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

[cyberddot]

In other news, metal dents.

HA!

I work with my hands for a living, the kind of work that encourages development of hard calluses on ones hands, so my phones see some service over their lifetime.

My iP4 didn't scratch without a cover, all the while residing in my front pocket while I work. I expect my iP5 to perform as well, since it can't do any better. And I suspect that anyone that is getting scratches on their phone (ANY phone) is definitely doing it wrong.

Pro Tip:

Don't keep your phone in the pocket you use to hold your gravel, your skeleton-key ring, your laundry money, or other things that you suspect might damage an electronic device that's worth over $600, and is essentially a mobile computer in your pocket.

 

[bigandtasty]

Just wait until all those new fancy colored anodized iPod Touch models come out! Scratched to ****

 

[HarryKeogh]

I wonder if they are using type III anodizing, which I believe is the toughest.

It is much tougher but cosmetically not nearly as pleasing. It can have a milky appearance.

 

[Gasu E.]

Yawn. Quit acting like it's something that's happened to more than a handful of people. It's 5 MILLION handsets. Do you complain when you get an unpopped kernel in a giant bag of popcorn as well, or do you just save your faux life-ending outrage for Apple?

I do not think it would be acceptable to have an unpopped kernel in a $700 bag of popcorn.

 

[S.B.G]

But they're subject to completely different types of use and abuse. They're not even in the same galaxy.

Yes it is in the same galaxy; physics applies everywhere. Two objects that come into contact with each other where one is softer than the other will end up affecting one or both of them. A key or coins being jumbled or dragged across the new iPhone or a new vehicle will be scratched, dented or dinged.

 

[Boatboy24]

This just in: iPhone 6 will be made completely out of rubber so it won't shatter or scratch.

 

[kas23]

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.

Oh, this is classic Apple. They'll saw a design flaw is normal and try to ignore it until their users modify their behaviors. They initially tried to do this with antennagate. Did they fix it? No. People just slapped on a case (behavior modification) and it faded away. I do commend them for giving away free cases/bumpers though.

Then there was batterygate. Did they fix this? No. People again just modified their behaviors (restored devices, shut off services like push and iCloud). Eventuslly people became complacent and their behavior modifications became the new norm.

We'll see the same with this too. People will change their behaviors, not Apple. People who wouldn't otherwise buy a case will now. Or people will exchange for the white model. Or become more careful of what is in the pocket with their iPhone. Anyway, the customer will not win here. Apple will. We've seen it before.

 

[HarryKeogh]

This just in: iPhone 6 will be made completely out of rubber so it won't shatter or scratch.

But it keeps erasing my pencil drawings.

 

[Zombie Acorn]

The guys defending the poor quality will be upgrading to the iPhone 6 in a year anyways.

 

[bigchrisfgb]

This just in: iPhone 6 will be made completely out of rubber so it won't shatter or scratch.

And if you drop it it bounces straight back into your hand.

 

[gmanrique]

36%? Yeah right. The people who were scratched disproportionally probably went to the poll to complain and make their angry voice heard. I highly doubt that over 1/3 of iPhone 5's CAME scratched.

BTW mine has 0 case and 0 scratches.

Because Apple needs to be perfect

I just got mine from my carrier. It had cosmetic issues out of the box (they really aren't scratches, is more like spots missing paint mostly by the seams, and dings on the polished edge but those are painted). Went to the Apple store for a replacement. No problem. Five phones that they brought out to replace it with were worst or equal to the one I had originally. They all had the same type of cosmetic issues. The store manager took notes and asked me to come back in a month or so wen they have figure out what to do. By the way, the display units did not have the problem.

Just to add here, there are a couple of problems.

1- Apple advertises their perfection and their perfect manufacturing process for these phones (see Johnny Ive's video at apple.com) that is why people expect more from them

2- the phones are coming like that out of the box, not scratched with use. Nothing like the ones in the pictures on the website or the banners in the store.

3- people are already used to Apple's aluminum products. I have two original iPod minis (blue and pink), an iPod nano (black), an iPod shuffle (orange), and an iPod touch (1st generation with dark silver aluminum rim), and none of these products came with scratches or missing "paint" out if the box, and they don't scratch simply by putting them in your pocket with nothing else. I did not include here the laptops (MacBook pro and air), iMac or original Apple TV because although they are made of aluminum, they are not carried in a pocket.

4- the problem as reported by the idiot who decides to scratch a display unit with his keys should be classified as vandalism and does not reflect the problem described by many others here

So, I think there is definitely a QC issue. By the way, the phone I'm talking about is an iPhone 5 64 GB black.

 

[Technodynamic]

just by a case....and you will not have any scuffing. Simple.

With cases, historically, dirt gets trapped between the phone and the case. I would think this would cause significant 'scuffing' on the phone.

A case may be the only way to hide the inevitable though.

 

[snowcrash]

Omg I just found a scratch and guess what, my iPhone no longer works! One tiny scratch and now it's just a paperweight. Scratchgate just got real up in here! Scratch = blue screen of death!! Someone file a class action quick. We can't have scratches!!!!

Guess this is the problem when people start using a toy as a status symbol and not as what it's intended to do. Again, factory defects out the box aside, take care of your stuff and expect something you use every day, throw in your pocket, sometimes drop etc, its going to have wear on it. Almost everyone I know with a cell/smartphone the damn thing looks like it went to war and back. It's a phone. It's not a car, it's not a motorcycle it's a phone. Stop thinking your pretty iPhone works better then a banged up one. If you aren't careful things happen. Seriously people. Do you really need your hand held this much and are you this childish that you really get upset if your phone has a little nick in it? Really don't see what people are so emotionally invested in a phone.

 

[iWaldo]

Boy, I sure am glad they replaced that silly easily-damaged glass back with impenetrable aluminum!

 

[jamesryanbell]

the guys defending the poor quality will be upgrading to the iphone 6 in a year anyways.

5s

 

[dodoei]

like every good quality aluminum computer cases out there, you can drill a hole to the panel, and throughout it's still black like black, red like red...

Like what?

 

[Rogifan]

Wouldn't be apple if someone didn't creat a [insert name here] gate. Same thing with iPhone 4 where we had glass gate even though the majority of iPhone 4 owners never had a cracked screen.

I purchased a thin clear case for my iPhone 5. Will still show off the aesthetic quality but protect from scratches. Works for me.

 

[peeeter]

iPhone aged to perfection

http://designmind.frogdesign.com/blog/aged-to-perfection.html

 

[Tonewheel]

And there you have it, straight from the mouth of Phil Schiller...

"The iPhone 5: Deal With It."

The apologists are out in droves today.

 

[tomtendo]

I don't understand why people are complaining about this. Things scratch over time. The iPhone 4/4S(GLASS) would scratch as well. Unless they are delivering scratched up and dented(Which some people say... who knows), then get over it. Buy a case...

#FirstWorldProblems

 

[ssanders79]

chiped out of box

You can count me as one of those with an iPhone that was already chipped when I opened the box.

 

[Zombie Acorn]

Omg I just found a scratch and guess what, my iPhone no longer works! One tiny scratch and now it's just a paperweight. Scratchgate just got real up in here! Scratch = blue screen of death!! Someone file a class action quick. We can't have scratches!!!!

Guess this is the problem when people start using a toy as a status symbol and not as what it's intended to do. Again, factory defects out the box aside, take care of your stuff and expect something you use every day, throw in your pocket, sometimes drop etc, its going to have wear on it. Almost everyone I know with a cell/smartphone the damn thing looks like it went to war and back. It's a phone. It's not a car, it's not a motorcycle it's a phone. Stop thinking your pretty iPhone works better then a banged up one. If you aren't careful things happen. Seriously people. Do you really need your hand held this much and are you this childish that you really get upset if your phone has a little nick in it? Really don't see what people are so emotionally invested in a phone.

Ive had my phone and done all these things with it for a year, I did the same with the iPhone 4 and both are pristine. Some people have used their phone for a couple days and have scuffed backsides already.

Ive had my tablet with an aluminum colored back for almost a year now, no scuffs.

 

[kas23]

Yes it is in the same galaxy; physics applies everywhere. Two objects that come into contact with each other where one is softer than the other will end up affecting one or both of them. A key or coins being jumbled or dragged across the new iPhone or a new vehicle will be scratched, dented or dinged.

Wait, you leave your iPhone outside at night, exposed to the night sky? You drive your iPhone on the road, with all the pebbles in the road and other cars driving around it? Does your iPhone face other car doors when parked at the store?

Mine is not exposed to any of these hazards. It sits in my pocket, is held in my hand, or sits on my night stand. The only law of physics my phone faces is gravity if I drop it. In this case, then I would expect damage.

 

[ani4ani]

just by a case....and you will not have any scuffing. Simple.

This is exactly what you should do with leather seats in your car. Spend a fortune on them, put them under a crappy seat cover and make sure they're perfect for the next owner!,

If I am spending $800+ on the "world's most desirable" phone, you would think it would remain that way, for my benefit rather than having to hide it away.

Why bother aspiring to own the world "thinnest and lightest" phone, if you make it thicker and heavier than the rest in a case?

 

[Jimrod]

I think many people, including Phil Schiller are missing a little point here - sure Aluminium (especially anodised) scratches, or course it does. The problem is when a premium product like an iPhone scratches SO EASILY that it's going to have marks from new or with very little use. This is a problem and it's either poor material choice or poor manufacture.