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It is just a consumer product swapped after a 2 or 3 years usually. When we get a new one, we never look back to our old iPhones saying “so glad it is in mint condition”.
It is not a jewelry. Is more like daily usage shoe.
 
I do I am an avid user of said plan lol. Well aware of what is covered and what isn't. A small dent on my phone isn't that worrisome
I don’t have AppleCare but even if I did, I would rather not end up being an “avid” user of it.

It’s like medical or health insurance : good to have but preferably never have to use. Lol.
 
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As exhibited multiple times, a thin case won’t help prevent deformation of the aluminum very well. You’ll need a thicker, more padded case to accomplish that.
Yeah I know, from experience. Even a thick silicon case has failed me before. But the new Pro‘s are almost as thick as my 15 Pro with its case on.
And when OP says themselves that they drop their phones regularly but don’t want a real case, maybe they’d be willing to compromise.
Everything is more protective than nothing.
 
But people are seeing dents on the Pro’s from being dropped in Apple’s own silicon and TexhWoven cases.
Ok, so? Because some people drop their phones and sometimes their cases don’t protect them from everything you might just as well not use a case at all? Sorry but what are you trying to tell me? That cases aren’t perfect? That expensive brand cases aren’t necessarily better than cheap and affordable ones? That Apples own cases don’t perform as they should for the money?
 
For sure. I hate cases. I understand the risk and have paid for screen replacements and back replacements thru AppleCare. The phone is so much better without a case, with that being said these phones are way softer than any of the past ones.
They aren’t softer. The aluminum is at least on par with last years 16 and definitely not the same as in the iPhone 6.
I think that it just seems this way as 1. it’s the first flagship iPhone made out of aluminium since the 7 and 2. its heavy. Just as heavy as the stainless steel 14 Pro and 13 Pro have been.
I agree though that iPhones don’t really belong in cases. I raw sow my 15 Pro at home but not in the wild. Maybe if I had AppleCare+ like you.
But for me the case is often an integral part of the experience, like being able to put my phone on somewhere and in an angle where it would usually slip right off. I’m even considering one of these MagSafe/Pop up stand cases because they are pretty useful.
Just mostly ugly.
So yeah, I get you.
 
Exactly, I think Apple made them more durable in terms of still functioning and glass not breaking when dropped, but scratched and dents aren't and were never covered by AppleCare. This would reduce their own costs associated with AppleCare if they're replacing less glass and entire phones due to drops.
fun fact. Scratches and scuffs not only aren’t covered by AC+, they usually aren’t reasons to not service a device either.
I actually took 2000 grid sandpaper to my X screen back in the day because the screen was very scratched anyway and I wanted some uniformity, also the reflections on that screen were very annoying in my then workplace. Had a „nano texture“ screen before it was a thing and actually liked it. It also felt much „smoother“ than the original screen.
Eventually the device malfunctioned for unrelated reasons and I had it replaced no problem.
I had some photos of the phone but I apparently don’t anymore, but apart from the notch it was entirely matte.
I also once took 60-100 grid sandpaper to the edges of my 2017 MacBook Pro (not the top or bottom, but the entire outer edge) because I couldn’t live with it being perfect except for one spot that was really dented and scuffed after a drop. Had the top case replaced for the butterfly keyboard half a year later no problem.
I also also did the same to a used Apple Watch I bought, that had a couple small chips, and I didn’t like the dark blue around the screen that much (wanted to actually see the reduced bezel width) and had that one replaced earlier this year for the battery. No questions asked either. I had a better picture but the one I found has to suffice.
IMG_2411.jpeg

I’m actually contemplating to do this again, just around the entire watch, which is difficult with the crown.
 
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Ok, so? Because some people drop their phones and sometimes their cases don’t protect them from everything you might just as well not use a case at all? Sorry but what are you trying to tell me? That cases aren’t perfect? That expensive brand cases aren’t necessarily better than cheap and affordable ones? That Apples own cases don’t perform as they should for the money?
My point is, people are saying to get a case if you don’t want dents, but clearly you can still get dents, even in Apple’s own cases. This just points to how poor the Ai is as a finish on a this years Pro line.
 
Hate to see that. This is the first time in a long time where I won’t be rocking my phone without a case. I’ve gone with the Caudabe Sheath. Just not gonna take a chance, especially with Deep Blue which seems to show the most damage and scratches.

IMG_4065.jpeg
 
People suddenly trying to nitpick the definition of "durable" now that Apple has released aluminium Pro iPhones are just trying to obfuscate.

And now we're redefining the term "damage"?

Just accept that aluminium is less durable than titanium - it's plain to see. Just admit it, guys. If you want to say that you don't care because you use a case, or you don't care about superficial damage, or that it's worth the tradeoff for thermal performance, no worries. But you don't need to be saying "well it's not damage when the case of the phone starts chipping away".

Some people are surprised and annoyed that these aluminium Pro iPhones are more susceptible to the kind of damage OP showed than the last few years of Pro iPhones. We can't redefine our way of that fact.

You missed the point. Completely. anyone who has been following along is absolutely not surprised aluminum is softer than titanium. Duh. Just some of us are tired of the whining about cosmetics. The sky is not falling. Al won’t negatively impact the operation of the phone, in fact may improve it. Here’s another fact Al conducts hear better than Ti. Some people may judge a phone by how it feels or looks, some people buy a car solely on color, some of us think about getting the job done.

Clear? BTW definitions matter in communication.
 
You missed the point. Completely. anyone who has been following along is absolutely not surprised aluminum is softer than titanium. Duh. Just some of us are tired of the whining about cosmetics. The sky is not falling. Al won’t negatively impact the operation of the phone, in fact may improve it. Here’s another fact Al conducts hear better than Ti. Some people may judge a phone by how it feels or looks, some people buy a car solely on color, some of us think about getting the job done.

Clear? BTW definitions matter in communication.

The point is you can all talk about the benefits and drawbacks of the different materials without suddenly and sneakily trying to move the goalposts and definitions of words to suit the new material.

About titanium, I don't think it makes that much difference thermally. So little of the mass of the phone is actually titanium in the first place, so it's a small factor. An aluminium unibody with some titanium side rails, that vapour chamber, and the efficiency of a new chip, it would still be a great performer.
 
He never said he expected it to be pristine, he said it took more damage than similar drops of his previous phones.

True, but a scuffed phone is a scuffed phone, and the fact that these will dent slightly more is not that big of a deal: if you drop your phone, it’s not going to look as nice either way. At the same time, aluminium does come with obvious advantages in heat conductivity and weight, so I think Apple made the right choice here.
 
Honestly, I’m baffled that some folks manage to scuff up their pricey iPhones within just a couple of weeks.

Meanwhile, my 2015 6S and 2016 OGSE are still in flawless shape; no dents, no scratches, nothing. Aluminium’s always held up well for me; never had a single issue with it.
It's odd to me how often people seem to drop their phones.
 
The point is you can all talk about the benefits and drawbacks of the different materials without suddenly and sneakily trying to move the goalposts and definitions of words to suit the new material.

About titanium, I don't think it makes that much difference thermally. So little of the mass of the phone is actually titanium in the first place, so it's a small factor. An aluminium unibody with some titanium side rails, that vapour chamber, and the efficiency of a new chip, it would still be a great performer.

You don't have a point if you have to troll with words like 'sneak.' I did nothing of the sort. My point is clear, but let's simplify one more time for you.

Is the phone in question operational or not?

Going to repeat, Is the phone in question operational or not?

If 'No, it's not operational' I am interested in learning more about it. If the answer is 'yes, it is opersational' then you are just whining about cosmetics and I shrug my shoulders and think 'cut you're whining, it's nothing new.' Anyone that has paid attention knows that all iPhones with aluminum sides do exactly the same thing for all time. Caveat Emptor. The iPhone 16 pro max is still for sale with titanium for those that care. For those that want to go caseless for cosmetics and then drop their phone on concrete, them's the breaks. Pun included.

As for what you think or dont think about the thermal characteristics of an aluminum unibody, again, you just have an opinion that isn't even worth a cup of coffee. You just don't know. You either buy into yet another conspiracy theory, or you trust Apple Engineers. Since you like to speak facts, even if you dont think they are relevant, it's a fact that aluminum has better thermal characteristics. Thats what we KNOW. Not think, KNOW

I'm logical. I dont push conspiracy theories. big bad marketing.. lol. news flash. Apple is a for profit business. look up what that means.

and have a very nice day :)
 

A lot of words for 'you're holding it wrong'.
If the answer is 'yes, it is opersational' then you are just whining about cosmetics and I shrug my shoulders and think 'cut you're whining, it's nothing new.' Anyone that has paid attention knows that all iPhones with aluminum sides do exactly the same thing for all time. Caveat Emptor. The iPhone 16 pro max is still for sale with titanium for those that care.

Master class in blaming users. 'You should know all this already, if you 'paid attention'. If YOU paid attention you would know the 16 pro max is not for sale anymore from Apple.

For those that want to go caseless for cosmetics and then drop their phone on concrete, them's the breaks. Pun included.

So witty. The material is softer and less durable. You have no answer for that, so instead they are using it wrong. You could just take the L, since clearly Apple chose this path and made tradeoffs, but why do that when you could blame people for caring that their expensive tools look like crap.
 
Sucks that It happened so soon, but glad it's only a surface wound.

There used to be a company called slip stopper that made some kind of plastic sticker that fit on the back of the iPhones. They were thin & unobtrusive, but gave the phone just enough grip to allow me to feel comfortable going caseless. They must have gone out of business because the last phone I was able to get one for was the 5s. But man, I would buy one again in a heartbeat if they came back in the market.
Been using something similar called egrips since the Palm Treo. I've never felt the need for a case on any phone with one on, and haven't broken a phone after all this time (fingers crossed). I have a simple square egrip on my 17, but they have others with specific shapes to better match the backs of various iPhone models too, which I've used in the past.

Word of caution, don't bother if you're OCD since the chances of getting it perfectly aligned is small, and if you try to readjust it you'll just decrease the stickiness and end up with something that peels up over time which will bother you even more. Stick it on and forget it, and they've lasted me a couple years at a time (until the next phone). You'll probably have little air bubbles at first after applying like I do (even following their directions to put some water on your finger and push the air out the sides), but just leave it alone for 1-2 weeks and they seem go away all on their own. Love going caseless but gotta have some kind of grippy back, otherwise with my dry hands an iPhone is way too slippery.
 
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