My new iPhone 5S has a nick, are they all imperfect? (pic included)

[gr8tfly]

Three 5s iPhones and an iPad Air all received in perfect condition (and we're pretty picky). I would say defects (especially on the chamfered edge) are (as they should be) rare.

Sorry you're getting units from the wrong end of the defect statistics.

 

[drew0020]

Definitely return that phone. That nick just goes to show how poor Apple's quality control has been.

You'd think in year 2 of the same body design that Apple would have figured out these problems by now.

 

[Chuck-Norris]

Three 5s iPhones and an iPad Air all received in perfect condition (and we're pretty picky). I would say defects (especially on the chamfered edge) are (as they should be) rare.

Sorry you're getting units from the wrong end of the defect statistics.

yours were absolutely perfect after inspecting the entire thing?

 

[imaginex20]

Most cars you buy have scratches in the paint if you examine it closely....do you go back to the dealer and demand an exchange? It's beyond rediculous that a .1 mm nick or scratch deems a new device. If the device works use it and be happy.

 

[Max(IT)]

Definitely return that phone. That nick just goes to show how poor Apple's quality control has been.

You'd think in year 2 of the same body design that Apple would have figured out these problems by now.

They have figured out that there is NO PROBLEM ...

Only delusional people could think a metallic device coming through a production chain where it was hold by several hands and machines, assembled at a rate of thousands per day, could reach shelves without millimetric cosmetic defects now and then.

And you are speaking about Apple's QC for the sake of the flame, because you should know that is just IMPOSSIBLE for apple to check every single unit assembled in China, unless they want to sell 100.000 iPhone per year.
We are speaking about A SMARTPHONE, not a Rolex.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Most cars you buy have scratches in the paint if you examine it closely....do you go back to the dealer and demand an exchange? It's beyond rediculous that a .1 mm nick or scratch deems a new device. If the device works use it and be happy.

Unfair comparison. 0.1 mm nick on a significantly larger car is not the same as 0.1 mm nick on a iPhone (especially if you can feel it).

The OP has every right to expect a defect-free iPhone out of the box. The nick looks like one of the many predamaged iPhone 5 full of scratches and nicks that made their way into retail boxes. The replacement iPhone 5 I received a few months ago was 100% nick free and the same should be expected of the 5s.

 

[Max(IT)]

Unfair comparison. 0.1 mm nick on a significantly larger car is not the same as 0.1 mm nick on a iPhone (especially if you can feel it).

The OP has every right to expect a defect-free iPhone out of the box. The nick looks like one of the many predamaged iPhone 5 full of scratches and nicks that made their way into retail boxes. The replacement iPhone 5 I received a few months ago was 100% nick free and the same should be expected of the 5s.

There is an enormous difference from a "predamaged iPhone full of scratches and nicks" and a perfectly working iPhone with a millimetric dent (and it is ridiculous to call it a dent) on an edge like the one in the photo.

 

[samven582]

the main reason i ask this is cause i went thoguh this last year with my ipad mini. 8 ipad minis, and all had some sort of nick or something on the chamfered edge or metal finish.

i know it seems a bit OCD but, i bought the iphone 5s unlocked 32gb. 812 dollars in canada with taxes and everything.

i actually bought a 16gb 2 months back and it had a nick similar to this but bigger , more like a chip but returned it anyway since i couldnt sell the 5 until now. got 600 for my 32gb iphone 5 and put it towards a 5S.

anyways heres a pic, its right above the ringer switch.

are they all gonna be like this or should i keep this as the next one could be worse?

exchange it asap

 

[boobie12]

You can Barely notice it. Some people are crazy picky or just look for problems. I understand it's an 800$ phone. But it's not the end of the world. If you wanna exchange it exchange it. It's your phone. Do what you want with it.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

There is an enormous difference from a "predamaged iPhone full of scratches and nicks" and a perfectly working iPhone with a millimetric dent (and it is ridiculous to call it a dent) on an edge like the one in the photo.

I disagree. There's no dent at all on my Space Gray. Why should it be any different for the OP?

 

[Max(IT)]

I disagree. There's no dent at all on my Space Gray. Why should it be any different for the OP?

You are lucky and he's a little bit less ...

A millimetric dent it's not a valid reason to change a perfectly working products, and apple is one of the few manufacturer allowing that.
Unfortunately someone abuse of it keep returning perfectly working devices for some minor cosmetic defects.
And who is paying for such behavior ? All of us, because in apple's prices this is somewhat included.


I'm not speaking about REAL problems. I'm really speaking about non existent issue like the one showed in the picture.

----------

This is a major cosmetic damage.
Something worthing a return.

----------

This one also is an assembly defect

But the one reported by OP is very very different.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

You are lucky and he's a little bit less ...

A millimetric dent it's not a valid reason to change a perfectly working products, and apple is one of the few manufacturer allowing that.
Unfortunately someone abuse of it keep returning perfectly working devices for some minor cosmetic defects.
And who is paying for such behavior ? All of us, because in apple's prices this is somewhat included.


I'm not speaking about REAL problems. I'm really speaking about non existent issue like the one showed in the picture.

I'd agree with you regarding issues that most anal-retentive people have, such as the home button not having that expected click, the display being slightly cooler/warmer than what they're used to, something rattling when you shake it violently and other stupid, anal-retentive issues. However, a nick is visible to everyone and unacceptable out of the box, especially after the predamaged iPhone 5 fiasco last year.

 

[teknikal90]

the main reason i ask this is cause i went thoguh this last year with my ipad mini. 8 ipad minis, and all had some sort of nick or something on the chamfered edge or metal finish.

i know it seems a bit OCD but, i bought the iphone 5s unlocked 32gb. 812 dollars in canada with taxes and everything.

i actually bought a 16gb 2 months back and it had a nick similar to this but bigger , more like a chip but returned it anyway since i couldnt sell the 5 until now. got 600 for my 32gb iphone 5 and put it towards a 5S.

anyways heres a pic, its right above the ringer switch.

are they all gonna be like this or should i keep this as the next one could be worse?

ill buy it off you for $650
im vancouver

 

[Max(IT)]

I'd agree with you regarding issues that most anal-retentive people have, such as the home button not having that expected click, the display being slightly cooler/warmer than what they're used to, something rattling when you shake it violently and other stupid, anal-retentive issues. However, a nick is visible to everyone and unacceptable out of the box, especially after the predamaged iPhone 5 fiasco last year.

This image are from HTC one, another (beautiful !) aluminum smartphone.
You can find several on the net ...

Well, HTC isn't going to keep exchanging phones like Apple does, and there aren't storm of whiners on android forums.
Every time apple is involved everything is exaggerated ....

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Every time apple is involved everything is exaggerated ....

That's because this forum is full of anal-retentive people, but clearly predamaged phones out of the box like above are unacceptable even by my non-anal-retentive standards. Furthermore, Apple acknowledged this problem right after last year's fiasco so it's clearly not up to their standards either, and they've tightened the QC as a result.

 

[pasqualino]

i would have to justify keeping it. like you said, it's over $800.00. i had a (barely noticeable) scratch on my 5s, but apple sent me a free leather case and that made things right.

so for me, one small flaw is okay. i'm never going to see it and it doesn't take away from anything. had there been more than one (small) flaw, i'd look to exchange it.

 

[RiddlaBronc]

Just unboxed mine and its beautiful. It has one little dent next to the apple logo probably from te mold itself and smaller one northwest of the logo. Apple should have a better quality control with the mold practices. My 4 is perfect.

Im just glad i finally recieved my phone

 

[garycoleman2]

Mine has a tiny nick on the screen. It looks like a piece of dust. I can only see it if I hold it at an angle and really look for it.

 

[Hankster]

Here's the thing. You're most likely going to place a case on it anyway so...

1. No one will see the tiny chip.

2. No one will know you own a gold iPhone.

 

[gr8tfly]

yours were absolutely perfect after inspecting the entire thing?

Just looked at my 5s and iPad Air again, and yes, to the naked eye they are perfect. I looked at the chamfer by glinting light off the edges and didn't see anything. I also used my fingers along the chamfer, which would most likely detect any roughness my eyes missed, and felt nothing.

I also looked at the Al backs, and they appear fine (though they've collected some oils from handling). The polished logos still look fine, but I suspect if I used a loupe, I might see some very fine scratches.

If I used a loupe over the entire surface, I might see some minor imperfections, but I'm talking about 10x to 25x mag. It really isn't worth the effort to do that. First, I can't see that small of a feature at normal viewing distances and secondly, normal use could have already created that small of a defect by now (though I do take great care when handling them).

I would only consider exchanging the device if the defect was visible to the naked eye at normal usage distance. But, if it takes a loupe to see it, an exchange might not be worth the effort. Over the life of the device, it'll pick up microscopic scratches anyway.

 

[Chuck-Norris]

Three 5s iPhones and an iPad Air all received in perfect condition (and we're pretty picky). I would say defects (especially on the chamfered edge) are (as they should be) rare.

Sorry you're getting units from the wrong end of the defect statistics.

Just looked at my 5s and iPad Air again, and yes, to the naked eye they are perfect. I looked at the chamfer by glinting light off the edges and didn't see anything. I also used my fingers along the chamfer, which would most likely detect any roughness my eyes missed, and felt nothing.

I also looked at the Al backs, and they appear fine (though they've collected some oils from handling). The polished logos still look fine, but I suspect if I used a loupe, I might see some very fine scratches.

If I used a loupe over the entire surface, I might see some minor imperfections, but I'm talking about 10x to 25x mag. It really isn't worth the effort to do that. First, I can't see that small of a feature at normal viewing distances and secondly, normal use could have already created that small of a defect by now (though I do take great care when handling them).

I would only consider exchanging the device if the defect was visible to the naked eye at normal usage distance. But, if it takes a loupe to see it, an exchange might not be worth the effort. Over the life of the device, it'll pick up microscopic scratches anyway.

if u were iny my position and had what i had in the pic, would u exchange?

 

[Knockworstface]

Just exchange it.

 

[AFDoc]

it was horrible experience exchanging back and forth?

Yeah I can see how your life would be affected by having to make an appointment and wait to have it replaced. Ranks right up there with starvation and human trafficking.

I understand what most are saying about you paid X amount and it should be perfect ect ect. How long does your phone stay "perfect"? After your obvious return abuse with the iPad, I say let this one go.

 

[Ann P]

My 5 from last year had a few nicks on the edge but I lived with it. The early batches are usually the ones with quality issues.

 

[kh3khalid]

I just received my replacement iPhone, and there's a nick exactly like yours near the + button. I can live with it.