Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Nearly two weeks later - iPhone 5 nicked all over
- Thread starter zachnelson
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Plus, if most black phones look worn when the new phone comes out, they'll all be very similar and people will know if they want BLK, it won't be pristine, thus resale shouldn't suffer much.
I've always used them. My iPad has BSE on the back and power support on the front. It's going to take some getting used to
No, a picture is not a "warrant" or a guarantee that a device will be 100% flawless. Nor is a claim that it was made with great precision, or that it is manufactured with quality materials.
Example: "My product is well made with high-end components and materials" vs. "My product is 100% flawless and will be so out of the box 100% of the time, I guarantee it or you can return it dozens of times".
See the difference? Apple in no way guaranteed flawless anodizing, or anything else in terms of material perfection. Yes, they do make things to a very high standard (so high, that OCD folks actually bring cloths and lights to inspect their phones, lest they miss a dust sized speck on the chamfered edge...). It's silly, and it will largely end when the 30-day return window closes (refurbs, a $49 cost, and not being able to open box after box should end the madness...).
Being cosmetically perfect is not the largest component of "build quality" anyway. Some would argue it's not even a component of "build quality" at all (and that build quality deals with function and longevity, NOT cosmetics).
Again: If you don't want one, don't buy one. Easy.
If such a tiny "flaw" impacts people from using the phone for what it was designed for fine, but even if we ignore the "it's a tool" logic, it certainly isn't a piece of fine art either...
Somewhere in the next year, your black iPhone 5 WILL show signs of use (if you use it that is... even with a case...). If you can't live with that, MOVE ON. Buy a different phone (or again, buy the 4S, which by all accounts now is flawless, indestructable, and makes you meals while washing your clothes...).
My how fondly we remember our ex's... Always forget their faults...
iP5 will be the best selling iPhone of all time. If it were a legitimate issue, no way that would ever happen. Ironically, even the people freaking out over specks are lining up to buy ANOTHER.
Silly
Example: "My product is well made with high-end components and materials" vs. "My product is 100% flawless and will be so out of the box 100% of the time, I guarantee it or you can return it dozens of times".
See the difference? Apple in no way guaranteed flawless anodizing, or anything else in terms of material perfection. Yes, they do make things to a very high standard (so high, that OCD folks actually bring cloths and lights to inspect their phones, lest they miss a dust sized speck on the chamfered edge...). It's silly, and it will largely end when the 30-day return window closes (refurbs, a $49 cost, and not being able to open box after box should end the madness...).
Being cosmetically perfect is not the largest component of "build quality" anyway. Some would argue it's not even a component of "build quality" at all (and that build quality deals with function and longevity, NOT cosmetics).
Again: If you don't want one, don't buy one. Easy.
If such a tiny "flaw" impacts people from using the phone for what it was designed for fine, but even if we ignore the "it's a tool" logic, it certainly isn't a piece of fine art either...
Somewhere in the next year, your black iPhone 5 WILL show signs of use (if you use it that is... even with a case...). If you can't live with that, MOVE ON. Buy a different phone (or again, buy the 4S, which by all accounts now is flawless, indestructable, and makes you meals while washing your clothes...).
My how fondly we remember our ex's... Always forget their faults...
iP5 will be the best selling iPhone of all time. If it were a legitimate issue, no way that would ever happen. Ironically, even the people freaking out over specks are lining up to buy ANOTHER.
Silly
No, a picture is not a "warrant" or a guarantee that a device will be 100% flawless. Nor is a claim that it was made with great precision, or that it is manufactured with quality materials.
Example: "My product is well made with high-end components and materials" vs. "My product is 100% flawless and will be so out of the box 100% of the time, I guarantee it or you can return it dozens of times".
See the difference? Apple in no way guaranteed flawless anodizing, or anything else in terms of material perfection. Yes, they do make things to a very high standard (so high, that OCD folks actually bring cloths and lights to inspect their phones, lest they miss a dust sized speck on the chamfered edge...). It's silly, and it will largely end when the 30-day return window closes (refurbs, a $49 cost, and not being able to open box after box should end the madness...).
Being cosmetically perfect is not the largest component of "build quality" anyway. Some would argue it's not even a component of "build quality" at all (and that build quality deals with function and longevity, NOT cosmetics).
Again: If you don't want one, don't buy one. Easy.
If such a tiny "flaw" impacts people from using the phone for what it was designed for fine, but even if we ignore the "it's a tool" logic, it certainly isn't a piece of fine art either...
Somewhere in the next year, your black iPhone 5 WILL show signs of use (if you use it that is... even with a case...). If you can't live with that, MOVE ON. Buy a different phone (or again, buy the 4S, which by all accounts now is flawless, indestructable, and makes you meals while washing your clothes...).
My how fondly we remember our ex's... Always forget their faults...
iP5 will be the best selling iPhone of all time. If it were a legitimate issue, no way that would ever happen. Ironically, even the people freaking out over specks are lining up to buy ANOTHER.
Silly
I am glad you don't work for Ferrari or Bentley.
"oh sir, the paint peeling from the wheels will not detract from your driving experience" "Madam, please ignore the threads coming off the leather seats, they still are comfortable".
Nonsense.
And I am glad you didn't buy a Ferrari. There are minor imperfections all over the car, including the paint.
If you don't believe me, go check one out on the showroom floor.
Scratches, nicks, LOTS of stuff if you look hard enough.
If you really believe Ferrari and Bentley are made flawless, THAT is "nonsense"
Ferraris and Bentleys are orders of magnitude more expensive than most other cars. iPhones are not. You are comparing Apples and Oranges in multiple ways here plus your description of these cars doesn't hold up.
Anyway, bought my iPhone the first day, a few tiny nicks that you really have to look to see. Either people are careless with their phones or there is some quality control inconsistency happening in manufacturing. Construction quality still blows away any other smartphone.
No, we are talking about nicks in the chamfered edges of anodized aluminum.
If you consider that "glaring", then minor scratches, scrapes, imperfections in the leather, etc. of Ferrari's (even brand new ones) would be the same.
"Glaring" implies you can easily notice it WITHOUT careful inspection. 9 out of10 of the "flawed" pictures I have seen even on this forum require a special angle and/or a macro lens....
That's not "glaring". Sorry
----------
Correct. A few tiny imperfections does NOT completely discount the quality of the rest of the phone. Tiny imperfections can be found on almost anything, and Apple NEVER indicated otherwise, no matter how badly the OCD crowd wants to imply otherwise.
Get over it, or return the phone. Why is that so difficult?
I LOVE mine. It's awesome, and superior in every way to my 4S.
Not sure if it has a nick. Don't really care if it does. It will at some point, so why worry about? First. World. Problems.
I think the problem is with the scuffs that my iPhone has is that I had my iPhone 4 for more than two years and used only the bumper most of the time and there are no problems at all on the back of the phone after all that time. Having the 5 for only 13 days and there are noticeable scuffs already is not a good thing. I have a Genius appointment today and see what they say. When I called Apple CS, they told me it was up to each store on what they would do. If they refuse to exchange for a white, I might just return it and wait for a white to be available and buy again then. Otherwise, I like the 5 a lot.
And my best friend dropped his 4 on the first day and it shattered.
Maybe it was defective glass? Maybe not. He claims he dropped it onto carpet from 2 feet.
Point being, there are plenty of instances where damage was caused accidently (which is perfectly fine by the way, stuff happens), and people, well, exaggerate a little about the circumstances. "I put it on a pillow every night and wrap it in a microfiber cloth..."
Then we see the "evidence" and it's on top of a table that looks like it's taken more hits than hits than an NFL running back.
Am I calling him a liar? Not really. Just saying that perhaps it wasn't ENTIRELY the phones fault and that maybe, just maybe, people are a little rougher than they say on the item they want to stay flawless...
You make some very good points. I still went to my local Apple store after work today. They were very nice about everything. When I mentioned to the guy who checked me in why I was the and showed him the phone, he said he had seen a lot of people come in with the same problem. I asked about getting a white one instead as a replacement and was told that he wasn't sure if they would be able to, but I should ask the person who would help me. Long story short, I lucked out big time. Because I had mentioned how a lot of people who tried to get another black phone went through multiple ones that were scuffed also and because I was very nice about things, I was able to get a white one. Apple always gives me great CS, which is one reason why I highly recommended the 5 to all the people at work who were looking to upgrade their phones.
Well am I glad you're personal attacks aren't just reserved for me. Seriously, are you paid by Apple?
Sure, there are shady members with no morals who'll take advantage of the situation and say their user-inflicted nicks are not caused by them, but it doesn't change the fact that plenty of iPhones are actually predamaged out of the box and/or have defective anodizing coating making them susceptible to premature wear.
Replaced? Not for scratches or nicks you can't. Your time is coming. The case is delicate and you will see damage sooner or later.
----------
Finally a technical description that makes sense.
----------
So you've have your phone for 2 weeks and its already nicked up. And that's construction quality?
Though most of you dont want to hear it because you own a black phone, the case quality blows. Sure its pretty, but that is pointless if the beauty is gone in 2 weeks.
This thread is kind of silly and I can't believe how many people are matter of fact about the damage occurring so quickly.
Apple's choice here was motivated by profit and not by making the best product. Anodized aluminum is cheap. If you are going to use aluminum, a more rugged coating is in order.
I am sure Apple could have figured out how you coat these better for the same of less money.
Love the phone...hate the case and that apple copped out on it.
Based upon the phones I looked at in the apple store I'd say you're not looking close enough.
If by chance you are clear of scuffs and scratched it won't be for long and then you'll be wondering why.
I hear ya! I did that once; hurt like crazy. I asked what was wrong, and she said hold on. Left, came back, and I was like "Wow...what did you do? That's so much better!" Her..."Picked off the scabs"...
I hear ya! I did that once; hurt like crazy. I asked what was wrong, and she said hold on. Left, came back, and I was like "Wow...what did you do? That's so much better!" Her..."Picked off the scabs"...
uhh...
It was from an old joke. He made a comment about a pretty woman and protection...couldn't resist.
Actually, Type III or "hard" anodizing does change the fundamental toughness of the underlying substrate, in this case aluminum. Type III is a more complicated and aggressive means of creating a thicker oxide layer that actually makes the part stronger. For example, aluminum handgun frames are hard-anodized to make the frame more resistant to the metal fatigue that a firearm is subject to.
Based on current anectodal evidence (everyone seems to be getting little nicks and scratches on the anodized iP5 parts, including me), I would guess that Apple did not spec in hard anodizing. The softer "decorative" anodizing might be acceptable in a lesser product, but Apple's flagship smartphone? A point or two off, big A.
Based on current anectodal evidence (everyone seems to be getting little nicks and scratches on the anodized iP5 parts, including me), I would guess that Apple did not spec in hard anodizing. The softer "decorative" anodizing might be acceptable in a lesser product, but Apple's flagship smartphone? A point or two off, big A.
Same thing happened to my car. After a month, there were scratches on the front and a ding in the window.