White iPhone durability vs the black model

[saintforlife]

How does the white iPhone hold up in the long run? Is it more prone to showing its age in the long run compared to the black model? I have had black iPhones all along, and want to get the white one for my next, but only if it doesn't get faded easily or start showing the usual wear and tear faster.

Please share your personal experiences. I am especially looking for insight from people who have had the white iPhone 4 from earlier this year.

 

[Stealthipad]

Any wear would show on the white one first.

 

[gigapocket1]

Ive had both.. You can't see scratches on the white as easily on the black.. White always look shiny..

 

[Makara]

Anyone who's ever owned a black car will tell you that black is one of the worst colours for showing up scratches on a polished surface.

I think white would be the hardest wearing for this reason. Unless you splash black paint on it...

 

[zippaty]

I personally have had 2 black iPhone 4s' and both of them showed all the scratches. Both of them broke so for the third one I got it in white, and so far I am very pleased. The screen seems brighter and scratches and such aren't visible. A little dirt is visible but a q-tip and a little rubbing alcohol cleans it right up.

 

[TM WAZZA]

If you get a scratch on the white, it will have a mirror effect / reflection.

Also dirt is more apparent in the white particularly in the edges and around the home button.

 

[pragmatous]

Stop being racist. The white and black iphones degrade equally.

How does the white iPhone hold up in the long run? Is it more prone to showing its age in the long run compared to the black model? I have had black iPhones all along, and want to get the white one for my next, but only if it doesn't get faded easily or start showing the usual wear and tear faster.

Please share your personal experiences. I am especially looking for insight from people who have had the white iPhone 4 from earlier this year.

 

[jealousguy86]

dd

 

[apprunner]

For iPhone 5, black will be waaaaay worse due to the anodized surface. The white has the same natural metallic as the iPad. Both my iPads don't have a scratch on the natural metallic and one is used by a 5 yr old without a case. The white 5 will easily look better in a year if they are naked.

 

[shadowjeff]

Just go to the apple store and compare them, well that's what i did. I found that the white iphone 5s look a lot cleaner and newer when compared to the black iphone 5s.

 

[ar93]

even though theyre both the same i believe that the black iphone 5 will show more damage since the coating on it comes off showing the shiny aluminum underneath. I myslef have had the white iphone 5 since the 21st and it is still holding up, no scratches anywhere.

 

[Rigby]

I just took my black 5 on a trip, shoved it into and out of a not-quite-fitting plastic car mount (originally designed for the iphone 3!) dozens of times, pushed it around on tables etc. The result? Nothing, not a single visible scratch or scuff. I think the anodized surface is much more robust than many people think.

 

[IndoX]

The actual aluminum doesn't scratch very easily and is durable. What scuffs easily is the polished edges.

 

[Rigby]

The actual aluminum doesn't scratch very easily and is durable. What scuffs easily is the polished edges.

Well, in my case the edges show no sign of scuffs or scratches either. I think most of the problems people are having are little nicks out of the box. This is probably related to some manufacturing problem (perhaps they are caused by dust particles from the machining that cling to some of the frames and prevent the coating from bonding with the aluminum in these spots).

 

[Archer1440]

I bought a white one for exactly that reason, but I imagine it would be pretty simple to refinish the chamfered edge to a silver mirrored band on a black phone with judicious use of 1200 grit wet or dry on a glass surface and then a final polish with Flitz. That might look rather nice actually.

 

[Sir Ruben]

I bought a white one for exactly that reason, but I imagine it would be pretty simple to refinish the chamfered edge to a silver mirrored band on a black phone with judicious use of 1200 grit wet or dry on a glass surface and then a final polish with Flitz. That might look rather nice actually.

Im thinking we will see a lot of 'modded' black models where people have polished them down to the bare metal. Im betting some of them will even look pretty awesome.

 

[chrisrosemusic1]

I've had my black since launch and it has been in a snugg case since day one.

It arrived with a scratch on the bezel and after 12 days it now has about 5 more marks which are showing the raw aluminium behind. If it does that in a case after 2 weeks I can't even imagine what it will be like in a year of naked use.

Thoroughly disappointed cos the actual aluminium looks awesome, shame the polished edge is so weak.

I'm arranging a return to then order a white with higher capacity.

 

[mpossoff]

even though theyre both the same i believe that the black iphone 5 will show more damage since the coating on it comes off showing the shiny aluminum underneath. I myslef have had the white iphone 5 since the 21st and it is still holding up, no scratches anywhere.

Yep just like a black car

 

[TheDLade]

This is just really stupid, both of them are very durable, they use the same materials, are both anodized, the only difference is a colour.....do the math

 

[apprunner]

This is just really stupid, both of them are very durable, they use the same materials, are both anodized, the only difference is a colour.....do the math

The white is not anodized. It relies on the natural metallic color thus more durable.

 

[rsnapeuk]

The slate on the black means its easy and prone to stretches. So easy. Which is why I swapped to white.

 

[mattopotamus]

I just took my black 5 on a trip, shoved it into and out of a not-quite-fitting plastic car mount (originally designed for the iphone 3!) dozens of times, pushed it around on tables etc. The result? Nothing, not a single visible scratch or scuff. I think the anodized surface is much more robust than many people think.

Well, in my case the edges show no sign of scuffs or scratches either. I think most of the problems people are having are little nicks out of the box. This is probably related to some manufacturing problem (perhaps they are caused by dust particles from the machining that cling to some of the frames and prevent the coating from bonding with the aluminum in these spots).

I have had the same experience....no scratches or scuffs. It seems like the people who are having issues are the same people who had damaged phones out of the box. I think they were manufacturing defects exactly like Rigby described. Aside from those, everyone else who got a perfect one has seemed to stay that away unless they actually damaged it in a noticeable way.

 

[Archer1440]

The white is not anodized. It relies on the natural metallic color thus more durable.

Actually it is anodized. Just not dyed. So-called "clear" anodize. And a rather thin layer, on both white and black. Definitely much thinner than I would have specified on such a device.

Bare 6061 aluminum will discolor if handled with sweaty hands.

 

[TheDLade]

The white is not anodized. It relies on the natural metallic color thus more durable.

I know for a fact that it is anodized, it has paint that is just the silver variant to the slate. They both scratch the same, the white is just less painful to the eyes.

 

[apprunner]

Actually it is anodized. Just not dyed. So-called "clear" anodize. And a rather thin layer, on both white and black. Definitely much thinner than I would have specified on such a device.

Bare 6061 aluminum will discolor if handled with sweaty hands.

Thanks for the info. Nice to know