Yes, you can certainly scratch the iPhone 4

[Motionblurrr]

Hmmm yes Apple engineers said, "Wow, a $15 layer of plastic will really make this screen look great!"

There's nothing like putting a $15 cheap flimsy plastic on an amazing screen lol. Do you put protectors on your couches, watches and tvs?

 

[ScubaCinci]

I love the people that say "I never got a scratch on my 3G/3GS!"

I suppose they don't wear seatbelts because they've never gotten in a wreck before? Besides, the BACK of this phone is "glass" where the others were not.

To each his own. If you don't want a protector mucking up your phone, certainly skip putting one on. But people who will be upset by a scratch (or more) shouldn't fail to protect it because they never had a scratch before.

If you get a good skin and put it on right, it's virtually invisible.

 

[H00513R]

They said that it was confirmed the front was made of Gorilla Glass but not confirmed for the back. So maybe a screen protector is not needed after all? I personally wouldn't worry about the back of the phone except for the camera.

 

[ScubaCinci]

I plan on using a bumper case until THIS comes out and a skin on the back for sure, maybe the front.

 

[Hellishness]

http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/23/yes-you-can-certainly-scratch-the-iphone-4/

so don't be cheap and not buy a case or screen protector.

It's not being cheap. I hate the look of cases. I'm ok with screen protectors, but if I can keep it naked, I will. I would gladly spend 20-30 bucks on a case, but, why? I had a case on my iPhone 3G. All it did was completely ruin the look, make it bulky, and scratched the bezel.

I love the people that say "I never got a scratch on my 3G/3GS!"

I suppose they don't wear seatbelts because they've never gotten in a wreck before? Besides, the BACK of this phone is "glass" where the others were not.

To each his own. If you don't want a protector mucking up your phone, certainly skip putting one on. But people who will be upset by a scratch (or more) shouldn't fail to protect it because they never had a scratch before.

If you get a good skin and put it on right, it's virtually invisible.

That's an absolutely ridiculous analogy.

 

[Savor]

I used to be OCD about stuff like this since I grew up as basketball cards collector, but I figure things get replaced, we won't bury ourselves in death with this phone, and nothing is forever.

I'll get a bumper and that's about it. It is a phone, not a $10K diamond ring or $100K automobile. Even a beautiful car needs to hit the road and will get wear and tear sometimes. Can't just leave it in the garage. I'm very cautious on how to handle my devices. And if it scratches on the back, it's cool. Battle scars. Not like I am putting this phone under a glass display like in museums once I retire the phone. More folks just tend to be more OCD and coddle it more when it is still brand new. After awhile, they stop caring as time passes.

I'm more irked about dead pixels though, but not life or death if I get any.

 

[ScubaCinci]

It's not being cheap. I hate the look of cases. I'm ok with screen protectors, but if I can keep it naked, I will. I would gladly spend 20-30 bucks on a case, but, why? I had a case on my iPhone 3G. All it did was completely ruin the look, make it bulky, and scratched the bezel.


That's an absolutely ridiculous analogy.

Not really. Cause, effect & denial. It works.

 

[advan031]

I'm only going to use a protector on the back and leave the front free

 

[raremage]

Do you know what did it? Big difference if it was scratched by a diamond ring versus your car keys, for example.

Industrial lathe. Is that a problem?

 

[John T]

Come on! Do you really believe everything Engadget says?

 

[UltimaLaw]

Also the guy has NOT said exactly how he scratched the phone; if you take a knife or metal edge to ANYTHING other than a diamond it's gonna leave a scratch; only true test will be the masses over the next couple weeks - if you go caseless just know its not a diamond phone.....

PLUS it's Engadget - who probably did this just to get a "scoop"....sad

 

[lorenwade]

Hmmm yes Apple engineers said, "Wow, a $15 layer of plastic will really make this screen look great!"

There's nothing like putting a $15 cheap flimsy plastic on an amazing screen lol. Do you put protectors on your couches, watches and tvs?

You carry a TV and a couch in your pocket!?

Secondly, you don't need "cheap flimsy plastic" to protect it. There are extremely high quality protectors out there. Check out Wrapsol. The last thing it is... is cheap flimsy plastic.

 

[ryanwarsaw]

Hmmm yes Apple engineers said, "Wow, a $15 layer of plastic will really make this screen look great!"

There's nothing like putting a $15 cheap flimsy plastic on an amazing screen lol. Do you put protectors on your couches, watches and tvs?

I am a kayak guide in southern Laos. Am I cheap to protect my phone which I can not replace if something happens to it? I spend a lot of time on beaches with sand that gets into my pockets and will scratch glass.

I can replace the plastic every 2 months or so but if my phone is fuct I have to go to another country for a basic warranty. I do not consider myself cheap and know what kind of scratches can occur even if I am not the usual user.

 

[lathode]

I'm curious if there are going to be 3rd party backs. From the ifixit teardown it looks very easy to replace the back. maybe there will be matte backs and different colors, etc.

 

[ndpitch]

Well, it's official. After 1 day of use, I have 2 scratches on the back of my iPhone 4. I have babied the thing all day long, I have no idea what did it. But they're deep enough to feel them if I lightly run my fingernail across them. So much for scratch resistant glass on the back.

At this rate, the back will be covered in scratches in no time.

 

[alana22]

Well, it's official. After 1 day of use, I have 2 scratches on the back of my iPhone 4. I have babied the thing all day long, I have no idea what did it. But they're deep enough to feel them if I lightly run my fingernail across them. So much for scratch resistant glass on the back.

At this rate, the back will be covered in scratches in no time.

Aghhh.. seriously?

 

[ndpitch]

Aghhh.. seriously?

Yup. I mean, my 3G had a lot of scratches, but I had used it for 1.5 years. After 1 day and already scratches without even dropping it and babying it...that's kinda annoying.

 

[0wen]

I had a scratch on the front of my iPhone 4 staring back at me as soon as I pulled off the protective cover straight out of the box. It is small but noticible and in the shape of a S, so if it is not a scratch, then it is a small hair under the screen which is possible as I also seem to have some dust under the screen.

 

[cocky jeremy]

I'll never stick a screen protector on an iPhone.

Yup. I'd rather scratch it up and buy a new one than to cover such a beautiful phone with an ugly case. Yuck.

 

[Warbrain]

I used to be OCD about stuff like this since I grew up as basketball cards collector, but I figure things get replaced, we won't bury ourselves in death with this phone, and nothing is forever.

I'll get a bumper and that's about it. It is a phone, not a $10K diamond ring or $100K automobile. Even a beautiful car needs to hit the road and will get wear and tear sometimes. Can't just leave it in the garage. I'm very cautious on how to handle my devices. And if it scratches on the back, it's cool. Battle scars. Not like I am putting this phone under a glass display like in museums once I retire the phone. More folks just tend to be more OCD and coddle it more when it is still brand new. After awhile, they stop caring as time passes.

I'm more irked about dead pixels though, but not life or death if I get any.

Exactly this. While I understand that there is a period in which you baby the thing because it's new there is a time to take off the kid gloves. The thing was made for everyday use. Yes, scratches happen. For all the years of having an iPhone I never scratched the front of my device and if scratches happen to the back, they happen to the back.

Well, it's official. After 1 day of use, I have 2 scratches on the back of my iPhone 4. I have babied the thing all day long, I have no idea what did it. But they're deep enough to feel them if I lightly run my fingernail across them. So much for scratch resistant glass on the back.

At this rate, the back will be covered in scratches in no time.

It happens.

 

[GaresTaylan]

Can scratch just about anything if you try hard enough. If the past is any indication, they dont seem to take the best care of their products anyway.

 

[ChazDaSpaz]

To be fair, Engadget DID say in their review they were throwing it around to try and damage it on purpose to no avail, and now that they have damaged it people are going crazy over it. I know some people can't bear to have any cosmetic damage on their phone and sure they can protect it by any means necessary but I reckon most people will be like me, and not really care, because this is supposed to be a MOBILE phone, it goes everywhere with you and it's going to get wear and tear someday. As long as it's still fully functional at the end of my 2 year contract I'm happy. I just don't get what all the fuss is about...

 

[ndpitch]

To be fair, Engadget DID say in their review they were throwing it around to try and damage it on purpose to no avail, and now that they have damaged it people are going crazy over it. I know some people can't bear to have any cosmetic damage on their phone and sure they can protect it by any means necessary but I reckon most people will be like me, and not really care, because this is supposed to be a MOBILE phone, it goes everywhere with you and it's going to get wear and tear someday. As long as it's still fully functional at the end of my 2 year contract I'm happy. I just don't get what all the fuss is about...

Oh believe me, I understand what you're saying. It's just that in 12 hours I had 2 scratches on the back of my phone, after babying it like it was a divine gift. I had hoped it would take a little more than that to scratch it.