iPhone 5 owners have been complaining that the black version of Apple's new £529+ smart phone is a little too easily defiled, with its sultry slate casing picking up scratches and dents. But Apple's own Phil Schiller has seemingly said the damage is to be expected.
A 9to5Mac reader asked Schiller whether anything was going to be done about the fragile phone, the site reports.
"I love my black and slate iPhone 5," reader Alex wrote, "but I've been seeing some scuffs, scratches and marks throughout the band around the phone along with many others."
"What should we all do?" a concerned Alex enquired, "Any plans to fix this?"
Schiller reportedly replied in an email, "Any aluminium product may scratch or chip with use, exposing its natural silver colour.
"That is normal," the high-level Apple exec signs off.
Schiller's words are cold comfort to iPhone 5 owners who've found their new mobile getting scratched. He's right when he says giving aluminium gadgets a good scratch will result in unsightly marks, but based on this email it doesn't look like Apple has any plans to alter its latest smart phone's casing, or compensate those who feel the black iPhone 5 is unusually delicate.
iFixit, the chaps who recently tore the iPhone 5 apart to examine its insides, have made an adorable scratch-test video that sees a two-year-old doing serious damage to the black iPhone 5 using a set of keys -- it does look like the casing is more vulnerable to scratches than the glass coating on the iPhone 4S.
The iPhone 5 isn't the only smart phone to launch with an apparently delicate disposition -- the black version of the HTC One S found itself in hot water after buyers complained of chipping problems with the phone's casing.
Are Apple fans right to be riled up about damage to new iPhones? Or is wear and tear a natural part of owning a pricey gadget? Tell me in the comments or on our Facebook wall.
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Comments 39
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anonymous 26 September, 2012 17:38
And it's support to be a premium build? Scuffs within a week... Nice.
anonymous 26 September, 2012 17:40
Maybe you should get plastic phones that don't get damaged as easily....
anonymous 26 September, 2012 17:47
How funny because all apple users did was bang on and on about there precious metal phone with amazing build quality, my "cheap plastic" Samsung galaxy s3 "that i love by the way" has no scratches or scuffs on it and ive been knocking it about for 3 months ish. Lmfao these ithing 5s are going to look like crap in no time.
damien2501 26 September, 2012 17:56
Just get the white one. Simple.
anonymous 26 September, 2012 18:08
@damien2501 lmfao. So your forced to get the one you didnt want the black one is what everyone wants.
Just get a samsung simple.
anonymous 26 September, 2012 18:29
To anonymous. The iPhone may look bad after a few days of scratching but the Galway s3 looks hideous from day one! So at least we get a few good days of looking good.
anonymous 26 September, 2012 19:16
@anonymouse 18:29 thats what you think funny boy. So without banging on like an idiot about plastic what is hiideous about the galway s3? I thought you apple fans saud it was a copy, how scatty youdont know what to make up next. If that is all the rotten apple can manage that is hideous. Lol
anonymous 26 September, 2012 20:08
You get what u pay for
"iPhone 5 with premium scratchy aluminium back!"
anonymous 26 September, 2012 20:08
It's amazing that Apple fans still go on about how they could never consider an product like a Samsung with 'inferior' build quality. It chips (5), the back smashes (4 and 4S), you have to hold it right (4) to get any reception, there's loads of battery and reception issues (4S)...amazing really. I mean Samsung phone's have their issues as well, but metal does not mean well built, obviously!
anonymous 26 September, 2012 20:13
Unlucky. Complete iFail. The iPhone 5 copies the bigger screens, the maps, the reject call with text and other functions of Android phones, while suing Samsung for copying THEM for rounded corners or some crap, then the maps doesn't work, the body scratches, it's not even quad core, it runs the same operating system as it always has (but with no decent maps this time) and the price goes up EVEN FURTHER.
Apple are ripping all the Apple fans off so badly. Ripped off so badly by the company that they worship. That must feel awful, no wonder they're all so angry. Apple sue over patents for things they didn't invent and make their own products worse and their customers suffer just so they can spite other companies. Awful, horrible company.
anonymous 26 September, 2012 20:14
It's worth investing in an Extreme-Shield® which is currently the most advanced screen protector for iPhone 5.
Check out:
http://extreme-shield.co.uk/products/apple-iphone-5-screen-protector.php
anonymous 26 September, 2012 20:40
ok now we have a scratchgate.
anonymous 26 September, 2012 20:40
The iPhone 5 crystal case will easily solve the problem.
Available at:
http://extreme-shield.co.uk/products/apple-iphone-5-crystal-shield-case.php
Meleagru 26 September, 2012 22:30
What is the point of beautiful design if it isn't practical? Apple seems to be doing this on purpose. First they made a phone from glass, then they made one from soft metal. What is next? A phone from sugar that will melt when it rains?
So your iPhone is gorgeous. But you have to hide it in a rubber case to keep it intact. That makes as much sense as wearing a cheap overcoat to protect an expensive bespoken suit.
The funny thing is I don't think this is an accident. I think Apple are that greedy to build phones from the flimsiest materials possible just to charge people with needless repairs. Good luck with your expensive and fragile phone, I'll enjoy my cheap plastic one.
anonymous 26 September, 2012 22:52
@anonymous 18:29 Everyone knows its Damien
Jason Alexander 26 September, 2012 22:53
Love my black iPhone 5. Just like every phone I've ever had it will be in perfect condition when I give it to my mum in a years time. How? Inside pocket, no metal buttons, no keys and don't drop it.
anonymous 26 September, 2012 23:11
This is what happens when you sue to company who manufacture loads of your parts, they pull out and you are left with inferior quality products. They say the Apple never falls far from the tree, but at the rate this is going, it will hit the floor and blow up.
anonymous 26 September, 2012 23:44
I've got a plastic Kindle 3 keyboard, 18 months old no scratches. Had S1, S2 and HTC Desire HD - no scratches. Kids have LG and HTC One X -no scratches. Have Galaxy Note and Nexus 7- all plastic and no scratches. I've even pulled out an old LG Cookie from out the drawer - no scratches...... and iPhone is supposed to be a 'premium' handset ??????
anonymous 27 September, 2012 00:08
my issue isnt with the scratching but with the attitude that seems to be coming outta apple. yes the htc one s had a few chipping issues but htc came out and said they would replace the handsets, or so you guys reported. i have an iphone4 and i do like ios even though it's defo not perfect it's relatively hassle free. or was until this whole maps bs and now this kind of attitude coming from up top. much like sony, which s jobs looked up to. there is only so long you can not give a crap about your customers before they look elsewhere.
anonymous 27 September, 2012 03:38
Windows 8 Nokia phones are arriving! Apple are losing their way.
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anonymous 27 September, 2012 04:54
Now that I’m on my 4th iPhone 5 due to cosmetic damages out of the box, I feel this is appropriate. Yeah?
The real iPhone 5: cosmetically damaged right out of the box
anonymous 27 September, 2012 06:39
So you need to put your glitsy new toy in a case. Seems to negate the thin and light idea. Personally I never had problems holding a phone a couple of mm's thicker or a few grams lighter, but then iThingy users seem to prefer to pay more for items that offer less in every department.
anonymous 27 September, 2012 09:00
I have had my Galaxy s3 for about 3-4 months and its got multiple scratches on the back, the silver is wearing off around the camera and I have got a minor crack on my screen. Haven't dropped the phone once so I can only assume they have come from things that I put in my pocket with it I.e. my work phone and money. Its on a case by case basis(literally).
shauney3 27 September, 2012 09:32
maybe they designed it like a chalkboard - for leaving messages when iMessage isn't working.. ;-)
grandcruclasse 27 September, 2012 09:43
I've had an HTC Desire HD for a couple of years now and it's an aluminium unibody with a kind of dark brown/grey finish. I've carried it in a pocket every day with keys and probably coins as well, and it's still in pretty good shape. Sure it's got come weathering on the corners, but that actually adds to it in a way, with a very thin silvery highlight along the corners and especially round the top, but the marks are pretty faint and there are absolutely no marks whatsoever on the back of the phone which leads to two conclusions:
1) Apple's anodising process isn't as good as the HTC one
or
2) Apple users are a bunch of whiners
anonymous 27 September, 2012 09:51
Apple fans: you just don't hold it the right way! yeah we heard that before (antenna gate)...
Samsung fan: omg iphone is rubbish. if you drop it from the 5th floor, it breaks. (yeah you would expect that would you?)
Bottom line: a non-story but the apple reaction is pretty lame too...
anonymous 27 September, 2012 09:52
Yeah I left my keys in the same pocket with my Black and Slate iPhone 5, and I saw little chips. The first thing I did with my iPhone was get a screen protector and case, but the case doesn't cover the top fully... I was a little bit gutted to be honest. Anyway, we'll see what happens. Still love the phone, really happy with it. It's my 3rd iPhone and after using an Android for work, which I absolutely hate, and not really getting on too well with the S3 I know I made the right decision.
anonymous 27 September, 2012 12:16
Oh for goodness sake. I have no opinion on the iPhone5 but videos like this just make me file this under 'AppleHater'. Hitting a phone, with a huge bunch of keys, with a leatherman attached!
If you do that, you're a moron.
It would have been much more useful to see everyday use. Like pulling it out of your pocket, putting it back down on a rough surface. etc. Sorry, but this video is ridiculous.
anonymous 27 September, 2012 14:22
Guess what apple fan, you just dont like the truth that you dont see. anyway the video demonstrate the new apple phone the the previous. So i think she trying to call your attention .
idiots.
anonymous 27 September, 2012 14:30
I don't hate Apple and think that most phones have good or bad things about them. What I do HATE is someone telling me that an item of this price is not durable and 'that I should expect damage'. The cost of top end phones nowadays is too much for a sub-standard finish. Put in perspective I can buy a large screen tv and a washer for the price of an iPhone. I wouldn't expect them to be sub-standard so why would I buy a phone like this???????
anonymous 27 September, 2012 16:28
get a case? simples.
Leszcz 28 September, 2012 15:45
I still have my 80gb iPod classic with its metal back. I've had it for over 6 years it's FULL of scratches at the back. And because of that I love it and it's mine. Strangely the aluminium front and all the buttons didn't wear off at all and look like new (apart of few dents because I've dropped it many many times).
I got bored of it and since I've got 128gb on my gs3 i don't need it that often anymore, but whenever I reach for it I don't get the same 'oh it looks dated' sort of feeling like I get from much younger devices like my old galaxy s1 or creative zen player.
Having said that about the ipods, I don't think the materials used to build the iPhone 4s or 5 or even the original 1,2 and 3g will withstand as much though. And even if they don't break after 2 or 3 years, they won't have the same classy look my iPod has. My galaxy s3 won't either but I don't expect it to last haha
anonymous 11 October, 2012 07:04
Ive looked after my phone since i got it, the slate has started to come off on the edge. Apple needs to sort something, maybe offer a replacement with a white one...
anonymous 20 November, 2012 09:36
BEWARE....DON'T USE http://extreme-shield.co.uk/products/apple-iphone-5-screen-protector.php THEY ARE A CON.
Ordered a case and screen protector and it never came, also they don't answer emails of phone calls!!!
anonymous 21 November, 2012 09:41
Yup that extreme-shield site is a scam. There has been numerous reports of people ordering cases and protectors and not receiving them.
Avoid like the plague!!!!!!
anonymous 21 November, 2012 22:18
Oops I spoke too soon.
I received my iphone 5 cases and protectors today.
The cases are not hard plastic but a more soft material.
I like it a lot! :)
Sorry Extreme-Shield but you should send the goods out a bit quicker.
I assume the other guys have also received their goods too.
Noel Smith 10 January, 2013 01:11
The whole idea about cases is ridicules. Apple should design a product that doesn't need a case! But since we are not there yet I bought a great case from EDGE Design. check them out http://edge-design.com
anonymous 19 February, 2013 19:33
Just about the most widespread gossips about the apple iphone 5S, as well as apple iphone 6, is which it may have a greater present. The initial rumor explained the future apple iphone might include multiple present sizing's for.
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