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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 originally voted mine was flawless but upon closer inspection this is false. I have a small scuff right above the top antenna band on the right of the phone. Doesn't bother me though.
 
I checked out the display units at my local Apple Store. There were 10 on display, I checked like 7 of them. 5/7 of them were completely perfect. 1 had a < 0.1mm silver nick near the antenna black paint band. 1 had a small marr, that remained in the black annodized color.

Then there's another guy checking out the iPhone that dropped it for about a foot from chest level to the bench. I checked it out afterwards. There's a small marr, but that also remained in the black annodized color.

This leads me to believe that to strip the annodization off, even at the chambered edges, you need to literally scratch it with something moderately hard. That is, if your phone doesn't come pre scuffed.

That sounds promising. Would be preferable if these nicks were the result of some part of the manufacturing process (and maybe a bad batch) rather than the result of being inherently susceptible to damage.
 
Just opened my 32GB black iPhone 5. Not a single scuff. The thing is pristine. Hopefully I can keep it that way. But there's no manufacturing defect on this one.
 
Damn. Visible silver showing underneath the top antenna band just under the spacer (above the mute switch). Same side on the chamfered edge of the band, two circular scuff marks about two inches apart (hard to notice unless you really look).

The worst is right next to the sim card tray opposite side of the pin hole, a small scratch which is noticeable. On the protective plastic front shield it looks like coffee was spilled. There is a dry (brown) run stain on it.

No dents though.
 
I also don't want to open mine yet, because I will have to go to the Apple Store tomorrow to get Applecare+ and I don't want them to tell me no because I might have out of box damage.

My brother ordered his through Apple. Is it possible for him to swap his in for a white one and then we just trade ours before activating? Or is there some difference between the phones (hush this is my first time doing this I don't know better) because I ordered mine through Verizon.
 
mine got 3 scuffs, very small however, out of the box

will definitely talk to apple about it in a few days


but i got a black bumper case immediately ...
 
It's a phone. Your phone functions. You can call or visit an Apple store to get it replaced.

Thanks, but that's not really the point. Even if they exchange it for a "perfect" one, it is obvious that there's a manufacturing issue and a quality control issue, so it's gonna keep happening. The only real solutions - if you don't like the qualities of this model - are to buy an older model, a different brand, or wait for the iPhone 5s or whatever Apple decides to call it. None of those options appeal to me. I've been using a piece of crap HP Veer for the last two months, counting the days until I could get my iPhone 5. That's why I'm pissed.
 
Can someone please point me to the correct e-mail address to inquire about a swap? I don't want to call as I'm sure they're busy...
 
Chipped glass, I would immediately exchange for (like you did).

What I've got? Not worth the hassle, but I'll keep an eye out. The slight discoloration at the end of the band seems common. My tiny little nick is there for sure, but it is so small that you really would need to be inspecting the phone closely to notice it. I'm not going to worry about it.

Next scuffgate thread will be: You've got your black phone with scuffs/dings out of the box: are you going to return it?

Same here mines so small and it's right near the edge that you really can't even see it, if it were on the actual metal band around then I might exchange it meaning you'd be able to see it dead on. Mine is on the edge and you can't see anything unless you angle it toward the light.

Im thinking by the end of the cycle when I do sell it, everybody's phones (who are supposedly flawless) will have the little nick mine does and maybe even worse since im putting a body shield on and take extremely good care of the phone. So resale value will not be hurt by this that's all I really care about.
 
Flawless out of the box

We seem to be getting more flawless reports now. That's promising. I guess the question is... are the scuffs the result of a design issue or a manufacturing issue. If it's a design issue it will happen to everyone eventually no matter how much you baby the phone... so I'd hope for the latter... but I suspect the former.

I was kinda keen on the white one anyway. I just went black because I always get black. The white one looks awesome to me though. I love the silver buttons and sides.
 
Bought my phone (black-32GB) at Verizon this morning, was a pretty painless process and I returned home all giddy to try it out. I left it inside the box until I got home. Got home, removed stickers, plugged it in and took some side-by-side pictures of it next to my 4 when I noticed a slight imperfection along the bevel. Took a closer look and noticed that the paint had been chipped off :/

Went back to Verizon, they had me waiting about 30 minutes until they finally took a look at my phone and they passed it around the employees as they inspected. After about 10 minutes, the manager came to talk to me and asked me whether I dropped it and gave me some nasty look as if I were trying to scam them. I told her what had happened and explained that if it had been dropped, there would've been more significant and noticeable imperfections on the case. She told me they couldn't do anything since "all their employees inspect the phone in front of you before you purchase it" and told me that I'd probably find better luck at an Apple store.

:/
 
I knew this would be what happened today! Could have seen that a mile away. You simply cannot make a really durable black finish on brushed Alu. Scuff gate in full effect now. Apple is going to once again have to deal with major scandal on the release of an iPhone! Someone at apple will now have take the fall for making final approval on going anodized Alu.
 
I was squeegeeing my screen protector on (btw it sucks. never buy anything from zagg. waiting for Power Support) and I accidentally hit the side with the squeegee which is actually the hard, thick plastic kind. Nothing happened to the paint.
 
Im thinking by the end of the cycle when I do sell it, everybody's phones (who are supposedly flawless) will have the little nick mine does and maybe even worse since im putting a body shield on and take extremely good care of the phone. So resale value will not be hurt by this that's all I really care about.

You're calling them liars?
 
Flawless out of the box. Now scuffed up and down the sides along the edges. It hasn't been face down and was in my pocket for 5 minutes. No other items in the pocket btw. Not happy.
 
I knew this would be what happened today! Could have seen that a mile away. You simply cannot make a really durable black finish on brushed Alu. Scuff gate in full effect now. Apple is going to once again have to deal with major scandal on the release of an iPhone! Someone at apple will now have take the fall for making final approval on going anodized Alu.

Thank god! Something to get worked up about!
 
You're calling them liars?

No, he's saying that the phones are flawless now, but that is ultimately irrelevant. The finish on the black model's bezel is NOT durable.

Good for all of you with the flawless phones. You'll be welcomed to the scuff party soon enough.
 
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