iPhone 15 Pro Why is the paint on iPhones chipping so easily these days?

[ngel22]

Why is the paint on iPhones chipping so easily these days? I can see it everywhere in Apple stores, especially around the camera (on the 15 and earlier models, since the 16 is probably too new).

I can remember the very very old days when I used HTC and Samsung phones (without a case!) that also had anodized aluminium, and these phones were literally chipping proof until I stopped caring after some years and put them in my pocket together with keys, but even then it didn't really chip, except on the scratch lines where the color came off.

I'm not familiar with the different methods of anodization, but is Apple simply using a cheap method with inferior results? It's quite pathetic that some companies manufactured phones over 10 years ago and managed to produce such high quality aluminium unibodies that wouldn't chip, and 10 years later Apple still doesn't manage (or doesn't want) to figure it out.

 

[PeteS1963]

I’ve had iPhone’s since the iPhone 4 and none have had any chipping. And I’m hard on my phones as I work outside. My old iPhone 14 Pro is about to be sold and hasn’t got a mark on it.

The only issue was my wife’s black iPhone 5 which did chip too easily. I had the white/silver iPhone 5 which for me was fine. But that was obviously some time ago. All the other iPhones that we’ve owned (various colours) have been remarkably resilient.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Objection! Assumes facts not in evidence

I'm not seeing chipping "Easily" myself. YMMV.

 

[eyoungren]

Can't really say. My primary iPhone is the 11 Pro Max, which has a glass back. I also have a 6s Plus and a 6 Plus. Never experienced 'chipping' on those.

My iPhone 4 and 4s were never bought used and came unchipped. I've never used them as primary phones. My 3GS has a plastic back.

That leaves my iPhone 5, which did see some aspects of this, but primarily only as a result from me being stupid and dropping it or smacking it in to something. Not general wear and tear.

So, if your claim OP is legit, then I've entirely missed it because I've never owned any phone in the 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16 series.

Sorry.

 

[eyoungren]

I’ve had iPhone’s since the iPhone 4 and none have had any chipping. And I’m hard on my phones as I work outside. My old iPhone 14 Pro is about to be sold and hasn’t got a mark on it.

The only issue was my wife’s black iPhone 5 which did chip too easily. I had the white/silver iPhone 5 which for me was fine. But that was obviously some time ago. All the other iPhones that we’ve owned (various colours) have been remarkably resilient.

Scuffgate. Apple had a problem in 2012 with that.

 

[PeteS1963]

Scuffgate. Apple had a problem in 2012 with that.

Yes, I know… there’s always a “gate”. But it’s the only issue with “chipping” that I’ve experienced.

 

[eyoungren]

Yes, I know… there’s always a “gate”. But it’s the only issue with “chipping” that I’ve experienced.

There is a very large thread here on MR about that. The mods merged all the scuffing threads together into one large mega thread. If you were on MR at the time it was hard to NOT see yet another scuffing thread.

My own iPhone 5 suffered as well, but primarily as a result of me dropping it or scraping it against something. Didn't just happen out of the blue. However, that phone got replaced three times due to battery swelling, so the one I have now is not my original.

My wife's iPhone 5 was the silver one, so did not experience any scuffing.

 

[Cobold]

I am and was using every single iPhone I owned naked without a case and never ever had a single chip of the coating coming off in any way.
Scratches, okay, but „paint“ or coating chipping off? Never seen it since the black iPhone 5 back in 2012.

 

[PeteS1963]

There is a very large thread here on MR about that. The mods merged all the scuffing threads together into one large mega thread. If you were on MR at the time it was hard to NOT see yet another scuffing thread.

My own iPhone 5 suffered as well, but primarily as a result of me dropping it or scraping it against something. Didn't just happen out of the blue. However, that phone got replaced three times due to battery swelling, so the one I have now is not my original.

My wife's iPhone 5 was the silver one, so did not experience any scuffing.

Yes, I’ve been on this site since the 1st Gen iPhone. At the time I had a 1st Gen iPod Touch. Although I had a different username as I forgot my password and it was easier just to rejoin.

The scuffgate stuff was also in the mainstream press. The main reason that I got a white iPhone 5, which I really enjoyed.

 

[shadowboi]

Always has been.

My iPhone 5 that I used without any case looked like night sky just after a year of use. Aluminum is quite weak metal and they have weak paint too

 

[JtheLemur]

… what paint? there’s no paint.

 

[StaceyMJ86]

My 15Pm blue titanium is chipping and I am using a case. I routinely change cases every other day and am always wiping my phone and cases down.

 

[eyoungren]

My 15Pm blue titanium is chipping and I am using a case. I routinely change cases every other day and am always wiping my phone and cases down.

No issues with my 11 Pro Max.

 

[StaceyMJ86]

No issues with my 11 Pro Max.

I wish Apple would’ve kept stainless steel. I hate titanium.

 

[Fred Zed]

The only time I’ve ever had scuffs around my frame was the iPhone 4s which I’d kept in an otterbox defender case for 12 months. The point of contact of the hard plastic inner otterbox wore away the iPhone brushes frame.
My previous iPhone 14 Pro Max in black had a as new frame after two years. No silver showing anywhere on it.

 

[winxmac]

iPhone 7 matte black and jet black were the first ones that suffer from paint chipping and easily getting scratches...

 

[Mikeske]

I had iPhones going back to the 3 GS and had several of them scratched glass fronts and a few with accidental scratches and scuffs but I just never worried about them as I consider them a consumable devised and a part of life scratches and blemishes happen.

 

[Alex Cai]

This is the reason why I get silver iPhones (now probably natural titanium)
Titanium is much harder to tint and color compared to aluminium/steel, so color might come off easily as well

 

[nburwell]

You also have to remember that iPhone’s in Apple stores are picked up and touched by a lot of people each and everyday. So what you see in the stores isn’t going to be an accurate representation of how the iPhone you buy will hold up.

 

[rukind2]

You also have to remember that iPhone’s in Apple stores are picked up and touched by a lot of people each and everyday. So what you see in the stores isn’t going to be an accurate representation of how the iPhone you buy will hold up.

Yes, actually it is. The display iPhones in Apple stores experience accelerated wear owing to the constant handling by many people each day. This can serve as a useful indicator of how the iPhone may handle "wear and tear" over time when used by a single owner. YMMV.

 

[CaféPicasso]

Side note: I think there are different kinds of wear and tear. Chipping is ugly. It looks damaged.
But scratching can look OK sometimes with some materials. Remember the iPod touch with the beautiful silver back? It scratched by just looking at it. But that was (for me) the fascination of it. It looked used but not damaged. Like a pair of jeans. Whatever you are doing to them, they always look good (or better). Or wood. Or leather. But with electronics it's difficult.

 

[lenningj]

happened on my 13 camera housing ring, just flakes off of the paint

 

[boy-better-know]

Using a natural titanium 16PM, chosen because I have been using an AWU for two years and it’s still in fantastic condition without any protection. I have a lot of faith in the natty titanium colour.

iPhone 5 in black was a bad time, chipping almost immediately. Then the Jet Black 7, whilst beautiful and possiby still my favourite finish on an iPhone ever, after a year there were some big chips at the bottom around the screws despite being babied.

 

[ngel22]

literally 8 out of 10 iPhones in Apple Stores I have seen are somewhere chipped, most of them around the cameras but also on the side. I noticed that for every model, from the 12-15 and my own phones are chipped as well.

On the contrary, those old HTC phones I have owned (M8 for example) also had aluminium casings that were anodized with color. And these never chipped, unless you really scratched them with your keys and put some effort in it, and I also didn't hear any complaints about them wearing off the paint.

So I'm really wondering, if there are difference methods of anodizing, some being more resistant, and Apple just chose a cheaper way of doing it with an inferior outcome.

 

[StaceyMJ86]

One thing for sure is I will think twice before buying another non silver iPhone next year. My blue titanium 15Pm has chipped in some spots on the sides and I baby my device.