Scratches under the glass on an iPhone 3G

[Cadium]

Hi all,

Over the course of the last 48-72 hours I have noticed something very peculiar with my iPhone 3G that I can't quite figure out. On the top left hand side of the phone, two scratches have appeared under the glass touch screen. I have never dropped the device or mishandled it, and I have taken very good care not to get any scratches or blemishes on the phone since I purchased it. At first, the scratch looked like a small speck of something metallic, but after a few days it has developed into 2 scratches, a long one and a small one. When I further examined the phone, I also noticed that there is a gap between the bottom left corner of the phone which is normally filled in (I believe this is with some sort of rubber gasket). Any ideas what is going on with my phone?

A quick Google search for the issue produced this picture, which is VERY similar to the scratches on my phone (however I don't have any scratches on the right-hand side).

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=7816158

[+Gary7 Subscriber²]

Must be a known defect. Return it.

[Cadium]

Must be a known defect. Return it.

I don't have an Apple Store in my area (or my province, or surrounding provinces for that matter), and Rogers Wireless refuses to deal with it, is this something that AppleCare would actually be able to assist with?

[LTD]

I don't have an Apple Store in my area (or my province, or surrounding provinces for that matter), and Rogers Wireless refuses to deal with it, is this something that AppleCare would actually be able to assist with?

If you're with Rogers you can return the phone, I believe, under certain circumstances. You do, however, have an Apple manufacturers warranty with it. Dig up the documentation you signed with Rogers when you bought the phone and the details should be there.

[Cormier6083]

Extremely odd!

[Cadium]

If you're with Rogers you can return the phone, I believe, under certain circumstances. You do, however, have an Apple manufacturers warranty with it. Dig up the documentation you signed with Rogers when you bought the phone and the details should be there.

So, I just got off the phone with Rogers Wireless and they claim that their warranty ended today and told me I should contact Apple, but is something like this going to be covered or am I going to be out of luck?

[Cadium]

UPDATE: A picture from this morning of my phone, the scratches seem to have multiplied. Ugh.

[Cormier6083]

UPDATE: A picture from this morning of my phone, the scratches seem to have multiplied. Ugh.

Here is the stupidest theory.

Maybe the Black paint on the glass is oxidizing, and disappearing!

Or the glass is coming loose from the phone.

[mycoolkim]

Ouch, sounds like your screen is getting loose and the actual paint is calling off.

[duritz]

that is so weird! take it to apple asap!

[Wannes]

There is no solution for this unless telling you to take it to an Apple store. It's clearly a manufacturing error so they - should - solve it.

[Electric Jolt]

I bet several people have this issue because if one person can have that defect on the phone, I bet a machine got broken and several were being made with defects. Poor iPhones, there gonna be all returned and destroyed, and if their lucky, they might get the ultimate spa and be refurbished! :p

[Cadium]

After looking around at various threads on the internet, there are some other people that have this issue. What I want to know is what causes it, what sort of common factors are there (same batch/usage conditions/etc)...

[ahfunaki]

I'm going to assume that the glass is coming loose from the frame and it's pulling the paint or whatever gives it the black color from the glass...

[Cadium]

UPDATE: I called Apple today about the issue and the iPhone support agent I spoke to said it sounds like the back of the display assembly is separating from the glass and that they would be sending me a new phone, I opted for the Advance Replacement Service so that I won't have to be without my cell phone for a week. I'll let everyone know how it goes.

[witalit]

Cool glad they can help you out. Don't wanna let a little iPhone die they are so clean!

[Cormier6083]

Any updates?

[raskren]

Mine now has similar marks under the glass in the far upper left corner of the screen. I'm not sure if they have been there for a while or not but it seems they just appeared today.

[ahfunaki]

Mine is actually starting to get one toward the bottom right of the phone...

I like the idea of it though, cause I know I can get it replaced at any given time...

[Badtz-Maru]

reminds me of the ipod nanos breaking. i hope apple does something about it.

[ahfunaki]

I'm pretty sure they already are, you just have to call in to get them replaced...

They haven't done a callback...yet.

[dbuizert]

This is one more reason for me to wait with buying this phone.

There are to many flaws in its systems/casing :(

I am debating on a few cellphones atm. A most of them havent even been released :p