Is the iPhone 5 up to scratch?

As technology experts, bloggers and direct competitors alike continue to take it in turns to attack the shortcomings of Apple's maps system, early adopters of the latest iPhone are discovering to their horror another problem with this most desired of smartphone handsets -- scratches.

For the last 24 hours the web has been alive with stories of iPhone 5s arriving with dents and scratches out of the box, much to the disappointment of its at times religiously dedicated followers.

And, according to stories on leading tech blogs All Things Digital and Apple Insider, problems are being reported by owners across Europe, the US and Hong Kong.

For the latest incarnation of the iPhone, Apple has switched from stainless steel to anodized aluminium and although much lighter, aluminium is also much less scratch-resistant than stainless steel, and as a result, the anodized coating (which gives the iPhone its black or white finish) is much more susceptible to knocks and marks that can reveal the metal underneath. This is why although owners of both black and white iPhones have reported problems, the marks appear to be most visible on the black handsets where the contrast between the coating and the aluminium is greatest.

Apple is yet to release an official statement but is aware of the problem as some users that have taken to the company's community boards have reported that the tech company has agreed to replace any damaged handsets.