Q: Removing Scratches

mitch_gorman wrote:
Even though I've been very careful, my iPhone 4 has still managed to get some scratches. I've been tempted to try some scratch removal products or even maybe good ole white toothpaste. However, since the iPhone has an oleo-phobic covering, I'm concerned about how any of the products might effect the screen. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Polishing always uses an abrasive, even if very fine. I'm not sure I'd recommend anything because of the oleophobic screen. In my experience with my iPad, that I believe has a similar screen (but of course, different electronics), I've never scratched, despite my rather radical use of it in hiking and repairing my motorcycle (long story, but I have everything on my iPad that allows me to do servicing and repair). I've carried car keys with my 3GS (admittedly, a different screen), and never scratched it either. So, just make sure they are scratches into the glass before attempting a repair.

Again, I cannot recommend anything that won't damage the screen. To help you out, I even looked at some optical polishes, which might work, but I don't know if they effect the oleophobic screen. Look for optical polish and contact the manufacturer.

Also, do not use any paper products on the screen. Use the softest lint-free cloth you can find. 3M makes some great cloths specifically for electronic monitors that are very nice. Paper scratches, believe it or not. Cloth does not.

I hope this helps. I think you might be stuck however.

You might want to call Apple tech support and see if they have recommendations .. though they are likely to say Don't.

Phil

Nothing you sugest take it back to apple if your that bothered about it and get them to fix it.

Hawk-Firestorm wrote:
Nothing you sugest take it back to apple if your that bothered about it and get them to fix it.

Why would apple be responsible for scratches? Really?

rubbing compound maybe?

OrangeMarlin wrote:

Hawk-Firestorm wrote:
Nothing you sugest take it back to apple if your that bothered about it and get them to fix it.

Why would apple be responsible for scratches? Really?

Apple sometimes does nice things like that as a goodwill gesture to their customers. Never hurts to ask.


OP: I kept getting tiny scratches in my iPhone 3G, especially after traveling to dry climates. I finally figured out that dust was getting on my slacks or blue jeans and when I would rub my iPhone on them, it would get scratched by those particles. I started carrying a cloth in my bag similar to the one mentioned above and that problem went away. Very handy to have anyway if someone needs their eyeglasses cleaned.

You're right to be concerned about the oleophobic coating. Any abrasive you use to mask minor scratches will remove the coating. And, anyone moving from an iPhone or iPhone 3G can tell you that coating absolutely works and makes a huge difference in how easy/difficult it is to wipe off greasy fingerprints.

Reports from sites like iFixit suggest that the back glass cover of the iPhone 4 is really easy to remove and, by extension, replace. I'd hold on for now and see if there aren't some 3rd party solutions for replacing the back glass cheaply.

If the scratches are on the face I'd learn to live with them if they're minor. I have no idea how much replacing the glass on the new iPhone will cost as the LCD is now laminated directly to the glass. My hunch is your only replacement option will be the $199 fee Apple charges.

Do you know if using a bestskinsever or zagg film will definitely harm the oleophobic coating? I can't find a straight answer to this question anywhere with anyone confirming for sure.

After only 10 days my iphone 4 has numerous scratches on the screen. I take good care of my phone and never got a scratch on my 3g in 2 years. I have a case and keep it in my pocket with nothing else. My wife also has a iphone 4 and is a lot less careful with hers, just tosses it in her purse. However, hers still looks flawless. Is it possible to just get a bad one or am I just extremely unlucky? I went to the apple store and was blown off about it. They said I need to be more careful and to buy a screen protector for it if I didn't want scratches. "It's scratch resistant not scratch proof". I'm not arguing that, but mine has been more like a scratch magnet.

Sounds odd, how could yours have more scratches than your wife's? Maybe you've got some grit/sand in your pockets or any other microscopic abrasives, or the lining to your pocket is sharp enough.

This may sound over the top, but I keep my ip4 in my right front pocket and I pull the pocket out and clean it off before I put my phone in.

Dave

While you may not be able to remove the scratches, an ANTI GLARE screen saver will hide many scratches. try it.

bushman4 wrote:
While you may not be able to remove the scratches, an ANTI GLARE screen saver will hide many scratches. try it.

And prevent any future scratches.......

What about cd/DVD scratch remover. It works on CDs and I typed it on a old touch screen phone but I'm the same way. I have a few minor scratches on my screen. They don't bother me but I thought I'd ask and mentioned the cd/DVD scratch remover and on that old touch screen phone it did remove the scratches with no damage to the phone