Apple could be facing another PR battle over its iPhone 4, with a new design problem gathering momentum among forum posters and critics.
The issue stems from a report on gadget site GDGT that said Apple had withdrawn slide-on iPhone cases from its stores following concerns that grit could become wedged behind the phone and scratch and weaken the glass casing.
The report cited unnamed sources and said Apple was working to resolve the issue, which applies particularly to slide-on cases given Apple's "Made for iPhone" endorsement.
“Apple has apparently found that non-bumper style cases - specifically those that slide onto the iPhone 4 - can cause unexpected scratching that could quickly develop into full-on cracking or even much larger fracturing of the entire rear pane of glass,” said GDGT.
Apple has yet to comment on the story, but it has already begun to take on a life of its own, with respondents to a Cult of Mac survey suggesting the issue was a real problem.
In a survey of more than 2,700 site visitors, nearly three quarters of respondents (73%) said they had experienced problems with the rear casing on their handsets after using a slide-on case.
However, it should be noted that website surveys are notoriously unscientific, with the response option on Cult of Mac - "Trapped dirt has scratched, cracked or broken my iPhone" – running the whole gamut from light wear and tear to shattered screens.
The survey also fails to take into account how well, or badly, people look after their handsets.
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