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Th obsession over scratches with different colors happens every year with the vocal minority. There has yet to be a legitimate manufacturing defect with the anodizing process.

The MagSafe products have produced rings and the like since they were first introduced. Again, that doesn't show a manufacturing defect with the color itself.
iPhone 7 Jet Black would like a word.
 
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iPhone 7 Jet Black would like a word.
Show me proof there was an actual manufacturing defect with the iPhone 17 series much less the iPhone 7.

The display phones have shown a lot of wear and tear year after year. This year isn't any different unless someone can show valid proof of a manufacturing defect.

Phones get scratched and dark colors show more easily than light colors. Again, not new.
 
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Th obsession over scratches with different colors happens every year with the vocal minority. There has yet to be a legitimate manufacturing defect with the anodizing process.

The MagSafe products have produced rings and the like since they were first introduced. Again, that doesn't show a manufacturing defect with the color itself.

Listen, I have no dog in this fight, as I just went there to pick up a new watch. I'm just relaying what I witnessed firsthand. To your anodizing process point, again I'm not referring to the actual aluminum frames of the phones which all seemed fine, only the rear Ceramic Shield panels. That said, I've used the MagSafe charger on my 15PM for two years now with no scuffs or heat produced marks. Really, two whole days and already permenant marks, not to mention scratches? Again, on almost every model of phone. BTW I went up and down the aisles and looked at nearly every one as I couldn't believe that it wasn't going to be just a couple.
 
In any case, manufacturing defect or no, that's what I saw with my own eyes. Since you're so incredulous of this being any sort of issue, might I suggest popping into your local Apple Store to have a firsthand look yourself? Then come back and tell me you think what you saw is "not new."
 
Listen, I have no dog in this fight, as I just went there to pick up a new watch. I'm just relaying what I witnessed firsthand. To your anodizing process point, again I'm not referring to the actual aluminum frames of the phones which all seemed fine, only the rear Ceramic Shield panels. That said, I've used the MagSafe charger on my 15PM for two years now with no scuffs or heat produced marks. Really, two whole days and already permenant marks, not to mention scratches? Again, on almost every model of phone. BTW I went up and down the aisles and looked at nearly every one as I couldn't believe that it wasn't going to be just a couple.
I realize you were stating what you saw. I don't have a problem with that. I am not blaming you for anything.

We saw the same kind of mindset with the Midnight color Macs. Many on here and elsewhere tried to play the defect card, and others chose not to get the color because of fear they might scratch it through normal use and not be able to unsee the scratch. I can respect the latter. It is the former that is the problem. There was no defect with the Midnight MacBooks and there is no evidence there is a defect now. Anything is possible but, until facts come into play, I think it is wrong to use logical fallacy to blame Apple and also to deter others from getting some color phone because people see display scratches etc.
 
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I realize you were stating what you saw. I don't have a problem with that. I am not blaming you for anything.

We saw the same kind of mindset with the Midnight color Macs. Many on here and elsewhere tried to play the defect card, and others chose not to get the color because of fear they might scratch it through normal use and not be able to unsee the scratch. I can respect the latter. It is the former that is the problem. There was no defect with the Midnight MacBooks and there is no evidence there is a defect now. Anything is possible but, until facts come into play, I think it is wrong to use logical fallacy to blame Apple and also to deter others from getting some color phone because people see display scratches etc.
in your opinion was there a manufacting defect with the slate black iphone 5?
 
Show me proof there was an actual manufacturing defect with the iPhone 17 series much less the iPhone 7.

The display phones have shown a lot of wear and tear year after year. This year isn't any different unless someone can show valid proof of a manufacturing defect.

Phones get scratched and dark colors show more easily than light colors. Again, not new.
I don't know if there is a real issue or not on the 17's. We will see. I just know this has happened before.
 
I realize you were stating what you saw. I don't have a problem with that. I am not blaming you for anything.

We saw the same kind of mindset with the Midnight color Macs. Many on here and elsewhere tried to play the defect card, and others chose not to get the color because of fear they might scratch it through normal use and not be able to unsee the scratch. I can respect the latter. It is the former that is the problem. There was no defect with the Midnight MacBooks and there is no evidence there is a defect now. Anything is possible but, until facts come into play, I think it is wrong to use logical fallacy to blame Apple and also to deter others from getting some color phone because people see display scratches etc.

Seriously, I'm doing nothing you're accusing me of. Not blaming Apple, not stating anything as fact as it pertains to manufacturing defects and certainly not discouraging others from getting the phones. What's more, I'm not trying to equivocate this with any past Apple product launches that raised similar complaints. What I am saying is that I've been to many an iPhone launch weekend and have never seen any past model phones look the way these did, especially in such a short period of time. My parter who notoriously doesn't care about or notice these types of blemishes was surprised to learn that they had only been on display for two days. But again, it seemed very specific to the rear Ceramic Shield charging panels, which you seem to be ignoring (NOT the anodized aluminum like that of the Midnight MacBook Air). But I guess all I can really say here is see for yourself. I'm done.
 
in your opinion was there a manufacting defect with the slate black iphone 5?
I had said phone. I didn't keep it long because I just wasn't impressed with the phone or the color. The color struck me as really dull. I also saw the plethora of alleged problematic pics on here and elsewhere. I am not in a position to speak to having knowledge of a defect with the 5 but, I will say that from what I recall, I remember thinking there might have been a problem with some batches given the wide variety of alleged color variances and alleged problems with some of the 5's
 
Seriously, I'm doing nothing you're accusing me of. Not blaming Apple, not stating anything as fact as it pertains to manufacturing defects and certainly not discouraging others from getting the phones. What's more, I'm not trying to equivocate this with any past Apple product launches that raised similar complaints. What I am saying is that I've been to many an iPhone launch weekend and have never seen any past model phones look the way these did, especially in such a short period of time. My parter who notoriously doesn't care about or notice these types of blemishes was surprised to learn that they had only been on display for two days. But again, it seemed very specific to the rear Ceramic Shield charging panels, which you seem to be ignoring (NOT the anodized aluminum like that of the Midnight MacBook Air). But I guess all I can really say here is see for yourself. I'm done.
I haven't accused you of anything. Don't know why you are defensive. You stated your observation, I acknowledged I didn't have a problem with what you observed or you sharing what you saw. I merely replied to your post with a general comment reflecting more thoughts on what I have said with other prior posts.
 
I swear I never saw that type of scratches either in the iPhone 15 back or the iPhone 16 back. They were located in the MagSafe area, probably due to the repeated attachment and detachment to the MagSafe stand… but already present on the first day? Strange.
Those “scratches” are from some clown using their keys on the back of the display models to scratch it, likely to post the resulting photos for clout. It looks to me like the brass of the key rubbing off on the harder glass, but either way, it’s intentional.
 
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It's hard for me to believe Apple does all this testing with the phones and their durability, especially with anything glass, and then the phones release and the next day people are like "OMG IT SCRATCHES SO EASILY"
 
The cynical part of me can’t help but think that Apple made it so that if you drop your phone, the soft aluminum body will absorb the shock, preventing the Ceramic Shield parts from breaking. So instead of replacing broken glass under AC+, they don’t have to do anything since the damage to the aluminum is “cosmetic”.
 
Many on here and elsewhere tried to play the defect card

I don’t think anyone is suggesting there is a manufacturing defect on the 17 series, merely that the quality of the coating is poor.

I went into my local apple shop here in Sydney this morning, and every single one of the 17 P/PM models were showing scratches on the rear coating.

Some just on the frame, some just on the Ceramic Shield, and some on both.

I didn’t look at any air models.

Now this store has security wandering around watching everyone, so there is no way anyone deliberately scratched them.

It was clearly from just being handled over the course of a couple of days.

It’s pretty obvious that the coating is not up to the task of withstanding the daily grind of regular usage.
 
It’s pretty obvious that the coating is not up to the task of withstanding the daily grind of regular usage.
But why would Apple release a phone with a coating that is "not up to the task of withstanding the daily grind" when they specifically called out the increased durability of these new phones? I mean...they test these coatings before shipping them out of factories, right?
 
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The cynical part of me can’t help but think that Apple made it so that if you drop your phone, the soft aluminum body will absorb the shock, preventing the Ceramic Shield parts from breaking. So instead of replacing broken glass under AC+, they don’t have to do anything since the damage to the aluminum is “cosmetic”.
And extends their bottom line for sure.
 
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I really don't know much about the subject, and wouldn't call it a defect per say.

Looking around, from what I can gather so far, perhaps Apple specifically developed a forged aluminum alloy unique to the 17 Pro series with perhaps focus on heat dissipation, environmental sustainability, and maybe other factors, with an anodization process for more vibrant, saturated colors. Perhaps they just weren't aware of how such would fair out in the world and such may be quietly refined later or revised next year.
 
I think people are getting way too focused on the aluminum on the 17 Pros when the Airs appear to have similar issues.

It doesn’t make any sense that the black iPhone Air is having the same scratch problems when it’s made out of titanium.

This appears to primarily be a coating issue and possibly an issue with the aluminum.

Also I purposefully went to the Apple Store at the end of the first day as there was less of a chance that devices would be damaged from being handled and I was shocked how many non base model iPhone 17s had scratch issues, with the iPhone Air black looking absolutely insane.

Also for people saying this is a non-issue I think it’s worth going to an Apple Store and seeing it for yourself. If you go and check out the iPhones and think it’s still a non-issue issue then that fine.

But to have not even gone to an Apple Store and then accuse everyone of making stuff up doesn’t make sense, especially when reports about scratches are coming in from all over the world and even Bloomberg News is taking about it.
 
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I think people are getting way too focused on the aluminum on the 17 Pros when the Airs appear to have similar issues.

It doesn’t make any sense that the black iPhone Air is having the same scratch problems when it’s made out of titanium.

This appears to primarily be a coating issue and possibly an issue with the aluminum.

Also I purposefully went to the Apple Store at the end of the first day as there was less of a chance that devices would be damaged from being handled and I was shocked how many non base model iPhone 17s had scratch issues, with the iPhone Air black looking absolutely insane.

Also for people saying this is a non-issue I think it’s worth going to an Apple Store and seeing it for yourself. If you go and check out the iPhones and think it’s still a non-issue issue then that fine.

But to have not even gone to an Apple Store and then accuse everyone of making stuff up doesn’t make sense, especially when reports about scratches are coming in from all over the world and even Bloomberg News is taking about it.
This. I assumed it was the usual “scratchgate’ stuff we hear every year, until I visited my local Apple store yesterday and was shocked to see the store of the phones, especially those the dark blue Pro and the black Air. This particular store is one that has constant security looking over your shoulder.
 
I am one of those people that really don’t care about the cosmetics. I put mine in a case, and since it is a work issued phone I turn it back in in 2 years and receive a new one. So I don’t have to worry about resale value etc. BUT I checked out my local store on day 1 to get a feel of the phones (mine won’t arrive until mid October), and they were the worst wear of any display phones I have seen personally. Like I said I don’t really care one way or another, but it was very noticeable - and like som pointed out - mostly on the Ceramic Shield. Not the aluminum body. The silver pro was the only one that wasn’t immediately obvious bc of the color, but some of those phones looked like they had been sitting on display for several months already
 
For those who have the position that Apple wouldn’t release a product with faulty coating or why would Apple release a product with a coating that couldn’t/wouldn’t stand up to the daily use of a phone…
We needn’t look far….FineWoven…IJS😉
 
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I’ve seen enough. I’ll wait until next year when they bring Ceramic Shield 2 to the back glass. And hopefully they find a different material than aluminum that’s less scratch prone. I don’t know if they can do some titanium-aluminum alloy or something like that to find a good balance between scratch resistance, weight, and heat dispersion.
 
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