Wouldn’t you know it? Apple’s hottest (which is debatable) new iPhone color, White, has proven to be the most problematic. Sure, it hides finger-smudges that the Black variant so deftly emphasis, but what good is a fingerprint-free casing if it starts to crack?
Scattered reports are coming in that point to some White iPhone 3Gs developing hairline cracks (or worse) in their possibly ceramic-based casing. For some reason, Black iPhone 3G handsets aren’t as prone to developing these stress-fractures. Black iPhone 3Gs are also affected, but the hairline fractures are less noticeable.
Perhaps whatever additive is used to create the Black-colored iPhone rear-cover is serving to reinforce the casing itself? Carbon black is added to tires to help reinforce the otherwise weak natural rubber. The carbon-based nano-particles hep increase tensile strength in rubber. Could the Black-coloring in Black iPhone cases be serving the same tensile-strength boosting purpose? It makes sense, but only in speculation. In reality, we have no idea why White iPhones are cracking.
Unfortunately for those affected, Apple has not yet recognized cracked White iPhone 3G casings as a “known” problem. That means there won’t be any iPhone 3G swaps until Apple officially acknowledges that there even is a problem with their fleet of White iPhones. And, with Apple still struggling to keep their Apple Store shelves stocked with iPhones, it might take a while for Apple to start replacing defective units.
Still, keep your chin up, White iPhone owners, Apple’s customer service policies are usually on-point and they will replace your cracked iPhone. It’s only a matter of waiting for Apple to stock enough White iPhone units to meet new customer demand as well as demand for replacement units.
[Via: Macenstein]