So I've had my iPhone 6 since launch day and since then have sometimes had it in a case, sometimes not. I noticed a small spot in the corner on the back that it seems like the finish has begun to rub off. I noticed this on my coworker's 5S in Space Gray as well, and it was actually much worse. Has anyone else noticed or would it be considered some kind of defect? I never noticed any problems with my white iPhone 5.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Space Gray Finish Rubbing Off?
- Thread starter MaxMike
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I used my 5s naked and there is no color rub off.
I used my 6 most of the time in apple case because of the camera. I see no rub off when i took it out.
Both black/slate.
I used my 6 most of the time in apple case because of the camera. I see no rub off when i took it out.
Both black/slate.
It isn't a defect, it is a sign of wear. If you're not using a case, that would be part of the reason.
It's not that big of a deal but Apple doesn't make a black/slate iPhone 5s or 6.
OP, ever hear of Scuffgate?
Scuffgate is what happened when the iPhone 5 was released and all the black anodization kept wearing off very quickly as well as being scuffed and scratched very easily.
Instead of improving the anodization for the 5s when it was launched Apple simply chose to lighten the color. Hence the 5s and the 6/6+ are Space Gray (and not black). This still happens, you just don't see it as much because with a lighter color you notice it less. One of the reasons Scuffgate was far less noticeable on the white iPhone 5s (5 plural, not the 5s).
Note, T5BRICK is correct. Apple's last Black iPhone was the 5.
Scuffgate is what happened when the iPhone 5 was released and all the black anodization kept wearing off very quickly as well as being scuffed and scratched very easily.
Instead of improving the anodization for the 5s when it was launched Apple simply chose to lighten the color. Hence the 5s and the 6/6+ are Space Gray (and not black). This still happens, you just don't see it as much because with a lighter color you notice it less. One of the reasons Scuffgate was far less noticeable on the white iPhone 5s (5 plural, not the 5s).
Note, T5BRICK is correct. Apple's last Black iPhone was the 5.
then what would they have to sell you with the 6s model?
apple knows the 6s is a paint job with internal tweaks. You will love it so much you will sell your perfectly working 6 just for the new paint job.
I agree.
Rather than fixing the process they abandoned it altogether and went with a lighter color to hide the problem.
The anodized finish can and will wear with time.
Yes, at some point, it's just inevitable.
Fixed that for you.
The official names for the iPhone 5 were as follows:
Black and Slate
White and Silver
When the iPhone 5s debuted, Space Gray replaced Slate and they introduced a new color combination (White and Gold). However, to avoid wordiness in terms of colors, they officially shorted the names to:
Space Gray (instead of Black and Space Gray, which is rather wordy)
Silver (instead of White and Silver, which is exactly the same color combination)
Gold (instead of White and Gold --> to avoid redundancy with "white" in the two white models)
its called space and grey but sounds too wordy so they reduced it to space grey
I've got an Apple leather case on my i6 and so far, zero issues. Love the Apple leather case! Very minimal, yet very classy.
I've seen the color rubbing off on a friend of mines Gold iPhone 6 so its not just that Space grey model that seems to have this problem
This is your answer right here, as a previous Owner of an iPhone 5 black - caseless.
