Scratches Appear on Early iPhone 4 Review Unit

[RealityMonster]

If the iPhone is actually made of GLASS, then those aren't scratches in the glass itself, save if they actually pulled out diamonds or rubies to do it.

(Required reading:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohs_scale_of_mineral_hardness)

Steel isn't harder than glass, unless you're talking about hardened steel (I think that would be the stuff that they use in high end knives and scalpels). For most of the things on the scale harder than glass, you've got a completely different set of problems if they're floating around in your pocket with your phone.

I'd like to be there to run my fingernail along it. Scratches in the glass would be small gouges, and you'd be able to feel them if you picked at it.

More likely, the coating applied to the glass is scuffed or scratched, which is perfectly reasonable.

I was hit by a car last year. My phone went flying and hit the ground, and still had no scratches on the screen (the rest of it was protected by a plastic case). I have serious doubts about the scratches being in the glass itself.

 

[mac*jedi*g]

You know... most people coddle their devices for at least one month BEFORE they digress to "Gorilla-fist" handling of their new toy.

There always one in the bunch that has to point out every flaw, noticeable or not, just to make the point that nothing is perfect. I guess we'll have to wait for "God" to join Apple's Design Team to make this right.

 

[Eltanin-Antenna]

"Nasty"

If the scratches are only visible in bright light, then Engadget are using a definition of the word "nasty" I've never encountered before.

 

[Advance The Man]

fake picture

 

[sup3rsal]

You guys dont get the point, Steve claimed that it was some superman glass that was put in, 10 times stronger than some other stuff, so tuff that the only cases apple made were the bumpers. If this happened in 5 days then apple knew it was not a miracle glass like they said, and having some people waste their money on a ruberband for their phone that cost 30 bucks

 

[littfam]

Black shows every little scratch there is. If you are even a little bit concerned about scratches showing, I would get the white version. I would never buy a black iPhone or a black car.

 

[ValSalva]

SJ must love these tech blogs . I'll bet he'd like to swat them away like so many flies.

 

[btd0655]

Hopefully my damn Zagg INVISIBLE SHIELD GETS HERE
ORDER THE 11TH

hmmm... you still havent recieved it? i ordered mine on June 8th then another for my brother on June 14 and got both in the mail on the same day on monday june 21. hopefully you get it!


MacBook Pro 13" Unibody
iPhone 3GS 16GB Black
iPhone 4 16GB Black (21 more hours!)

 

[spencers]

ENGADGET is posting this?!?! I can't imagine it has anything to do with Apple breaking down doors and threatening to file lawsuits that would prompt this disparaging review of something as trivial as scratches on a cell phone.

Ummm, I think you're getting Engadget confused with Gizmodo.

 

[calb]

Still not discouraging me from going naked.

 

[WilliamLondon]

we have no idea what actually scratched it or how it happened just that he 'didnt try to scratch it'.

Scratch Resistant != Scratchproof

/facepalm

Not only that, but no one actually knows if those are real scratches or just marks that the dude hasn't even tried to remove with a bit of spit and some elbow grease.

Regardless, though, a pair of bumpers could have prevented this.

 

[Poll Smoker]

ENGADGET is posting this?!?! I can't imagine it has anything to do with Apple breaking down doors and threatening to file lawsuits that would prompt this disparaging review of something as trivial as scratches on a cell phone.

Your cluelessness is typical of knee-jerk apple defenders on this thread.

 

[btd0655]

Enjoy the ugliness as it begins to peel off and get crud under it when you put it in and take it out of your pocket.

this is why you also get a bumper to still showcase the iphone and its sleek design, and protect the stainless steel band as well as hold down the edges of the zagg sheild to prevent it from possibly lifting

MacBook Pro 13" Unibody
iPhone 3GS 16GB Black
iPhone 4 16GB Black (21 Hours!!!!)

 

[h00ligan]

I have a Rolex with a synthetic sapphire crystal which costs as much as the no-contract iPhone

Rolex makes watches that cheap? Or did you really get your rollie in times square?

Anyway, apple always says the screens are scratch resistant.. i learned not to trust that.. besides, powersupport antiglare for the front anyway - you know.. to read it outside and whatnot.

 

[3282868]

Forgive my ignorance, but isn't glass difficult to scratch? I always thought glass was only scratch-able with a diamond or glass cutter?

 

[Megad00mer]

Still not discouraging me from going naked.

Ditto. Had my 3G for two years with barely a nick. Went Naked 90% of the time as I despised any case I got for it.

Part of the reason I love the iPhone so much is just how "sexy" it is. Any case on the market hides that under a layer of bulky plastic. I won't be buying a bumper or any other kind of case when I pick my iPhone 4 up tomorrow morning. I'll take my chances.

 

[Lesser Evets]

This is almost as dumb as the people who bitch about stuff "easily getting fingerprints".

Seriously. I thought I was browsing www.WorldOfPussies.com for a second.

 

[NoExpectations]

I wonder....

I wonder if many of these scratched iPhone 4s belong to employees/owners of scratch protector companies who just want to scare us into buying their products.

 

[milo]

exactly. there wouldn't be a market for cases if their claims were true.

Nah. Even if something was completely indestructible, some people would still buy cases.

You guys dont get the point, Steve claimed that it was some superman glass that was put in, 10 times stronger than some other stuff, so tuff that the only cases apple made were the bumpers. If this happened in 5 days then apple knew it was not a miracle glass like they said, and having some people waste their money on a ruberband for their phone that cost 30 bucks

You really think that "10 times stronger than some other stuff" equals indestructible? And you really think that there is any phone in existence that it's impossible to do this to? This isn't five days of normal use, they specifically said that they intentionally dropped the unit and threw it across the room. Repeatedly.

If users get big scratches quickly from normal use, then I'd say there's an issue. But the fact that it can be scratched it you give it enough of a beating is hardly news.

 

[Gix1k]

My EVO back doesnt scratch.

 

[Shorties]

Good point. I have a 3GS and the back is scuffed up, but nothing out of normal wear and tear. I didn't get a screen scratch from something, it's small and had enough pressure to scratch the screen and gouge the side a bit. Keep in mind the only thing I do to 'protect' my phone is keep it in a pocket by itself and turn the glass towards my leg. That method has worked well for my 3GS and I expect it to work well for my 4G.

Yeah thats what I do too (Turn the phone screen towards the leg). One more thing to add, quartz is unfortunately common in sand, so the iPhone isn't scratch proof if you get a little sand in your pocket.

 

[jjomaa]

Remeber those scratches wern't by accident

 

[Spanky Deluxe]

this is why you also get a bumper to still showcase the iphone and its sleek design, and protect the stainless steel band as well as hold down the edges of the zagg sheild to prevent it from possibly lifting.

It'll still peel. I kept my zagg front shield on after I bought a hard case but it still peeled and looked awful. Within a week of regular pocket use it was a mess.

 

[Locoboof]

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

I guess it's a good thing the border dosen't bother me then. that's why there're two colors....white for me black for you......we both win.

 

[chrmjenkins]

While few would expect iPhone 4's glass to reach an indestructible level of durability, the rather rapid accumulation of "nasty" scratches in just a few days of use may be a concern to some possible purchasers and bears watching as users consider their options for protecting the device during daily use.

Yeah, so get your **** together Apple. We're watching.