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

[tbrinkma]

Yes. Aluminum can scratch. There's no way around it. (Glass scratches less, but breaks more easily, so pick your poison.)

On the other hand, if the phone is scratched when it arrives in the box, you should definitely be able to get a replacement. (You may have to wait a little while for a replacement unit to become available though.)

 

[tCruzin4lyfe]

Phil is right, it does happen, I don't see the big issue. BUT I do understand the frustration of scratches on the device out the box, that's another story.

 

[janderson0719]

Millions are produced in factories and are held by many people before getting boxed and shipped. Nuff said.

Next 'non' issue please...

 

[maccompatible]

Is the white iPhone any better?

Sucks if it isn't. You already have one.

But yeah. Still scratchable. Just not as big of a deal because underneath the black is raw aluminum. Underneath the raw aluminum on the white is.. more raw aluminum. Just like the old iPhone.

 

[Giuly]

Why do (cheap) items made out of anodized aluminum that don't scuff exist, then? Or why doesn't anyone complain about scuffed iPods?

It's probably some decision about the anodizing process that saves $0.50 (or two hours of production time) per device which makes the difference.

 

[Cybbe]

"You're scratching it right."

 

[GQB]

Apple really screwed up on this one!

With this in mind, I'm going to get the Samsung Galaxy S3. I've heard that even if the iPhone is better in all those "scientific tests" the screen is still almost 5 inches. That makes it automatically better. And the cheap plastic back doesn't scratch like aluminum.

Signed up just troll for Samsung, huh?
Get a life.

 

[franswa za]

It does scratch, but it's unacceptable when its scratches out of the box...

sez who? some icehole who wants to get some media limelight?

and i agree with phil......

aluminium, anodised or not is a bit fragile, get used to it or do not buy the iphone 5

 

[BJMRamage]

"is that one of the new iPhones?"

"this? not new, i've been using it a while...see all the scratches? I got it long before everyone else."

 

[Stately]

SMH the legacy is ruined man . . No real transformation with a brand new phone, it's poor quality, the regression with the ipod nano . . what next, are they gonna remove a processor from the MBP's?

 

[WannaGoMac]

Never ever buy a 1.0 release of an apple product (or any other manufacturer for that matter).

This is why I like my iPhone upgrade cycle -- 3GS, 4s -- or what I call, the bug fix releases. All you fans going for the "big update" versions, thanks so much for helping apple make my "tock" cycle iphones rock solid and bug free

 

[maccompatible]

So use ghost armor for the back.

I was making fun of everyone that thinks bigger screen = automatically better...

 

[soco]

If you buy paper from Staples, take it home, and set it down next to a candle, and it lights on fire, are you going to freak out at Staples?

You all bought a phone, knowingly made of aluminum with a coating on it...

This is akin to me buying a new car, and complaining to Honda when I bump a shopping cart into it and the paint scratches or scuffs. I'd be called unreasonable.

 

[Maximillian]

They probably did it on purpose to reduce the re-sale of used phones.

If the phone looks scuffed/scratched then people are more likely going to go for a brand new phone and line apples pockets, rather than buy used where apple doesn't get anything.

Aren't the people buying used iPhones buying them from people who want to buy the newest iPhone? So really, this would stop people from selling their old iPhone to fund their new one which means less people have iPhones which is bad for market share.

So I'd say your theory is a bit off. They want people to have iPhones so they'll buy stuff from the store.

 

[GQB]

ooh ooh ooh! I have the solution!
Make it out of crappy cheap plastic like Android phones!
You're welcome!

 

[IronWaffle]

One more thing...

It's a feature: fully customizable personalized engraving.

 

[maccompatible]

Signed up just troll for Samsung, huh?
Get a life.

Umm... No i've been on macrumors for a while. This was meant to make fun of the people that say nearly the same thing but are serious. Didn't you notice the winky face??

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

I can accept that, but it shouldn't be scratched out of the box.

 

[ender21]

[url=http://cdn.macrumors.com/im/macrumorsthreadlogodarkd.png]Image[/url]


9to5Mac reports that one of its readers emailed Apple's marketing chief Phil Schiller regarding scratching of the iPhone 5, an issue that we documented on launch day. The issue is most visible on the black models due to the anodized slate color scratching off to reveal the silver color underneath. According to Schiller, such scratching is "normal" with use.

Image
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The question then becomes, since Schiller seems so matter-of-fact about it: Then why on earth would you have decided on THAT as the shipping product? When less than one week of regular use would show wear & tear on a sizable percentage of your carefully designed product, was that REALLY the best choice to make? Did you somehow decide that all the unique scuffs and marks would add to the artistic uniqueness of your otherwise fine-looking product?​

 

[emwgradstudent]

Apple's Care Instructions: iPhone 5

Apple's Care Instructions: Avoiding scratches on your Black iPhone 5
-Do not carry in your pocket
-Do not put it in a purse or backpack
-Do not drop
-Do not use a case, this will only scratch the surface even more

For best results:
-Leave in the box for the duration of your contract.

 

[rickdollar]

They'll be criticized no matter what material the use to wrap the phone in. Glass breaks. Metal scratches and dents. Plastic is cheap, etc.

 

[Maximillian]

Never ever buy a 1.0 release of an apple product (or any other manufacturer for that matter).

This is why I like my iPhone upgrade cycle -- 3GS, 4s -- or what I call, the bug fix releases. All you fans going for the "big update" versions, thanks so much for helping apple make my "tock" cycle iphones rock solid and bug free

I hope they don't overhaul the design again, forcing you to buy an iPhone 6

 

[uknowimright]

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?

did you really compare a phone to a bag of popcorn?

 

[Maximillian]

They'll be criticized no matter what material the use to wrap the phone in. Glass breaks. Metal scratches and dents. Plastic is cheap, etc.

Stop using logic. It has no place here on the Internet(s).

 

[h1r0ll3r]

People bitch and moan that the glass back can crack, so Apple switches to aluminum. Now people bitch and moan that aluminum scratches.

No pleasing some people..

Agreed. The iPhone 6 will be made from rusted shipwreck metal to give it that "seasoned" look so no one will complain about it being dented, scratching easily or looking like crap.

Then again, people will complain that the rusted shipwreck metal "doesn't feel good in the hands and tends to leave the user with rusty finger tips"

Seriously, it's a friggin phone. Get over it OR buy a case/skins and be done with it.