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Phil Schiller Says iPhone 5 Scratching 'Normal' for Any Aluminum Product

All of you who thought the anodizing would not reveal silver underneath obviously have your heads buried in the sand. Anodizing is not meant for durability but for aesthetics. There are different types of anodizing and from the looks of the iphone they are probably using type 1 which is the cheapest and the least durable.
 
If it's scratched out of the box, why not simply return it? I, personally, would never take a Sharpie to it; that's just stupid. :eek:

I've been back and forth on whether I will get the white one or the black one because of all this, but I've handled the black one in store and, while I didn't take a key, a coin, or pocket knife to it, it didn't scratch up from my fingernails at all, so I'm going to go with the black one. Besides, I take very good care of my electronics.
 
quagmire said:
Did the email tell Phil that it was scratched out of the box? No it didn't. Phil assumed the person scratched it during normal use and you can't blame him for doing so since the email wasn't very specific.
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No matter how you slice the semantics, he is CLEARLY aware of this problem and even if you take the "out of the box" aspect out of it, these phones should not be scratching so quickly when people are taking good care is taken of them.

All Phil has to do is Google the following to know of this issue further: "scuff" "iphone 5." Returns 139,000 results.
 
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getting scratches IS normal for aluminum products because the material is soft. HOWEVER, getting scratches and exposing its silver color is NOT normal. I've used anodized aluminum computer cases with different colors. Obviously, they got plenty of scratches from tools and other components, but they do NOT expose silver colors. there are definitely some process/tech options apple could've used, but maybe they chose a cost-effective one?
 
franky303 said:
i agree, PARTIALLY. i do use a protection for my iphone 4, too. however, i don't want one of those permanent cases that make this nice piece of phone looking ugly and bulky. first you spent lots of money to get a light, thin phone, and then put a ugly protection case around it. and i'm sorry to say this, but 99% of the cases do look ugly.

i also bought a case for my macbook pro and immediately sold it, coz it sucked. i'd rather live with a few scratches on my laptop.
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I have to agree with you on this one. 99% of the cases ARE ugly. I kinda laugh at my friends with the Otter box cases. Nice, thin iPhone and then you make into a brick. A soft brick, but a brick nonetheless.

I ordered a thin case, but I am really enjoying the naked iPhone 5 right now. Just hope it doesn't get scratched...
 
After seeing a number of iphone 5s first hand (not my own yet :mad: ) I am much less worried about this than I first thought! Yes it it bad that products are shipping damaged, and they need to be replaced straight away, but the finish seems very durable to me. Aluminium is a soft metal so obviously its going to get scratched by harder objects... common sense really. So don't put keys in the same pocket and you should be fine, simple. Some people must treat their iphones like ****!

Yes it would be nice if it was black all the way through so the scratches don't show but I'm not sure if this is even possible and if it is probably isnt economically viable.
 
richardsonrs said:
Should have taken it back immediately.
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I didn't notice the scratch on the screen until I got into work Friday morning. By the time I got done work the ATT store was closed and sold out. Ironically I don't have any scratches on the aluminum but one on the screen itself right out of the box after I took the plastic off of it. Plus the wifi issue that seems to not happen anymore for now. I just want to get a whole brand new phone.
 
Guys, it is aluminum. Aluminum is a type of metal. Metal scratches.

I do not get how this is a surprise to anyone. Your phone may have scratches on it out of the box, but guess what? There's always a problem with these phones that people pick out because it is the most popular smartphone ever made. The iPad had pink screens this year, the iPhone 4 had the antenna "problem" (you'd have to grip it like a bear to do it).

And don't say that you shelled out money for the device and expect perfection.

1. Most of you saying that probably had a 4 or 4S, so you really didn't need to get the new phone.

2. You cannot say that the 4 or 4S was more durable. If you dropped it the back shattered. Take a look back at the iPhone forums just 1 month ago and you'll see the complaints about a glass back.

If you don't want scratches, get a case. If you don't want a case because you like the look then don't get one and just be mindful that it'll eventually scratch.

Other than that, enjoy the iPhone 5. It's an awesome phone.
 
I don't get it.
Your phone is a tool to accomplish XYZ tasks.
Does it getting scratched prevent you from doing XYZ tasks?
No?
 
djstile said:
No matter how you slice the semantics, he is CLEARLY aware of this problem and even if you take the "out of the box" aspect out of it, these phones should not be scratching so quickly when people are taking good care is taken of them.

All Phil has to do is Google the following to know if this issue further: "scuff" "iphone 5." Returns 139,000 results.
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oh wait he won't use google, he'll ask siri :rolleyes:
 
Jmarziano said:
My screen was scratched right out of the box and I noticed when I got home. I know if I took back up to the ATT store they wouldnt believe me plus they didnt have anymore phones in stock. Plus my phone was having issues with the wifi connection. I had to do a soft reset to get it to work. Any thoughts and what I should do?
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Check the phone for defects before you leave the store.
 
Apple went cheap with this one

I love Apple, but they went cheap with the anodized aluminum. There are other products that use anodized aluminum - would scratch, but would take a REALLY deep scratch to reveal the original color.
 
If people really want Apple to take this seriously everyone and I mean literally everyone should take their phones back to Apple. That will get their attention instead of "Its a feature" or its Normal" They did the same with Antennagate and at the end got sued.
 
Jmarziano said:
My screen was scratched right out of the box and I noticed when I got home. I know if I took back up to the ATT store they wouldnt believe me plus they didnt have anymore phones in stock. Plus my phone was having issues with the wifi connection. I had to do a soft reset to get it to work. Any thoughts and what I should do?
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Return it, QUICKLY. You have 14 days otherwise you are locked for 2 years.
 
gforce216 said:
I do not get how this is a surprise to anyone. Your phone may have scratches on it out of the box, but guess what? There's always a problem with these phones that people pick out because it is the most popular smartphone ever made.
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Out of the box damage is never acceptable. Especially for Apple.

They sell a premium product and it should be delivered and packaged in a way that it arrives in your hands in perfect condition.
 
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