iPhone 5 'scuff gate' theory.

It's the finish that is subject to scuffs, not the structure. Finish doesn't interfere with the overall structure, so your post doesn't make any sense.

 

It scuffs because in order to keep the iPhone as thin as it is, Apple resorted to coating it with only a very thin layer of anodised paint. You can read about it here.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/6330/the-iphone-5-review/3

To fix this, Apple has to either add a thicker coat (unlikely), refine their process, improve their QC or cover it with a scratch-resistant material. 1 and 4 are unlikely, so we have to either suck it up or use a casing.

 

All Aluminum anodizing is measured in microns (less than a mm) that includes HA Type III which is many times harder than the similary thick Type II.

A type III aluminum flashlight can saw through a Type II. Both have the same thickens of anodization:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb...urefire-REALLY-saw-through-another-flashlight

 

Simple English, please?

 

lets just say the dropping the iphone 4s has two results: nothing, or shattered.
the iphone 5 only has one result: scuffs, scratches dents.

why people complain is that when they drop their phone, sometimes its not hard enough to shatter a 4s. glass is obviously really rigid.
but if they drop a 5, good luck avoiding a dent. i dropped on from 3cm up no joke and got a dent. basically i was sitting on the floor getting something, and my phone slipped from my pocket 3cm up and dented.

*facepalm*

 

Here is the non engineering version :

There is another type of anodizing that is more than 20 times harder than the one used on the iPhone and is equally thin. It is used on on high quality aluminum flashlights. This anodizing is so hard that a surefire or Phenix flashlight can cut trough a cheaper maglite flashlight when used as a saw.

In summary the hardness of anodizing is not dependent on thickness but on type. Apple can use the Type III and make the iPhone almost scratchproof. Im sure the increase in manufacturing cost will be less than what they are loosing from the returned scratched units.

 

No doubt at a much higher cost.

 

Im sure the increase in manufacturing cost will be less than what they are loosing from the returned scratched units.

Here are two flashlights with very similar specs except for the anodizing, the difference in price is just about $6:

http://www.amazon.com/Fenix-FNX-E01...sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1377617119&sr=1-22
http://www.amazon.com/Maglite-Solit...id=1377617194&sr=1-2&keywords=maglite+aaa+led

 

People are still talking about this? Keep it in 2012

 

Take more care of your phone.

The only design flaw is the human who owns it and gravity.

 

Ugh... the pink room is over there.

I think OP is saying, Better Scratched than Cracked.

Me thinks cost + the relentless for thinness and weight, but yeah lets move on.

 

Exactly this

 

That's exactly why I'm going Champagne this time around lol

 

My launch phone got all kinds of scratches and dings. When it was replaced after a couple of months for a faulty sleep/wake button, the replacement phone hasn't shown any signs of wear at all. Maybe something changed, and its not my usage habits or luck.

 

My black iphone 5 has scratches even though i didnt drop it. It doesent bother me that much i just see a couple of little silver marks on the sides.

Didnt people see scratches right out of the box, when the iphone 5 launched?

 

I am not so sure about that. Unless there is issue with the way device is functioning, they won't be replacing the device any more, especially now with Apple doing most repairs in-house.

 

You're dropping it wrong -- SJ

 

Ummm..I dropped my iphone5 from about pocket height and the screen shattered.

3cm drop?? Thats approx 1 inch. Do you really expect us to believe your phone dented from a one inch drop??

 

...yes because it happened?
maybe u misunderstand. it feel on the marble floor onto its chamfered edge, which dented slightly, it wasnt a huge one, it was probably a 0.3cm dent.
but still a dent which is my point...

 

I wonder if these issues will come up with the 5C

 

I really hope they fix this with iPhone 5S.The dents make it look so cheap. The fact it's much lighter than iPhone 4 doesn't help lol

 

I've had an LG Dare since 2008--works great, no cosmetic defects. I've dropped it many, many times from great heights onto stone floors and outdoors.

I don't think Apple should set the bar lower for ruggedness than a phone from 2008. Further, if a phone now can be made waterproof, why not make all phones waterproof? A lot of people live places where it rains every day. It isn't ideal to have to treat a phone that you carry with you all day long like a priceless painting.

 

Well my launch day phone still looks like new. I guess some people are more careful than others.

I get a bit fed up of these my iPhone is covered in dents and scratches, and all I did was drop it a couple of times threads.

Next up, My Ferrari has damaged rims. All I did was drive it along the curb a couple of times!

 

I think Apple should make an aluminum colored iPhone for people who wants scuff free iPhone.