Yes, you can certainly scratch the iPhone 4 (updated with more photos)
By Laura June 
posted June 23rd 2010 10:14AM
posted June 23rd 2010 10:14AM
Well, this is not encouraging. The photo you're seeing above is our leader Joshua's iPhone 4 review unit, snapped by Ryan Block just moments ago. Ryan pointed out that there are some nasty scratches on the back of the phone. While we don't have any better photos of it at the moment, Josh told us that they're hard to see unless in bright light, but they look pretty notable to us for a five day-old unit made of Gorilla Glass. We'll get some better photos for you as soon as humanly possible.
Update: We should note that while iFixit has said that the new iPhone's front panel is made of Gorilla Glass (and they tend to be right about these things), the material on the back of the phone has not been positively identified, though it is also a hardened glass.
Update 2: We've added three higher quality photos after the break, and seen the scratch with our own eyes. It's what we would call "incredibly minor," not visible at all dead on, but in bright light at an angle... well see for yourself if the photos.
Update: We should note that while iFixit has said that the new iPhone's front panel is made of Gorilla Glass (and they tend to be right about these things), the material on the back of the phone has not been positively identified, though it is also a hardened glass.
Update 2: We've added three higher quality photos after the break, and seen the scratch with our own eyes. It's what we would call "incredibly minor," not visible at all dead on, but in bright light at an angle... well see for yourself if the photos.
The iScratch! You guys think it's a bad thing, then you're wrong. Apple is right, it was meant to do that.
Now where are those $100 Apple store gift cards that Apple is bound to send to keep sucking off their customers?
It 'magically' scratch itself I think...
I guess you see why apple is selling bumpers for the phone
@Mofetti http://storeimages.apple.com/1710/as-images.apple.com/is/image/AppleInc/MC597_AV2?wid=326&hei=326&fmt=jpeg&qlt=95&op_sharpen=0&resMode=bicub&op_usm=0.5,0.5,0,0&iccEmbed=0&layer=comp
That thing doesn't cover the back, where the phone was scratched.
Isn't the only thing that can scratch any glass something harder than glass? Knowing Josh, he probably put the iPhone in his pocketfull of diamonds, or his other pocket, currently filled with sand.
Bestskinsever: Ordered.
Pretty balsy putting glass on the back of a phone. Pretty dumb too. I guess y'all should pick up a case tomorrow.
Thats beat... the issue still stands on that huh.
Maybe their next model the'll do even better.
use a cover, you should be anyways
This is what I'm talking about, everyone talks about how beatiful the iPhone is and how it has superior design, and the first thing people do is get a case hide the "superior" designand make it fugly.
My Evo's screen is in my pocket everyday and isnt scratched yet.
lol
@chaos
Win: https://www.buyfixit.com/ver52/index.asp
Problem Solved.
@DeFlanko LoL while I was typing what I wrote at the bottom it seems to me you beat me to the punch LOL..
Guess its not an evo killer afterall ;-)
@thatguy001 No, the next onslaught of Droid phones are lol
@Ddust14 You're kidding, right? No 4G, no front camera... Evp still is superior.
@Ddust14 Those have MotoBlur. I'll wait before admitting they're better than the Evo. Lol.
The glass on my 3 year old original iPhone has no scratches?
Now the aluminum back and bottom plastic are a bit of another story.
Don't panic everyone!!! Billy Mays Fixit scratch remover will solve this problem xD
@JStar
R.I.P.
So Apple claimed that they developed their own glass technology while all other reports are reporting it's Gorilla Glass... What's the truth?!
Did Mr. S. Jobs tell a little white lie during his keynote?
@TheTabe
Honestly, I would have expected Gorilla glass to hold up better. I've seen the abuse my friends put their droids through. the metal body shows more damage than the glass screen.
Who would have guessed making a phone with a glass front AND back would lead to lots of scratches???
This reminds me of my ipods metal back. DAMN it looked so good when I took it out of the box.I was careful to never rub it on anything hard, always put it in its own pocket without keys or other items. And yet, that back went to shit in no time.
I just want to know what is scratching it.. I had a zune HD with gorilla glass, and I scratched that thing up (since then I bought another one and put a screen protector on it first thing). Its not any normal keys... keys dont scratch glass (for the most part).. my guess is that its sand or some type of particle like that (possibly in stone washed pants?). I took an ipod touch to the grand canyon and returned with a billion scratches on the front cause of all the sand....
Well, in the review you said you dropped it a few times...
I don't think the back is made with gorilla glass just the front.
Not a big deal if its as strong as the screen with my iPhone 3GS then I can take keys to it and it will be fine.
The scratch is magical.
@osk LMAO
@osk
Judging by the updated pics, it looks like it is about to burst it magical goodness
how could you?
Steve says scratches are good and soft touch plastic is bad. Time to get on the gravy train.
Oh come on... Every object is prone to scratches... Unless the cases are made from sapphire or diamond! Give it a break guys.
This just in.
Geeks don't know how to take care of their devices.
Film at 11.
OMG! Say it isn't so!
The mighty iPhone4 is supposed to be impervious and nearly perfect.
@Eli Haj Threw it across the room from what I read in their review LoL
So much for that "high-end" hardware.
Not that a scratch on my Evo. :)
@SuperMarioG1 Come now, let's not act like the awesome Evo is without it's hardware problems How soon we forget the light bleeding and infamous screen separation.
@Ddust14 I can live with that. A scratch on my brand new Evo? Not so much. I was so angry when I scratched my G1 back in the day.
Man new phones are already scratching?
Tsk, tsk, tsk...
My plastic EVO has no scratches on it (even in bright light) and I've had it since June 4th.
@REP
Just wait for the glass to separate. ;)
Topolsky's diamond ring.
Thats it!
People who buy gorilla glass iPhones shouldn't throw stones xD
Wow sucks. I would hate that to happen to a day sold cell. I wounder how it will look after 1 month.....
BACK SCRATCH FEVER!!!!
@FriarNurgle
I don't know where they come from but they sure do come!
I'm not surprised. What phone doesn't is scratch-resistant.?
as far as im aware apple did not say the back or case would be scratch proof
they said less prone to scratches which means of course your phone will become scratched
but that all depends on how you look after it
we have no idea how engadget treats these phones or stores them, they certainly done use cases thats for sure
although i have to say i hate using phone cases but if you dont watch it damaged you use them
@cleo2525
It's an apple product, I'm sure they're keeping it on a Royal, Red cushion placed on top of the Holy Chalice.
Naahhh just kidding, probably same as common people.