SCRATCHGATE, or how apple makes money.

[pedrofan]

Hardness of materials are measured by science in this list, that is called the Möhs scale. It says what scratches what:

The material that scratches everything is the diamond, that is on the top, and can't be scratched by anything.

The material that can't scratch anything is the talc, and it can be scratched by everything, that's why it is on the bottom.

So, every material that is above another one can scratch it, more or less, like any other above.

Aluminum is only in the third place!! with 2,5 points out of 10 in the Mohs scale, while the glass or steel have 6,5 points out of 10, that is A LOT harder.

I don't know if the anodized aluminum is harder than normal aluminum, but this really means that iphone 5 is made of a material that can be scratched by almost ANYTHING. Even copper, that is present on most coins (pennies) and keys, with 3 points in the mohs scale can scratch aluminum, and steel as it is shown in this famous picture:

Steel vs aluminum:

This makes me think that Apple doesn't care of us at all. They make very fragile products to last less than a year.


Iphone 4 and 4s where made of glass, that is so hard.. but also super ultra mega fragile!! One fall one broken iphone, just look for iphone 4 crash tests on youtube... Iphone 4 was the condomized phone, you couldn't use it without protection.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7-OBoDFeDY

Iphone 5 is made of a more resistant material against falls, but it is super soft!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSFKVq36Hgc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2BxL0nRDlY

Do you think that apple engineers don't know this??

Mmmhh I don't think so. The faster your iphone looks ugly or broken, the faster you are going to buy a new one.

That is called marketing, aggressive marketing.

 

[iAi]

This thread is facepalm worthy!

 

[MacDawg]

I used my iPhone 4 without a case... no problems
I used my iPhone 4s without a case... still no problems
I am currently using my iPhone 5 without a case... hmmm, no problems

I see a pattern here

I buy new phones because I want the new phone and its capabilities
Not because my current one looks ugly now

I buy my phones to use
Not to resell
And not to put in a museum

 

[House Crasher]

What I take from this list is that Sheetrock is just slightly more fragile than the iPhone 5. Awesome.

 

[smellysox8]

I used my iPhone 4 without a case... no problems
I used my iPhone 4s without a case... still no problems
I am currently using my iPhone 5 without a case... hmmm, no problems

I see a pattern here

I buy new phones because I want the new phone and its capabilities
Not because my current one looks ugly now

I buy my phones to use
Not to resell
And not to put in a museum

Good for you. That's not going to make the OP any happier.

 

[Bahroo]

what are you talking about? the anodized coating can't get scratched by a pair of keys.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2BxL0nRDlY

 

[GoCubsGo]

Oh please, knock it off.

 

[Mrbobb]

Another conspiracy theory, luv it!

Am going to go with (1) Apple spoiled u by charging u lots of money, telling u how cool their stuff are, sell it to you in a jewelry-like packaging, even have employees cheer u on as you walk out with this object of desire then SCRATCH! This is Apple's fault by selling u high expectations.

(2) Jobs is not around anymore to stop the conveyor belt when everything is not perfect. <sight>

Paraphrasing Beyonce: Put a Case on It!

 

[pedrofan]

I used my iPhone 4 without a case... no problems
I used my iPhone 4s without a case... still no problems
I am currently using my iPhone 5 without a case... hmmm, no problems

I see a pattern here

I buy new phones because I want the new phone and its capabilities
Not because my current one looks ugly now

I buy my phones to use
Not to resell
And not to put in a museum

I give you science and... proofs ... and you give me .... what?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSFKVq36Hgc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7-OBoDFeDY

 

[vipJj123]

Op has a point. Now I cant believe Apple doesn't make the iPhone out of diamonds. At least I wouldn't have to worry about scratches. (I wouldn't be able to afford it though).

 

[itjw]

I used my iPhone 4 without a case... no problems
I used my iPhone 4s without a case... still no problems
I am currently using my iPhone 5 without a case... hmmm, no problems

I see a pattern here

I buy new phones because I want the new phone and its capabilities
Not because my current one looks ugly now

I buy my phones to use
Not to resell
And not to put in a museum

Bb..b.but what about MY resale??? I deserve perfection since I spent so much of mommy's money. That Ive guy promised me a "cosmetically flawless phone, out of the box, that would never, EVER scratch or show defects.... EVER" and that's a QUOTE (don't check me on that).

I only buy phones for museums and resale. What about ME???

Won't someone PLEASE think of the children!?!?

 

[F123D]

Phone scratches, fine.

Phone scratched and dented before you even peel the plastic off the screen. Not fine.

 

[PNutts]

I don't know if the anodized aluminum is harder than normal aluminum

Yes.

 

[pedrofan]

Op has a point. Now I cant believe Apple doesn't make the iPhone out of diamonds. At least I wouldn't have to worry about scratches. (I wouldn't be able to afford it though).

Hardened steel is 8 out of 10, vs 2,5 of the aluminum. Glass 6,5 like normal steel.
Aluminum, on a phone, that is all the day in contact with other materials on the pocket, and it is so likely to be fallen on any type of ground... is a real mediocre material.

----------

Yes.

Yes is speculation, the correct answer is the number.

 

[ZipZap]

I used my iPhone 4 without a case... no problems
I used my iPhone 4s without a case... still no problems
I am currently using my iPhone 5 without a case... hmmm, no problems

I see a pattern here

I buy new phones because I want the new phone and its capabilities
Not because my current one looks ugly now

I buy my phones to use
Not to resell
And not to put in a museum

It will happen. Just a matter of time. The OPs point is well made and factual.
While your experience is good so far your iPhone will eventually get damaged.

 

[vistadude]

A diamond blade is the only practical material used to cut diamond. But you would be surprised to find out if you try to cut aluminum or any soft metal with diamond, the diamond blade will instantly become dull and worn out. Metal kills diamond!!

Soft metals scratch easily but have more toughness - which means they can endure more impact without fatally warping, whereas glass, which has a pretty high hardness, shatters easily. Now plastic on the other hand can be much tougher than metal in many cases (think about how often rubbermaid or tupperware bins break compared to your iphone 4).

Ideally apple should make your phone out of non-stainless steel for scratch resistance, toughness, strength, and recyclebility. But then people would complain about tetanus viruses. Well maybe they should use plastic, then people say it's cheap even though it's strong as heck. Maybe they should use glass because it looks nice, well then people think it shatters easily. Maybe they should use titanium, but then people will say it's heavy. Well aluminum apparently feels premium to people because it's used in high end notebooks, that's why they went with aluminum.

 

[Rocko1]

Apple chose non-tempered 6061 aluminum for 3 reasons. 1) Machineability. It's very easy to machine into intricate shapes. 2)Weight. It's very light. 3)Price. It is one of the least expensive aluminum's. The downside is that using this material in a product that will see a lot of use is not ideal if keeping it looking presentable is a goal. It is easily dented, scratched and bent. Using a tempered version of the 6061 such as 6061-T6 would have doubled the aluminum's strength and negated much, but not all of the scratches and or bending.

 

[DioFan]

So ya know...

 

[DynaFXD]

It will happen. Just a matter of time. The OPs point is well made and factual.
While your experience is good so far your iPhone will eventually get scratched.

True dat. However, MacDawg's point stands .. he doesn't care if it gets scratched. Nor do I. These are tools; things that go out into reality every day and get banged around. If they get scratched or scuffed, that's life. I'd prefer it doesn't happen and have case, screen protector, and Applecare if the worst comes to pass. But I don't live my life by worrying about <oh shudder> the back of my phone got scuffed....so long as it still works.

But yes, from a materials characteristics standpoint the OP is correct. Now, if he can just work out a manufacturing process that can acquire and work the harder materials and not raise the price to beyond the market target, he'll be on to something.

 

[Rocko1]

Leo Laporte the Tech Guy said he can't beleive how easily his iphone scratches. It's not if your iPhone will scratch, it's when and how much.

 

[Lyshen]

I think OP is correct in that it sucks to have aluminum be so soft compared to other materials.

But Vistadude is correct in that, no matter what material is used, there will be downsides. Cost / durability / weight / strength

I thought, what about a hybrid material, but then the cost easily goes up...

Or make the anodize thicker but still run into same issue of scratch-ability.

So the question is, what material to use that people won't complain about?

 

[TheWheelMan]

Hardness of materials are measured by science in this list, that is called the Möhs scale. It says what scratches what:

Image

The material that scratches everything is the diamond, that is on the top, and can't be scratched by anything.

The material that can't scratch anything is the talc, and it can be scratched by everything, that's why it is on the bottom.

So, every material that is above another one can scratch it, more or less, like any other above.

Aluminum is only in the third place!! with 2,5 points out of 10 in the Mohs scale, while the glass or steel have 6,5 points out of 10, that is A LOT harder.

I don't know if the anodized aluminum is harder than normal aluminum, but this really means that iphone 5 is made of a material that can be scratched by almost ANYTHING. Even copper, that is present on most coins (pennies) and keys, with 3 points in the mohs scale can scratch aluminum, and steel as it is shown in this famous picture:

Steel vs aluminum:

Image

This makes me think that Apple doesn't care of us at all. They make very fragile products to last less than a year.


Iphone 4 and 4s where made of glass, that is so hard.. but also super ultra mega fragile!! One fall one broken iphone, just look for iphone 4 crash tests on youtube... Iphone 4 was the condomized phone, you couldn't use it without protection.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7-OBoDFeDY

Iphone 5 is made of a more resistant material against falls, but it is super soft!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSFKVq36Hgc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2BxL0nRDlY

Do you think that apple engineers don't know this??

Mmmhh I don't think so. The faster your iphone looks ugly or broken, the faster you are going to buy a new one.

That is called marketing, aggressive marketing.

What I take from this post is ridiculousness. Aggressive ridiculousness.

 

[hotsauce]

Why not titanium? Light and strong.

 

[Bahroo]

OP fails to realize that it still is tougher then most phones out right now, defitnetly tougher then the plastic Android phones out. Plus with good care it will remain in great condition. You say aluminum sucks? You know what sucks more? The glass back that gets hairline scratches even if you baby it or when it shatters then you have to replace it. Everyone bitched about the glass back now its no glass anymore and people still bitch

 

[vastoholic]

So the question is, what material to use that people won't complain about?

Impossible. People will complain about anything. If they switch to a higher grade metal, people will complain because it weighs more than the previous iPhone. It is literally impossible to please every single person. Even if apple gave multiple choices of materials with each iPhone release, there would be many people that hate every single one of them.

If you're worried about resale, buy AppleCare+ (in the states at least) and replace it before you sell it.