port once. I've bought replacement OEM parts from ebay and taken the phone apart multiple times to fix it. It's really not a huge deal to me, but I was reiterating the point that a scratch is nothing. Hell, my old 3GS' plastic cracked by the dock connector and the volume buttons/ringer switch broke at one point. Though, no one ever called it "crack-gate" when my plastic cracked. Hell, my TouchPad's plastic is cracked and that was a known issue. Know what happened? There was one thread about it on xda and HP would fix it if you sent it in. It just annoys me how Apple products can't get ***** scratches without it being on CNN. Seriously, wth is wrong with some people...
Edit: Oh, and it's the ATT Samsung Galaxy S II, if that helps in anyway.
A mass produced consumer product made out of soft thin aluminum by the lowest bidder to provide the slave labor, what could go wrong?
Titanium is also painted and scratches. Source: Original Titanium Powerbooks.
edit: but probably not as easily as aluminum, also heat dissipation(conduction) not as effective compared to aluminum.
Why do you need to use a thick bulky case? I could understand on a phone that was heavier and thus more prone to cracking or breaking if you dropped it but the drop tests have shown the iPhone 5 to be quite durable. What does thick and bulky have to do with protecting the phone from scratches?
Not yet. I think Apple will probably make the iPhone 6 using a similar design, but instead of aluminum Apple will choose liquid metal. That same material that makes their SIM tool so difficult to bend.
This entire thing is stupid and an example of Apples falling quality standards. It seems when a company hits the top, they start cutting corners and getting sloppy.
Apple should not be shipping a phone that people keep in their pocket that scratches so easily that assembly line workers are scratching it accidentally.
Anyone that can argue with that is a fanboy of the highest order.
Think about how ridiculous this is for a moment. Why not offer a bare metal version for people that don't want to carry a scratched up phone...?
And not coming to a deal with Google about maps just compounds the problem. Apple should buy Nokia and get their maps online, but even if that happened tomorrow, we wouldn't see anything come of it for at least a year.
I've owned a Mac since 1984 and an iPhone since 2007. The iPhone 5 is a bit of a disappointment in several ways... sigh.
Apple should not be shipping a phone that people keep in their pocket that scratches so easily that assembly line workers are scratching it accidentally.
Anyone that can argue with that is a fanboy of the highest order.
Think about how ridiculous this is for a moment. Why not offer a bare metal version for people that don't want to carry a scratched up phone...?
And not coming to a deal with Google about maps just compounds the problem. Apple should buy Nokia and get their maps online, but even if that happened tomorrow, we wouldn't see anything come of it for at least a year.
I've owned a Mac since 1984 and an iPhone since 2007. The iPhone 5 is a bit of a disappointment in several ways... sigh.
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Thank you. That explains several things.
Being AT&T shouldn't mean different plastic works though. But perhaps because we buy ours at full prices all the time and expect to sell the handset to recoup the cost after 18 months on average, case protections and screen films are the norm since 2008. Taiwanese introduced them to us Thai and we expect them to come bundled with every new smartphone we buy now. iPhone 4/4S included.
Same goes for man purses, sachels and backpacks to prevent damages.
AND, Asian specs use old-fashioned lead solders, far more reliable than led-free solders used on US-spec.
I own an iPod Nano - second photo, and with the exception of a couple of scratches it is in great condition after 5 years (it is gunmetal black nonetheless). I take excellent care of my gadgets thank you very much.
But unless you at least can see that the iPhone 5 black is more scratch prone than the iPhone 4(s), denial is more than a river!
Just Curious
How many of the people continuously saying the iPhone 5 scratches so easily actually own one? I have Ghost Armor on mine, but didn't have it installed until over a week of use. Pockets, tables, messenger bag, kids *not a scratch on it. Now, I'm not about to grind it on the concrete or jab my keys into it, but that's not normal use. I'm not saying it can't happen, and I'm sure it does, but I don't think it's as delicate as people make out.
But even with keys (as in the article picture), you know those "scratches" on the back are actually from the softer metal of the key itself and can be wiped off, right?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2BxL0nRDlY#t=0m35s
Now, arriving in the box scratched is another story, which sounds like what they're trying to address with better QA.
How many of the people continuously saying the iPhone 5 scratches so easily actually own one? I have Ghost Armor on mine, but didn't have it installed until over a week of use. Pockets, tables, messenger bag, kids *not a scratch on it. Now, I'm not about to grind it on the concrete or jab my keys into it, but that's not normal use. I'm not saying it can't happen, and I'm sure it does, but I don't think it's as delicate as people make out.
But even with keys (as in the article picture), you know those "scratches" on the back are actually from the softer metal of the key itself and can be wiped off, right?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2BxL0nRDlY#t=0m35s
Now, arriving in the box scratched is another story, which sounds like what they're trying to address with better QA.
My iPhone has been sitting in my house for the last two weeks waiting to be opened since I was out of the country when I ordered it. I sure hope I don't have to deal w/ this when I finally get to see it 
Once it's out of the box - it's really the user's responsibility to keep the condition "like new. Could Apple make this easier with different materials - sure.
What is unacceptable is opening up a new box and getting a new device with scratches on it. And I am very far from some anal-retentive people who insist on everything being absolutely perfect re: bezel, screen color, etc - but if I buy something new - I do expect it to be ding free. Unless it's an open box purchase or previously used.
Or to put it another way, how many of the people continuously saying the iPhone 5 isn't as delicate as people make out actually own one with defective anodizing coating?
Bingo...this is what I think has happened as well. From what I've read, Steve basically gave Jony carte blanche with Jony not having to report to anyone at the company for anything to do with design.
Regardless of what QC changes they make, unless they go the hard anodizing route there will continue to be issues. Even worse, the following article indicates we could see much worse than scratches showing up down the road as it's unknown how the pH levels in human sweat will affect this design.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2012/10/10/its-the-iphone-5s-aluminum-case-thats-causing-problems-for-apple-and-foxconn/
OK so really it's all Steve's fault in the end. He chose Tim Cook to replace him as CEO and gave Jony Ive too much power. Blame Steve.
I really don't see what the big deal is over the scratches! The phone is going to end up getting scratched at some point. All of the scrateches I have seen are barely even noticeable. The phone still functions like it should. Just put a case on it and be happy you have an Iphone 5.
Scratches?
I've been using a black iPhone 5 without a case since day 1. Take it everywhere, use it several times a day. Not one scratch or scuff on it yet. I clearly don't do obvious damaging things like drop it, put it in my pocket with keys & loose change...rub it against cement.
I've been using a black iPhone 5 without a case since day 1. Take it everywhere, use it several times a day. Not one scratch or scuff on it yet. I clearly don't do obvious damaging things like drop it, put it in my pocket with keys & loose change...rub it against cement.
You know why the named the revised, non redesign the 3gS, 4S, 5(S)? S stands for "sucka". Keep waiting on those revisions instead of the redesigns bud.
Really
Diamond+Glass > Titanium + Glass > Stainless Steel + Glass > Aluminum +Glass > Plastic + Glass.... Can we be done with this now?
Not to mention that Jobs was for scratched aluminum on previous products, he has said that it gives them character (or something like that). Looking for quote.
Diamond+Glass > Titanium + Glass > Stainless Steel + Glass > Aluminum +Glass > Plastic + Glass.... Can we be done with this now?
Not to mention that Jobs was for scratched aluminum on previous products, he has said that it gives them character (or something like that). Looking for quote.