In what appears to be an increasingly common problem, hairline cracks are beginning to form on Apple's new iPhone 3G. While most of the cracks are reportedly affecting the white model, this is likely due to the increased visibility of the dark fracture on the white case as opposed to any differences in materials between the white and black units. At the moment, the issue seems largely cosmetic and doesn't appear to interfere with the operation of the phone. Now bust out the magnifying glass and let us know if you're seeing the same.
Update: Reader Darius shows off a whisker crack on his kid-glove handled black iPhone 3G with the help of some blue lighting -- meow. See it after the break.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
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posted Jul 30th 2008 3:34AM
What are you complaining about? it's a feature called 'absolutely cracking phone'.
Oddly enough, my new(ish) macbook has cracks just like these around the edges of it. It hasn't affected anything as my macbook runs just fine, but its certainly odd to see the same type of cracks on the new iPhones.
I think the white iPhone 3G is an egg, this is just the beginning. In 2 weeks we will see alot of Apple-designed dragons walking around.
iStretchmarks
the iPhone's way of rebelling against the sealed, non-replaceable battery design.
Don't worry, I may be just a tad bit rougher than the average MacBook user, and its been going strong without any weakpoints for massive damage.
I think Jakob Henner wins the best comment ever award.
I wonder what SuperSexyErik (^_^) has to say about this... If you're reading this article and this comment, just voice your opinion. I'm sure a lot of people would like to see how you attempt to make Apple sound good despite this news.
It's appropriate for the iPhone to have cracks because it's like crack.
You'd have to be ON crack to buy the white iPhone anyway.
That's what happens when metal is replaced with CHEAP PLASTIC.
Its true, I thought that I was the only one having this problem, but I'm glad to know that there are others. I'm going to go to the Apple Store today to ask for a replacement device, this is rubbish. I should've stuck to my old iPhone, the one with the aluminum back that probably wont crack. I've never doubted the build quality of Apple products before but now I'm beginning to question it heavily.
@ zomg0t
You're a fucking tool. Why must people always insist in starting little fanboy wars like this?
Obviously there's no good way to paint this for Apple. If you had any real clue, you'd realize this instead of just wanting to push buttons and troll for an arguement.
If my white iPhone starts to crack I'll be promptly heading back to Rogers and getting it replaced. Ultimately Apple will have to answer to the problem if it becomes widespread enough because there will be at least one freak who screams out "Class Action Lawsuit" and the rest of the mindless sheep will follow.
All I can say is, HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAH!
SSE, you do not disappoint.LOL
on a serious note
Hopefully they can remedy this with a simple change in the quality of the plastic used in production, without having to switch back to aluminum. And like all production plants, sometimes a large batch of products get by QC and are passed off as visually good, but are off in messures of .001". That will create a the problems we see now. What will apple do?
A feature called " give me my money back"
there goes the cheap plastic...get back to the good old aluminium back plate
what you guys complaining of man....cant you see apple's giving the "option" of a user-replaceable battery :D
Step on an iPhone, break your momma's back.
Not to mention risking injury to the iPhone.
shoulda stuck with aluminum mister jobs
rofl @ Jakob Henner
lolowned
say no to crack!
Oh give me a break! this kind of shit gets so sensationalized! We have no idea how many people have this issue. It could affect 1:10,000 and those few hundred people could cause all the noise on the internet for god sakes. I'm NOT defending Apple -- if they truly have a widespread problem with their iPhone casings, then they better be replacing them for free.
But I have a felling this is just a case of amateur-hour "web journalism" that we see much too often where the "journalist" provides no context to the story, e.g., if this is a tiny isolated event or a much larger issue. Unless, they've personally seen evidence that points to this affecting more than a few hundred units, then it is bullshit to claim this is an "INCREASINGLY COMMON ISSUE". Seriously, tempest in a tea-pot.
And even if this was a widespread issue, this "Enderle" group guy comparing the iPhone to Windows Vista is the idiot of the week. I don't intend to write a treatise on Vista, but comparing Vista's problems with a few minor issues with the iPhone is the most asinine suggestion I've heard in while, regardless of your view on Apple.
Vista = 6-year protracted OS project met with poor reception from both consumers and the corporate market (A recent report showed only 7% of companies have adopted Vista). It's notorious for being slower, using significantly more resources than XP, and saw major hardware and software compatibility problems upon release.
iPhone = new Smartphone running OSX that integrated a large, capacitive touchscreen with an innovative, easy to use interface and intuitive software applications. Offered the first truly acceptable mobile web browsing experience, and now easy to use, lucrative, centralized software distribution store for developers. Exclusive, single carrier tie-in in many countries in deeply unpopular, and the phone is missing some popular features such as a software clipboard, multimedia messaging and video recording, any of which may come in a future software update.
It's probably not related but the bottom of my 8-month-old (white) MacBook has a couple of hairline fractures like this; no idea how they got there, it hasn't been dropped/abused or anything. I seriously doubt that Apple would cover them under warranty.
Just checked my iPhone 3G (Black) and there's no cracks but now you've got me worried about my little macbook at home!
Just more proof that Apple is slipping. Hey Apple make something that doesn't crack for once.
This happened to a couple of Macbooks for me. It's one of the many reasons I don't use a Mac laptop anymore.
crack is wack!
I used to have a MacBook before I got my MacPro. It had the hairline fracture problem. Pretty bad too. Sent it in to Apple, the replace the entire case & I never had the problem again. It makes me wonder if they are using 1st Gen MacBook plastic to make the new iPhones.
So anyways, yes this is covered under the warranty as a manufacturers defect. Take it to Apple they will replace it.
Actually, hairline cracks on the top and bottom of the lower part of the computer (where the keyboard is, not the LCD), are covered by Apple, regardless of warranty.
Warning: this is not an Apple-bashing comment, but not a rhetorical question either.
What is up with Apple and shoddy plastics/materials ? Cracking, bending, discoloration, chipping... Why so frequent ? It's quite amazing...
'not an Apple-bashing comment'
Is that really so?
I hear you, Marc-O, but I think it's more the case that Apple products are under such a huge magnifying glass, the smallest imperfection is harped on. I've certainly had other products with minor flaws but it doesn't reach the front page of tech blogs drawing a hundred comments.
Boy tonic,
I hear you too, but I do think it deserves to be here. The iPhone undoubtedly deserves to be scrutinised in tech blogs, and since its main feature is its cosmetic apperance, these aren't really 'minor' flaws.
As for other products having 'minor' flaws, I don't think I've ever had a piece of gadgetry display such cracks...despite spending countless hours in a harsh environment (i.e. my sweaty crotch-pocket), none of my mobile phones has ever suffered anything more than light wear on the finish and a few dents (when I drop them).
I know it's cruel, but it makes me feel all fuzzy inside to think that (potentially) thousands of iPhone users are touching their cracks and sobbing.
this is also not an Apple-bashing comment. im just telling what happened to my friend...
my friend has exchanged his MBP 9 times and finally got an almost problem-free one...he has had all kinds of problems in the last 8 ones...keyboard, screen, hardware, etc... his 9th one so far has no problem, except a dent on the lid. apple store gave him a discount for the dent.
@Tonicboy
Is this not the fault of the Apple fan boy? Over and over again we hear how everything that is shipped from Cupertino is absolutely perfect, without flaws, almost God-like, and everything else is completely useless crap. Even an article about the Touch 2.0 had comments describing it as perfect, but nobody except those developing it has seen a Touch 2.0. Mobile Me is described as flawless, and anybody having problems with the iPhone 2,0 firmware are proclaimed to be liars, that they don't have an iPhone and was making up stories, or they are yelled at for downloading an unsupported version of the firmware. I do have an iPhone with problems, and did not download an unsupported firmware version.
Maybe if an Apple fan would concede the occasional problem, and whatever Apple produces is not perfect rather than blaming the user, then it would not be that big an issue.
Besides, why is it OK for the authors of this site to criticize anything Microsoft does (like the recent Vista ad campaign), but bad for them to report something that is a recurring (according to some posts here) yet unfixed problem with Apple devices?
Hi - I agree that it's a valid point to make. I have been put off buying Apple products in the past due to precisely the cracking, discolouring, overheating issues and the seeming frequency (as least in recent years) these problems are being highlighted.
It would be reassuring to know what there cause is, and how they are being addressed rather than it all being "hushed up" because of the feeling that you mustn't speak ill of an Apple product.
Were the causes of these issues ever explained to us...I've looked around the web but all I find is that either Apple replaced a product with no explanation, or the Apple owner concerned just lived with the "defect"?
Just asking the question here...again, not having a bash (I love my iPod Touch)
I know it's cruel, but it makes me feel all fuzzy inside to think that (potentially) thousands of iPhone users are touching their cracks and sobbing.
Fnar....
Apple said they used the recessed heaphone jack in the first iPhone to better support the frame. They said if they didn't use it the iPhone's frame would be weak.
Now there's no recessed headphone jack and now there are cracks.
@ Steve Gates
Or maybe its because the case of the iPhone 3G is plastic and not metal.
I think it's more a symptom of Apple products generating massive hype, then massive complaints any time the smallest thing goes wrong with one.
Please, for god's sake, can all the anti-Apple trolls remember this article next time you're about to post something about how Engadget or the public at large or whomever has been brainwashed by Cupertino? It would go a long ways towards cutting down on the obnoxious comments, if you had a memory that lasted a week or more.
@SGAg07
Maybe you're right.
Maybe its both.
@Nohone,
Careful there. Actually, read this sentence you just wrote. You just invented a total straw man argument so that you have something to complain about. I've never seen an Apple fanboy say what you said, that "everything that is shipped from Cupertino is absolutely perfect, without flaws, almost God-like, and everything else is completely useless crap. "
Methinks it is your projections on Apple users that cause you to lash out.
@UnixSystemEngineer
So you then will agree that everything that is shipped from Cupertino is potentially imperfect, flawed, almost demonic, and like everything else is completely useless crap.
Watch the grammar, guys. Don't want you descending to the mass blog levels of (il)literacy. It is 3Gs not 3G's.
Don't believe me? Read any quality newspaper...
That was a very quick correction! Good stuff...
Actually, both uses are fine. Apostrophes aren't used for plurals but, when used with numbers, acronyms etc., then they are perfectly acceptable :)
@Tom
Actually that's called a greengrocers' apostrophe, and it's still incorrect.
"read any quality newspaper"
I would love too.
@Tom:
Uppercase plurals should only have an apostrophe if one is *necessary* to avoid misreading, eg:
- A's are the top grade
- Apple IIG's were great computers (to differentitate the Apple IIG from the Apple IIGS)
Don't forget as a possessive... i.e. "the iPhone 3G's numerous cracks are yet another reason that I am not going to buy one."
wHO cARES
@ Josh
Society should.
Ppls grmmr r gng the wy 'o th doddo
It is a simple rule and part of journalism/writing 101 as any professional writers out there will attest: Apostrophes should never be applied to acronyms except when indicating the possessive. The apostrophe is butchered widely online by amateur writers but professional publications are uniform in adhering to the rule. Again, dissenters and disbelievers should read any good quality newspaper, book or magazine.
Here endeth the lesson.
I got the same white model. I saw the same thing couple of days back it was kinda scratch !... But after looking at this post I thing its a crack...
who else is up trackin woot?
Busted! lol
Guess I get the black one instead then
Aye!
i swear... this damn usb pencil sharpener is taking way too long. i'm hopin for a bandolier of carrots next!
Dude, did you see the air mouse + 1gb flash drive combo? Sweet!
Looks like the "cheaper" iphone really is cheaper.
So has there ever been an Apple product that hasnt had some kind of defect at launch? Sometimes I wonder where people get the assumption Apple only uses the highest quality materials.
Not to pick Apple's side in an argument that I have no wish to be a part of, but has there ever been a product without a defect of some kind period?
1st-gen iPhone and iPod touch didn't have cosmetic defects. Neither did the iBook, or PowerBook, MacBook Pro, iMac, etc..
NOTE*
Original post and first reply were talking about ANY defect, not just cosmetic. In fact, that word wasn't even used.
Just had to straighten that out... Please argue responsibly.
People bitched about the LCD in the MBP for some specific issue, and its battery would balloon up. The Macbook had discolorization and a bad logic board. Im pretty sure there was something wrong with the white iMac. The aluminim iMac had faulty firmware and an uneven backlight in the 24" one. The iPod 5g would scratch if you sneezed on it. The iPod Touch had an issue with darks causing it to invert blacks to a lighter color. iBook and Powerbook? I dont remember, that was a long time ago, the oldest I remember is the G5 having leaky watercooling. Maybe not every Apple product has been released with a defect affecting a significant amount of people but there sure have been a lot of them.
Almost forgot about the Mini, the G4 Mini didnt follow VESA standards and had major issues with monitors. With LCD's it would cause scrambled screens and with CRT's it would cause the picture to be really dim. I was affected by the dim CRT issue which caused me to take it back for a refund.
But... without defects, how could Apple fix them in the next model and proclaim it an "upgrade"?!
@Eh
Don't forget the moisture behind the glass of the aluminum iMacs as well. Not really an effective method of water cooling as a bonus feature and I generally do not like water vapor pooling in my computer equipment.
Apple perhaps uses cheap materials to compensate for other functionalities... Such as the OS and programs etc... It's probably money related. They don't want to spend a fortune on plastic you know... But, when that happens, peoples apple products suffer damage.
Not possible, iPhone is perfect, remember?
Superb design, superior engineering and all.
crackPhone?
Well they are trying to compete against CrackBerry
Damn I miss the brushed-metal back casing!
Agreed, but this is 'progress' I guess...
"...the issue seems largely cosmetic..." Isn't Apple largely cosmetic?
That's right! It's not like they [insert common knowledge], invented [insert common knowledge], and were the first to [insert common knowledge]. Good ol' Microsoft is what is inside every piece of hardware on earth. Brilliant.
prick.
Take'r easy there Mr. Jobs. No need to get bent out of shape.
And you're not modded down as a troll? Gee, it seems that Engadget isn't overpopulated by Apple fanboys as y'all like to claim. Apparently there is still the overriding belief that people buy Apple products just to look stylish and that they couldn't possibly be more useful tools to their users.
I buy Apple products for function, not for form. Which is fitting, since most of them are in places where people never see them (computers tucked away under desks, iPod connected to my car stereo and hidden away).
Every time I need to try to do my job from Windows, I shudder. Such a kludge.
Now you see, when the hype dies down, Apple's products start to fail. The otherwise impeccable appearance of their designer products crack. We've seen it with the G4 cube, the MacBook, and now this. You would think Apple would learn.
Don't forget the 1st gen iPod Nano.
"Now you see, when the hype dies down, Apple's products start to fail."
You are really reaching with that nugget.
Maybe the product hype and the failure hype are related? Just a thought.
No problems here.
Just a thought...maybe the iPhone won't crack if you don't sit on it.
It is possible that they all need to lose some weight... but on the other hand, with all those new weight tracking iPhone apps out there, you'd think that would've been easy!
Maybe the cracks are the iPhone's way of weighing you, another crack for every 10lbs? (if all that is left when you sit on it is dust, the iPhone just isn't for you)
@who?
Are you going for a record for the most Low Ranks in a single post? If so, excellent form.
*bows*
*waits for applause*
I disagree.
@Tony
Agreed.
@everyone
Who knew that using the greater than and equals signs around your words made them not show up? who? did not.
i had the same ones on my macbook.. hope they wont show up when i get my white 3g in august...
i got mb case changed and nothing so far
Could this just be a result of the rounded back panel and it being made of plastic?
The reason I didn't get the new 3g iphone was because I was afraid that I'd be careless and sit down and forget it's in my back pocket. A rounded plastic back would definitely crack under stress like that.
Who the hell keeps their phone in a back pocket?
Wallet: yes, it can handle being sat on
Keys: no, ouch!
Phone: no, that sounds like a good way to crack the SCREEN
I guess you're different, but personally I don't think I'd ever keep ANY cell phone in my back pocket.
stupid iphone news......microsoft foreverrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!
Look, those of us who don't own/want an iPhone are definitely tired of the "iPhone news". But don't be an idiot. You're making us look bad.
Mine just has weird dents in the side (probably from the plastic cooling to fast or something).
Anyone else have those?
Yeah my black iphone doesn't have any cracks but i do see tiny dents in it. It definitely couldn't have developed after I got it, so I'm assuming they're a manufacturing defect.
my white 3G has no cracks.
My life is better than yours.