Apparently, the reason behind iPhone 5 shortages is the coating of its aluminium casing. The material is susceptible to bumps and scratches. This is why factory workers are struggling to build them up to par with Apple’s unattainably high standards.
According to Bloomberg, workers are finding it difficult to keep the anodised aluminium casings free from scratches, which are apparently slowing down the production of the new iPhone.
With the casing’s high susceptibility to scratches, Apple is pressuring its Chinese manufacturer, Foxconn, to tighten up the standard. Foxconn factories are where Apple products such as the iPhone 5 and new iPad are assembled.
With a tighter quality control, this means that there are fewer units of the iPhone 5 that arrives on shelves.
The high demand for the iPhone 5, Apple enforcing tighter quality control, and the use of easy to scratch anodised aluminium was a recipe for disaster. The high pressure has caused workers in one of the Foxconn factories to riot. In another incident, workers have gone on strike. Of course, Foxconn denied their workers have gone on strike.
Responding via email to a customer complaining about the iPhone 5’s susceptibility to scratches, Apple exec Phil Schiller coldly wrote, “Any aluminium product may scratch or chip with use, exposing its natural silver colour. That is normal.”
Sadly, the scratches are not the only problems that plague Apple’s new kit. Some pictures taken using the phone’s camera were affected by a purple haze effect. Apple also went under fire when they replaced Google Maps with its own Apple Maps when iOS 6 rolled out. The app turned out to be a huge mess, not showing landmarks or misnaming places.
Are you annoyed your iPhone 5 is susceptible to scratches, or do you agree with Apple when it says this is normal? Share your thoughts through a comment on our Facebook page.
