White iPhone shouldn't get dirty, right?

[Perplex]

I plan on getting the white iPhone. Im a little apprehensive though, after reading other people's experience with their past white Apple products. Mostly discoloration, and marks/stains showing more often.

But, it seems the iPhone 3g has a glossy backing to it -- a different material then other white products. It looks like it could be resistant to superficial scratches. Thoughts?

But the big worry I have is dropping the phone, and fracturing the backing. C'mon Apple, at least have a higher premium insurance plan for this fantastic and fragile device!:2cool:

[Hondamaker]

It's white, if your hands are dirty, it'll get dirty. You'll just have to keep cleaning it. If you get scratches on it, they will hold the dirt, so you'll have to be extra careful with it. just my 2 cents.:2cool:

[kevlar08]

I plan on getting the white iPhone. Im a little apprehensive though, after reading other people's experience with their past white Apple products. Mostly discoloration, and marks/stains showing more often.

But, it seems the iPhone 3g has a glossy backing to it -- a different material then other white products. It looks like it could be resistant to superficial scratches. Thoughts?

But the big worry I have is dropping the phone, and fracturing the backing. C'mon Apple, at least have a higher premium insurance plan for this fantastic and fragile device!:2cool:

i think both black and white will be equally vulnerable to cosmetic damage

[Perplex]

Well, that's a bummer. I just hope my invisi shield will hold up.
If it gets too dirty, then theres always those replacement case sites:tounge:

[Zanthe]

Yeah I think it goes without saying that white is white and it will show dirt, scratches and the like more easily. I'm looking at my white Apple keyboard as we speak -- brutal.

[Lincoln]

It's white, if your hands are dirty, it'll get dirty. You'll just have to keep cleaning it. If you get scratches on it, they will hold the dirt, so you'll have to be extra careful with it. just my 2 cents.:2cool:

Which is exactly why I'm getting black.

- John

[aenti]

i think it will. nintendo ds' are made with a glossy plastic, and the white ones get dirty like crazy.

[aknightstale41]

Im thinking white will get the least dirty, but this assumtion is based on automotive paint. To get technical here for a sec, black has a much higher DOI (Depth of Image) than white, which is why you can see your reflection in it, so it shows even the finest of scratches and smudges.
Also the color black will absorb and retain more heat than white. (point a laser pen at anything black and the dot gets sucked into the color and gets small, point it at anything white and its displaced and is big)
Im getting black though because i"ll probably upgrade again next year.

[Perplex]

Thanks for your reply aknightstale41 -- I was thinking the same thing. I have a black car and I can see all sorts of scratches and blemishes all the time as opposed to a white car.

I think the most stains will come from dirt that gets trapped in the grooves of scratches. Anyway, good cleaning maintenance reguarly should prevent any long lasting stains. I just feel like the white iPhone is very noticeable.

[eye-Fone]

Im thinking white will get the least dirty, but this assumtion is based on automotive paint. To get technical here for a sec, black has a much higher DOI (Depth of Image) than white, which is why you can see your reflection in it, so it shows even the finest of scratches and smudges.
Also the color black will absorb and retain more heat than white. (point a laser pen at anything black and the dot gets sucked into the color and gets small, point it at anything white and its displaced and is big)
Im getting black though because i"ll probably upgrade again next year.
But what about when the white case turns the ugly shade of yellow/brown/off-white due to normal use or due to being exposed to sunlight? :(

[Youngbinks]

Honda and John have the right idea. I'm willing to bet a new iPhone that the white will hold and show more dirt and scratches than the black will.

[aknightstale41]

But what about when the white case turns the ugly shade of yellow/brown/off-white due to normal use or due to being exposed to sunlight? :(

I dont think that the white one will turn yellow...i have a white nano, had it for 3 years and its seen plenty of use, and its been left on my dash in the sun many times ( i know, stupid..just screaming to a thief come and steal me) and its still white as a snowbaby :smile:
Also theres a difference between getting dirty and getting scratched,
when you wipe off dirt on the iphone over time it will leave fine scratches, (like eyeglasses) and you can see them more in black

[|3are]

I also have a black car. I wouldn't even say it shows dirt that much more than a white car, but the kind of dirt that gets on a car isn't the same as the stuff that gets on your iPhone. I mean think about it. You could walk up to a dirty car, wipe your finger along it, and make a clean line with your finger. You're going to be holding your phone all the damn time, so it's not like it's going to get dusty or have loose dirt build up on it like a car does. The dirt you'll get on an iPhone will be from rubbing it in with your dirty hands all the time, which will show up a lot more on a white phone than a black phone.

I see where you're coming from with the scratches and blemeshes, but again I think there's a big difference between a car and the iPhone in this regard. The most noticeable scratch on my car is such because it scratched all the way through the clear coat and the paint, making the scratch itself white surrounded by the black paint. The other blemeshes are all from the clear coat becoming scratched or distorted, causing the light to bounce off differently, etc. These iPhones aren't going to have several layers of paint underneath a clear cloat finish. It's just colored plastic. What will be bad is having a white phone with scratches in it and rubbing dirt in to the scratches. The scratches on a black phone might -- MIGHT -- be more noticeable, but the discoloration caused by them is going to be a lot more noticeable on a white phone.

[eye-Fone]

I dont think that the white one will turn yellow...i have a white nano, had it for 3 years and its seen plenty of use, and its been left on my dash in the sun many times ( i know, stupid..just screaming to a thief come and steal me) and its still white as a snowbaby :smile:
Also theres a difference between getting dirty and getting scratched,
when you wipe off dirt on the iphone over time it will leave fine scratches, (like eyeglasses) and you can see them more in black
That's good to know, assuming that the white glossy iPhone plastic is made from the same material as the nano.

[eye-Fone]

I dont think that the white one will turn yellow...i have a white nano, had it for 3 years and its seen plenty of use, and its been left on my dash in the sun many times ( i know, stupid..just screaming to a thief come and steal me) and its still white as a snowbaby
According to this owner, the "Apple white" will turn yellow (http://www.everythingicafe.com/forum/iphone-3g/american-iphone-3g-unboxed-30645-2.html#post289736) (at least on his macbook)

[projectdarkside]

Its like a pair of white "kicks":tounge:
-Self-explanatory

[Ezekiel2517]

i really think that the white one would probably show more if it gets dirty and if the black phone is anything like the black Nintendo DS that i have, it will be fine. ive had it for i think a year or two and it looks great.

[psylichon]

I don't think we can really compare iPhones to iPods here. While iPods are held quite a bit, I would dare say iPhones get much more hand-time, which means much more likelihood of discoloration.

It's not your pocket that's gonna make it look bad. It's yer grimy mitts.

[free2rhyme590]

Its like a pair of white "kicks":tounge:
-Self-explanatory

LOL true true... I'm still getting white tho because it just looks really idk futuristic I guess... But hey cold white kicks are alot easier to clean then any other color...

[joe]

i think it will. nintendo ds' are made with a glossy plastic, and the white ones get dirty like crazy.

My son has been using a DS for a few years now. He used a white one until just recently and was very active (top 10 in MPH (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metroid_Prime_Hunters)). It didn't become dirty or scummy looking. It was still white and clean and now his little cousin is enjoying it. :laugh2:

[joe]

According to this owner, the "Apple white" will turn yellow (http://www.everythingicafe.com/forum/iphone-3g/american-iphone-3g-unboxed-30645-2.html#post289736) (at least on his macbook)

No, it won't turn yellow. That individual's did but that doesn't mean they all do. We've had a couple in the family and they have not turned yellow. There is no way Apple could continue to sell a product that did that. They have been making white laptops for a while now and I think they know how to do it right. :smile:

[projectdarkside]

For me MPH was a hard game using the stylus and d-pad for controls:angry::tounge:
-Were you really top 10? what rank are you now?:gasp:

Out of 1million players Im in the top 100 thousand in Call of Duty 4 xbox live :)
-I could've been in the top 10 thousand if I had gotten the game on release:angry:

[joe]

For me MPH was a hard game using the stylus and d-pad for controls:angry::tounge:
-Were you really top 10? what rank are you now?:gasp:

Out of 1million players Im in the top 100 thousand in Call of Duty 4 xbox live :)
-I could've been in the top 10 thousand if I had gotten the game on release:angry:

Not me, my son. He still does some MPH here and there and still ownz. He's amazing with the trigger, d-pad, and stylus all at once.

[projectdarkside]

Now thats cool :2cool:
-I can barely play pokemon on the DS and your son is like MLG with Metroid!!:eek:

[TomRS]

Just remember with the white or black iPhone, if you put a case on it, the color of the case is what you are stuck with seeing, not the phone. I never even noticed the silver and black on my gen 1 because I had a black case on it. And that black and silver was way more annoying than a total white or black case.

Want a blue phone, get a blue case. I have a white phone and it's in a black agent 18 case, and I could care less. Get the phone in whatever color you want and just get a case that you like.

[Ezekiel2517]

Just remember with the white or black iPhone, if you put a case on it, the color of the case is what you are stuck with seeing, not the phone. I never even noticed the silver and black on my gen 1 because I had a black case on it. And that black and silver was way more annoying than a total white or black case.

Want a blue phone, get a blue case. I have a white phone and it's in a black agent 18 case, and I could care less. Get the phone in whatever color you want and just get a case that you like.

yeah... while that might be true, i cant stand cases anymore. i had one for my v1 phone, and only used it for a month or two. they just add too much bulk. :frown:

i only have a screen protector on my current one and ill proabably get one of those invisibleshield things when i get the 3G :2cool:

[bmargolis]

My white phone has remained very clean, as is my white mouse of a year old. The black phones fingerprint MUCH more than the white.

[damstr]

Im thinking white will get the least dirty, but this assumtion is based on automotive paint. To get technical here for a sec, black has a much higher DOI (Depth of Image) than white, which is why you can see your reflection in it, so it shows even the finest of scratches and smudges.
Also the color black will absorb and retain more heat than white. (point a laser pen at anything black and the dot gets sucked into the color and gets small, point it at anything white and its displaced and is big)
Im getting black though because i"ll probably upgrade again next year.
I'm with you there man.

Anyone ever own a black car? Hardest color to keep clean BY FAR. White is the easiest. Take a hint. ;) I got white but if I had my choice I'd probably get black.

Still white will stay cleaner.

[jimmyrules712]

well I've heard some people say the white iphone is made of the same stuff that the white apple mouse is made of, which supposedly doesn't discolor (I've never owned a Mac so I wouldn't really know...)

[ratstarwars]

I use an adidas wristband that I turned into a sock for my iphone. So I slide it in and it fits inside perfectly. I have the white Iphone so everytime I take it out its like a little cleaning effect. I think the white iphone is gonna last much longer than people think. I could even see people selling off their white iphones in a yaer and getting GREAT value for their white phones as long as you keep it clean. You guys who have the white iphone...just look at the back. It really has a feel and look and a finish that I think will last. Ive had my phone for 2 weeks(tomorrow) and I've REALLY looked hard at the back of this phone. Very slick feel to it. Plus invisisheld works too.

Ignore my Beginner status...Im a Zealot from last years launch

[rgarjr]

If i were to get a 3G phone, it would be white.

[iigreatoneii]

I have a white iPhone 3G and haven't had any problems with dirt. It has to do with how well you take care of it. I'm sure some of these rumors aren't true about yellow discoloration and things of that sort. Treat it like a baby and it should be just as good as the black.

I went and looked at both colors at the Apple Store each time I went in looking for the iPhone 3G and they had both models out on their demo table. Now as many people that have been playing with those, they both look new, although the black did have the visible fingerprints. Then when I went to pick mine up and when I went to order it an the AT&T store, they had one white and one black floor sample and they both looked nice. As many people that have been touching those phones, they still looked good.

I'm not worried because I treat mine like it's a baby. If you wanted to, you could always put any case or InvisibleShield/Body Guardz (or any other similar brand) on there to make you feel more comfortable.

I got the white for several reasons, the main one was because I got sick of wiping the fingerprints off the screen on my V1 iPhone and the thought of having to do not only the front, but the back too(if I got the black) just made me lose interest quickly in the black model. Other reaons are the black could be mistaken for the 8GB to people in public and instead of having people come up an ask me why I didn't get the extra memory, I wanted it to be known so it didn't have to be asked. In other words, if you have black, it's going to be assumed that it is the 8GB to many people. Also, if you scratch the black it will be more noticeable in my opinion. Plus, I just think the white is []D [] []V[] []D [] []\[]. I've had a lot of black phones before, why not mix it up.

[RevRoy]

well I've heard some people say the white iphone is made of the same stuff that the white apple mouse is made of, which supposedly doesn't discolor (I've never owned a Mac so I wouldn't really know...)

I've based my purchase of the white on the fact that my apple mouse has stayed white and has zero scratches and it a year and half old.

[Inverted]

I have had the white a week today, and it has stayed very clean, but I am very good with my phones.

[Dukeboy0169]

Here me out. Im only trying to help. I have no interest in the white 3Gs, but for those who do, check out the slider case made by incase. I had it for my 1st Gen and its the best case you can buy in my opinion and many others opinions.

I havent seen it yet for the 3G. They have the Protective case but not the slider. Anyway, they make them in white and it went get dirty nearly as fast as the stock shell of a 3G. Plus if it does, you remove it, clean it, replace it.

Im sure the Protective case is great too, but it has a pattern to it rather than a smooth finish. The slider was awesome because it had a piano black glossy surface, like the back of the 3G. Im tellin you, keep an eye out for the new slider if they make them. You wont be disappointed. :)

[connie]

Bottom line of this thread:

IF YOU KEEP IT CLEAN, IT WILL STAY CLEAN
:2cool:

[projectdarkside]

^^
I second that! :laugh2:

[Londonrockz568]

Treat a product well and it'll last long. I should know, My previous phone was the crap moto SLVR. All my friends had one and they never took care of it. My friend has one and his center buttons are missing etc, i had mine for a year 6months and it looked brand new.

Buying the iphone regardless of colour comes down to what u wana do with the device, and the environment the phone will be in. Example: it would make no sense for a car mechanic to have a white iPhone much less an iphone at all since that job is very greasy, dirty with your hands contacting fluids and oils. The phone wouldnt last a chance.

My only pet peeve is that i find myself plucking fibers of thread from the SIM bay, after ive had the phone in my jeans pocket.

[eye-Fone]

My only pet peeve is that i find myself plucking fibers of thread from the SIM bay, after ive had the phone in my jeans pocket.
I keep mine in my jeans pocket all the time (front pocket), with no sign of lint. <eye-Fone knocks on wood>

Do you put it in your pocket with the dock port down, or with the SIM bay down?

I keep mine dock port down with the screen facing inward (against my leg).

[BLIK]

i have White since day 1 and it is still clean.......but I baby my iphone :)