Slide-On Cases Causing Cracked Glass on iPhone 4s?

[MacRumors]

gdgt reports that Apple is currently investigating an issue with the way third-party "slide-on" cases for the iPhone 4 can interact with the iPhone 4's glass back, trapping dirt and other material between the two layers and causing scratching that can lead to cracking or shattering of the device's glass.

According to my sources both inside and outside Apple, after Antennagate the iPhone engineering team identified another potential design flaw that appears to have sent them into a quiet lockdown, and has them working behind the scenes in what's been described to me as something of a quiet panic to preempt any further tarnishing the iPhone brand. Apple has apparently found that non-bumper style cases -- specifically those that slide onto the iPhone 4, which are occasionally prone to particulate matter getting caught between the rear of the phone and the case -- can cause unexpected scratching that could quickly develop into full-on cracking or even much larger fracturing of the entire rear pane of glass.

According to the report, Apple has put together a lab and a team to conduct testing on the issue in order to determine how widespread it might be and how it could be mitigated.

The report also notes that Apple has until this week blocked sales of nearly all third-party cases from its retail stores, although it seems reasonable that Apple may simply have been limiting such sales while it was giving away free bumpers to customers as part of its efforts to address the antenna performance issue.

Article Link: Slide-On Cases Causing Cracked Glass on iPhone 4s?

 

[blasto333]

don't believe it, didn't happen to my brothers phone or my dads.

 

[CristobalHuet]

If this is for real, bring on the iPhone 5 already jeez.

 

[DylanLikesPorn]

Rear cracks are awful.

 

[boshii]

Not again

 

[acearchie]

I've had this on my iPhone 3g.

I bought a case hoping to protect the back to retain value however, through normal use small pieces of dirt where able to get into the case and after removing the back I was left with a scratched back.

Fortunately my back won't crack but I can definately understand how it would occur!

 

[Mr Kram]

although plausible, this is highly unlikely. you think that micro scratches caused by dust will actually compromise the structural integrity of the glass? i can see if somehow you got a pebble in there and deliberately slid the case on and off.

 

[Dr Kevorkian94]

while they are doing that they should check out my bumper, the dirt gets in and scratches the corners of the bezel

 

[Caliber26]

With all the "issues" that have surrounded this version (none of which have affected me, actually), I think it's safe to say that unlike the 3G and 3GS, which share identical builds, generations 4 and 5 will be quite different. I think an exterior antenna and glass black will be no more.

 

[LillieDesigns]

I bought my Macbook Pro about 2.5 years ago and put an Incase protective case on it it immediately. Within days the extra weight of the case caused a permanent line to appear on the center of my screen (extremely convenient for me since I need a perfect screen for film editing) and I brought it to the Apple Store over 4 times for the problem which they said they could do nothing about. The case, over time, has now cracked my screen at the hinge on both sides and is the only thing keeping my Macbook Pro screen together.

These cases are suppose to protect the products and end up doing more harm than good. Apple refuses to fix it, Incase does not respond to e-mails and one day soon my entire screen is going to be snapped off my MBP.

Boycott Incase -- they sucks.

 

[0007776]

I don't like seeing all of these problems with the iPhone, but I don't need a new phone for about a year, so I'll just wait and get the iPhone 5.

 

[ziggie216]

don't believe it, didn't happen to my brothers phone or my dads.

why not? I got piece of sand stuck between my first 3G and the case, and it left a dent on the back of the 3G.

 

[BornAgainMac]

I already see it now....




Don't use a case.

- Sent from my iPhone

 

[maflynn]

Wow, all I can say is that apple really blew it with the IP4.
Antenna issues,
proximity issues
rear glass shattering.

The hits keep on coming.

 

[WilliamG]

I bought my Macbook Pro about 2.5 years ago and put an Incase protective case on it it immediately. Within days the extra weight of the case caused a permanent line to appear on the center of my screen (extremely convenient for me since I need a perfect screen for film editing) and I brought it to the Apple Store over 4 times for the problem which they said they could do nothing about. The case, over time, has now cracked my screen at the hinge on both sides and is the only thing keeping my Macbook Pro screen together.

These cases are suppose to protect the products and end up doing more harm than good. Apple refuses to fix it, Incase does not respond to e-mails and one day soon my entire screen is going to be snapped off my MBP.

Boycott Incase -- they sucks.

Wait up wait up.. let me get this straight...

You were using a 3rd party case on your MacBook Pro, and when it started causing issue you continued to use it, and expected APPLE to fix it? Incase are 100% to blame, and you should keep at them.

 

[rwilliams]

don't believe it, didn't happen to my brothers phone or my dads.

Well in that case, there's nothing to worry about. Apple can shut down their testing now.

 

[Mr Kram]

I bought my Macbook Pro about 2.5 years ago and put an Incase protective case on it it immediately. Within days the extra weight of the case caused a permanent line to appear on the center of my screen (extremely convenient for me since I need a perfect screen for film editing) and I brought it to the Apple Store over 4 times for the problem which they said they could do nothing about. The case, over time, has now cracked my screen at the hinge on both sides and is the only thing keeping my Macbook Pro screen together.

These cases are suppose to protect the products and end up doing more harm than good. Apple refuses to fix it, Incase does not respond to e-mails and one day soon my entire screen is going to be snapped off my MBP.

Boycott Incase -- they sucks.

sucks for you, but totally different issue.

 

[martint84]

I used a bumper for the first few weeks that I had an iPhone 4. I took it off one day and noticed the steel around the edges had scratches. I got rid of the bumper and have gone "commando" ever since.

The bumper case itself has caused more damage to my phone than dropping it on concrete twice and everyday use for the past 2 months.

 

[Stink Star]

so the fact that people are too stupid to make sure there isnt rocks inside their AFTERMARKET case is a design flaw?!?!?!?! now people are just being stupid! thats like saying an undersized pulley for a supercharger could harm your car, so its a design flaw of the engine... get real people, apple engineers cannot think of every circumstance that a person might do with their phone

 

[roratus]

Wow, all I can say is that apple really blew it with the IP4.
Antenna issues,
proximity issues
rear glass shattering.

The hits keep on coming.

Agreed. Add to that the delay on the white model and up until recently the absurd shipping delays. As I've said before, I love Apple but iPhone 4 has been one clusterf**k after another.

 

[foobarbaz]

Design flaw? What the hell? If your case scratches the device it should protect, then it's just one shltty case.

Why the hell would the iPhone engineers bother "investigating"? This is just a blogger desperate for attention.

 

[SirROM]

Market Manipulation !!!!

Watch the market manipulators come out in force over the next two weeks. In fact it has already started with stories such as this one about how cases are scratching the iPhone4 and... drum roll and ominous music please.... CAUSING THE GLASS TO CRACK LIKE EGGSHELLS!!!!!! GLASSGATE!!!!! OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!!

Of course, intelligent readers will see through the plans to artificially lower the price of APPL so the manipulators can get some stock at a lower price, then sell it at a big profit when Apple blows through another record quarter and it sores above $300.

Question is: Do you feel like being manipulated?

 

[ppilone]

In light of this article I'm going to walk around my apartment and hold a solid object against everything that is glass, continuously moving it back and forth, making sure to hold it extremely tight against the surface.

I don't know who makes my windows, but if I see one scratch they're going to get a very strongly worded letter.

 

[coolfactor]

People calling for Apple to fix this issue are blinded by something. Maybe some feeling of entitlement.

I use a pre-unibody MacBook Pro every day and some of the keys have worn off their silver coating, as well as under the heel of my left hand. My hands are on this laptop for a dozen hours a day. The oils and acids from my skin caused the problem. I don't expect Apple to fix my laptop. But the new unibody machines don't have a coating on them (do they?), so this problem won't exist. The problem is already fixed for future generations of this machine.

I think the experimental design of the iPhone form is merely a step towards natural improvements. I applaud Apple for trying out new designs.

 

[smiddlehurst]

Agreed. Add to that the delay on the white model and up until recently the absurd shipping delays. As I've said before, I love Apple but iPhone 4 has been one clusterf**k after another.

No, it's had a couple of minor problems that have been MASSIVELY blown out of proportion largely by a geek press hungry for headlines. The public reaction to the iPhone 4 looks like it's been the best apple have seen for any model if estimates are even halfway accurate. If Apple have genuinely sold 10 million + devices since launch I'd expect to be seeing a lot more reports of all these so-called horrible design flaws and mass consumer outcry. Guess what, we're not and that, in turn, suggests that it's really not a big deal in the real world. Oddly enough, since the whole Antenna nonsense, I've noticed blogs and gadget sites are being a little more cautious in what they say, the most recent example is probably the slightly dodgy (apparently by design) hinge on the G2 which opens if held a certain way. Yet the reviews I've seen go out of their way to outline the problems this may cause and what use cases may be affected. Sadly though when it's an Apple product it's mass hysteria time.

People need to keep a sense of perspective here, there are surely issues for some and they need to be addressed but it's not the end of the world. Sadly I fear we're in for another few weeks of hysterical nonsense swamping any chance of sensible discussion and, more importantly, making it harder for those with issues to get help and advice.