White iPhones Cracking? Take a Look
So there have been some reports that the white iPhone 3G has been showing cracks in its plastic housing already. From the pictures shown, some look like it could be scratches while others look almost, definitively cracked. I knew that the plastic would not be as durable as the original iPhone’s but cracks in the casing? That’s a lot worse than I ever imagined.
Is this a case of internet propaganda or could this really be happening? Anyone with white iPhone 3Gs like to tell their side of the story?
July 30th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
well, we all know the story of my internal cracking, but never had a problem with the external casing…
July 30th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Mine is starting to crack near the headphone jack. I bet the black ones are cracking as well, but you just don’t notice as much.
July 30th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
My black iPhone is fine, but then again I’ve never used headsets.
BTW- Is AppleCare available for iPhones in the US? None in Canada yet.
Scary!
July 30th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
My White 3G is flawless. Dealing with MobileMess is headache enough, if this happend to me I think I’d go freaking POSTAL.
July 30th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
My white iPhone 3G is fine. I just swapped it out for a brand new one though…
July 30th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
I had some cracks appear in mine after a week and a half, though nothing as severe as the one above. I brought it in and they replaced it straight away, though the first two replacement iPhones they opened had visible defects. So not only is cracking an issue, but quality control is as well. I’m thinking I might exchange my white model for a black one. If my phone is going to crack, I’d rather not see it.
July 30th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
I just exchanged my white 16GB iPhone for the new one… Had cracking all around on the top
and same one on the picture above too 
July 30th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Seems to me like abuse… if people took care of their phones that would not happen. The above picture looks like someone bent the headphone plug while it was plugged in. Got mine on day one and looks just like it did that day.
July 30th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
I’ve had the white 16GB since July 11 and use the headphone jack daily and have no signs of cracking or wear for that matter.
July 30th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
No problems with mine so far - but I rarely use my phone for music - and that cracking looks like it just couldn’t handle the headphone jacking in. That many pieces of hardware in that amount of time - wouldn’t amaze me too much if there were issues.
July 30th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
I have a black 8GB since July 11. No sign of any cracking. I even dropped mine from waist height on the hardwood floor in the living room. My heart almost broke, but the iphone was intact.
July 30th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
If you look at the pic, you can clearly tell the metal ring around the port is way out-of-round, almost egg shaped. Looks to my un-trained eye like it took a hit with a plug in there. Hard to see how these can be stress cracks. If the impact was to the left, as the plug looks, it would have cracks on the oppisite side like that.
Hey, lets be careful out there…..
July 30th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
I’m with scott. My iphone took a spill onto the concrete patio at my townhouse and if it had been made of plastic, the entire back corner would have cracked seriously. (I have an original, not a 3G.) As it is, there are huge gouges in the metal.
July 30th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
No cracks on my white iphone. I use the headphone jack but not for running or anything strenuous like that.
July 30th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Had my white one since the first day, no cracks, no scratches. It’s a great looking phone.
July 30th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
No crack problems on my black iPhone 3G. Wish I could say the same about some people I run into now and again
July 30th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
i’ve had mine for 1 week, its black and upon readin this i have noticed a tiny crack at the headphone jack
July 31st, 2008 at 1:10 am
Yeah, after 5 days, my white iPhone has a crack between the volume button and the bezel. I did not abuse it, it just seemed to appear after using the volume button. It looks like more cracks are appearing between the volume button. I tried to get it replaced at the Apple store but they said it is not a known issue and cannot replace just for cosmetic issues. Hopefully Apple figures this out soon.
July 31st, 2008 at 1:29 am
The color wouldn’t make the phone crack unless there was special paint or something used in the plastic… maybe its the design or something. http://blabtech.blogspot.com
July 31st, 2008 at 9:08 am
Stop dropping your phones on the ground, problem solved.
16GB White here, no Cracks no scratches, =D
July 31st, 2008 at 9:33 am
@Rene
even if we don’t have Apple care i think the base warranty will cover a crack on the outer case like that. Someone confirm?
I have a close buddy who does NOT have apple care, and he had like 3 Dead Pixels on his screen. He took it into the Apple store and they swapped him a new iPhone no fussing.. no problems.
July 31st, 2008 at 11:56 am
I actually noticed the same hair line fractures when I played around with a white iPhone at the Apple store. In fact, I found cracks with all white iPhones on display at the store. The cracks are visable but are limited only to around the docking port area at the bottom. I checked the black versions and can’t seem to find them after trying to reflect the ceiling light on the black iPhone at different angles. So at the very least, the cracks are not isloated issues or do not just happen as a result of unreasonable wear and tear.
I don’t think it’s a color issue though. The cracks are so tiny that it is ultra difficult to detect on a black phone.
July 31st, 2008 at 3:19 pm
First apple store would not replace my phone for light cracks around the headset jack. They said they will email corporate customer service and I would have to call them the next day. The second store replaced the phone and said that it was a cosmetic problem, but replacable. To me it is a true material defect.
August 1st, 2008 at 1:57 am
White 16 gig bought July 12th and I have no cracks. I wouldn’t say I listen to music through headphones daily, but at least 5-6 times a week…
August 6th, 2008 at 5:51 am
My White iPhone also cracked. When i went back to the apple store i took 5 new phones until i was able to find one that was perfect. I am disappointed with he build quality of this new product from Apple. Noticeable problems included dust under the screen, missing pixel and poor case flushness.
The apple store said that they have had more black back than white.
August 7th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
my brother just called me today to pre-warm me of the cracking rumors. I brushed it off as I knew how I’d babied it since purchasing it only a week after being offered. I told him thanks for the heads up on the situation. Sure, enough after ending the call I inspected my phone and there it was, 3 hair line cracks on the left corner. One crack being more prominent than the 2 just along the silver rim where it joins the molded white casing to the silver back housing. I’m going to Apple to see what they offer.
August 8th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
I have the White iPhone as well. Today I was hesitant to put in headphones from seeing this website before, but none-the-less, I used the headphones and to my suprise, there is a crack between the chrome bezel and the headphone jack. I’ve only used headphones in my iPhone twice before. I’m going to ask the genius at the Genius Bar to see if I can get this iPhone replaced. This is my second iPhone. (The first one had a dead pixel.) I really hope this get fixed in the iPhone 3G soon.
August 11th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
i have had my white i phone for 5 days and just noticed cracks on the left side. they aren’t near the headphones, where most people seem to be having issues. i can see and feel two large cracks at the ringer switch. the rest i can see but not feel all down the side. i guess i’ll try to stop by the store to see if i can replace it.
August 24th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
i have four cracks and they are growing. Not a cosmetic problem.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:01 am
so besides the “cracking” issue, would anyone recommend this phone?
September 3rd, 2008 at 1:33 am
I just noticed a small crack next to the ringer mute button yesterday i called up apple support and the guy on the phone said yes it known problem they are getting lots of calls about the white 16gb phones cracking, so it is a known common problem, funny thing is he told me the black is not doing it and when i asked them to change mine to black they said they are unable to do it,
Worst thing is i originally wanted the black but had to raincheck my phone and when it came in the idiot at the phone store put down black or white and they gave me a white phone so i took it cause i didnt want to wait for my phone,
September 12th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
my white 16gb is cracking on all corners and by the silent switch
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:57 pm
My white one has had a crack by the vibrate switch that occurred a couple weeks after I got the phone. As time has gone on though, the crack has spread and I now have a couple more starting on the bottom corner on that same side. I have never dropped my phone, and it’s always in a case…My brother has two white ones and they have not had any issues. I have an appointment with Apple tomorrow.
October 17th, 2008 at 6:53 am
I’ve had my Black Iphone for a few months now and its developed a nice crack stright up the middle from the charger socket! No I’ve never dropped it and it is always kept in a hard leather case!
October 23rd, 2008 at 2:10 pm
i noticed my white iphone had a crack same like the one above except where the silent button is. i couldnt remember if it cam elike that becasue the crack is perfectly straight