We had been waiting and dreaming about a Space Black iPhone and now it’s finally here. It’s called Jet Black and while many are excited about the shiny ‘new black’ finish from Apple, there is one good reason why you should skip on this one and go in for the (just) “black” finish instead.
First let’s begin with the positives. It just looks good! More importantly, the shiny black finish blends two elements of the iPhone 7. It bends perfectly with the pitch black display on the front, and then there’s those thick antenna bands, that are almost invisible on the back.
iPhone users had been dreading the design decision made by Apple’s designers with the iPhone 6 for long, but hey “Apple knows best!”. And as expected, those thick (not to mention ugly) antenna gaps made it on to the iPhone 7 as well albeit in a curved manner. They are still however ugly enough for you to remember to keep your iPhone 7 face up when you place it on a table. And the Jet Black iPhone 7 solves this conundrum but this does not come without its problems.
While Apple garnered plenty of attention on its waterproofing capabilities, it is the same feature that led many into read the fine print at the bottom of the iPhone 7 page as well.
“The high-gloss finish of the jet black iPhone 7 is achieved through a precision nine-step anodization and polishing process. Its surface is equally as hard as other anodized Apple products; however, its high shine may show fine micro-abrasions with use. If you are concerned about this, we suggest you use one of the many cases available to protect your iPhone.”
Yes, your Jet Black iPhone if used without a case is going to look like a mess in no time. And this was evidently pointed out by YouTube user who claims that he saw marks on the back of the iPhone 7 after trying to wipe it clean with his shirt.
He did a complete scratch test (and a bend test) and while the bend test impressed, the scratch test did not. In short, you will need to carry around a micro-fibre cloth if you want to clean up the back of your Jet Black iPhone 7. Key scratches and pocket change that would otherwise not mar the appearance of a matte finish iPhone 7 will create a lasting impression on the Jet Black model.
So why does this happen? Well, it’s all in the metal. While 7000 series aluminium is strong and light, Apple should have known that it is soft and easy to scratch. Poking an ice picker into the back of your regular iPhone will not create a hole, but it will create some nasty scratch marks.
So when Apple decided to give it a shiny high-gloss finish, we think it would have been better if Apple went with a tougher pure silver or gold coating (like some jewellery store will) or use a metal like steel which can be buffed to perfection. Apple tried to replicate the Space Black Stainless Steel Case on the Apple Watch using Aluminum, but as many have noticed it has not been a successful one and it results in plenty of scratches that would have otherwise not bothered owners.
No! We are not suggesting that iPhone 7 is a bad smartphone, it’s just that we recommend buying a matte finish device instead.
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