New video shows purported gold 'iPhone 5S' shell in brutal scratch test
A video posted to the Web on Tuesday demonstrates the durability of Apple's alleged champagne colored "iPhone 5S" shell, which shrugs off light coin scrapes, but unsurprisingly reveals nicks and scratches after being assaulted with a pocket knife.

While a bit extreme, the video from Jailbreak Nation (via CNET) is in the same vein as a recent durability test that illustrated the scratch resistance of a purported low-cost "iPhone 5C" plastic shell. The supposed iPhone 5S aluminum casing, however, undergoes a substantially more rigorous assessment.
It should be noted that the authenticity of the supposed gold iPhone 5S frame cannot be confirmed by AppleInsider, and the following is offered for purposes of discussion only.
Tuesday's video compares a gold, or "champagne," colored version of an alleged iPhone 5S shell with a black version of the current generation iPhone 5. The purported part looks to be the same component pictured in images that surfaced last week.
Some owners of the latest iPhone have seen small nicks and scuffs appear on the chassis, with the occurrence more evident on black models as scraping away the anodized top layer exposes the silver aluminum beneath.
In the test, a quarter is first used to mar the bottom right corner of the black and gold casings. Both fare well and, after being wiped down with a paper towel, show minimal scuffing. Next, the coin is taken to the chassis' sharp chamfered edges. The gold model appears to show less damage in this test, possibly because the shine produced from polishing process hides any bare aluminum.
Finally, the bottom left corner of both versions are subjected to stabbing and scratching with a pocketknife. Neither frame withstood the rough treatment, an unsurprising outcome.
While the knifing is rather extreme, the coin tests suggest Apple is using the same method of anodization to color the iPhone's aluminum chassis, a process seen in the iPhone 5, iPad mini and various iPod models.
Apple received a fair share of flak last year when some customers complained of nicks and scratches on their brand new handsets. Dubbed "scuffgate," the minor controversy caused Apple to clamp down on partner supplier Foxconn, which in turn caused a worker strike over demanding quality control measures.
Apple is expected to announce a next-generation iPhone, as well as a lower-cost model, at a media event on Sept. 10.

While a bit extreme, the video from Jailbreak Nation (via CNET) is in the same vein as a recent durability test that illustrated the scratch resistance of a purported low-cost "iPhone 5C" plastic shell. The supposed iPhone 5S aluminum casing, however, undergoes a substantially more rigorous assessment.
It should be noted that the authenticity of the supposed gold iPhone 5S frame cannot be confirmed by AppleInsider, and the following is offered for purposes of discussion only.
Tuesday's video compares a gold, or "champagne," colored version of an alleged iPhone 5S shell with a black version of the current generation iPhone 5. The purported part looks to be the same component pictured in images that surfaced last week.
Some owners of the latest iPhone have seen small nicks and scuffs appear on the chassis, with the occurrence more evident on black models as scraping away the anodized top layer exposes the silver aluminum beneath.
In the test, a quarter is first used to mar the bottom right corner of the black and gold casings. Both fare well and, after being wiped down with a paper towel, show minimal scuffing. Next, the coin is taken to the chassis' sharp chamfered edges. The gold model appears to show less damage in this test, possibly because the shine produced from polishing process hides any bare aluminum.
Finally, the bottom left corner of both versions are subjected to stabbing and scratching with a pocketknife. Neither frame withstood the rough treatment, an unsurprising outcome.
While the knifing is rather extreme, the coin tests suggest Apple is using the same method of anodization to color the iPhone's aluminum chassis, a process seen in the iPhone 5, iPad mini and various iPod models.
Apple received a fair share of flak last year when some customers complained of nicks and scratches on their brand new handsets. Dubbed "scuffgate," the minor controversy caused Apple to clamp down on partner supplier Foxconn, which in turn caused a worker strike over demanding quality control measures.
Apple is expected to announce a next-generation iPhone, as well as a lower-cost model, at a media event on Sept. 10.
Comments
Why isn't there an uproar because Porsche sunglasses and Rolex watches scratch if you STAB THEM WITH A HUNTING KNIFE?
Lol what is the solution? Make every product out of DIAMONDS from now on?
Or make a 12 pound Kevlar iPhone?
That's some serious iAssault on that iPhone dude.
Why is this even reported?
I'll be testing it out with my carborundum tipped dental drill and if there's the slightest mark it's off to consumer affairs and I'll be expecting a replacement, plus a new iPad for the inconvenience.
What kind of nonsense is that? Seriously, it would be interesting how an iPhone fares when dropped on concrete, so DROP it on concrete and don't stab it with a knife! However, it seems an iPhone will probably protect you when someone stabs you, but you have your iPhone in the pocket of your shirt.
Guess what do you do if you get hold of a publically not admitted, impossible to get iphone 5S in advance ? You dont admire the beauty, you dont celebrate the aesthetics, you dont enjoy or gloat over the possession. Instead you attach it with sheer brutality til it scratches and then you proudly declare it to the world.
This is akin to blowing up Taj Mahal and telling us marble cant handle explosions......What appleinsider can do here is to at least point out and protest against such mindless videos instead of just reporting like a robot automaton.
Liquidmetal iPhone! not
And near-zero bezel width on the long edges.
And 1.6mm less thickness: 6.0mm.
And a quad-core 64-bit A8 SoC.
And better battery life.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SockRolid
I want a polished Liquidmetal enclosure on my iPhone "6" next year.
And near-zero bezel width on the long edges.
And 1.6mm less thickness: 6.0mm.
And a quad-core 64-bit A8 SoC.
And better battery life.
all in good time... it's on the roadmap, but certainly not next year
Also, agree with the other posters, what consumer device doesn't scratch when stabbed with a pocket knife? People need to learn to take care of their things and take responsibility for damage that they cause to their own products.
why not an octo-core ? it's better.
I can attest to how well iPhones are made. My iPhone has never had a case. It gets thrown on the car's center storage bin, in my pockets and in beach bags. I love the looks of it as designed, so was damned if I'd worry about scratches and buy a case. I am looking at it now carefully ... there isn't a mark on it! It's a 4s (my wife has the 5, I get her cast offs) so it has had a lot of use. I cannot fathom hiding an iPhone in a butt ugly case. I'm sure most people bought into the anti Apple FUD from Scamsung et al and assume they scratch easily. They don't!
I learned that steel is harder than aluminium in Grade 8 science class.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brunzilla
…. Who has a black knife??
The same kind of self-important tard that posts stupid videos on the Internet, that's who.