Apple Says Scratches and Chips are "Normal"

In an interesting twist to Scuffgate, Apple’s marketing boss Phil Schiller has admitted that the iPhone 5′s susceptibility to scuffing is… “normal.” Furthermore, it would seem that Apple is fully aware that the iPhone 5 is easy to scuff — and yet it knowingly proceeded to manufacture (and sell) record breaking numbers of the new device.

Phil Schiller’s comments come from an email response to a customer, who had contacted the vice president to ask about some “scuffs, scratches and marks” on the chamfered edge that surrounds the phone. Schiller’s reply, in full, is below:

Any aluminum product may scratch or chip with use, exposing its natural silver color. That is normal.

A little unbelievably, this seems to be the only official Scuffgate response from Apple. The email is very short (17 words!), so we’re loathe to read too much into it — but it does seem to give off a feeling of condescension, or perhaps nonchalance. The original email also asks Schiller if there is any plan to fix the scuffing issue, but Schiller ignores that in his response, which could well mean that Apple doesn’t plan to replace or recall damaged iPhone 5s.

Aluminium is soft

In our original Scuffgate story we analyzed the iPhone 5′s anodized chassis, as that seemed to be the underlying cause of the scuffs and scratches. Anodization can significantly add to aluminium’s durability, but only if it’s done properly — and it would seem that Apple either forgot to seal the anodized coating, or it simply didn’t make the anodized layer thick enough to prevent scratching.

Schiller’s response complicates things, as it suggests that the aluminium itself is the underlying cause. It’s possible that Schiller, being a marketing guy, doesn’t understand the interplay of aluminium and anodization on the iPhone 5′s back and sides — but really, if that’s the case, should he really be replying to scuff-related emails in an official capacity? Still, for the sake of argument, let’s[..]ume that the scuffing is actually caused by some intrinsic failure of aluminium.

Apple chose aluminium for the iPhone 5 chassis because it’s a lot lighter than stainless steel, which made up the bulk of the iPhone 4 and 4S chassis. Per cubic meter, aluminium is a third of the weight of stainless steel (2600kg vs. 8000kg). In exchange, though, aluminium is much softer than steel — it is quite easy to bend or dent aluminium with minor pressure, while steel is very tough. Aluminium is so much lighter than steel that the usual solution is to simply use a thicker layer for more strength — but this doesn’t make it any harder. A fat block of butter is no harder to dent than a thin block of butter.

Still, I don’t see how the inherent softness of aluminium makes the iPhone 5′s back and sides more likely to “scratch or chip.” Schiller must be referring to the fact that anodization simply isn’t strong enough to withstand everyday use. We know this isn’t the case, though, as anodized aluminium is very well understood and used in a massive gamut of applications — including military, where the anodized coating certainly doesn’t just scratch off.

Phone cases [pic]

Android stans up in this thread celebrating [pic]

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nicca quit trolling... you're up in every thread talking this 'android stan' nonsense. This is the main section so expect every to comment in every thread and stop posting the same gif. Apple lost... you're parents lost...decent apple fans lost

Android stans up in this thread celebrating [pic]

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[pic] i like how u ignore the article tho.. even if the iphone gave u aids on contact you would still defend it.. lol !! nicca

How did the Cowboys do in Seattle last weekend??? [pic]

Sonics Back [pic]

funny you say that cause i see the same Android stans in every iPhone thread celebrating and popping bottles [pic]

im just pointing out facts brah [pic]

if youre not in every iPhone thread then it shouldnt bother you [pic]

find me an iPhone thread without an Android stan having orgasms about how much he loves his phone or how much the iPhone sucks..

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This thread isn't a Android vs Apple vs Windows or anything like that...it's a thread where a company is pushing lackluster products on their fans and the fans should be up in arms and pissed...that's all

apple fans and stans dont be mad at anyone but apple for pushing a product that has scratches and dents...shiiitt if i paid 200-700 bucks for a iphone 5 and it wasn't a 100% perfect in terms of no dents or dings then i'd !! at the apple store for a new one and a case for my troubles

it's a forum, standroids/isheep can post whatever they want.

Fact is, Apple aint giving replacements and that the iPhone 5
will look !!ty after a few months if u dont take care of it.
HTC has this chipping problem with the International One S
The dents from Apple tho [pic] that's unacceptable