How easily does the plastic back of the iPhone 3G scratch? The chrome backed iPods will scratch no matter what unless you buy a film or case for them, but what about the plastic iPhones? As much as possible I'd want to go naked but if it means scratches, then I'll get a cover.
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Does the plastic back scratch?
- Thread starter superspiffy
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Yes, it gets scratched when it's in your pocket with keys. But, an invisible shield thing works pretty good to protect it from scratches.
With no shield mine didn't scratch at all in two months except for the Apple logo which has tons of superficial scratches on it. Sometimes I'll hit off the phone while it's on my desk and it'll spin on it's back a little. I think it was probably that that did it.
No scratches, but it will get scuffed.
I think scuffs look good. It doesn't look brand new, but it gives it a nice, even texture. I like the look.
If that thought freaks you out, don't go case-less. I've gone case-less since July and think the phone looks better now than when it was new. But that's my opinion.
I think scuffs look good. It doesn't look brand new, but it gives it a nice, even texture. I like the look.
If that thought freaks you out, don't go case-less. I've gone case-less since July and think the phone looks better now than when it was new. But that's my opinion.
get a bodyguardz shield, its better than the other ones out there because it rounds nicely around the corners. take your time putting it on and after 2-3 days of curing you wont even know its there except for the more grippy texture and your phone is protected from scratches for good
it also surrounds the chrome bezel on the sides protecting that from scratches as well
combine that with one of the powersupport screen protectors of choice for the front and your phone will look brand new unless you drop and break it lol
if you dont go with this route you are going to scratch the hell out of the back especially the silver apple logo, that will show it the most, and 90% of cases scratch your phone as you either slide it into them or from little bits of dirt collecting inside and moving around
it also surrounds the chrome bezel on the sides protecting that from scratches as well
combine that with one of the powersupport screen protectors of choice for the front and your phone will look brand new unless you drop and break it lol
if you dont go with this route you are going to scratch the hell out of the back especially the silver apple logo, that will show it the most, and 90% of cases scratch your phone as you either slide it into them or from little bits of dirt collecting inside and moving around
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if you don't want scratches you'll probably want a case. Scratching is likely to occur.
if you don't want scratches you'll probably want a case. Scratching is likely to occur.
yes it scratches.
it scratches, scuffs, cracks, and it might even chip.
it's plastic. tough plastic, but far from invincible.
i'm coming to terms with the fact that it is going to get effed up eventually. a case, film for the front etc will help protect it, but there's a pretty good chance that it will develop some "character" at some point.
to be honest, i'd trade the so-called "reception improvements" **cough*cough** from the plastic back for the 1st gen aluminum any day. that was a tough phone.
i use my iPhone far too frequently throughout the day for it not to get some battle scars. it's easily the most-used device, or just about anything really, that i own.
it scratches, scuffs, cracks, and it might even chip.
it's plastic. tough plastic, but far from invincible.
i'm coming to terms with the fact that it is going to get effed up eventually. a case, film for the front etc will help protect it, but there's a pretty good chance that it will develop some "character" at some point.
to be honest, i'd trade the so-called "reception improvements" **cough*cough** from the plastic back for the 1st gen aluminum any day. that was a tough phone.
i use my iPhone far too frequently throughout the day for it not to get some battle scars. it's easily the most-used device, or just about anything really, that i own.
You certainly will get scratches on it if you don't use a case. I've gone "nude" since July and the back of my white iPhone 3G is littered with tiny scratches and swirls, but I really don't mind. As someone else said, I kind of think it looks decent. Plus, you won't have to be paranoid of putting it down on the table without a case. 
Both colors scratch. I have white and had it in someones bag where it hot dinged on the top corner against black sunglasses...so ugly. (I had forgotten my case at home) luckily my phone locked up yesterday and I took it in to the Apple Store to see if they would swap it. AND THEY DID. Now I have a new phone without a ding in the side
my white on is covered in scratches. but they are not visible unless you look closely.
it's just like the white macbook.. it gets covered in tiny scratches, all over
it's just like the white macbook.. it gets covered in tiny scratches, all over
My white iPhone is unscratched due to the case; but the War Department's black iPhone has to be iKlear'd everyday screen and back. iKlear cleans and polishes the iPhone so it looks like new 24/7...
I've had mine for a little over a week now, it's either on my desk or in my pocket (with nothing else). The back plastic looks new, but the metallic apple is pretty badly scuffed up. Not that you can see through all the finger smudges
had mine since iDay and it's still perfect, I got a Bodyguardz on it though and I use a bunch of different cases.
I never used a case until i got like a little dent on it, it's really barely noticeable if at all but it showed me how easily the phone can get effed up (i dropped it like 5 inches and it tapped a corner of my friends touch screen in his car, we were comparing the quality of screens, iphone won hands down btw).
So with BG and a case im scratch and break free! Honestly it doesn't really matter anyways, and the main thing with a case (i have a few haha) is that it adds a little bulk to the phone, and for me it's easier to handle. It's very thin and small without one.
Looks alot better without one also though
I never used a case until i got like a little dent on it, it's really barely noticeable if at all but it showed me how easily the phone can get effed up (i dropped it like 5 inches and it tapped a corner of my friends touch screen in his car, we were comparing the quality of screens, iphone won hands down btw).
So with BG and a case im scratch and break free! Honestly it doesn't really matter anyways, and the main thing with a case (i have a few haha) is that it adds a little bulk to the phone, and for me it's easier to handle. It's very thin and small without one.
Looks alot better without one also though
I think a big part of it depends on your definition of "scratches".
It's plastic, and is obviously going to scratch. It's as simple as that.
I have had mine since launch day, and even though it has been treated with the utmost of respect, and has lived in a nice soft cloth case/sock I have to say I am bitterly disappointed at how quickly it is picking up small swirls and scuffs. Most folk probably wouldn't even notice them to be honest, but for somebody uber-particular like me, I feel quite let down by how easily marked it is.
It's plastic, and is obviously going to scratch. It's as simple as that.
I have had mine since launch day, and even though it has been treated with the utmost of respect, and has lived in a nice soft cloth case/sock I have to say I am bitterly disappointed at how quickly it is picking up small swirls and scuffs. Most folk probably wouldn't even notice them to be honest, but for somebody uber-particular like me, I feel quite let down by how easily marked it is.
Doesn't scratch that easily but yes, compared to my other phones, it does scratch easily...and fingerprints are a definite YES!
Well, it's not a perfect material by any means, but iPhone 3G is the first mobile Apple gadget I've owned that won't scratch as long as you're moderately careful. If you've ever had any of the iPods with a chrome back (1st gen Nano, 1st gen Touch, 5th gen video iPod etc) you'll know that they will scratch from ANYTHING. They'll scratch if you place them carefully on a tabletop and accidentaly nudge them half an inch. They'll scratch if you wipe them with a cloth. Basically, if you have lint in one pocket and a chrome-back iPod in the other, the lint will somehow manage to scratch the iPod by association.
I've had a white iPhone 3G for five or six weeks now and there's not a single visible scratch on it, even though it's 'naked'. It's possible that the black one scratches easier, I wouldn't know, but it's still pretty damn good for an Apple product. I would worry more about the chrome frame around the display, I have a feeling it's the same old crap they used on the back of old iPods, and if so, it will look like sh*t long before you notice a single scratch on the plastic...
I've had a white iPhone 3G for five or six weeks now and there's not a single visible scratch on it, even though it's 'naked'. It's possible that the black one scratches easier, I wouldn't know, but it's still pretty damn good for an Apple product. I would worry more about the chrome frame around the display, I have a feeling it's the same old crap they used on the back of old iPods, and if so, it will look like sh*t long before you notice a single scratch on the plastic...
the case
the phone may also scratch depending the on the case you use. if it's one of the snap on cases or incase slider type case then there will be a scratch of some sort on the chrome or on the plastic.
i know because i own an incase slider and there was some scratches on the back towards the bottom and a some on the chrome. there's certain type of light that shows every single scratch on any device and there's also certain type of light that doesn't show any scratches. so you think there aren't any scratches but if you put it into a certain type of light then you will see scratch of some sort that doesn't cause a texture you can feel (no light needed for those that cause a texture that you can feel) but very faint scratches that don't cause texture.
but putting the phone in your jeans pocket and just at that with out sliding the phone on the table or w/e then phone would hardly scratch, and keeping the phone clean from dust particles also prevents the phone from scratching. (never 100% scratch proof).
the phone may also scratch depending the on the case you use. if it's one of the snap on cases or incase slider type case then there will be a scratch of some sort on the chrome or on the plastic.
i know because i own an incase slider and there was some scratches on the back towards the bottom and a some on the chrome. there's certain type of light that shows every single scratch on any device and there's also certain type of light that doesn't show any scratches. so you think there aren't any scratches but if you put it into a certain type of light then you will see scratch of some sort that doesn't cause a texture you can feel (no light needed for those that cause a texture that you can feel) but very faint scratches that don't cause texture.
but putting the phone in your jeans pocket and just at that with out sliding the phone on the table or w/e then phone would hardly scratch, and keeping the phone clean from dust particles also prevents the phone from scratching. (never 100% scratch proof).
