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iPhone 5 - black version scuffs (merged)

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
Peligrozo said:
People shouldn't *need* to buy a case (which covers much of it's beauty) for an expensive phone...
Click to expand...

Correct but the majority of people use cases. THat significantly reduces the chances of an uproar similar to that of antenna gate.
 
The Maps fiasco + this scuffing stuff have the potential to become a total PR disaster for Apple (the Maps thing already is pretty bad).

Several posters have made the point about how the store display models will look after a few days. Wonder what Apple's strategy for that will be...

I guess it is too early yet to say how widespread this is but definitely not a good start for Tim Cook's first iPhone launch.
 
Damaged out of the box

I must say that the black ones are damaged out of the box. I wanted the black and after they opened two different black iPhones for me they were all bad so I went with White which looks great and no scratches. I'm guessing it looks like that because the light colour around the bezel. It's true, the black iPhone 5 are coming out damaged out of the box. Sorry folks. Expected more from Apple.
 
ECUpirate44 said:
What are they going to do? Change the display model in the store every week?
Click to expand...

Don't think so. In my local ATT stores the display 4S's look like they went to war.



About the 5 anodizing: ipods nano/shuffle have been using anodizing for quite some time, and people are not complaining. And anodized aluminum is way more scratch resistant than the plastic used on other phones.

Also the original iPhone used an anodized aluminum back.
 
Last edited:
bsinc said:
Just got my black iPhone 5. Noticed a chip on the edge as soon as I opened it up. Very disappointed! Decided to return it, not acceptable for a £600 product. Also asked for the replacement to be the white model due to the various issues being noticed with the black finish. Will now be without a phone while courier picks this one up for return and I wait for a replacement.
Click to expand...

How long have you got to wait before the courier picks yours up?
 
fourandthree said:
I must say that the black ones are damaged out of the box. I wanted the black and after they opened two different black iPhones for me they were all bad so I went with White which looks great and no scratches. I'm guessing it looks like that because the light colour around the bezel. It's true, the black iPhone 5 are coming out damaged out of the box. Sorry folks. Expected more from Apple.
Click to expand...

I think you need to choose your words a bit more carefully as not all of the black ones are coming out with problems. I have a 64gb which doesn't have a mark on. My concern, however, is that it will be a lot more prone for marking than my iPhone 4. I didn't have a case for my iPhone 4, because I think they make a good looking product look ugly, and didn't intend on having one for this phone either.
 
Two possible solutions to reduce risk of chipping:

1. get a synthetic car wax and rub it on all the metal painted surfaces..buff off. Now you have some protection for a naked phone.

2. Get a case like a ton of people will have. I have always had a case for my phone because accidents happen and people drop their phone. You dont have to get a ugly giant otter box brick case. They will be making some nice minimal cases that just cover the back and sides.


P.S. I have a white 4S so I wanted a black this time..especially looks good bordering a larger screen. I'll just wax the crap out of mine when I get it until I can find a case, which may prove difficult until October.
 
charlesdayton said:
About the 5 anodizing: ipods nano/shuffle have been using anodizing for quite some time, and people are not complaining. And anodized aluminum is way more scratch resistant than the plastic used on other phones.
Click to expand...
iPod nanos and shuffles are a lot cheaper than iPhone 5's. iPhones should have a much better quality control than this.

Saying that it's more scratch resistant than the plastic used on other phones doesn't help much since I haven't seen any other phone with scratch problems like these on the release day.
 
So much for getting up at 4 am Atlantic time to pre-order. With this many people seeing the black ones scuffed right out of the box, I'm going with white. I'm careful with my stuff but if people are seeing scuffed ones right out of the box, that doesn't bode well.

I was on the fence about my colour choice anyway so this seals my decision. I love the look of the plain aluminum in the "white and silver" model. It looks way cooler than the anodized black aluminum. But I prefer the black face and the black look overall. It was a hard call but I went with black. I'm going to return it today without even opening it. I don't mind waiting a month. My ancient 3GS still makes phone calls :)

As for people saying "so what"... good for you... but I don't know... if I'm paying close to a THOUSAND bucks for a phone... it better be pristine mint condition out of the box.
 
kazpod said:
Why is it not black?
Click to expand...

It is- it's just a reflection from shining a light on it to photograph it. I've no longer got a macro lens, and the macro functionality of the RX100 isn't fantastic, so that was the best I could manage. Rest assured, it is black- unfortunately I've not been given a one-off special!

As I said in the photograph comment, I'm very pleased with it! I was a little disappointed with the announcement, and not at all convinced by the bigger screen, but now I've got it I'm very happy that I did! My release-day 4 hasn't had a working home button since before Christmas, and the battery hasn't lasted a day for a number of months now- if the 4S had been further reduced then I may have been tempted to get that instead, but I'm very happy I made the choice to get the 5.
 
dbpharrison said:
Not so worried, it'll be in a case!

[url=http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8038/8008869807_7e8f87709f.jpg]Image[/url]
Black iPhone 5 anodising issue by DBP Harrison, on Flickr

The one in the shop looked worse.
Click to expand...


mine was like this...very very minimal. im less worried about that than the chamfer because my case will always cover it.

before i decided on black, i went to the demo and tried to scratch the beveled edge on the corner of the table. couldn't do it.

that was enough for me.
 

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Couple of options

1) Powder coat (If you can remove the aluminum part out).
2) Some Chinese company may start selling a refit kit

Or if every iPhone 5(black) owner creates noise, we may get free cases just like free iPhone 4bumpers
 
Wonder what the results would be if "newbie" status votes were taken out. I'm still skeptical. I want to see results from longer time members. Not possible trolls.
 
charlesdayton said:
@Peligrozo

So you just registered to post in this thread only and ignore the rest of MR... Interesting.
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I did, because I ordered a black iPhone 5 3 hours ago, came home and saw this thread linked on some other forums that I visit more regularly.

(But yes, of course I am a Samsung spy.)
 
Chriseybear said:
About a dozen, yeah, nah. One guy alone opened 8 boxes in Germany with all markings.

It's not about it being a tiny flaw, it's about quality control. Get off your fan boy pedestal.
Click to expand...

First u said it was 30 boxes in Germany..now it's 8.
Listen bro, do u realize how rediculous u sound. Take a step back and take a breath. The phone hasn't even been out for 24 hours.
 
Just went to my local O2 to see if they had any of the black iPhone's in. Manager said they've had 3 come back from the 10 they had this morning due to scuffs. The people swapped for the White iPhone's which haven't come back (yet).

He showed me the black's that came back and it's very clear that they have this issue. I decided to pop over to Vodafone across the road and just as I was about to walk in, someone walked in-front of me with their black iPhone5 box in hand not looking very happy. Went upto the counter and asked to cancel their contract because of the 'poor paintwork on the iPhone'.

I've decided to just stick with my iPhone 4 now. It's ridiculous, for £525 I'd expect this kind of fault not to happen. The Antenna issue with iPhone 4 was bad but you'd think Apple would learn from it's mistakes. Now we've got a horrible maps app and poor quality on their new premium product.
 
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