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Will the iPhone 5 be scratch resistant?

Will the iPhone 5 get lots of scratches over time?

  • No, Apple figured out how to make a large surface of metal completely scratch resistant

    Votes: 25 24.3%

  • Yes, Its design is going to be a scratch magnet

    Votes: 53 51.5%

  • Im going to use a case so I dont care

    Votes: 17 16.5%

  • Im going to use an invisible shield type protector so I dont care

    Votes: 8 7.8%
  • Total voters
    103
A

appswipe

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Aug 18, 2012
282
0
After years of paranoia then I quit using cases with the iPhone 4 series because they were surprisingly scratch resistant. So I likely wont go with a case on the iPhone 5, but I'm not sure how the iPhone 5 will hold up. The fact that Apple didn't announce a bumper may indicate that they figured out how to make it scratch resistant, or it just might mean they view their products as art and just dont want people covering it.

So what do you think about the iPhone 5 and scratches?
 
The back's aluminium, and in my experience with the stuff (an iPad and a MacBook Pro), it's very scratch resistant.

The front however is just the same old glass right? So pretty tough and scratch resistant, but not bulletproof. I'd worry more about protecting the screen than the body of this iPhone, but I wouldn't worry much. :D

For the record, I'm going naked.
 
Scratches on the black phone's anodized aluminum could be a concern. Particularly the sharp edges that see heavy wear. Had this problem on a black 2g nano. (A black sharpie should be fine for a temp touch-up, however.)

The white/silver phone shouldn't have this problem. (actually, it will, but it won't be anywhere near as noticeable since the surface coating and underlying metal are much the same color)
 
There is no way of knowing this for certain till the 21st, but if Apple has used Corning's Gorilla Glass 2 for the front screen and the two glass windows on the back side, it would surely be more scratch resistant than the iPhone 4/4S design.

As for the aluminum part, it will scratch as much as a MacBook Pro would scratch.
 
Won't be scratch resistant. Solution, be careful. My left pocket never holds anything other than my iPhone and occasionally my left hand. I've had my 4S naked since launch and I barely have any scratches or cosmetic issues otherwise.

iPhone 5 preordered, will be naked too :)
 
FlatlinerG said:
Won't be scratch resistant. Solution, be careful. My left pocket never holds anything other than my iPhone and occasionally my left hand. I've had my 4S naked since launch and I barely have any scratches or cosmetic issues otherwise.

iPhone 5 preordered, will be naked too :)
Click to expand...

I guess that makes us nudists.
 
appswipe said:
So what do you think about the iPhone 5 and scratches?
Click to expand...
As always -- take whatever precautions you're willing to deal with. Different people have different tolerance levels regarding scratches, different notions regarding the risks they're willing to take, and different levels of mitigation attempts that they're willing to use.

Even if it is scratch resistant, scratch resistant != unscratchable. Harder materials will scratch softer materials. Without first hand experience people are just speculating on what is or isn't possible which is fairly meaningless.
 
Ip4 isn't even remotely scratch resistant. I do landscaping work on my house over weekends and somehow rocks and dirt get into my pants pocket where rhebiphobe is and mine is scratche to high heaven
 
Couldn't vote since it's a silly poll.

1) Scratch resistance is subjective. Resistant compared to what?
2) Anything can scratch.
3) I'll be using shields AND a case.
 
Simple, if you don't want your phone to get scratched then use a case. Simple as that. But if you want to go nude and don't mind your phone getting scratched then don't use a case. For me, I'm going to be using a case and screen protectors.
 
Your iPhone is like your car, once it's out of the box its going to get scratched. Wrap that rascal and either Invisible Shield it (or any other brand that is 100% equal but costs way less) or get a full case on it.
 
I never buy a case or screen protector.

I feel like it hides the beauty of the phone. It's not made to be hidden. Makes it looks bulky or cheap imo.

The screen doesn't seem right to me with a screen protector.
 
From the slashgear review:

They’re finished with a beautiful chamfered edge, which Apple says is diamond-cut; it’s unfortunately reasonably prone to scrapes, however, and after just a few days of relatively kid-glove treatment, this black review model bore at least one small scar. It would likely be less obvious with a white version.
Click to expand...

Looks like I'll be needing a temporary case on day 1 after all.
 
Read somewhere that the aluminum will be exactly like those used on the current macbooks. No scratches on my Macbook Air.
 
Cougarcat said:
Looks like I'll be needing a temporary case on day 1 after all.
Click to expand...

Yep, certainly for the black/slate model. From the pocket-lint review:

It [the metal band] is now chamfered and while that looks pretty, we've already noticed that on the black model the edge has started to wear, revealing the shiny silver aluminium metal underneath the "slate" coloured coating and, indeed, we've witnessed it on two separate models, ruling out a fluke manufacturing error.

These small scuffs will catch the light and make the phone look visibly worn. We suspect that it won't be as noticeable on the white model because the metal edging is silver, so that's worth bearing in mind when you come to order your colour choice.
Click to expand...
 
Does anyone know if the White aluminum is the same color/texture/material as the MacBook Pro? because if so then those tend to scuff also and eventually discolor also but in a much uglier way since it fades with oil/dirt stains.
 
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