iPhone X stainless steel band

[fitgirl]

Ooh!! Didn't know that!! Do we have any indication of what particulate Apple's using for the X?
Heh...would have been delighted if it was actually the black DLC from the watch. That would have been too much to hope for!!! 🙂

Yes but keep in mind that it can still scratch and if it does you won’t be able to polish out the scratches because of the coating, the silver can easily be polished
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I think regardless of materials used - both are going to scratch at some point. Metals pick up micro abrasions quite quickly.

In my mind both the silver and gray stainless will scratch.
Scratches will show up less on silver but more on the gray due to the darker colour obviously. Simple as that.

And also scratches on the silver can be polished out where as space grey not so much.

 

[fischersd]

Yes but keep in mind that it can still scratch and if it does you won’t be able to polish out the scratches because of the coating, the silver can easily be polished
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And also scratches on the silver can be polished out where as space grey not so much.

2+ years with an S0 DLC watch and not a scratch (and I wear it all the time...including doing landscaping and renovations). It still looks pristine. Trust me, if the coating on the space grey X is approaching the DLC in hardness, it will be one tough phone and very unlikely to scratch at all.

 

[Boardiesboi]

Trust me, if the coating on the space grey X is approaching the DLC in hardness, it will be one tough phone and very unlikely to scratch at all.

Has this been confirmed or verified by anyone during the hands on after the keynote?

 

[44267547]

Has this been confirmed or verified by anyone during the hands on after the keynote?

No one has verified any hands on testing as of yet. However, The space gray iPhone X uses a physical paper deposition process or PVD. It's not as hard as DLC or diamond like carbon coating. But it does have a layer for protection against scratches and wear resistance.

"A special Apple-designed alloy,” it is “both durable and more pure.” The company notes the band and rear of the Space Gray finish used “a process called physical vapor deposition to precisely match the color of the stainless steel band to that of the glass.”

 

[sk8mash]

I really hope it’s DLC. Apple being unspecific is making it very hard to decide which colour to get.

 

[Boardiesboi]

The space gray iPhone X uses a physical paper deposition process or PVD.

Cheers for the info.

What about the silver one? Is the SS specially made for the iPhone X too? Or is it the same as the SS on the AW?

The website only says

Surgical‑grade stainless steel.
The stainless steel band that wraps around and reinforces iPhone X is a special Apple-designed alloy that’s both durable and more pure, and it polishes beautifully. For the space grey finish, we use a process called physical vapour deposition to precisely match the colour of the stainless steel band to that of the glass.

 

[44267547]

Cheers for the info.

What about the silver one? Is the SS specially made for the iPhone X too? Or is it the same as the SS on the AW?

The website only says

Surgical‑grade stainless steel.
The stainless steel band that wraps around and reinforces iPhone X is a special Apple-designed alloy that’s both durable and more pure, and it polishes beautifully. For the space grey finish, we use a process called physical vapour deposition to precisely match the colour of the stainless steel band to that of the glass.

I had the same discussion yesterday with a forum memory. It doesn't explicitly state 316 L stainless used on the iPhone X, but there are different grades of surgical grade stainless that are similar to 316 L. Given how Apple heavily invests into their metals, I imagine it will be very similar to the stainless steel as the Apple Watch.

 

[Pug72]

Who do we contact at Apple to find out the durability of the coating? 😀

 

[fischersd]

Who do we contact at Apple to find out the durability of the coating? 😀

OMFG....let's not go there!! I hounded support over several weeks and never got an answer (someone else did) on the DLC coating for S2.

My guess - someone at Apple will be bragging about it post-launch in an interview and then we'll know precisely which substance they used for their PVD coating on the space grey X.

Edit: I just wish they could have done the back with it as well...but then we wouldn't have wireless charging. 🙁

 

[Bones13]

Short of a metal, or metal coating that is actually harder than the silica grit (which spawns in pockets for some reason) there will eventually be scratching on a long term phone. Hardened glass and ceramic are the most “non-scratchable” materials in use.

Yes, there can be babying, and yes there are some efficient cases. There will be phones with no scratches ever.

Stainless steel is pretty soft, and while it does not rust with repeated steam sterilizing, it scratches easily, and does not hold an edge well. And it’s a lot heavier than the aluminum, titanium, or carbon fiber tools out there. I am pretty sure that a well done surface coating on the SS will “resist” scratching better. Specially if my SS Apple Watch is any indication.

With all that, I don’t baby my phone, and assume that either finish will eventually scratch. The black will show scratching more, and the silver will allow polishing of the small scratches.

I’ll be trying for silver next week, but won’t cry if I can only secure an early space gray. I generally use a case to prevent the phone from slipping out of my shirt pocket.

 

[mightymouf06]

Looking at hands-on videos on Youtube, the stainless steel band on the Silver and Space Gray iPhone X’s are drastically different.

Which one looks better?

So I love the look of the silver and stainless steel. I've been on the fence about this for some time prior to me being able to pre-order the device and I ended up going with Silver b/c it's just a beautiful device and it stands out to me. Eventually i'll be putting an Apple leather case on it anyway so at the end of the day it won't matter. But sometimes I do carry my phone around naked. Just depends on where i'm going and what i'll be doing. In that case, that's why I opted for Silver. It truly is a beautiful device.

Also I've been noticing a lot of hands on reviews after the press have been able to get there hands on one and ALL the reviews/first impressions I've seen, they have had Silver models. So that should tell you something in itself.

 

[mcdj]

How is this any different than asking which color iPhone people prefer? Which has been asked like 400 times already...

 

[DiveKitty]

I changed my preorder from Space Grey to Silver after watching more videos of the Silver. I just love the combo of that Silver glass back with the stainless steel band. Though it is going to be in a case basically right from arrival I know what is underneath! Even if the stainless steel gets scratched, it can be easily polished every now and then. Me, I don’t tend to mind a few scratches...adds character 😉

 

[Sean76]

So I love the look of the silver and stainless steel. I've been on the fence about this for some time prior to me being able to pre-order the device and I ended up going with Silver b/c it's just a beautiful device and it stands out to me. Eventually i'll be putting an Apple leather case on it anyway so at the end of the day it won't matter. But sometimes I do carry my phone around naked. Just depends on where i'm going and what i'll be doing. In that case, that's why I opted for Silver. It truly is a beautiful device.

Also I've been noticing a lot of hands on reviews after the press have been able to get there hands on one and ALL the reviews/first impressions I've seen, they have had Silver models. So that should tell you something in itself.

They are using it in reviews because the lighter colors always photograph well and don't show any fingerprints. And I have to admit the silver is nice at first glance. But that Black gets me every time, with the dark band around the phone, just very stealthy. The silver model has the same band material as the iwatch case, and after owning a SS iwatch and seeing how that thing scratched, I went with the space black Iwatch and never looked back. Doing the same with the X😎

 

[mightymouf06]

They are using it in reviews because the lighter colors always photograph well and don't show any fingerprints. And I have to admit the silver is nice at first glance. But that Black gets me every time, with the dark band around the phone, just very stealthy. The silver model has the same band material as the iwatch case, and after owning a SS iwatch and seeing how that thing scratched, I went with the space black Iwatch and never looked back. Doing the same with the X😎

That makes sense... that also just confirms how bad the space gray will be when it comes to fingerprints, smudges and scratches..

 

[Oblivious.Robot]

Can someone who has purchased iPhone X confirm and share which one will hold up well, Silver or Space Gray band? I really don’t want to put up a case, and might choose a colour more likely to hold up the day to day wear and tear down to a minimal. Thanks! (The Verge guy said he got scratches and dings on Silver in just few days and that's got me worried)

I'm watching few drop tests and teardown, and Silver shows micro abrasions? Or am I crazy? I'd really appreciate any input.

I guess I need to head to the Apple store as I just cant decide between a finger print magnet Space Gray, or abrasions on Silver that'd drive me mad. 😕

 

[jimmy_uk]

Wanted to love my silver model but with a scratch on the band out of the box I think this will scuff quickly with use.

 

[mightymouf06]

So I found this unboxing on YouTube of the space gray and how bad it is with fingerprints and smudges. You can start the vid at around 1:10. And she talks about how bad it is and also shows you as well.

Of course this won't mean anything if you're going to have it in a case. But the main question to ask is would you rather deal with your phone looking like that with all the fingerprints and smudges by handling it or deal with the micro abrasions on the stainless steel (silver) and be able to polish that out whenever you want/need to?

 

[Sean76]

I have the silver, I went with it on launch day because honestly it looks simply beautiful in person. However the band, Yes the shiny band. It will scratch, it will scratch no matter what. Lol if you breath on it there will be scratches, it’s just really shiny polished stainless steel. The black IMO is way nicer and much more scratch resistant. It’s crazy, 10 years later still hasn’t learned it’s lesson with shiny metal?

 

[cap7ainclu7ch]

If you are worried about scratches silver is the way to go. Buy yourself a stainless steel polishing wipe and you are good to go. I use it on my watch and it makes it look like new every time. The SG band is more resistant at the start, but once it scratches (which it probably will because it doesn't seem like its the same DLC coating used on the watch) you will be able to see them easily and won't be able to polish them out.

 

[techiebug]

Silver wins hands down for me. Checked them out in person and and silver looks sleeker although it kinda reminds me of past Samsung phones. The dark gray border looks dull and boring I think. The silver border will scratch easily tho. Overall the silver looks more interesting to me. The space gray basically looks exactly like the Jet Black iPhone 7 when turn off.

 

[areyes163]

Silver for me as well. I finally got my silver iPhone with a black front. For me the black front is much nicer to look at. Love this color combo.