The iPhone’s bezel (the shiny aluminum around the screen) is one of those sensitive parts that you will eventually scratch and there is nothing you can do about it. I’m personally using a bulky full protection cover for my iPhone that doesn’t let it see the daylight, even then somehow I still managed to scratch the bezel.
Fortunately Just Another iPhone Blog came up with a neat trick that will not only help you get rid of those scratches but also give your iPhone’s bezel a brushed aluminum look that will make it match your Mac. Furthermore it will also help with those fingerprints on it.
Ok, first of all, you’re doing this at your own risk, this kind of cosmetic surgery might get you in trouble at the genius bar one day… (Even though I think they’ll be impressed).
You’re gonna need a two-side sponge (you know the one with this green rough side) and a lot of tape. Start off by taping your iPhone in a way that only the bezel will be exposed and then start polishing your bezel in long, straight swipes. That’s it!
According to JAiB it shouldn’t take you more than 10 minutes and many people believe it gave their iPhone a more hi-tech look.
Since a video is better than a thousand words:
Heard of any similar hacks ? We’d love to hear about it.
So we’re removing scratches by scratching them out? Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure this would work, but I’ll pass. Thanks anyway.
I have my 3GS in two cases.
I still have a scratch on the bezel. If I were to drink a whole fifth of vodka, I still couldn’t see myself doing that. There’s nothing in this world that could make me intentionally put a brushed alum look on my bezel.
I’d rather eat glass and hot sauce soup.
Just sayin.
I did this to my 1st Gen iPhone. Honestly? the Phone looked a lot more luxurious.. It matched the Brush Metal in the interior of my car. I didnt use the sponge though.. I used sand paper.. But a light one.. I had bought one of the Rubber cases sold in the apple store I think it was an incase case and it scratche up my bezel.. So I brushed it.. and it looked soo much better.. My 3G or now 3GS bezels havent scratched cause i dont use cases anymore.. but now that I have seen this video.. I might think about it again..
any one know if this will void you warranty with apple care?
might as well just throw my iphone down a set of stairs.
Just wanted to let you folks now that it wasn’t my idea , got it from two YouTube users that I referenced early in the post, and that’s actually where the vid is from. I tried it out meself, summarized, and took the pics is all.
Cheers
despite the ease of which it get scratch, the top layer of the shinny surface actually has a protective coating, although (for some unknown reason) i suspect it is very, very thin in this case. you will expose the metal layer below if you brush it off.
plus, the metallic rim is actually made of plastic with a very thin metallic layer (usually tin or chromium) coated, usually measured in micron, via a process called vacuum metallization. the more you brush it off, the more likely you will expose the plastic beneath.
in short, if you think of trying
my 2 cent as a mechanical engineer.
I wish Apple would just do away with the chrome and put a better back panel that doesn’t smudge, scratch, etc. I like how it looks when I buy it, but it’s not very practical and we have to waste money on cases. That’s one thing that the Zune HD got right the first version.
(I have an iPod Touch with the whole back in chrome)
3M produce the pad as the green one showed on picture. You better have to try with the WHITE CF pad, no abrasive onto. leave no scratches
the pad can be used on chrome surface whitout marks.
Got a brand new iphone today only to discover that the chrome round the edges was scratched – very annoying! Tried this and was quite shocked to find that it worked a treat! Of course I was wary about the idea of ’scratching’ the phone even more, but it really does work and the finish is impressive. A really clever trick.