iPhone 7 in Jet Black Is Less Fragile Than Apple Describes – But Do You Still Need a Case?

One of the most aesthetically pleasing features of Apple’s iPhone 7 is the device’s all-new ‘Jet Black’ color option.. But wait, you guys, because this isn’t just your regular old, run-of-the-mill ‘jet black’. No, no, no — as Apple will have you know, this particular shade of black is so black, as a matter of fact, that iPhone 7 casings in this hue go through a highly sophisticated, 9-step polishing and anodization process to help maintain their polishy-ebony luster over time.

The company also warns, of course, that because this all-new Jet Black color is so inherently complex and fragile, it’s prone to garnering some rather substantial micro abrasions, particularly on the back and side edges. Apple highly, highly suggests, therefore, that Jet Black iPhone 7 buyers keep their handsets encased at all times.

I mean, sure, I think that makes sense, and is an all around good suggestion, with only good tidings in mind, right? But let’s just face it, folks — some of us are bound to break free, even of the conventional logic set forth by Apple, opting instead to just do our own thing. After all, why buy an iPhone in such a gorgeous, shimmering color, just to stuff it into a case, right? How boring!

Well, fortunately, it appears that Apple’s pride-and-joy, piano-black iPhone isn’t as soft and fragile as Cupertino will have you believe. Don’t let the few positive reviews fool you, of course; but if you’re looking to break your shiny new iPhone 7 out of its protective chambers, you won’t automatically face impending doom.

As Zac Hall of 9to5Mac points out in his personal iPhone 7 review, the Jet Black iPhone 7 does, indeed, exhibit an almost glass-like outer layer — when, in all actuality, the hue is merely a highly polished, anodized aluminum. He also notes that, due to the device’s inherent glass-like feel, both the front and back panels seem to attract fingerprints, smudges, and other oily residue to equal extents.

Hall also noted how, after using his Jet Black iPhone 7 case-free for two weeks, even the more major micro abrasions that appeared — as the the direct result of daily use, including two instances of dropping — were “marginal”, and “you really have to search for them, in exactly the right light, in order to tell where on the device they are.”

He also noted how, although several micro abrasions could be seen at the right angle, actually palpating them did not result in any sensation indicating that the aluminum was damaged.

If you’re planning to purchase the Jet Black iPhone, as opposed to the standard matte black, and would like to maintain that wholesome Jet Black goodness, then you’d be best served by considering even one of those thin plastic cases — just to play it safe, you know?

Have you scratched up your Jet Black iPhone 7? 
Let us know in the comments!