iphone 5 scratchedApple CEO Tim Cook highlighted the beautiful look and feels of the iPhone 5's sumptuous aluminum back. But with new users reporting that the metal scratches and dings easily, it looks like the metal-backed iPhone 5 is fated to be covered up by plastic iPhone 5 cases. While some have been frustrated with what the iPhone 5 did and did not deliver, many have taken some solace in the fact that Apple did follow through with the metal-backed rumor that has persisted over the past two years. With the iPhone 4 featuring a glass back with sleek metal trim on its sides, iPhone users have long imagined that the expanded use of metal on the back of the iPhone 5 would only enhance its good looks. And that’s exactly what Apple did: the back of the iPhone 5 is a unique combination of glass and metal and, while the early leaked images of the iPhone 5's back seemed awkward, users say that in person, it’s a really pretty smartphone. Apparently it is also really easy to scratch the new metal as well. There are a wide range of new reports outlining some of the shortcomings of the new iPhone, such as the lackluster launch of Apple maps, issues with wifi, and a few other software bits and bobs, most of which will be addressed in subsequent iOS 6 updates. But the scratchy metal problem — there’s no “fix” for that design flaw. According to TechCrunch: “A good amount of iPhone 5 early adopters took to the Internet over the weekend, reporting that their brand new iPhone 5 has scuffs and dings out of the box. Or, even if the phone was perfect out of the box, it did not stay that way for very long. It seems the black iPhone 5 shows scratches more easily than the white. Apple has yet to comment on the issue.” Right out of the box? Ugh. At first, I thought that “right out of the box” meant “days/hours after using it.” And that has been the case — new users are complaining that after just a weekend of pulling the iPhone 5 in and out of pockets and purses, it is showing signs of wear. But an article on Forbes makes the point that some iPhone 5s are arriving “pre-scratched:” To make matters worse, some claim that their handset was scratched straight out of the box, with the damage having occurred at the assembly plant before the iPhone 5 was put into the box. The damage was underneath the protective film that Apple applies to its devices and couldn’t have been caused in transit. “To make matters worse, some claim that their handset was scratched straight out of the box, with the damage having occurred at the assembly plant before the iPhone 5 was put into the box. The damage was underneath the protective film that Apple applies to its devices and couldn’t have been caused in transit. Scratches and scuffs appear to range from tiny ones of the edge of the handset, to massive Freddy Kruger style scratches on the back.” It remains to be seen what kind of effect if any this bit of bad press might have on the iPhone 5. iPhone users are well-documented as being quite fond of showing off their favorite mobile device; the iPhone’s form factor matters a great deal to iPhone users. And since one of the central selling points of the new iPhone is its overhauled form factor, if iPhone enthusiasts are faced with the prospect of having to cover their iPhone 5 in a third-party plastic case or risk early wear and tear on the aluminum back, they may opt to wait for a future iteration of iPhone that might include a tougher metal alloy, such as the long-rumored LiquidMetal. In the meantime, prospective customers might take and “wait and see” approach to see if Cupertino responds by adding a protective layer to the iPhone 5's metal backing in order to minimize scratches and dings.
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