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+Lewis Curdie Sep. 24, 2012 at 11:00 More articles by Lewis Curdie

iPhone 5 casing super-susceptible to scratches? It’s tradition for the release of any new iDevice to be followed by frenzied reporting of faults, such as yellow hues and overheating. True or not, the claims are always blown out of all proportion.

Now that the iPhone 5 has been released, we’re hearing that the casing - particularly the anodised aluminium rear - is susceptible to scratches. Good lord, no!

To be fair, the really controversial thing here is that many users report their iPhone 5s are scratched out of the box.

MacRumours ran a poll, and of the 1,200+ respondents, 49.57% said their iPhone 5 was flawless, 5.09% are flawless and now in some sort of case, 9.71% were scratched shortly after use, and 35.63% were scratched out of the box.

There’s also a discussion over on Apple’s Official Support Communities. The thread begins: “Just opened my iPhone 5 which I ordered from Apple.com. As soon as I opened the box, I noticed nicks and scuffs in the bezel. I realize that at some point this might happen from normal wear and tear, but right out of the box is unaccepted.”

There are 150+ replies thus far, and some users report having exchanged their handset for a new iPhone 5.

Is your iPhone 5 scratched? Let us know below. I’m expecting a cheeky delivery later today…

Read more about: Apple iPhone 5, iOS

25 comments

Well to be fair scratched on arrival is unacceptable. I get that it's soft aluminium essentially painted black, there's only a thin coating of colour, it will get scratched very easily and it will be very noticeable but damaged on arrival should be an instant exchange (and I'm guessing it probably is, not that it really helps anyone receiving one).

Like barry said - 'painted' or anodized aluminium? Well, duh... it'll scratch. The out of the box part - sorry, I do not believe that part. It's 'new product launch' nonsense paired (in some cases) with clumsiness and buyers guillt.

Next.

Last edited by JanSt, Sep. 24, 2012 at 12:11

Well after holding it wrong, maybe the are unwrapping it wrong.

Well after holding it wrong, maybe the are unwrapping it wrong.
yeah hahaha
Or maybe they didn't notice that the back (like the front) has a plastic protector on?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9YY-QBb7kU

How would that make the black aluminium looks scratched?

Well, what do I know

BBut I once overheard someone in CPW complain that that "Gorilla glass on the Lumia is sh*te, look it's already scratched. And so sticky..." - he hadn't peeled off the screen protector that Nokia's devices ship with (they often fit so well, that you only notice because of the little silver corner on the top)

Considering how easily the 'old' iPod Touch scratched and scoffed, nothing's impossible, I s'pose.

Last edited by JanSt, Sep. 24, 2012 at 12:30

We also have the perennial yellow screen 'issue' http://news.softpedia.com/news/iPhone-5s-Arriving-with-Yellow-Screens-294389.shtml

Well, what do I know

BBut I once overheard someone in CPW complain that that "Gorilla glass on the Lumia is sh*te, look it's already scratched. And so sticky..." - he hadn't peeled off the screen protector that Nokia's devices ship with (they often fit so well, that you only notice because of the little silver corner on the top)

Considering how easily the 'old' iPod Touch scratched and scoffed, nothing's impossible, I s'pose.

That makes slightly more sense on glass front though, have to think they are a moron nonetheless.
Prefer the scratched up look on old touch to super shiny anyway though

Last edited by Pondlife, Sep. 24, 2012 at 12:39

Going to assume yellow issue will be down to differing screens and could be solved in software. Adhesive layer doesn't seem right.

Last edited by Pondlife, Sep. 24, 2012 at 12:42

Well, what do I know

BBut I once overheard someone in CPW complain that that "Gorilla glass on the Lumia is sh*te, look it's already scratched. And so sticky..." - he hadn't peeled off the screen protector that Nokia's devices ship with (they often fit so well, that you only notice because of the little silver corner on the top)

Considering how easily the 'old' iPod Touch scratched and scoffed, nothing's impossible, I s'pose.

That makes slightly more sense on glass front though, have to think they are a moron nonetheless.
Prefer the scratched up look on old touch to super shiny anyway though

Hahaha
I just read somewhere the 4 and 4S were really hard to scratch. LOL Are they kidding?

PS - no help when couriered, but people, when you buy instore, open it instore. A lot less hassle.

worth reading the thread beyond the first few comments. Note how majority of posts are from forum "newbies"... and note how soon "4 out 5 are scoffed out of the box" gets quoted as fact.
Ridiculous!
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1445493&page=114

And no, I'm not defending Apple here. The choice of materials is a bit of a dodo, but they probably thought, hey, most of the phones will be sold/bought with a case.
On the other hand: I own a Nokia N9 that I quite like, but if you fell for Nokia's PR about their fancy died-through-and-through plastic...rethink. If I was more bored I'dshow pics of my well-treated N9 - scratchy casing, scratchy Gorilla Glass.

N.B.
iPhone 3/3GS scratched easily. MacBook Pro (2010/11) were plagued by buggy earphone socket - never properly addressed by Apple... there's antennagate of course, ... see, Iknow Apple aren't perfect.

Last edited by JanSt, Sep. 24, 2012 at 15:22

People are eating them eek.
Judging by the first post most aren't using cases though 49% said flawless and 5% said flawless and now in a case. Course a number wouldn't have looked for another option after flawless.

People are eating them eek.
Judging by the first post most aren't using cases though 49% said flawless and 5% said flawless and now in a case. Course a number wouldn't have looked for another option after flawless.

Yes.
I don't, however buy for a second that 35% + come scoffed/scratched from the box.
What was it...either the Xperia S or the One X I used: was immaculate out of the box, but within a minute the screen had a scratch. And though I obviously did that, I have know idea HOW I did it. There, **** happens.

Having said that: hey, maybe it's all true. That should once and for all clear up how "sheepish" iFans are. If almost half the phones are scoffed/scratched in the box, it should be a major recall.

Last edited by JanSt, Sep. 24, 2012 at 15:27

Lastly, I swear, - I just zoomed into the photo. I find the 'scratching' looks a bit odd. Especially the one that continues seamlessly over the glass Apple logo Why would the glass logo scratch look exactly like a scratch on black anodized aluminium? I've never seen a silvery/white scratch on glass.

I have to admit, I was waiting on AntennaGate2 with the aluminium case. If I was designing a wireless device, the last thing I would store it in, is a metal box. Fair play though if they have it working!

Better quality pic.

lol well that's obviously shopped from the press kit

I thought it was just a here's what a scratch would look like illustration rather than an actual example. oops

You guys are right of course.
But this pic's the phone most articles show.
In fact, looking at the various threads on forums it is amazing how few of the outraged
punters bothered with photographic evidence!
It's never been easier to upload and crosspost photos.
If I opened a fresh £700 gadget box and the content wasn't immaculate, I'd plaster the webz...
just saying

True, would be better if it was made clearer that it's not a complainers pic
Found scratches pretty tricky to photograph in the past though, mind you took one that shows hundreds of them fairly well on ipod touch after writing that.

well I'd imagine it's nowhere near as severe as that pic, probably just a few chips around the edges, particularly on the slanty edge. I get that apple are probably just replacing them at the store but in a day or two it'll be like that anyway, even putting it and out of a case/dock will chip aluminium, but even then I'd hardly call it "damage". It's a phone, not a work of art regardless of whatever bs their ad campaigns are pushing, it's designed to get used.

Yeah... I remember the HTC One X and S that I uses... I had them on 'loan' and had to use them accordingly carefully. Yet, coating flaked off around the earphone socket (which I never used) and some scoffing around the power- and volume buttons...

It's a phone, not a work of art agree! I see so many 4/4S owners with cracked screen, people with phones without battery covers etc etc LOL

Last edited by JanSt, Sep. 24, 2012 at 18:51

You get that cheeky delivery then Lewis?
Come to think of it has your toy arrived too Jan?

You get that cheeky delivery then Lewis?
Come to think of it has your toy arrived too Jan?
Nope... but it's coming from 3rd party via Amazon... so delays are built in.