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iPhone Air iPhone Air Black Scratches - BAD!

jumpcutking

jumpcutking

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Nov 6, 2020
333
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Went to the Apple Store to look at all the new cool phones, watches, and just generally to see how the new design is. Kind of felt it was cool but not enough to buy - today.

AND... I picked up this black phone - today - first time on display and it is scratched bad. No other phones were scratched and I didn't see another iPhone Air black on display. Does anyone else think this is a huge problem? Anyone buy a black iPhone Air that might be scratched up already - or is it just the display.

I know other devices had scratches issues - I just found this soooo odd. Especially a new phone like this.

Screenshot 2025-09-19 at 13.44.05.jpg
 
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jumpcutking said:
Went to the Apple Store to look at all the new cool phones, watches, and just generally to see how the new design is. Kind of felt it was cool but not enough to buy - today.

AND... I picked up this black phone - today - first time on display and it is scratched bad. No other phones were scratched and I didn't see another iPhone Air black on display. Does anyone else think this is a huge problem? Anyone buy a black iPhone Air that might be scratched up already - or is it just the display.

I know other devices had scratches issues - I just found this soooo odd. Especially a new phone like this.

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Probably just someone careless. I’ve seen displays the were man handled at the Apple Store but my caseless 16 is still in amazing condition.
 
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Seeing this everywhere, but in theory this should have the same scratch resistance as the black 16 Pro phones from last year- both just have Ceramic Shield glass on the back (and in theory the 2nd gen version of Ceramic Shield should be 3 times more scratch resistant this year). I have the black 16 Pro and never got a scratch on the back despite using it caseless the entire time.

I get why the dark blue aluminum Pro this year would be more scratch prone given the less durable aluminum material- but I’m skeptical this is a design flaw on the black Air, and I’m more leaning towards that this is people at the stores being reckless or purposely trying to scratch the back of demo units…
 
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Yes. Scratches along with ring like design caused by MagSafe chargers are easily visible on the black Air and all the Pro models. Disappointing. Don't think this is happening because of the rough use and handling of the store demo models.

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Would expect aluminum Pro models to face this issue. But to see it in the Air with a glass back is bad.
 
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hovscorpion12 said:
Any scratches seen in an Apple Store does not represent the product. 200% of the time, these products are heavily abused by customer who don’t care. I’ve seen users just strait drop iPhones in store and not care.
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look above, scratches caused by the magsafe. just left the store and magsafe scratches were all over the blacks and did not come off.
 
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cap7ainclu7ch said:
Do the white models look better so far?
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I am stuck between the blue or the black Air. I just think the color options are terrible for the air, and if you go with blue, it still resembles a white version. I see scratches are a thing with the black but I am pretty good with keeping my phones clean so i dont think it will be too much of an issue.
 
hovscorpion12 said:
Any scratches seen in an Apple Store does not represent the product. 200% of the time, these products are heavily abused by customer who don’t care. I’ve seen users just strait drop iPhones in store and not care.
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I don’t think that is “heavily abused”. I was there at 8:15 am and the blue pro already looked like this. I didn’t look at a black Air though.
 
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If the magsafe stuff isn't safe, then that's not a great look......I wouldn't judge things just on the Apple store, but...

Having the orange Pro Max in hand, its great, its fine. I don't think the anodized finishes are going to hold up great, they don't feel thick. But I like the color and I always use a case.
 
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I saw scuffs and magsafe rings at the store, as well. It's only the first day... I don't think it's down to the customers being rough because that wouldn't cause magsafe rings.
 
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In regards to the magsafe ring, what have previous display iPhones looked like? I haven’t been into an Apple store in a long time to look at the phones but they’ve had glass backs for years so I would think any scuffs caused by their magsafe charger would have been seen on display models going years back.
 
I was in the store this morning for around 30 minutes and yeah, every version of the 17 regardless of color, had the battery rings showing on the back. It was slightly less noticeable on the silver and white backs but you can still see it. Won't be an issue to those using a case but for those who bought the Air thinking they would rock it naked to keep the sleekness??? Oooof I don't know about that just yet....
 

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BacK in the day the iPhone 12 in store demo ones near me were pretty heavily beaten up. My iPhone 12 was still like new after 18 months.

Problem is dumbasses. Don’t be a dumbass and your phone will be fine.
 
Luckily, it’s the least attractive color 🙂 Black on its own looks nice, but on the Air it comes off kind of generic and not as premium as the other shades with the shiny metal edges.
 
zkap said:
... of what your phone will look like.
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I dont pass my phone around to random people trying to scratch it. Ive had plenty of iPhones that were said to scratch, bend, heat up and only one lived up to the bill was the iPhone 7. Every time iPhones are released all you people try to make some gate out of it. It's a phone and not baby.
 
C. Robert said:
I dont pass my phone around to random people trying to scratch it. Ive had plenty of iPhones that were said to scratch, bend, heat up and only one lived up to the bill was the iPhone 7. Every time iPhones are released all you people try to make some gate out of it. It's a phone and not baby.
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So the people coming to the store on the first day to see the new iPhones are there to scratch them?

I never tried to make some gate out of anything, but this year it seems to me we're looking at a real gate for the first time since the 6 Plus, because this is not good. It's the first day, no way should the phones look like this already. I imagine we'll start seeing posts pop up on the forum as well, as buyers receive their units.
 
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svish said:
Yes. Scratches along with ring like design caused by MagSafe chargers are easily visible on the black Air and all the Pro models. Disappointing. Don't think this is happening because of the rough use and handling of the store demo models.

View attachment 2553363

Would expect aluminum Pro models to face this issue. But to see it in the Air with a glass back is bad.
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I saw the same on the black model at my store.
 
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