While the vast majority of us couldn’t be happier with our new iPhone 5s, a number of users who decided to purchase the black & slate model have noticed that its anodized aluminum finish is prone to chipping and scratching. Unfortunately, it’s not an isolated issue affecting a certain batch of black devices, either — it appears to be affecting them all.

Could this be an issue Apple quickly needs to address? No. Apparently not. According to the company’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, Phil Schiller, those chips and scratches are “normal.”

Alex, a 9to5Mac reader who picked up a black & slate iPhone 5, has already begun to notice scuffs and scratches on his device — like a lot of users. So he emailed Phil Schiller to ask whether Apple had any plans to fix the problem. Schiller’s response is surprising:

Alex

Any aluminum product may scratch or chip with use, exposing its natural silver color. That is normal.

Phil

9to5Mac reports that it has verified the email, and that it is indeed from Apple’s SVP. So there you have it: The black iPhone 5 is going to scratch and chip, but it’s normal. The only way to prevent it is to slap on a case and take care of your beloved new smartphone.

The other option, of course, is to take it back and pick up a white & silver iPhone 5. While this handset also has an aluminum rear panel, it isn’t anodized — like Apple’s aluminum unibody MacBooks — so it won’t chip, and scratches won’t be anywhere near as obvious.

Source: 9to5Mac