Scratches Appear on Early iPhone 4 Review Unit

[pake]

I love how they don't mention how it got scratched. Whaddya wanna bet he kept it in his pocket with his keys as a rather foolhardy "test"?

Exactly. I believe it was scratched on purpose just to get the attention. Aluminium silicate glass is also called plexiglas and is used in windows where the glass must not break easily. I'm guessing Apple's variant has other stuff that makes it even more durable.

 

[Ferris23]

Is this the same device they threw across a room against a wall and intentionally dropped?

 

[kkat69]

And there's the rub. Nonetheless, the line for FAB, First Adopters Bitching, begins here.

I have a Rolex with a synthetic sapphire crystal which costs as much as the no-contract iPhone, and I've scratched it or nicked its corner. Scratch resistance does not equal scratch-proof... unless you have a diamond-coated surface.

But again... let the people who willingly chose to be first adopters start whining. I might just wait to see if there's any actual manufacturing issues or not before I go and plop $200 on another iPhone.

Another point to make is even though the casing says 'Glass' it's still not what the average person considers glass. The casing does technically fall under the category of 'glass' but it's still a polymer than can be scratched where as true glass can only be scratched a few ways most of which wouldn't be done during normal day to day use.

So good lesson here kiddies;

Scratch resistance does not equal scratch-proof
Glass (bendable no less) does not equal true glass

 

[alana22]

Why is this on front page news?

I think this is an important thing to lots of people on here. Scratches don't bother me in the slightest, but I admit to being surprised nonetheless.

 

[djinn]

I hope nobody is surprised with this news.

 

[bahooki]

This is why I'm waiting for white..... Scratches are less visable

I'll take the risk of a scratch over having to see that nasty black border around the entire screen on the white phone.

 

[scubasteve03]

I read an Engadget post from Josh saying they have done a few drop test from 2-4 feet several times. They said there was not any noticeable damage. These little scratches are obviously from that. Yes!!! If you drop your phone, it's going to scratch!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Captainobvvious]

only on MR is this front page news....love it

I love the iPhone too and can't wait to get home to get it... That being said this is important information and should be reported... Do you want them to only report things that lavish praise on the device?

If they scratch easy it is a concern of mine.

 

[AbSoluTc]

So the glass of the iPhone 4 is "Gorilla Glass" now? I was under the impression from Apples WWDC that they "invented" some other type of glass and were using that. Apple never said anything about "Gorilla Glass".

Anyone care to elaborate?

 

[cvaldes]

I hope nobody is surprised with this news.

Trust me, there are enough logic-challenged, common sense-deprived people here. It will be news to someone.

 

[SamHiller.beta]

iPhone 4 scratchs.

I mean come on nothing is going to be scratch resistant, and if people for example but it in a pocket with keys of course its going to scratch. Almost suicide for a iPhone putting it in a pocket with keys!

 

[cvaldes]

So the glass of the iPhone 4 is "Gorilla Glass" now? I was under the impression from Apples WWDC that they "invented" some other type of glass and were using that. Apple never said anything about "Gorilla Glass".

Anyone care to elaborate?

The claim that Apple is using "Gorilla Glass" in the iPhone 4 was made by a third party. Apple has neither confirmed nor refuted this statement.

 

[aelalfy]

Omg!omg!what Are You Losers Going To Do!

Switch To The Crackberry Or The Mighty Steroid. Hurry!!!!

 

[stewart715]

wait am i missing something? it is just a scratch right? does iOS4 like crap out with scratches on the back? who the **** cares...its gonna scratch. everything scratches.....its not a piece of art its a damn iphone lol

 

[AbSoluTc]

The claim that Apple is using "Gorilla Glass" is by a third party. Apple has neither confirmed not refuted this statement.

That's what I figured. Engadget likes to use words and phrases that do not apply to the device sometimes.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Just another reason to go White.

 

[noobinator]

I definitely think they used and abused that thing in order to get some front page headlines.

I'm not worried

 

[Shorties]

It was probably scratched by sand on the floor or in his pocket (He said they did drop tests with it). Sand is primarily made of quartz and has a hardness level greater than glass. It's the iPhones one weakness. Always been a downside for people who like to go to the beach.

 

[AZREOSpecialist]

What's up with these RIDICULOUS reports making front page news around here? The phone's glass is scratch resistant NOT SCRATCH PROOF! My god people, get a grip! Glass will scratch. Where do these outlandish expectations come from?

The rest of the world must think Apple consumers are freaks by some of the postings around here.

 

[hms84]

I will buy it, use it and scratch it then buy iPhone4S next year!!!

 

[urbanj]

This is where I can see the bumper working quite well. The bumper looks like it will elevate the phone above the surface when you place the phone down on its back. I found thats where most of the scratches would come from on the earlier iPhones. Unless you put the phone in the pocket with your keys

Did anyone order and get bumpers with their delivery? Us Canadians get to wait

 

[aristobrat]

FWIW, from the engadget review (as others have mentioned):

we've actually seen the iPhone 4 tossed with and without a bumper across a room (one hit a wall) with no issue, and we dropped ours pretty hard from about two feet up onto tile with nary a scratch.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/22/iphone-4-review/

And then you have this tweet from Pogue last night:

Oh CRUD!!! Set the iPhone 4 on a truck hood in a parking lot--it slipped off and fell 5 feet to pavement! Not a scratch. Whew!!

http://twitter.com/pogue

 

[dave1812dave]

So much for the claims of Gorilla glass, which is what the iPhone uses.

 

[BobVB]

Well since their's is already scratched,

Take it to a jeweler or gemologist and have them do a Mohs scale test on it and publish the result. Come one guys - be journalists and proactive for a change.

Those with environments filled with things harder than glass should probably get Ghost Armor - I will if only for the stainless steel sides.

 

[Luman]

C'mon people everybody knows that if you drop the baby, it's bound to get scratched. Don't drop the baby.