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Is your black iPhone 5 scuffed, chipped or scratched?

  • Flawless

    Votes: 1,158 46.1%
  • Flawless because I put a case on it.

    Votes: 198 7.9%
  • Scuffed out of the box

    Votes: 820 32.7%
  • Scuffed/scratched shortly after

    Votes: 334 13.3%

  • Total voters
    2,510
So does this mean that mine is defective if it has scuffed so easily?

Also the sim card tray is very slightly recessed, and not flush with the side. It means that a bit of debris builds up there and I guess it will slowly get pushed into the phone. Should I get the phone exchanged.
Defective, probably.

Also I think I got a very little bit of sweat on the SIM card when I put it in last. Will this have ruined my phone?
Ruined, possibly.

I guess you're right. I'm not sure if I am over worrying here.

I'm so worried though because I pressed the power button with my finger nail instead of my finger, and it was on the edge of the button not the middle. The button made an unusual sound, not the normal click. I really worry I might have caused some damage. I did this twice too :-/
Damaged, definitely.

Has anyone else experienced this awful problem of the SIM card tray being far too recessed?

Mine sits at least a few microns too deep to be flush with the rest of the side. It is truly awful because it means that some dust particles accumulate there.

I'm starting to lose a lot of sleep over all these issues now, and in fact can't concentrate at work. Apple need to sort all these problems out before they go under.
Awful, worryingly.
 
Ok so it seems that everyone except the last person thinks I'm worrying too much. Perhaps I am blowing some things out of proportion. However none of you have seem the phone. A couple if the scratches are almost 1/4 of a mm long and you can see the silver. Just looking at it now makes me feel a bit panicky.
 
Ok so it seems that everyone except the last person thinks I'm worrying too much. Perhaps I am blowing some things out of proportion. However none of you have seem the phone. A couple if the scratches are almost 1/4 of a mm long and you can see the silver. Just looking at it now makes me feel a bit panicky.

Then by all means FREAK OUT!!! This is a free country, you can go crazy over far less... no worries.

Every black iPhone will show silver (even if it's just on the chamfered edge) after minor use. I'm very sorry you didn't get to do it yourself, but rest assured every black phone will have some flaw (put it under a microscope and prove me wrong). It will not affect resale much (if any) a year from now, as every black iPhone 5 will have some. Apple also never promised anyone a flawless phone. All they can do is tighten quality control and try to keep the miniscule number of unhappy "ScuffGate" folks appeased.

If there was a legitimate problem (rather than just the freak outs of the OCD crowd on the associated fan forums), sales would be impacted and Apple would address the problem. Sales are off the hook, and Apple can't produce them fast enough. There is no "problem". It might be happening, but it certainly isn't an issue to the normals. Sorry.

I'm sure you'll find plenty wrong with whatever material they choose next.

So go ahead. Exchange it 50 times if it'll make you feel better.

It's refurb city now anyway :cool:
 
If there was a legitimate problem (rather than just the freak outs of the OCD crowd on the associated fan forums), sales would be impacted and Apple would address the problem. Sales are off the hook, and Apple can't produce them fast enough. There is no "problem". It might be happening, but it certainly isn't an issue to the normals. Sorry.

Sounds like Apple is being forced to do something about the scratches and dings. Apparently it's enough of a problem that it's even further impacting availability.

http://techcrunch.com/2012/10/17/ap...-by-assembly-challenges-foxconn-exec-reports/
 
How close up should you be able to take photos?

My camera won't focus at closer than 4". I'm sure my first ip5 took better snaps.

Also my camera lens rattle is *way* worse when the camera app is open. If the vibration motor goes off when the camera app is open the lens rattle sound is really loud. I just don't know what to do. In sone ways this is one of the worst things that has ever happened to me.
 
How close up should you be able to take photos?

My camera won't focus at closer than 4". I'm sure my first ip5 took better snaps.

Also my camera lens rattle is *way* worse when the camera app is open. If the vibration motor goes off when the camera app is open the lens rattle sound is really loud. I just don't know what to do.

Lens rattle? First time hearing of that one.

In sone ways this is one of the worst things that has ever happened to me.

Wow...
 
Lens rattle, dust in the camera lens, and some of these other items are really out there!! I just expect no dead pixels, dents, or scratches. I thought I was picky ha!
 
This is really concerning for me to hear, but it may be becoming true, I think that when these companies get too big, especially with so many loyal followers, they think that they can get away with this, every product I have gotten this year has problems (iPad 3rd Gen, rMBP and now the iPhone 5, all i've had to deal with) I'm sorry, this phone cost me $500 on a contract ($950 without), this should not happen out of the box:

Get that swapped ASAP that's ugly
 
Sounds like Apple is being forced to do something about the scratches and dings. Apparently it's enough of a problem that it's even further impacting availability.

http://techcrunch.com/2012/10/17/ap...-by-assembly-challenges-foxconn-exec-reports/

Tightening qc is NOT the same as coming out and acknowledging there is a widespread problem and that it is their fault by virtue of a design flaw or otherwise.

Ironically, the "enhanced" quality control is unlikely to appease the hardcore OCD'ers, as they have routinely been unhappy even with units that have been personally inspected by AppleCare (read this thread for examples).

Most (if not all) black iPhones have teeny tiny, insignifigant, unnoticeable (unless you hold the phone at a specific angle or use a macro lens/special lighting) nicks on the aluminum body of the phone.

99% of owners either A) Haven't noticed and think their phone is flawless or B) Don't care and realize that at some point over the next year it is GOING to acquire minor damage through use anyway, even if cased/babied because of the materials/color involved.

It is what it is. Don't want it, don't buy it. Nowhere is there a guarantee of a "cosmetically flawless design" and nowhere do they indicate it will stay that way for any period of time. If you "deserve" or think you are "entitled" to a flawless mass produced item out of the box simply because you spent a relative amount of money on it, you're not. If you are unhappy with the product, return it.

They aren't having a hard time selling them. There IS no "problem". I'm not saying that the "damage" isn't real, only that it's really a non-issue for the VAST majority of users (which is why Apple agrees with me).

----------

Sounds like Apple is being forced to do something about the scratches and dings. Apparently it's enough of a problem that it's even further impacting availability.

http://techcrunch.com/2012/10/17/ap...-by-assembly-challenges-foxconn-exec-reports/

Tightening qc is NOT the same as coming out and acknowledging there is a widespread problem and that it is theor fault by virtue of a design flaw or otherwise.

Ironically, the "enhanced" quality control is unlikely to appease the hardcore OCD'ers, as they have routinely been unhappy even with units that have been personally inspected by AppleCare (read this thread for examples).

Most (if not all) black iPhones have teeny tiny, insignifigant, unnoticeable (unless you hold the phone at a specific angle or use a macro lens/special lighting) nicks on the aluminum body of the phone.

99% of owners either A) Haven't noticed and think their phone is flawless or B) Don't care and realize that at some point over the next year it is GOING to acquire minor damage through use anyway, even if cased/babied because of the materials/color involved.

It is what it is. Don't want it, don't buy it. Nowhere is there a guarantee of a "cosmetically flawless design" and nowhere do they indicate it will stay that way for any period of time. If you "deserve" or think you are "entitled" to a flawless mass produced item out of the box simply because you spent a relative amount of money on it, you're not. If you are unhappy with the product, return it.

They aren't having a hard time selling them. There IS no "problem". I'm not saying that the "damage" isn't real, only that it's really a non-issue for the VAST majority of users (which is why Apple agrees with me).
 
Sounds like Apple is being forced to do something about the scratches and dings. Apparently it's enough of a problem that it's even further impacting availability.
http://techcrunch.com/2012/10/17/ap...-by-assembly-challenges-foxconn-exec-reports/
Tech crunch has it exactly right. they are having to swap out a lot of new ones for new ones to avoid the legal liability.
The are instituting higher QC as a legal protection, because all the documented out of the box damaged ones move the probative burden to them. By getting their own people into the foxcon they are able to reduce that.
 
Silver showing on antenna: have a case on it anyway

Tiny piece of debris under screen: can deal, I just pay no mind to it.

Chipped home button: NO.

Not all of us are over the top OCD as you may be imagining where a tiny nick that is only visible at a certain angle is bothering us. These are real pieces of messed up merchandise.

I witnessed a Genius open an "Inspected by AppleCare" box only to open the worst damage to a newly opened iphone 5 I had ever seen: one side of the antenna was almost all silver, like it had been sanded.

Yes, every item one buys comes with imperfections but the damage that the iPhone 5 has been coming with OUT OF THE BOX has been unacceptable. If anybody thinks that a person who pays for their iphone should accept it with:

Deep gashes in the antenna/bezel
Chipped screens
Chipped home buttons
Dirt/debris under the screen

Is wrong. I understand just dealing with minor nicks but NO: I refuse to accept a phone that is clearly DAMAGED.

We're not all over the top OCD. Some of us genuinely got screwed over time and time again.
 
I was fortunate enough to snag a 16GB iPhone 5 for my sister this morning at my local Apple store. We sat down with the Apple guy so he could help her set up an iCloud account and what not (her first iPhone). Anyway, the sales guy pulled it out of the box, and hands it to my sister. She asked me if I saw this "silver mark" on her phone, and sure enough there was a nick right by the bottom right of the phone. Upon further inspection we found 4 more nicks in various places. We immediately brought it to the attention of the sales guy, who in turn took it up to the "Genius" bar. The "Genius" came over and said (rather rudely) "It should not be scuffed out of the box, but that doesn't make it defective". We spoke to the manager who said we could exchange it for a "service part" phone, or wait in line and get a new ticket tomorrow for a retail exchange. Problem with the service part phone is that they will only offer you one, if it is worse you are SOL (according to the manager).

I completely understand that the aluminum will scuff over time if you are not careful, but I do have a problem with it having cosmetic damage straight out of the box. What bothers me the most is the genius admitting that it was messed up to have a iPhone look like that fresh out of the box, but in the same sentence totally shoot it down. I'll be waiting in line tomorrow to try and get a another phone for her, most likely a white one this time.
 
Just got my white iphone today. There is a little scratch on the front chamfered side right out of the box. Sure it is annoying that it came like that, but the rest of the phone (primarily the screen having no dead pixels) is absolutely perfect. It actually makes me feel free from babying it and worrying about getting that first scratch I guess. I might be slightly more annoyed if I had the black and you could see the silver always, but since I have the white, you have to tilt the phone on the perfect angle for the light to refract on the scratch in order to actually see it.

Anyways, I'll just get Applecare+ and after it gets worn in time I'll just pay the $50 for a new device.
 
Came with 3-4mm nick in glass over right edge of screen. Torn on returning/keeping. Week 42.
 
A month of use. Bodyguardz Pure + back/sides skin. [I do have the photos of the skins on my camera, I just need to find time to post a short review]

No drops, normal use.

No physical damage anyways besides the chamfered edge.
My lenses (or something) does rattle a bit, hold down power button/lenses

Makes a small rattling sound when I set it down (back down)

I'm fine with this. If anything, I'll buy that black paint marker from Amazon or Sharpie this.

51yarl.jpg


142a0d3.jpg


2r40py0.jpg
 
I got mine yesterday- an unlocked 64GB Black/Slate. I didn't run it under the microscope closely inspecting the phone, there's no scuffs or any glaring imperfection. After reading the experience people are having right out of the box, I was pretty concerned that my black iP5 won't look anything like the promo photos Apple posted on their website. But mine actually does.
 
@JayGlow

I kept waiting for people to realise you were joking, but no, it just kept on going... Nice!
 
Exactly 4 weeks after order I eventually received my iPhone 5 64GB Black.
I've been following this thread since launch and was worried of how it would come to me.
It's flawless :) but I do not intend to put it in a case (I used a bumper with the 4 and 4S but it was because of the sharp edges...)

Production week: 42 (October)
Name: iPhone 5
Colour: Black
Capacity: 64GB
Factory: C3 (China)
 
Although I thought my first replacement was flawless, on closer inspect it had a few imperfections round the bevelled edge. I'm now on my 4th iPhone 5 and it's still not perfect. It's getting very tiresome.
 
Although I thought my first replacement was flawless, on closer inspect it had a few imperfections round the bevelled edge. I'm now on my 4th iPhone 5 and it's still not perfect. It's getting very tiresome.

Even a diamond is not perfect unless you pay for that quality. Every Iphone has its little inperfection and if its that small who cares. Be real, after a couple weeks they'll be minor imperfections on it anyway.
 
Even a diamond is not perfect unless you pay for that quality. Every Iphone has its little inperfection and if its that small who cares. Be real, after a couple weeks they'll be minor imperfections on it anyway.

I agree.

My iphone 5 is 99,8% flawless. Just 2 tiny, tiny spots on the side bands. But really that tiny that you need either a microscope, or you need to hold it in a certain position in the light. I don't think that is a big deal, is it? Some people really have issues with their phones, but a lot of people are getting crazy by all the stories, giving their phone a microscopical search when it arrives, and then 'confirm' the stories made here. If they didn't see this topic they couldn't care less about the - mostly - microscopical imperfections.

If your screen is loose, your damage is big / really noticable, loose buttons or anything like that: yeah, get a new one. If you are talking about 1 or 2 tiny microscopical dots you found after a real close search? Relax people!! It the kind of spot you forget about in 2 days.
 
Totally agree.

Dust under the screen or dead pixels.
Even loose buttons if they are really worse.

But little scratches in the metal band or under the coating...
I'd keep it because it would look like that in a years time anyways.

Think different ;) In one year you are already speculating over the iPhone 5s or 6.

If it's really a QA issue, Apple will change the design slightly.
 
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