iPhone 5 - black version scuffs (merged)

[Crazy Badger]

No wonder the iPhone is so expensive when some people are going though several replacements for a tiny mark that they are going to end up with anyway after a few months use.

It's a mobile phone for crying out loud! The idea is to use it, not lock it away and only use it wearing cotton gloves.

 

[mjpearce023]

I'm an apple user. But lately I have the S3. Most people don't like because its a plastic. But the build quality is perfect actually..

The S3 is a nice phone but I think the screen is a problem. I couldn't downgrade to that bad of a screen after using the iPhone 4/5 and the HTC One X. Now if the S3 had the design and screen of the One X then I would probably have one right now. If the One X had a home button and more memory I probably would have just kept it but the iPhone 5 is the best option for me. It’s all personal preference though so I can see how some people prefer the S3 but I'm just saying for me the iPhone is the best option right now. Hopefully the S4 will have a better screen and feel to it so I can add it to my possible upgrade list next year. Right now the iPhone 5 is the top phone if picture quality is high on your list followed closely by the One X.

 

[lamboman]

So... its not virtually perfect then

It is though...! "Virtually" by definition means "almost" or "nearly"

Hopefully it'll stay like that...

EDIT: I just had a further look...I take back the two needle-pin marks. Take the back plastic off and you honestly can't see them unless you're looking in the right light.

 

[striker33]

No wonder the iPhone is so expensive when some people are going though several replacements for a tiny mark that they are going to end up with anyway after a few months use.

It's a mobile phone for crying out loud! The idea is to use it, not lock it away and only use it wearing cotton gloves.

Go troll elsewhere. No one loves you.

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It is though...! "Virtually" by definition means "almost" or "nearly"

Hopefully it'll stay like that...

EDIT: I just had a further look...I take back the two needle-pin marks. Take the back plastic off and you honestly can't see them unless you're looking in the right light.

In all seriousness, I completely forgot the small marks were there for a few days on my first one. Then I used it outdoors, and was blinded by the silver specks when the sun caught it properly.

The SIM tray in my 3rd IP5 wasnt anodised properly in parts, and I could actually peel away the small layer with my nail it was that bad.

Its a shame really, because the black IP5 is possibly the best looking gadget on the market right now.

 

[malias4]

I had the white 4S but in my opinion the black iPhone 5 is just amazing, scuffs be damned. It has a dark, futuristic vibe to it, a stealth look. It really brings out the magnificent screen, the focus of the device. It really enhances the illusion that you are manipulating the content with your fingers, as everything else is obscured in the deep blackness.

While the white 4S was a beautiful object, as the white iPhone 5 is, it's the black model that is most powerful this time. Like a mysterious object that is difficult to identify, it stands as a monolith to technological progress.

I agree tottaly with u man, thats why i ve ordered the black!
It like a mystery under that stealth black color!
My iphone 4 was white but this one had to be the black one!
Stil waiting for my order to arrive but i have already my ful body protection here

 

[shortcut3d]

Day 1: iPhone 5 arrived with a small scratch on the top antenna band right near the screen and a thickened anodized coating blemish near the vibrate switch.

Day 3: Noticed a small chipped away piece of anodized coating over the sim tray.

Day 4: Noticed more silver showing on the polished band right next to the screen. This is literally where the screen meets the band.

I believe my anodized coating is slowly peeling away because the phone has always been set on either wood, cloth, paper, leather or plastic. The phone is pocketed this week in only empty wool / silk blend suit coat pockets. I haven't had the chance to carry in jeans.

My wife says the damage is so minor the genius bar will simply laugh at me. Do you think I can swap the phone? The earliest appointment I could get was this Friday. I went to the Apple store to request they document the damage from right out of the box and they said only a genius can do so and the next available appoint is Friday late morning. I hope they exchange it. I did notice half of the displays were far worse than my handset, but the other half were perfect.

 

[lamboman]

snip

Call AppleCare and explain the situation. Explain how the coating appears to be flaking off, and that you are not happy with the phone's lack of durability. If AppleCare are of little help, request firmly to speak to, or to be contacted by Apple Customer Relations. They should be able to sort something out for you.

As for whether your local store will laugh at you, unfortunately I've found it varies hugely from store to store. I have two Apple Stores less than 10 miles from home; one is generally full of rude, useless, and arrogant staff, while the other store are generally more friendly and understanding but have proven to be useless when it comes to organisation.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Day 1: iPhone 5 arrived with a small scratch on the top antenna band right near the screen and a thickened anodized coating blemish near the vibrate switch.

Day 3: Noticed a small chipped away piece of anodized coating over the sim tray.

Day 4: Noticed more silver showing on the polished band right next to the screen. This is literally where the screen meets the band.

I believe my anodized coating is slowly peeling away because the phone has always been set on either wood, cloth, paper, leather or plastic. The phone is pocketed this week in only empty wool / silk blend suit coat pockets. I haven't had the chance to carry in jeans.

My wife says the damage is so minor the genius bar will simply laugh at me. Do you think I can swap the phone? The earliest appointment I could get was this Friday. I went to the Apple store to request they document the damage from right out of the box and they said only a genius can do so and the next available appoint is Friday late morning. I hope they exchange it. I did notice half of the displays were far worse than my handset, but the other half were perfect.

Despite what others try to tell you, it's a defective anodizing coating, period. Get it swapped.

 

[jcoa332]

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2410596,00.asp?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews

Maybe Apple is trying to avoid a repeat...

 

[joec1101]

You all remember this right? Shouldnt be shocking that apples aluminum cases waste away. Im just hoping that theres no permanent damage from absorbing who knows what through my skin.

That is not aluminum.

That appears to be a 2007 era Macbook Pro and the keyboard/palm rest part is plastic with a silver coating of some sort on it.

By the way, mine never wore like that nor have I had any wear issues at all with any of the silver aluminum Macbook Pro or Air models that I own. I'm guessing that kind of wear comes from some abuse.

Just sayin'...

Now the finish on the new iPhone 5 may be a different story. Only time will tell...

 

[auero]

Week 39 64gb black AT&T. Perfect.

 

[MrX8503]

Got my 3rd iPhone. It's not flawless, but its a ton better than my second.

My second one had a chunk of the band carved off and a part of the glass screen chipped. Looked like someone dropped it. The sim color was way off too.

My 3rd one has minor scuffing and minor dust trapped under the glass. Sim tray is closer in color to the band. Not flawless, but I can say that I am happy. Luckily Apple has the best CS out there.

Overall, from my experience, the original retail units are in better condition than the replacement iPhones. So think twice before you do a replacement.

 

[Z3man]

I went to collect my reserved black 16gb from the apple store tonight, purchased it at 6.45pm, got it refunded at 7.10pm. it had a few nicks and scuffs on the bezel and jack socket, one of the nicks was on the front of the bezel facing you when you looked at the phone and it would have bugged me every time i looked at it.

Besides that i thought the overall fit and finish was fairly poor anyway, nowhere near what i have come to expect from apple in the eight years i have been using their products, every other product i have ever purchased from them has been perfect.

They had absolutely loads of 5's on display and everyone i looked as was in poor condition, this is simply not good enough from apple and i hope they get thousands of returns to teach them a lesson, i think they have tried too hard to make it lighter and took away the quality, the white one looks very cheap indeed. i wouldn't expect this from a £100 phone never mind a £530-£700 phone.

I travelled 78 miles in total to get this phone tonight.

Shocking, apple want shooting.

 

[striker33]

I went to collect my reserved black 16gb from the apple store tonight, purchased it at 6.45pm, got it refunded at 7.10pm. it had a few nicks and scuffs on the bezel and jack socket, one of the nicks was on the front of the bezel facing you when you looked at the phone and it would have bugged me every time i looked at it.

Besides that i thought the overall fit and finish was fairly poor anyway, nowhere near what i have come to expect from apple in the eight years i have been using their products, every other product i have ever purchased from them has been perfect.

They had absolutely loads of 5's on display and everyone i looked as was in poor condition, this is simply not good enough from apple and i hope they get thousands of returns to teach them a lesson, i think they have tried too hard to make it lighter and took away the quality, the white one looks very cheap indeed. i wouldn't expect this from a £100 phone never mind a £530-£700 phone.

I travelled 78 miles in total to get this phone tonight.

Shocking, apple want shooting.

According to the TNT and UPS guys who regularly deliver and collect from me, they've had ridiculous amounts of collect requests for the iPhone 5.

I assume this is why my 3rd replacement was actually a previously used unit.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

According to the TNT and UPS guys who regularly deliver and collect from me, they've had ridiculous amounts of collect requests for the iPhone 5.

I assume this is why my 3rd replacement was actually a previously used unit.

No, Apple does not repackage used/returned iPhones as new retail iPhones and it's too early for anyone to get a refurbished white box replacement iPhone (allow about two months for that to happen). It's just a large number of predamaged iPhones that have managed to escape QC.

 

[ipedro]

Apple Store exchanged it

When I received my iPhone 5 on the first day, I noticed a small scuff above the seam on the side. It was noticeable but only because I knew it was there. I decided to live with it, eventually my iPhone will get scratched. But weeks went by and it killed me inside to know that I paid $1,100 for a phone full price and got it scratched out of the box. I decided I'd get over it.

Today, I went into the Apple Store Eaton Centre in Toronto to buy AppleCare+ and when they took it to the back to run a diagnostic on it, the Genius came back and said he noticed it was scuffed and asked if I wanted a replacement. Wow! That's customer service.

So we ran through the procedure and while I waited, the people on either side of me were there for the same problems I encountered. Low battery life and scuffs. I thought, wow, this is a really widespread problem. Nope, it was even worse than I thought. After running through all the paperwork, we took my replacement out of the box and it too was scuffed. This one pretty severely!

The Apple Genius was patient and understood that he couldn't give me another damaged iPhone and got me a second replacement. This one was ok.

With Maps, widespread scuffed iPhones, unprepared for the dock connector switch, unprepared for cases.. it's like Apple didn't even know it was releasing an iPhone in September. Everything seems rushed and released before it was ready. What gives?? This isn't the Apple I've been buying from for 10 years.

 

[-Reaper-]

Questions

I'm getting the iPhone 5 from Verizon tmrw and was wondering if I do see any scratchs/scuffs on it should I take it back and ask for a replacement? And when I ask for a replacement will they let me keep my phone until the new one comes in and then just give them the bad one then?

Any help is appreciated. Thanks

 

[Kariya]

At this point i'm starting to resign myself to the fact that i'll have to stick with my original retail unit. It came with zero scratches and a very miniscule fade in one of the antenna bands. I've been using it without a case but with a screen protector and there has been no new damage since the 21st.

My problem is with the screen which has these weird colour shifts when you move the phone even slightly. But still usable. Me 2nd replacement had a big scratch on the right chamfer.

I'm expecting my 3rd replacement soon but given what i'm reading in this thread i'm seriously not holding my breath. I'm starting to believe around 50% (guestimate) of units shipped have at least one issue. In hindsight i should've waited till around December. Oh well...lesson learned.

Might even sell it and get a Lumia or 8X

My order status in my Apple online store account shows the phone as ineligible for return, though.

Is buying from Apple such a priviledge that luxuries like returns aren't allowed?

You might have to call instead.

 

[rsxmachine]

When I received my iPhone 5 on the first day, I noticed a small scuff above the seam on the side. It was noticeable but only because I knew it was there. I decided to live with it, eventually my iPhone will get scratched. But weeks went by and it killed me inside to know that I paid $1,100 for a phone full price and got it scratched out of the box. I decided I'd get over it.

Today, I went into the Apple Store Eaton Centre in Toronto to buy AppleCare+ and when they took it to the back to run a diagnostic on it, the Genius came back and said he noticed it was scuffed and asked if I wanted a replacement. Wow! That's customer service.

So we ran through the procedure and while I waited, the people on either side of me were there for the same problems I encountered. Low battery life and scuffs. I thought, wow, this is a really widespread problem. Nope, it was even worse than I thought. After running through all the paperwork, we took my replacement out of the box and it too was scuffed. This one pretty severely!

The Apple Genius was patient and understood that he couldn't give me another damaged iPhone and got me a second replacement. This one was ok.

With Maps, widespread scuffed iPhones, unprepared for the dock connector switch, unprepared for cases.. it's like Apple didn't even know it was releasing an iPhone in September. Everything seems rushed and released before it was ready. What gives?? This isn't the Apple I've been buying from for 10 years.

I got mine replaced at fairview, first replacement was horrible, like someone banged it into wall, so they went to their secret stash and got me a perfect one. Seems like 38 week + models are coming out perfect.

 

[MultiMediaWill]

No scuffing on day 1. 13 days later I have scuffing around the bottom of the phone. #annoyed

 

[brent1977]

Update on my situation (if anyone cares )...

Scuffed at all antenna ends from the box. Decided to just live with the cosmetic flaws.

Battery life attrocious. Was reading blog posts in Safari this afternoon and burned through 10% in 11 minutes! Called Apple Support and was told that I could send it in for testing but only if I agreed to pay full price of a new phone if they couldn't find any problems.

So, after messing with battery and usage settings more the last couple days, just decided to return the stupid thing and switch back to my old iPhone 4.

 

[striker33]

No, Apple does not repackage used/returned iPhones as new retail iPhones and it's too early for anyone to get a refurbished white box replacement iPhone (allow about two months for that to happen). It's just a large number of predamaged iPhones that have managed to escape QC.

Erm, no.

My 3rd phone wasnt damaged. It had someone else's Apple ID pre registered with it.

The box was sealed, but the phone itself had various air bubbles with dust trapped underneath the protective film, as well as fingerprints on the chamfered edges.

It doesnt matter too much anyway. The screen was horrible again. Loads of yellow/orange tinting to the top and right side. Loose home button. Loose power button. Pathetic in terms of quality.

Nothing like a finely crafted watch.

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Update on my situation (if anyone cares )...

Scuffed at all antenna ends from the box. Decided to just live with the cosmetic flaws.

Battery life attrocious. Was reading blog posts in Safari this afternoon and burned through 10% in 11 minutes! Called Apple Support and was told that I could send it in for testing but only if I agreed to pay full price of a new phone if they couldn't find any problems.

So, after messing with battery and usage settings more the last couple days, just decided to return the stupid thing and switch back to my old iPhone 4.

Agreed on the battery life. Its fantastic in standby, but whats the point in that if you arent actually using the thing?

I think I got 2 hours 30 mins usage out of mine yesterday before it hit around 10%, and only 15 mins or so of that was heavy usage.

I've requested a return anyway, along with my 6th rMBP, for a refund.

I wont be going anywhere near Apple for a good couple of years at the very least, or until Tim Cook gets the boot. I don't care about getting products at the same time as the US. I care about getting a quality product that lives up to the price tag, even if it means waiting a week or two extra like the IP4 etc.

 

[Mactagonist]

Has anyone tried intentionally polishing off the black anodization on the rear of the black model? I think it would look good!

 

[Dlanod]

I got mine replaced at fairview, first replacement was horrible, like someone banged it into wall, so they went to their secret stash and got me a perfect one. Seems like 38 week + models are coming out perfect.

I have just picked up a week 38 model in white and so far it seems pretty perfect cosmetically.

 

[Anajaf27]

I think apple should offer a service in the store where they recoat the sides of the black iPhone to anyone who has the scuffing issue