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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
I returned a black one early this week. This one has no scratch, scuff, dent. Everything is perfect except dead pixels. Actually, there is also a dust under the screen but I don't mind this. Went to store, they swapped the phone, the last one in retail box. But unfortunately, replacement is week 35. Even worse. They refund my money in to a gift card so I can not get my money to my credit card. I am really tired. Any one know if I can get a refund for a gift card. Really don't want to buy it any more
 
Thinking about getting another replacement. I've had this one, my first replacement, for a few weeks. Scratches along the chamfered edge are getting worse, despite the phone being in a case the entire time. My Wi-Fi reception has also generally been poor, compared to my iPhone 4. I guess I'll go in for a replacement on Wednesday. This replacement is from week 40 I believe.
 
Build Week 39 and came in perfect condition, been in incipio frequency case since day one. Have a super faded 1 inch line on the aluminum and few microscopic line scuffs along the bezel. The headphone jack is taking a little beating since I use my headphones quite often, it looks like microscopic nicks inside the ring. All hardly noticeable from inches away. I am very careful of this device and notice the normal "wear and tear" today after a detailed visual inspection. I might go "***** it" and go naked for a week. It feels a lot better without a case. I might regret it, eh, Ill stick with the case LOL.
 
You, and others here, are posting in this thread because you have a problem! So asking in this thread where 95% of posting people had the bad luck will give you a colored opinion about the iphone. But howmany millions of people are enjoying their phones without trouble that are not posting here? That is the point.

I can also google 'problems mercedes benz' and get a lot of hits. But does that mean all Mercedes cars are bad? No, because the majority of Mercedes cars are trouble free but people don't post about trouble free cars.

Last but not least: How do you estimate that 70% of Iphones are damaged? And how do you know that people who say thay they are trouble free are naive? No offence, but that is just unfounded rousing what you are doing there. Come with facts please before making people nervous about their purchase.

I'll repeat - 3 out of 3 of my iphones were defective. 1 person, 3 out of 3 iphones. Let that fact speak for itself.

BTW, I also just noticed 2 chips on the home button on my 3rd one. It has been sitting in the box, unactivated, and unused all this time. So add that to the list of defects.
 
I'll repeat - 3 out of 3 of my iphones were defective. 1 person, 3 out of 3 iphones. Let that fact speak for itself.

BTW, I also just noticed 2 chips on the home button on my 3rd one. It has been sitting in the box, unactivated, and unused all this time. So add that to the list of defects.

I believe you. I've seen 5 myself. All have physical dings, dents and scratches. Very disappointing!!
 
I'll repeat - 3 out of 3 of my iphones were defective. 1 person, 3 out of 3 iphones. Let that fact speak for itself.

BTW, I also just noticed 2 chips on the home button on my 3rd one. It has been sitting in the box, unactivated, and unused all this time. So add that to the list of defects.

Out the tens of millions sold? It speaks for nothing and proves nothing sorry. It is to bad that you got that unlucky, no disputing that but it means nothing.
 
I actually have scratches/dings on the outer polished aluminum on my black 5. I have no damn clue how I got them, I take serious care of this phone. Never dropped it or anything. If its just from putting it in my pocket then I feel as though apple should replace it for shotty craftsmanship. But knowing apple they probably wouldn't.
 
Perhaps I am very unlucky. After going through 5 ipjone replacements i had just given up and sold it on craigslist. reading online, it seems like apple had fixed the issue soI decided to give the iPhone 5 another go. I reserved it online last night and went to pick it up in the store this morning. I had to wait a bit because of the iPad mini line but was served quickly. They brought out my iphone and I quickly inspected it. It was by far the worst iphone 5 I had seen. The antenna looked like it had been drug through some gravel. It had two deep scratches on the bezel. Chips out of the anodized aluminum in the back and an over exaggerated rattling noise. I showed it to the apple rep and even he was surprised at the amount of damage the phone had. He immediately went to the back to try and get a new phone. He came out shortly after and explained that their system for verizon phones was down so he would not be able to switch it out. He said to hold onto it a couple of days and come back or return the phone. I returned the phone.

It was a week 43 iPhone.
Looked way worse than the previous production week ones I have seen.
It's just very disillusioned. I love Apple products but the quality of these iPhone 5s are terrible if they are coming out of the box looking like they have been in a pocket full of gravel and coins.
 
Had my black iphone 5 for about 28 days now it was perfect out the box and I put it in a TPU case immediately after the BB rep handed it to me.

Just inspected it and still perfect. I would normally go without insurance on my iphones but this one verison seems to need it.
 
I ordered some Birchwood pens for the two we've got here. They were both mostly scratch free to start with but were quick to develop scuffs along the edges.
 
interesting. to the people saying its just the few unlucky ones coming to this thread, i know from experience every person i know who owns an iphone 5 has had scuffing problems, microphone problems, etcetera etcetera, and had to get new ones.
 
interesting. to the people saying its just the few unlucky ones coming to this thread, i know from experience every person i know who owns an iphone 5 has had scuffing problems, microphone problems, etcetera etcetera, and had to get new ones.

But what does it say? Every person I know who owns an iphone 5 doesn't have any problem at all. And now what?

I understand the frustration if you keep being unlucky but even if you are unlucky 3 times it doesn't say anything. There are already millions and millions iphones sold.
 
Went to pick up my outright black iPhone (Australia) and didn't like the first one, exchanged for a second one. Both Week 43.
The guy was like, "if we give you the ability to exchange the first one for the second one, you can't exchange again if you don't like it. And if you don't like the second one, you can't take the first one back. So it's take it or refund." Both were new retail boxes. So I went ahead.

Second one have so many nicks around the front edge of the aluminium band, and I asked if I could have the first one back, and they said no.

Instead of asking for a full refund (mind you I bought on debit card first, and then for the exchange they returned it onto an apple gift card and bought the second one with it - sly Apple), I've decided to go back to Apple store tomorrow and say I bought this new iPhone and not satisfied, can I have a exchange?
Is it possible? Do they know you're on your second iPhone and in reality, you aren't meant to exchange anymore according to them?

Thanks
 
Went to pick up my outright black iPhone (Australia) and didn't like the first one, exchanged for a second one. Both Week 43.
The guy was like, "if we give you the ability to exchange the first one for the second one, you can't exchange again if you don't like it. And if you don't like the second one, you can't take the first one back. So it's take it or refund." Both were new retail boxes. So I went ahead.

Second one have so many nicks around the front edge of the aluminium band, and I asked if I could have the first one back, and they said no.

Instead of asking for a full refund (mind you I bought on debit card first, and then for the exchange they returned it onto an apple gift card and bought the second one with it - sly Apple), I've decided to go back to Apple store tomorrow and say I bought this new iPhone and not satisfied, can I have a exchange?
Is it possible? Do they know you're on your second iPhone and in reality, you aren't meant to exchange anymore according to them?

Thanks

You should be able to, just make sure the person that helped you out the first time doesn't see you.
On another note, what was the factories did these come out of? (First few letters/numbers in the serial number.)
 
You should be able to, just make sure the person that helped you out the first time doesn't see you.
On another note, what was the factories did these come out of? (First few letters/numbers in the serial number.)

Thanks!
First one was DNPJL77...second one was DNPJL7C...very similar
 
But what does it say? Every person I know who owns an iphone 5 doesn't have any problem at all. And now what?

I understand the frustration if you keep being unlucky but even if you are unlucky 3 times it doesn't say anything. There are already millions and millions iphones sold.

I bet I could find issues with most of the phones of these people you know. Just because they haven't complained, it doesn't mean the problem does not exist.
 
I bet I could find issues with most of the phones of these people you know. Just because they haven't complained, it doesn't mean the problem does not exist.

I have to agree with this. My friend opened his brand new black iPhone 5 in front of me the other day, and he didn't even notice the 3 scuffs on the edges of his phone (which I saw right away). When I pointed them out to him, he said that they weren't a big deal and put his phone in a case, and that was the end of that.

I can guarantee that there are going to be people out there that don't notice or don't care, and therefore, are not going to complain.

I do think this issue is pretty widespread. SNL wouldn't have picked it up if it wasn't. I just think MRers will be more OCD and more vocal about the issues than the general population. Just my 2¢.
 
I have to agree with this. My friend opened his brand new black iPhone 5 in front of me the other day, and he didn't even notice the 3 scuffs on the edges of his phone (which I saw right away). When I pointed them out to him, he said that they weren't a big deal and put his phone in a case, and that was the end of that.

I can guarantee that there are going to be people out there that don't notice or don't care, and therefore, are not going to complain.

I do think this issue is pretty widespread. SNL wouldn't have picked it up if it wasn't. I just think MRers will be more OCD and more vocal about the issues than the general population. Just my 2¢.

This has been one of my many points all along...

99% of the normal iPhone users don't view "scuffgate" as a "problem" despite there being a microscopic "scuff" on the edge of their phone if you look really close (at the right angle, sometimes with a macro lens...).

It's the 1% OCD crowd, the 1% that will find fault in ANYTHING, that find "problems" with the iPhone 5. Had Apple made it out of Diamond, they would have found SOMETHING to complain about ("it scratches my coffee table" or "it doesn't sparkle right").

The moral of "scuffgate" is, no matter what Apple did there would be contrarians. People who complain just for the sake of complaining.

If someone who thinks their phone is perfect and works great has some douche point out that it isn't technically "flawless" because of a scuff "flaw" (that they never would have noticed had it not been for the 1% OCD'er), I would have to say that the phone isn't really the thing with the "problem".

The iPhone 5 is the best iPhone EVER. It will likely go down as the best selling iPhone EVER. The 1% (or less) of people with "problems" are NOT a representation of satisfaction with this phone.

On a side note, I feel like going and registering on an Android forum and registering with the username "MyPlasticPhoneIsAPieceOfCrap". I bet I would get lots of credibility, especially for being unbiased:p
 
This has been one of my many points all along...

99% of the normal iPhone users don't view "scuffgate" as a "problem" despite there being a microscopic "scuff" on the edge of their phone if you look really close (at the right angle, sometimes with a macro lens...).

It's the 1% OCD crowd, the 1% that will find fault in ANYTHING, that find "problems" with the iPhone 5. Had Apple made it out of Diamond, they would have found SOMETHING to complain about ("it scratches my coffee table" or "it doesn't sparkle right").

The moral of "scuffgate" is, no matter what Apple did there would be contrarians. People who complain just for the sake of complaining.

If someone who thinks their phone is perfect and works great has some douche point out that it isn't technically "flawless" because of a scuff "flaw" (that they never would have noticed had it not been for the 1% OCD'er), I would have to say that the phone isn't really the thing with the "problem".

The iPhone 5 is the best iPhone EVER. It will likely go down as the best selling iPhone EVER. The 1% (or less) of people with "problems" are NOT a representation of satisfaction with this phone.

On a side note, I feel like going and registering on an Android forum and registering with the username "MyPlasticPhoneIsAPieceOfCrap". I bet I would get lots of credibility, especially for being unbiased:p

You misunderstood my post. This has nothing to do with satisfaction. We're addressing the existence of an obvious flaw in the manufacturing process of the phone. Just because someone (the "normal iphone user," as you say) doesn't acknowledge the problem (due to ignorance, indifference or otherwise- and more power to them for being willing to overlook things), doesn't mean the problem doesn't exist. It definitely exists. There is an issue here.

That "1% OCD crowd of complaining contrarians" that you're referring to are the reason that Apple (and other companies) have any sort of quality control. And their complaints make the next model better. If no one complained about Maps being utter garbage, then no one would fix it. If no one complained about Antennagate, Apple certainly would not have made any effort to fix it. Without these "complainers," Apple could make their phones out of sh** and everyone would love them. Is this what you want? Do you want to hold sh**?

You say the iPhone 5 is the BEST iPhone EVER. Do you think it would be if people didn't complain about issues with the original iPhone, 3G, 3GS, 4 and 4S? No, it definitely wouldn't be. Apple will take these all these complaints to heart and make the next iPhone even better.

So instead of bashing and bullying others here, you could make a constructive contribution. You know what? Maybe it would be best if you went and trolled the Android forums instead of MacRumors.
 
But what does it say? Every person I know who owns an iphone 5 doesn't have any problem at all. And now what?

I understand the frustration if you keep being unlucky but even if you are unlucky 3 times it doesn't say anything. There are already millions and millions iphones sold.

Exactly.

Damaged out of box - Anger fully justified. Get it replaced.

Damaged from very slight use, use that wouldn't have damaged any similar piece of equipment (i.e. anodized iPod for example) - You may have one of what I believe to be a small percentage with misapplied anodizing. Get it replaced.

Part of the vast majority with no issues - Rock on.
 
I do believe that no iPhone is absolutely flawless. Look for a defect and you will find one. Everything manufactured has variances. A tiny ding or scuff may be acceptable to Apple or within its manufacturing tolerances. And honestly, some of the small dings or scuffs that I have seen on some of the iPhones I have had, I would gladly live with. The iPhone 5 is an awesome device.

But this isn't the issue. Every single iPhone 5 I have had has not only had dings and minor scuffs (which I will deal with) but other glaring problems:

-Chipped /cracked screens
-half-inch chunks missing from the corners of the phone (like it had been bashed on concrete)
-Cracked home button
-metallic debris under screen

Every time I have had an iPhone 5, I have seen the small scuffs and dings and told the genius "I can live with that." Then get home and notice the above issues. So next time I go back, I make sure to check the iPhone for them.
Apple, I will gladly take an imperfect iPhone 5, but I wont take a broken one. And broken ones is all ive seen; and I have had 6 iPhones so far not counting the ones the Genius had to label DOA because they were so glaringly damaged.
 
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