EXCLUSIVE: Apple Bumper Damages iPhone 4? – [Updated: Apple Replaced Our iPhone!]
Having had my iPhone 4 since release day, I was very happy and pretty amazed by its functionality – but then I came across these marks and to tell you the truth … I was in shock. I’ve since conducted some research on the web and realised this issue hadn’t been brought up before. Photos after the break!
The problems started when I first installed Apple’s new bumper case onto my iPhone 4 – you know the one, the one that they are now giving away for free? But after removing it, I spotted some pretty insane scuffs and marks on the iPhone 4′s aluminum band.
So, I called Apple and demanded answers. They put me through to some supervisors. Apple was completely amazed that this was the case.
In their words:
“Myself and my other colleagues have never heard this before.”
I was then quickly booked into the earliest Genius Bar appointment they could provide (Monday) and the conversation ended.
With a lot of personal experience with Apple Care under my belt, I’m inclined to believe the Genius Bar will give the same response come Monday. I’m now booked in with an engineer at 2PM on Monday, so you can expect an update from me on the situation then.
Until then, check out the damage I’m referring to below:
Will they issue me with a new iPhone? I hope so.
[Update] – Well, I just got back. Upon arriving at the Apple Store the Genius Bar were in complete shock about the whole ‘Bumper Damage’ situation. After stating they couldn’t provide me with a Bumper at this time, Apple replaced my iPhone 4 – no questions asked.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 28th, 2010 at 3:40 PM and is filed under Apple, Blog, Breaking, iPhone. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Lewis
Hi, I'm Lewis Fielder. I'm 15. An iPhone, iPad owner and apple fanatic. I share the love of apple with my fellow authors by writing about it. If the application doesn't make the mark, I won't hesitate to say. For news, updates and me, check out my Twitter: @lewisfielder me.
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I too have this issue…
Nowhere near as bad as yours though!
It’s one thing after another with the iphone4!
The likely explanation is that there was some dirt/grit trapped between your bumper and iPhone when you fitted the case. This will then have been rubbing against the aluminium antenna on your phone as it moved around in your pocket/hands/wherever and caused the scuffs.
As is the case with any case (See what I did there?) you should always thoroughly clean your phone and case with a microfibre cloth before fitting to avoid this kind of unfortunate result.
As I said to apple. I throughly clean my phone all the time and there is no dirt/grit in the case. I check a lot. This happend a week ago but it wasn’t nearly that bad so I left it. It was clean when I put it on again.
I can honestly see no other explanation. Even grit/dirt you cannot see could have caused this if the case/phone were not thoroughly cleaned with a lint-free microfibre cloth.
I have just taken my bumper case off to examine the interior, and from what I can see it is flush/smooth plastic. The scuffs on your phone clearly resemble that of small pieces of grit rubbing against specific areas of the phone's antenna – as apposed to a scuff which would look like a solid vertical line running along the length of the phone if it were just the bumper's plastic interior causing the problem.
Tom I put mine on from the case after cleaning the case and the phone – it's not dirt or grit but tarnishing on metal and it's definately caused by the bumper.
Tom I should say that it's not dirt or grit at the TIME of installation but it could be stuff getting in due to the flexible nature of the bumper and the holes which would let it through. So I'd still claim it's not the fault of the user but the bumper design that's allowing this to happen.
Sure, blame Apple and their product design for dust particles in the air. How do you suggest they develop an air-tight case that is easy to fit/remove without resorting to a full body enclosure – I would love to hear your thoughts?
The Bumper case has a nice rubber strip around it that seals it well. I doubt it is particles getting in. Wether it is dirt, or the plastic rubbing on the band, either way you wouldnt expect this to happen. Shagged my phone… Going to Genius Bar today.
This is such a standard response to this problem. I put my bumper on after fully cleaning the phone and from the packet and I've got the same issue. It's NOT dirt but something on the inside of the bumper tarnishing the metal.
I have my free bumper in mail and now I don't think I should put it on? Is this a really common thing?
Were not yet sure how rare this is. I’m speaking to a lot of people that are having this issue now.
And Gizmodo is picking up this story to repost with a flamboyant anti-apple headline in 3…2 …1….
I have also just noticed this but I did not think it was the apple bumper man this really suck thanks for the info also I am most def going to make a video on this letting all my subs on YouTube know about this ..
Make sure you credit us!
or maybe…..
http://twitter.com/jasonkneen/status/19282218481
Just followed you!
I just removed my bumper to check my phone and I do have some similar scuff marks on my iPhone 4. They're not as bad as the pictures above, but appear on all 4 sides of the aluminum band.
Quote;
"I was then quickly booked into the earliest Genius Bar appointment they could provide (Monday) and the conversation ended."
Apple store staff are so elitist! they work in a computer store for g#ds sake…
Bumper is made of PLASTIC. How could plastic do this?
don't know but it does – has done to mine too – not as bad as this and my bumper went from packaging directly to phone after being cleaned.
I too have gotten a few scuff marks from having the bumper on. That said, they are not as bad as pictured above and are still hard to notice at first glance. Hope you update us with the final verdict.
I will don't worry!
Wow that really does look ugly. It is "stainless" steel right?
That looks less like something rubbing up against it than it does some kind of oxidation.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4500082_clean-oxidized-al...
THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE. You better stop pretending that a bumper could have done this and amdit that your iPhone fallen on concrete or something similar.
Man, i understand you want your phone replaced for free and give fault to apple itself.
But guys, this is Elementary Physics. Plastic is softer than metal. Any material in this universe cannot modify another one that it's harder then it. Point.
wow, you know you're right and I'm lying too. I didn't put my bumper on my clean phone on day 1, instead I dropped it on concrete ON IT'S EDGE and in SEVERAL SPECIFIC PLACES where it could cause this blemishing WITHOUT DAMAGING ANYTHING ELSE, and THEN I put the bumper on and then lied about it.
Wow you got me dude. I've been so Pnwed.
Trying to be ironic won't change Physics Laws man.
There's no way that plastic could damage metal.
Sarcastic <> Irony
So there's absolutely NO way that any dirt or particles could get into the bumper (because of the various holes in it) and NO possible way that due to the flexible nature of the bumper (squeeze the top and bottom and watch it flex) that these particles could get between the bumper and the phone and NO way they could rub against it?
On that basis the BUMPERS design is responsible NOT the plastic
(I never said that plastic tarnished steel)
How else can you explain a brand new, clean iPhone being put in a brand new clean bumper and then days later showing signs of damage?
The best thing about this is, I have enough money to buy a new iPhone tomorrow, the day after and every day for the next 2 weeks. If I'd damaged my iPhone by my own fault I would have gone and replaced it… The fact that I was unaware and havnt dropped my little gem since ive got means, your wrong
have a beautiful day!
So! that's the answer! Seems that keeping iPhone with a bumper and diamonds in the same pocket can cause the diamond's dust to get between bumper and iPhone and scratch the metal!
No need to bother any other poor Genius then!
Maybe i'm wrong, but acting like Richie Rich doesn't mean you're right and that's apple bumper's fault.
It's called, saying I'm lying when I'm not, was just proved by my wealth…
Actually that’s not true, a rigid plastic material can in fact scuff and damage aluminum. It’s a soft metal, in comparison.
THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE. You better stop pretending that a bumper could have done this and amdit that your iPhone fallen on concrete or something similar.
"Shiny Sinks" and some dry kitchen paper + elbow grease has removed most of my marks – finished off with a tiny bit of olive oil to polish. I'm leaving the bumper off for now. Looking inside the bumper you can see marks http://twitpic.com/29hscb that could indicated something is getting in between and rubbing between both.
I agree that "plastic can't scratch metal" but if the case is flexible which it is and allows dust or particles to get in (which it could) then it's entirely possible for the damage to take place without you even knowing.
@jasonkneen
These kind of scuff marks are possible with any case simply due to the nature that the cases are not fused with the iPhone (any model). That creates space between the iPhone and the case, allowing for small particles of dust, dirt, sand, etc. to enter into. Once there, they can cause abrasions with the natural movement of the phone/case. Since most of the cases are made of plastic (the bumper being one of them), they are flexible under normal conditions…i.e. gripping the case/phone, putting it into/pulling it out of your pocket, etc. All this movement allows for any particles trapped between the two surfaces to move around and, potentially, scuff or scratch the iPhone. That is, as pointed out in posts above, the particles are indeed harder than the surface they are scratching. I've noticed this with just about every case I've owned for every cell phone I've ever had. This is not unique to the iPhone and the Apple Bumper. The photos on this story seem extreme, but minor scuffs and/or scratches caused by using a case are far better than the cracked screen or caved in corners suffered from a drop without a case, IMO.
Thank you for the intelligent response which sounds the most plausible over "you must have dropped it on concrete and are lying" or "you obviously dropped it in sand"
This makes total sense as does the fact that on previous models i.e. the 3GS the effect wouldn't have been noticed due to the case colour etc.
This is exactly the suggestion I made in the first place Jason. The one which you said couldn't be right, and that it must be a design fault with the bumper…
Not quite. The claim was there was dirt etc on the bumper or phone at install. Brand new phone, brand new case, air conditioned office. Unlikely.
However I agree that having read other comments here I agree it’s likely that dirt or grit getting into the case could be responsible.
But there’s no way there could have been crap in there at install unless it came out of the box with it.
You must have dropped it in the sand. It looks like an abrasive got between the case and the bumper which caused the damage.
Ahh that's it – I do of course live in East Grafton, Wiltshire, well know for it's Sand Dunes.
Nice one, thanks.
I’ve got £10 protec case from phones4 u, it’s a fairly stiff rubber,plastic case and so far seems not have damaged it. My free bumper from apple just got shipped today but not sure I want to use it now!
Reading the above it seems similar to what happened with my 3G, my belkin silicon case tarnished the shiny bezel
Hope apple sort you out.
Maybe we’ll see another press conference next week, with a free iPhone for anyone who bought an apple bumper!!!
cmon, how the hell should a rubber bumper cut marks into solid steal?…
and its not aluminium, its SOLID STEAL.
I don't (suggest) – to be honest I couldn't give a crap anymore.
I'm off to scuff the shit out of my phone now with some wire wool
Have a nice day
I'm out.
Stop putting it in the very end of your ass and everything would be fine!!!
Having had my iPhone 4 and my black bumper since release day, I still very happy with it and its bumper. All that is bullshit. There's no no scuff no mark at mine.
Please wash your hands after going to restrooms and before touching your iPhone and the world will still go round.
I have my bumper installed for about 4 weeks now and my iPhone 4 hasn’t suffered this many “scratches” from the bumper (with a minute of searching I found two little ones). But there- for me is some truth in this story because like these “iPad Screw stains” I have one “scratch” on my iPhone 4 on the exact same place as on my old swapped iPhone 4. Accident? You say.
@Lewis
Are these plain scratches you have on your antenna band or deep ones?
I still think there was dirt/grime, like you said, you have never heard/seen this happen before, therefore, it must be a fault on your behalf. Just my opinion. Looking forward to seeing what happens.
Bullshit
I have a bumper and I have seen up to now not a single scratch … although I am frequent callers and the iPhone sync almost daily must!
again bullshit….
What do you mean by "Photos after the break!"? What break are you referring to?
May I suggest a very simple solution to this? I too am an ocd freak about my lovely shiney phone of wonder, and I also feel suicidal when I find a scratch! It’s obvious that any case that is not 100% air tight can and will let in some foreign objects which could indeed be harder than the phones surfaces, and therefore damage to the finish is a possibility. A simple way to minimise this is the zagg case as it comes with thin strips to cover the edges. This not only covers about 95% of the antenna, but makes the bumper that little bit more snug to the phone which will help limit the amount of debris that can enter the gaps! Problem solved! Its a slightly expensive solution, but if you’ve got an iPhone 4 I’m sure you can afford it! (Especially if your that ponsey Pratt who was bragging he can afford a new phone each day!)
Ive just removed my bumper to install a Zagg invisible-shield. Guess what.! Covered in marks like yours all the way round.
What's the point in buying and installing a protector/shield, when it's already damaged!
I shall be returning mine to the apple shop i paid £550 to.
Then get the zagg case on the new phone before you put it in the bumper! That’s what I did and it even makes the bumper fit snug to stop it rattleing around!
Really?? What did Apple have to say about it? also did you return it or have a go at scrubbing the marks off?
It’s hard for me to tell if those are deep indentions or if the metal is oxidized. As a hobby I work with stainless steel knives and for it to put indentions it would have to have been struck. Any jealous co workers?
I am leaning toward oxidation.
Perhaps the bumper had little pockets of water in the rubber that burst and caused the metal to discolor? The good news if it is oxidation a good leather honing wheel would take it right out. I wouldn’t use steel wool on it like a prior poster. Just leather moistened with light machine oil should do it.