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iPhone 5 damaged possibly cause of otterbox?

skywalkerr69

skywalkerr69

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jan 21, 2011
772
438
New York
Hi All,

I have owned my iPhone for 10 days. Since day one it has been in a brand new Otterbox defender series case. I took it out today to clean it and look what I found on the back. It looks like the material left a permanent mark on the back of my iPhone. I will be emailing them today to see what they can do. Any thoughts? I tried wiping it clean with a microfiber cloth and that did nothing.
 

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Though the wording of the thread title makes me want to kick myself in the head, yes, it's perfectly possible and normal for a case to damage your phone. On a naked phone the debris will get wiped/blown/brushed away, under a case it just stays in there, though it looks like something a little different happened to yours.
 
That's pretty weird, looks like that coating on the inside of the back shell is releasing a dye or something. If all of their units are doing that, they are going to have some pretty po'd customers. Wonder what it looks like on the back of a white iPhone 5. You should also include a pic of the inside of the back panel so folks can see the coating that is there, I had to look at the video to see it's the exact shape of those marks.
 
Man, o man, that's not good. I wonder if there isn't a 'curing' period for the anodize (much like a new car's paint) before it hardens more, where you want to keep things from pressing against it for extended periods.

Keep us posted.
 
It looks like that case does not play well with the new iPhone.

Otterbox most likely would not of tested the case very much before they released it and are probably now just hearing stories like yours where their case causes unpleasant markings.

I don't see it being an issue for Apple as they do not make the case.

IMO it is just not your case ... the design of the new iPhone is that it will mark easier (case or not)
 
Have you tried wiping it with some quick detailer on a microfiber cloth (auto detail liquid)?

Just curious as to whether that may help.
 
Here's a pic where you can see the coating on the back panel, I don't think it has anything to do with the anodized back,
36252-2.jpg
 
F123D said:
I wonder if the aluminum isn't as good as apple makes it out to be.
Click to expand...
Everyone saying 'just put a case on it'... now what?

wookiee2cu said:
Here's a pic where you can see the coating on the back panel, I don't think it has anything to do with the anodized back,
Click to expand...
I don't know. If it's soaking up anything that's next to it, I think it is a problem with the back. Otterbox too.
 
As above. Simple screen cleaner and a wipe. If that don't solve it a new phones in order
 
same case and had iphone 5 for 10 days also. I see nothing on mine but I also took mine off twice since I had it. I never leave my cases on 24/7 because I know it needs to be cleaned.
 
Tried wiping it clean. Didn't solve anything. I have a case open with otterbox. We will see what happens. I work in an office so the phone isn't exposed to high temperature. I also don't take it to the gym with me or leave it in my pocket for any long periods of time.
 
It's the rubber backing rubbing on phone. I had that happen with my incase slider case with it's little rubber bump on inside of case. Leaves a scuff. Looks like a scuff if you took the eraser on a pencil and rubbed on back of phone. Only thing that would take it off was the rubbing alcohol.
 
skywalkerr69 said:
No I'm worried about damaging it further.
Click to expand...

You don't have to saturate the cloth...

I've used it on all my iPhones, iPad, iMac, etc.

It's a detail spray for cars. I have used it on many surfaces and never once had any damage. It can't hurt if it's already messed up like that.

I actually emailed a friend with an Otterbox to see if he has that problem...I'll let you know if he does and/or if we have a chance to check out the method i mentioned.
 
iPhone 5 damage/ Otterbox

Hey guys, I just joined this site and I see a lot of whining about Apple products. Due the smart thing, protect your phone any way you can. I have a 4s and it sits in an Otter box. No issues. I'm buying a 5 next week and looking into another otter box. Here's the steps to do, get a Zagg cover for the front and back. Cover the back to protect the aluminum finish, the front will be protected by the case itself. Problem solved. You may need a scalpel to trim off excess material but so what. I have another case I use, and it too has a brushed finish on the back. I covered it to protect against scratches. No problems.
 
Honestly you shouldn't have to do the zag covers when it's going into a completely sealed case like this, that's kind of the whole point of this case.
 
If you dont know that a case could scratch your phone then idk what to say. Yes a case reduces the chances of getting scratches, dings, etc and shock protection...but if you dont clean your phone and case every so often then dont be suprised when you see scratches and dings. Sand/debris is everywhere, your pockets, counters, everywhere...the debris/sand gets in your case and rubs against your phone so, You have to clean your case and phone every so often

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skywalkerr69 said:
Hi All,

I have owned my iPhone for 10 days. Since day one it has been in a brand new Otterbox defender series case. I took it out today to clean it and look what I found on the back. It looks like the material left a permanent mark on the back of my iPhone. I will be emailing them today to see what they can do. Any thoughts? I tried wiping it clean with a microfiber cloth and that did nothing.
Click to expand...

Bro just wipe it with some rubbing alcohol it will go away its just marks from the case.
 
I completely agree with Bahroo. I had the same case and just assumed my i5 was very safe. One night I took my perfect phone out of the case just to discover that enough grit had been grinding into the screen right under the earpeice triangle to leave a permanent etching. No big deal since that phone had reception problems and was exchanged but the new i5 got skinned and a bumper instead of the Otterbox. If you are playing football with your new iphone 5 then the Otterbox is great protection but I think a good skin and bumper are better for a less active life style.
 
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Bahroo said:
If you dont know that a case could scratch your phone then idk what to say. Yes a case reduces the chances of getting scratches, dings, etc and shock protection...but if you dont clean your phone and case every so often then dont be suprised when you see scratches and dings. Sand/debris is everywhere, your pockets, counters, everywhere...the debris/sand gets in your case and rubs against your phone so, You have to clean your case and phone every so often

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Bro just wipe it with some rubbing alcohol it will go away its just marks from the case.
Click to expand...

expy said:
I completely agree with Bahroo. I had the same case and just assumed my i5 was very safe. One night I took my perfect phone out of the case just to discover that enough grit had been grinding into the screen right under the earpeice triangle to leave a permanent etching. No big deal since that phone had reception problems and was exchanged but the new i5 got skinned and a bumper instead of the Otterbox. If you are playing football with your new iphone 5 then the Otterbox is great protection but I think a good skin and bumper are better for a less active life style.
Click to expand...

I don't know about you guys, but that doesn't look a thing like sand/grid damage. It looks like a reaction with the plastic in the otterbox case.
 
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