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iPhone X Iphone X Space Grey flaking! Thank you Otterbox defender

X

xopher

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 4, 2012
12
0
https://imgur.com/gallery/hyRyO

While travelling abroad this past week, I took off my Otterbox Defender case to pop in a new sim card and discovered a series of blemishes on my phone. It has since gotten significantly worse as shown in the photos. My guess is the inner hard plastic chassis of the otter box repeatedly rubbed the phone until the finish came off. The PVD finish on the iPhone X is not abrasion resistant

dQerl42.jpg

ySfbdtX.jpg

f4oFWHn.jpg

mjQAFUm.jpg

1eAYMVb.jpg
 
xopher said:
https://imgur.com/gallery/hyRyO

While travelling abroad this past week, I took off my Otterbox Defender case to pop in a new sim card and discovered a series of blemishes on my phone. It has since gotten significantly worse as shown in the photos. My guess is the inner hard plastic chassis of the otter box repeatedly rubbed the phone until the finish came off. The PVD finish on the iPhone X is not abrasion resistant
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, it's not just OtterBox that this can happen with, it can happen with any case. Debris gets lodged in between the case and the iPhone, which causes rubbing and damages iPhone overtime.
 
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Some are better than others, though. My very highly polished Jet Black iPhone 7 has been in an Apple leather case since I bought it in October 2016. I don't remove it or clean it out, and the phone is still flawless.
 
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Stewie said:
Another reason why no one should ever use a case. Go Naked!!!!!
Click to expand...

I don't prefer cases, but it's certain cases that are problematic. Usually it's the hard plastic cases that can cause rubbing or friction against the bands on the iPhone, which is the end result of what we're seeing here. Some cases have microfiber linings or soft inside where will not scratch the iPhone.
 
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I picked this one up cheap, Very first Otterbox case I bought..not a huge bulky thing. I liked how it's clear and you can see the entire phone. BUT I hated how I felt like I was forcing this into the case. One thing I do fear is scratching - in your case pealing on my space gray. It's back in it's box and I'll just stick with my Apple Silicone case. I like the soft inside, never had scratching issues on previous phones.

4JM27yK.jpg
 
PhillyGuy72 said:
I picked this one up cheap, Very first Otterbox case I bought..not a huge bulky thing. I liked how it's clear and you can see the entire phone. BUT I hated how I felt like I was forcing this into the case. One thing I do fear is scratching - in your case pealing on my space gray. It's back in it's box and I'll just stick with my Apple Silicone case. I like the soft inside, never had scratching issues on previous phones.

4JM27yK.jpg
Click to expand...

You think silicone case and a tempered glass protector for the screen would be decent protecting (barring the exposed bottom of course)?
 
xopher said:
https://imgur.com/gallery/hyRyO

While travelling abroad this past week, I took off my Otterbox Defender case to pop in a new sim card and discovered a series of blemishes on my phone. It has since gotten significantly worse as shown in the photos. My guess is the inner hard plastic chassis of the otter box repeatedly rubbed the phone until the finish came off. The PVD finish on the iPhone X is not abrasion resistant

dQerl42.jpg

ySfbdtX.jpg

f4oFWHn.jpg

mjQAFUm.jpg

1eAYMVb.jpg
Click to expand...
This is why I purchased Apple's silicone case.
 
Otterbox is a tough case but it’s too tough on the iPhone as well
Apple leather cases fit perfectly protect the phone pretty good (iPhone X leather case has hard rounded corners for added protection) and the case looks good
Worth the money. Only downside is picking a light color which gets dirty or develops a patina
 
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thadoggfather said:
I think this is why silver is better long run
Click to expand...
I didn't know the X had a coating on the steal surrounding the phone, but was fortunate enough to choose the silver phone over the black. I think with any coating, it will at some point get scratched off to some degree
 
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eyoungren said:
How do you know?
Click to expand...

X-ray vision. ;) No, the answer is that I've had to pop the sim out (and in) switching back and forth between an iPhone X and this iPhone 7.

I would guess, by the way, that the Apple leather case (and maybe the silicone rubber case) fit so well, and are so appropriately lined, that they are unlikely to scratch phones like the JB iPhone 7 and the SG iPhone X. The trade-off is that the Apple cases aren't terribly protective.
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djinn said:
I like the leather Apple case but fear the exposed bottom will get damaged.
Click to expand...

That's clearly a risk but in the 14 months I've had my Jet Black iPhone 7 in an Apple leather case I haven't picked up any scratches or dings or whatever. And if it'd happened, it would be visible. The Jet Black finish is the most unforgiving, scrunchable finish that Apple has ever offered.
[doublepost=1513430819][/doublepost]
bushman4 said:
Otterbox is a tough case but it’s too tough on the iPhone as well
Apple leather cases fit perfectly protect the phone pretty good (iPhone X leather case has hard rounded corners for added protection) and the case looks good
Worth the money. Only downside is picking a light color which gets dirty or develops a patina
Click to expand...

Honest patina isn't a problem. ;) I love the way the saddle brown leather ages.
 
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maflynn said:
I didn't know the X had a coating on the steal surrounding the phone, but was fortunate enough to choose the silver phone over the black. I think with any coating, it will at some point get scratched off to some degree
Click to expand...

The space gray iPhone X uses a physical vapor deposition coating, which essentially is a protective layer, but does not nearly have the hardness of diamond like carbon coating (DLC) has. PVD is commonly used on firearm components and automotive parts.
 
Relentless Power said:
The space gray iPhone X uses a physical vapor deposition coating, which essentially is a protective layer, but does not nearly have the hardness of diamond like carbon coating (DLC) has. PVD is commonly used on firearm components and automotive parts.
Click to expand...

And watches, which often show a lot of wear when PVD coated. DLC watches wear much better (that is, show wear much less).
 
It's a tool and it's normal wear and tear, including from necessary protection, shouldn't be a concern.

Now, for my real thoughts: I'm anal and would hate that! It's not as much of a deal on the X, but I choose silver devices despite preferring the appearance of black bezels over the white bezels (8+) for this reason, and the stainless silver band of the X would likely polish out.

Has anyone considered coating their metal parts that make contact with plastic case in a couple coats of clear nail polish? I used this on the back of my Fitbit Force (?) when there were metal allergy problems. Makes a nice barrier, doesn't show, wears well, and can be removed. Don't know how it would hold up to the running of say an Otter Box Defender.
 
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