iPhone X IphoneX surgical steel durability

[Absrnd]

Let me first say: There is no steel that is stronger then stupidity

I can't believe phone users still think a case will make their phone impervious to scratches,
while a lot of past experiences, on this and other forums, clearly shows it can cause even more scratches !

You always get crap inside your pocket, and with a case it will accumulate inside and create a kind of sanding the will keep on scratching until you clean the case out.
I have seen iPhones that had cases around them for more then 1 year without cleaning and it looked like a battle field

And as always you blame Apple, because that is more simple, them blaming yourself

 

[newellj]

I just took a case like that off of my daughter's shiny black IPhone 8 Plus. She was very fortunate I was able to remove all of the scum and crap that collected between that case and her pride and joy IPhone before permanent damage was done to the finish. It was on the phone for only a week and a half. It took me some alcohol and two different kinds of cloths to clean it up.

I have her phone back in the microfiber lined Apple silicone case until I can give her the Speck case she wants for Christmas to replace her other Speck case. I don’t like her Speck case, either, and think it could scratch a stainless edged phone. But it has served her iPhone just fine. We are replacing it because it got scratched up and ugly.

I know they don't fit everyone's needs, but I keep buying the Apple cases. They fit, they fit really well, and in the years since I started using them when the iPhone 6 launched I've never had any issues with grit/dirt/stuff scratching the phone finish under the case. FWIW (not much, if you need other features).

 

[5105973]

I know they don't fit everyone's needs, but I keep buying the Apple cases. They fit, they fit really well, and in the years since I started using them when the iPhone 6 launched I've never had any issues with grit/dirt/stuff scratching the phone finish under the case. FWIW (not much, if you need other features).

I like them, too. My daughter, being a teenager, wanted something more “blingy”.

 

[newellj]

I like them, too. My daughter, being a teenager, wanted something more “blingy”.

I knew that! And it's totally ok, obviously. :thumbsup:

 

[Arran]

If you care about scratches the soft suede like material inside thw official cases are the best route...

Agreed. The suede lining traps and safely holds microscopic grit and dirt away from the phone's surface.

It's like comparing a carpeted floor with a polished hardwood floor. Try throwing a handful of sand on each and then skimming your iPhone across each! You know, just throw it, like you're skimming stones at the lake. *1

You'll be able to tell from the crunchy/scrapy noise which one is doing the most damage.

*1. Please don't actually try this at home.
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Exactly true, but the OP is making a huge leap from surgical grade stainless steel to unrelated attributes like "durability" and hardness.

Surgical stainless actually strikes me as a funny choice on Apple's part.

Agreed. It's all marketing/branding. I think the word "surgical" is used to conjure up ideas of purity and cleanliness. They've always been important concepts to Ive.

 

[newellj]

[doublepost=1513013606][/doublepost]

Agreed. It's all marketing/branding. I think the word "surgical" is used to conjure up ideas of purity and cleanliness. They've always been important concepts to Ive.

(giggle) You must be right about this being over-the-top marketing. At least I hope so. Anyone who's holding their phone long enough to get some kind of reaction from the steel bands needs a fix that's more drastic than upgrading the materials to surgical-grade stainless steel.

A much better example would be things implanted in the body, like replacement hips. Another example would be my eyeglasses, which I wear probably 16 hours/day. They have a saddle bridge (no nose pads), so the bridge sits on my nose continuously.

I have no idea how many people are sensitive to various stainless steel alloys, but I'm really hoping that cellphones, even one as beguiling as the iPhone X, really don't need to be made from surgical stainless.

 

[LogiLink]

Well, I thought the product would be more scratch-resistant.
I was not aware that the phone for $ 1000 would draw and rub so easily in a silicone case,
especially in times when we have on the market "gorilla glass 3" or super durable materials , used in production to protect our phones.

 

[newellj]

It's cold comfort, but Gorilla Glass is way overrated too, IMHO!

 

[rattler]

Any sort of polished steel is going to show microabrasions from regular use unless you’re using it in a sealed case with no exposure to dust or grit. Even my microfiber-lined Apple case has scratched the band on my silver X simply from taking it in and out of the case to clean it.

 

[HonestChicken]

Put a skin on it, and then put it in a silicone case...

 

[5105973]

(giggle) You must be right about this being over-the-top marketing. At least I hope so. Anyone who's holding their phone long enough to get some kind of reaction from the steel bands needs a fix that's more drastic than upgrading the materials to surgical-grade stainless steel.

A much better example would be things implanted in the body, like replacement hips. Another example would be my eyeglasses, which I wear probably 16 hours/day. They have a saddle bridge (no nose pads), so the bridge sits on my nose continuously.

I have no idea how many people are sensitive to various stainless steel alloys, but I'm really hoping that cellphones, even one as beguiling as the iPhone X, really don't need to be made from surgical stainless.

I have a moderate nickel allergy so I do appreciate Apple’s efforts to go with “surgical steel” as that’s less likely to trigger contact dermatitis. In fact my chances of a reaction to the stainless steel band on the iPhone are almost zero. But some people are way more sensitive than I am so I think it’s probably a necessity to have such high grade steel even if they end up using a case. I know some women who have such sensitive skin they would probably get a rash just from putting the phone into a case. It’s scary how bad some people’s allergies can get. I have a lot of allergies but few of them are severe.

Women can tend to develop alloy allergies because we are often users of hair coloring products and these days, tattoos, which can initiate sensitivities. Not to mention all the costume jewelry we start wearing in childhood that can start us down the road to contact allergies.

There’s also a commonly used preservative in shampoos and body washes and other consumer products that’s a potent allergen and is heavily regulated in Europe but not at all in the US. I’d tell you what it is if I could spell it. Here’s the wiki on it https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylisothiazolinone

 

[Extoll]

you can always tell the people that never owned an polished stainless steel items before

 

[newellj]

I have a moderate nickel allergy so I do appreciate Apple’s efforts to go with “surgical steel” as that’s less likely to trigger contact dermatitis. In fact my chances of a reaction to the stainless steel band on the iPhone are almost zero. But some people are way more sensitive than I am so I think it’s probably a necessity to have such high grade steel even if they end up using a case. I know some women who have such sensitive skin they would probably get a rash just from putting the phone into a case. It’s scary how bad some people’s allergies can get. I have a lot of allergies but few of them are severe.

Women can tend to develop alloy allergies because we are often users of hair coloring products and these days, tattoos, which can initiate sensitivities. Not to mention all the costume jewelry we start wearing in childhood that can start us down the road to contact allergies.

There’s also a commonly used preservative in shampoos and body washes and other consumer products that’s a potent allergen and is heavily regulated in Europe but not at all in the US. I’d tell you what it is if I could spell it. Here’s the wiki on it https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylisothiazolinone

Fair enough, I stand corrected! Tattoos reminded me of problems that they can cause for Watch wearers, too.

 

[5105973]

Fair enough, I stand corrected! Tattoos reminded me of problems that they can cause for Watch wearers, too.

Ah, I wasn’t actually correcting you though. I’m just making conversation while I wait for my dog to finish enjoying the great but freezing outdoors.

Tattoos look like a lot of fun and I know two of my nieces enjoy theirs, but there can definitely be drawbacks. I have autoimmune disease so it’s a no go for me.

 

[flyfish29]

Clearly you need to stop buying clear cases so they don't show!

 

[Brandonjr36]

Then the easy answer to that is to not buy a stainless steel phone knowing full well what'll happen.

Exactly that’s why I bought the space grey that and I like the color better then plain silver.

 

[44267547]

Any sort of polished steel is going to show microabrasions from regular use unless you’re using it in a sealed case with no exposure to dust or grit. Even my microfiber-lined Apple case has scratched the band on my silver X simply from taking it in and out of the case to clean it.

Exactly. Surgical stainless steel or almost any grade of stainless steel is completely susceptible to scratching, which usually it's just micro scratches that are superficial on the surface of the stainless steel. That's just part of owning that type of material when it comes to watches or the bands on the silver iPhone X.

 

[bushman4]

What really is Surgical Stainless Steel??

Is it a quality rating or a similarity to what instruments a surgeon uses are made of???

The difference is the alloys mixed with the stainless steel. In any case it’s not scratch resistant or dent resistant. It’s more of a descriptive term

 

[x-evil-x]

I just find it funny the op is blaming Apple for stainless steel being easily scratched.
Because apple should reinvent a metal to be scratch resistant.

 

[newellj]

What really is Surgical Stainless Steel??

Is it a quality rating or a similarity to what instruments a surgeon uses are made of???

The difference is the alloys mixed with the stainless steel. In any case it’s not scratch resistant or dent resistant. It’s more of a descriptive term

In a nutshell, a group of stainless steel alloys that won't irritate humans from contact. It has nothing especially to do with wear resistance or crazy, vague terms like "quality" or "durability." Here's Wikipedia's definition (click to expand). From what I've seen, I think it's very likely that the X bands are 300-series stainless, not 400-series.

Surgical stainless steel is an informal term which refers to certain grades of stainless steel that are used in biomedical applications. The most common "surgical steels" are austenitic 316 stainless and martensitic 440 and 420 stainless steels. There is no formal definition on what constitutes a "surgical stainless steel", so product manufacturers and distributors apply the term to refer to any grade of corrosion resistant steel.

316 stainless steel, also referred to as marine grade stainless steel, is a chromium, nickel, molybdenum alloy of steel that exhibits relatively good strength and corrosion resistance. Along with the titanium alloy Ti6Al4V, 316 stainless is a common choice of material for biomedical implants. Although Ti6Al4V provides greater strength per weight and corrosion resistance, 316 stainless components can be more economical to produce. However, immune system reaction to nickel is a potential complication of 316.[1][2] Implants and equipment that are put under pressure (bone fixation screws, prostheses, body piercing jewelry) are made out of austenitic steel, often 316L and 316LVM compliant to ASTM F138,.[3] 316 surgical steel is used in the manufacture and handling of food and pharmaceutical products where it is often required in order to minimize metallic contamination. ASTM F138[3]-compliant steel is also used in the manufacture of body piercing jewellery[4] and body modification implants.

440 and 420 stainless steels, known also by the name "Cutlery Stainless Steel", are high carbon steels alloyed with chromium. They have very good corrosion resistance compared to other cutlery steels, but their corrosion resistance is inferior to 316 stainless. Biomedical cutting instruments are often made from 440 or 420 stainless due to its high hardness coupled with acceptable corrosion resistance. This type of stainless steel may be slightly magnetic.

 

[44267547]

It's all marketing/branding. I think the word "surgical"

Not quite. There is nothing "marketing" about when they are using the word surgical. Surgical is a very informal and generic term as it is and applies to a lot of variations of stainless. Aesthetically it makes the iPhone look clean, but I don't believe Apple spent an inordinate amount of time to emphasize the stainless steel on the bands.

A Better example of Johnny Ives marketing: The Apple Watch stainless 316 L was more heavily marketed being watches are important when it comes to the quality of steel used and Apple wanted to market it as a fashion item as well, aside from being just a fitness watch.

 

[yansun]

I just find it funny the op is blaming Apple for stainless steel being easily scratched.
Because apple should reinvent a metal to be scratch resistant.

You shouldn't blame Apple, but you can rise the question why Apple uses material so prone to micro scratches. The stainless steel frame of the iPhone may look better than the aluminium frame in mint condition, but the vulnerability to scratches under normal usage is exatcly why I would have prefered the X to have an aluminium frame as the iPhones from the 4 to the 8.

 

[newellj]

You shouldn't blame Apple, but you can rise the question why Apple uses material so prone to micro scratches. The stainless steel frame of the iPhone may look better than the aluminium frame in mint condition, but the vulnerability to scratches under normal usage is exatcly why I would have prefered the X to have an aluminium frame as the iPhones from the 4 to the 8.

Virtually any highly polished metal is going to show scratches. The logical place to go with this is a brushed or glass beaded finish, but everyone wants the bling look.

 

[yansun]

Virtually any highly polished metal is going to show scratches. The logical place to go with this is a brushed or glass beaded finish, but everyone wants the bling look.

- me

 

[newellj]

- me

I love the look of the highly polished SS AW and the X. You just have to be realistic.