Reader Zach says that he heard that white iPhones were cracking, but he got one anyway because there was a longer wait for the black ones. When he got home, he noticed two small cracks in the back of the phone.
I drove up to Nashua, NH from my house on Saturday to order an iPhone at the AT&T store up there. I order a white one because it comes in quicker and my wife really wanted my first generation iPhone so that’s what I did. Read about the cracks on Mac Rumors forum and when I was told to come pick it up yesterday I was going to check it out for cracks. I do in the normal spots and a quick one over on the entire thing. Seemed to be good. But as soon as I drive an hour home again I find 2 damned cracks on the bottom corner.
I call Apple (1-800MYIPHONE, how is it one extra number?) they say to bring it back to an Apple Store and they should replace it on the spot. I hate driving alllll over the place for this damn thing. Oh ya other than have the 16GB rather than my old 8GB there isnt anything worth the new phone.
We checked out the MacRumors forum and sure enough there were a few people complaining about tiny cracks appearing on their iPhones. As one forum poster said,
“Aww.. I wish I’d never seen this story. Now I’ve noticed cracks all over my nice new white 16GB. No less than four!”
Yikes. Maybe the black one is worth the wait?
3G Cracks in Plastic Housing [MacForums]
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The initial run of the white Nintendo DS Lite handhelds had the same issue. Good thing Apple’s profit margin is so high, or this might have caused a fiscal problem.
Cracks are cosmetic damage and are specifically disclaimed. If you have a white iPhone with cracks, you’re out of luck and at Apple’s mercy.
“This warranty does not apply: (a) to consumable parts, Such as batteries, unless damage has occurred due to a defect in materials or workmanship; (b) to cosmetic damage, including but not limited to scratches, dents, and broken plastic on ports; (c) to damage caused by use with non-Apple products; (d) to damage caused by accident, abuse, misuse, flood, fire, earthquake or other external causes; (e) to damage caused by operating the product outside the permitted or intended uses described by Apple; (f) to damage caused by service (including upgrades and expansions) performed by anyone who is not a representative of Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider (“AASP”); (g) to a product or part that has been modified to alter functionality or capability without the written permission of Apple; or (h) if any Apple serial number has been removed or defaced.”
Translation: Apple doesn’t care about white iPhones.
I thought i was lucky after my first examination of my phone i just bought Monday , but sitting by the window i can see not one but dozens of tiny cracks along the bezel area and my dock/plug has a big chunk missing
If i take it back i will just get another thats the same , so should i wait for a solution or recall or get while the getting is good ?
@TheKingBoar…the color of the plastic is not the issue here (althought you are correct in some, but not all, cases that black plastic is stronger).
As for you guys blaming this guy for comlpaining: They shouldn’t be selling a product that cracks. Hes complaining because replacing it is a hastle. Maybe hes busy, maybe hes got better thigns to do than make a fanboy trip to the apple store. If you have sold a product that is regularly cracking (note all the comments here and else where) you shouldn’t get happy points for fixing it… shoulda been right in the first place for the amoutn of money this thing costs. They switched from Metal and are paying the price. Thin plastic with corners like this is almost inevitably going to crack as it flexes over and over again from being held and used. Plastic fatigues quite easily. Apple needs to hire more engineers and fewer art design folks.
I can’t help but find this whole situation utterly hilarious. You would think that Apple would, at the very least, use quality materials to build their overpriced products. A new Iphone cracking like that with minimal use/abuse is 100% unacceptable. I’m sorry to all who bought one and now much already return it. I ALMOST fell into that trap, but still have remained Apple free after all these years. Go me.
It just shows Apple charges premium while cutting costs everywhere they can. I am sure Apple will take care of this just like they took care of iMac lines.
Oh wait, they didn’t!
Take it to a genius bar at an Apple Store and they’ll replace it.
Good God! Glad I was one of the oddballs that got a new phone OTHER THAN AN IPHONE on release day!!
All this for a phone that really isn’t that great for it’s meant for, which is actual phoning?
Aaaand black light sales are up this week!!!!!1!one