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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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
coolbee8 @ Jul 30th 2008 3:42AM
What are you complaining about? it's a feature called 'absolutely cracking phone'.
Jimbo @ Jul 30th 2008 3:48AM
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.
Jakob Henner @ Jul 30th 2008 4:30AM
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.
quomen @ Jul 30th 2008 4:34AM
iStretchmarks
tekdroid @ Jul 30th 2008 4:36AM
the iPhone's way of rebelling against the sealed, non-replaceable battery design.
Haikibutsu @ Jul 30th 2008 5:09AM
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.
zomg0t @ Jul 30th 2008 5:43AM
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.
happy_penguin @ Jul 30th 2008 5:53AM
It's appropriate for the iPhone to have cracks because it's like crack.
High Ranks make you sterile @ Jul 30th 2008 8:59AM
You'd have to be ON crack to buy the white iPhone anyway.
Flashpoint @ Jul 30th 2008 9:03AM
That's what happens when metal is replaced with CHEAP PLASTIC.
Asher Madan @ Jul 30th 2008 10:33AM
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.
Khris @ Jul 30th 2008 10:45AM
@ 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.
OneLove @ Jul 30th 2008 12:07PM
All I can say is, HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAH!
ishism @ Jul 30th 2008 2:06PM
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?
ShadowKain @ Jul 30th 2008 3:51PM
A feature called " give me my money back"
John Doe @ Jul 30th 2008 3:51PM
there goes the cheap plastic...get back to the good old aluminium back plate
John Doe @ Jul 30th 2008 6:38PM
what you guys complaining of man....cant you see apple's giving the "option" of a user-replaceable battery :D
Backlin @ Jul 30th 2008 8:52PM
Step on an iPhone, break your momma's back.
Not to mention risking injury to the iPhone.
JoeSchmoe @ Jul 30th 2008 11:09PM
shoulda stuck with aluminum mister jobs
tronz @ Jul 31st 2008 2:40AM
rofl @ Jakob Henner
mopo @ Jul 30th 2008 3:42AM
lolowned
OneLove @ Jul 30th 2008 12:09PM
say no to crack!
loosely_coupled @ Jul 30th 2008 3:28PM
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.
scootinger @ Jul 30th 2008 3:44AM
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.
superted @ Jul 30th 2008 4:28AM
Just checked my iPhone 3G (Black) and there's no cracks but now you've got me worried about my little macbook at home!
Alberto @ Aug 1st 2008 8:59AM
Just more proof that Apple is slipping. Hey Apple make something that doesn't crack for once.
Nate @ Jul 30th 2008 9:15AM
This happened to a couple of Macbooks for me. It's one of the many reasons I don't use a Mac laptop anymore.
OneLove @ Jul 30th 2008 12:10PM
crack is wack!
biggerx @ Jul 30th 2008 3:58PM
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.
Christo @ Jul 31st 2008 12:15AM
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.
Marc-O @ Jul 30th 2008 3:44AM
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...
coolbee8 @ Jul 30th 2008 3:46AM
'not an Apple-bashing comment'
Is that really so?
Tonicboy @ Jul 30th 2008 4:05AM
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.
j_g_puff @ Jul 30th 2008 4:29AM
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.
benjasmine @ Jul 30th 2008 4:32AM
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.
Nohone @ Jul 30th 2008 5:00AM
@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?
Miker @ Jul 30th 2008 6:03AM
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)
matt @ Jul 30th 2008 7:58AM
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....
Steve Gates @ Jul 30th 2008 10:36AM
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.
SGAg07 @ Jul 30th 2008 10:55AM
@ Steve Gates
Or maybe its because the case of the iPhone 3G is plastic and not metal.
UnixSystemsEngineer @ Jul 30th 2008 11:18AM
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.
Steve Gates @ Jul 30th 2008 11:24AM
@SGAg07
Maybe you're right.
Maybe its both.
UnixSystemsEngineer @ Jul 30th 2008 11:31AM
@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.
Decoy @ Jul 30th 2008 8:30PM
@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.
Nooh @ Jul 30th 2008 3:45AM
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...
Nooh @ Jul 30th 2008 4:26AM
That was a very quick correction! Good stuff...
Tom Clague @ Jul 30th 2008 4:33AM
Actually, both uses are fine. Apostrophes aren't used for plurals but, when used with numbers, acronyms etc., then they are perfectly acceptable :)
msm @ Jul 30th 2008 4:52AM
@Tom
Actually that's called a greengrocers' apostrophe, and it's still incorrect.
BobTurbo @ Jul 30th 2008 4:52AM
"read any quality newspaper"
I would love too.
LondonConsultant @ Jul 30th 2008 4:56AM
@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)