A growing number of iPhone 6 owners are complaining that their recently-purchased handsets are exhibiting slight surface scratching not seen with previous models, with some alleging flaws in material and design.
Multiple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users have taken to Apple's Support Communities forum to <a href="https://discussions.apple.com/thread/6555765?start=0&tstart=0">report issues</a> with the handset's display cover glass, which they claim is more prone to scratching than previous iPhone models.
The thread, now at over 103,000 views and 626 replies, started on Sep. 23 with user jake.underwood26 saying his iPhone 6 Plus exhibited visible scratching near the display's corners after "extremely" good care. Apple's latest iPhone generation went on sale four days earlier <a href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/14/09/19/iphone-6-launch-day-scenes-from-around-the-world-">on Sep. 19</a>.
Many other forum posters followed with similar responses, saying they too found scratches after less than one week of normal use. Some compared the iPhone 6 to past iPhone models, noting previous generations were not as prone to surface scratches even after years of use.
The exact material used to shield the iPhone 6 display has not been officially revealed, though some believe it to be Corning's Gorilla Glass 3 branded alkali-aluminosilicate glass. Instead, Apple touts the use of "<a href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/14/09/25/in-depth-review-apples-iphone-6-plus-running-ios-8">strengthened Ion-X</a>" glass, an ion-impregnated material purportedly harder than normal covers.
<em>AppleInsider</em> has seen the issue first hand from a user who carries their phone in a microfiber satchel. In this case, as seen in the photo above, it appears as though the glass was perhaps raked against a hard, flat surface or etched with small debris, perhaps during polishing. The miniature trenches are deep enough to be felt with a thumbnail and can be seen when the display is turned off.
There are any number of reasons as to why Apple's iPhone 6 is seemingly more prone to screen scratches. For one, the latest generation iPhone is the first to use a curved display glass with no bezel "lip" to protect against scrapes. Previous iPhones like the most recent iPhone 5s used flat pieces of glass surrounded by a thermoplastic peripheral material housed in a harder polymer wrap. This structure helped for shock protection, deflecting encounters with foreign objects and would keep the screen protected if laid down on its face.
For the iPhone 6, Apple carried over the shock resistant thermoplastic material, but now has it sandwiched between the display assembly and phone body. The hard plastic side wall was also deleted in favor of a cover that curves toward the rounded aluminum chassis. While great for finger feel and gesture control, a curved edge design necessarily leaves the cover glass exposed to contact with hard surfaces.
Apple has not officially responded to user reports, though some owners have found success in taking their scratched iPhone in to an Apple Store for replacement. There is apparently no repair protocol entered into Apple's system, however, as other forum members did not receive the same service.
<em>AppleInsider</em> has reached out to Apple regarding the issue and will update this story when a reply is received.
Screen protectors on personal devices are for suckers. It looks like shit, it reduces the UI both visually and in interaction, and considerably softer than the GG underneath.
PS: I have a laminate for the Brooklyn Bridge I want to sell you.
I've had my 6plus for about a month, no case, no screen protector and I don't even have the surface scuffs yet. One would imagine carrying it in an microfiber satchel it would be brand new, could it be possible they did damage to it without realizing and noticing later?
Seriously? 626 reported cases of iPhone 6/6+ units with "scuffed" and "scratched" screens out of what, probably close to 30 million+ units sold by now? And this is supposed to be a problem?
If that retarded BS of #bendgate taught us anything, is that there are people out there who will willingly sacrifice their own device just to be able to scream "hey it bends, look at me with this crappy bent phone!". Now that people have realized it was just media and blogosphere FUD, they've come up with this nonsense.
Just watch, they'll get their 15 seconds of cyber fame, make a big stink out of it, then when everyone will look at them as fools for being hard on their $1,000 device unnecessarily, we'll all move along and continue to buy the best phone on the market by the millions and enjoy using it.
Screen protectors on personal devices are for suckers. It looks like shit, it reduces the UI both visually and in interaction, and considerably softer than the GG underneath.
PS: I have a laminate for the Brooklyn Bridge I want to sell you.
Same here. screen scratched and it has a case that extends beyond the glass, and when in pocket, nothing else goes in with it. I've since put a screen protector on it. It's the first one I've had to use on any of my iPhones all the way back to iPhone 1
Screen protectors on personal devices are for suckers. It looks like shit, it reduces the UI both visually and in interaction, and considerably softer than the GG underneath.
PS: I have a laminate for the Brooklyn Bridge I want to sell you.
I agree, cases and screen protectors take so much away from the phone. If I wanted a plastic phone I'd buy an android. I understand if you're line of work is rough and need that extra protection, but I'd rather fork over the $75 for a replacement through insurance than a case and screen protector.
Never had a case and never had a scratch. Unless people can methodically prove that this generation of iPhones are somehow more prone to scratching, this is nothing more than careless people being a little more careless than last generation. This is no different than videos of phone bending.
Trust me, it's the same. What you think are scratches are where the Apple Genius glued your broken screen back together. Pretty fancy glue, but you can pick it up at any hardware store. Just ask for it by name; Gorilla Glue.
Unless you smoke something to think Genius bar to glue the damn $10 screen, there's no reason for them to waste their time on it.
I got my phone on the launch day. I've always been very careful about the phone whether or not I used a case. This time, I didn't use a case for my iPhone 6. Only about 10 days later, I noticed a 1-inch length of spiderweb line on my screen. Then I noticed some smaller fine lines. The same way I used my iPhone 5S as I did with my new iPhone 6. The iPhone 6 screen seems easily scratched.
How do you know that people with scratches weren't taking care of their device?
I've been saying for a while now that scratches that just appear mysteriously have a paranormal explanation and should be investigated by experienced TV ghost hunting experts who hold degrees in commercial plumbing.
All iPhone screens are easily scratched. That's why all mine get a Zagg protector day one. Not expensive and keep your screen from getting scratched by your keys when you put both in the same pocket. Not rocket science.
Comments
How do you know that people with scratches weren't taking care of their device?
Screen protectors on personal devices are for suckers. It looks like shit, it reduces the UI both visually and in interaction, and considerably softer than the GG underneath.
PS: I have a laminate for the Brooklyn Bridge I want to sell you.
If that retarded BS of #bendgate taught us anything, is that there are people out there who will willingly sacrifice their own device just to be able to scream "hey it bends, look at me with this crappy bent phone!". Now that people have realized it was just media and blogosphere FUD, they've come up with this nonsense.
Just watch, they'll get their 15 seconds of cyber fame, make a big stink out of it, then when everyone will look at them as fools for being hard on their $1,000 device unnecessarily, we'll all move along and continue to buy the best phone on the market by the millions and enjoy using it.
Yep I hate screen protectors, won't use them.
I took his reply as a QFT... Cool dem jets.
Um, doesn't iPhone use the exact same Gorilla Glass that EVERY OTHER SMARTPHONE IN THE MARKET USES?
One phone ain't gonna scratch more than another one when all pretty much using the same kinds of displays.
Solution: screen protector, and/or, caution.
My iPhone 6 Plus has a hairline scratch right down the middle, about three inches long, only perceptible when bright light is reflecting off of it.
In regular use, I never see it.
My 4 and 5 had multiple barely perceptible scratches after their two years.
It's glass coated with plastic.
It scratches.
No kidding.
How do you know that people with scratches weren't taking care of their device?
I've been saying for a while now that scratches that just appear mysteriously have a paranormal explanation and should be investigated by experienced TV ghost hunting experts who hold degrees in commercial plumbing.
Scratches just don't magically appear out of no where.
See my previous post.