Apple’s new iPhone 17 Pro has come under scrutiny following reports of scratches and durability issues. So, what should you know about it?
What Apple says about “Scratchgate”
In response, Apple has clarified what is behind the blemishes and how it plans to address them. Soon after launch, some users and reviewers noticed marks on demo units of the iPhone 17 Pro in stores, particularly around the camera bump and MagSafe areas.
Moreover, Apple explained that many of these marks are not permanent scratches but instead material transfer from worn MagSafe display stands, which can be wiped off with cleaning.
However, Apple did acknowledge that the sharp edges of the camera plateau may be more vulnerable to wear over time. These edges are similar in durability to the anodised aluminium edges used in other Apple products.
Furthermore, independent teardown experts also highlighted that microscopic analysis shows how the aluminium coating near those sharp edges can suffer from “spalling”, tiny fragments chipping away because of stress points.
While Apple insists its durability testing is rigorous, it admits that small abrasions may appear with normal use.
Tech tests and real-world reports
Durability tests on YouTube have shown that the iPhone 17 Pro holds up well across most of the body. But the sharp edges around the camera bump appear more likely to chip when rubbed against objects such as keys or coins, due to the absence of chamfers or rounded transitions in the design.
Additionally, a teardown by iFixit supported these findings, revealing micro-damage along the camera plateau edges, suggesting that stress points in the anodised coating are prone to wear. Meanwhile, demo units in stores, especially in darker colours like Deep Blue, have been reported to show scuffs within hours of being handled.
Despite these issues, analysts believe the concerns are unlikely to affect Apple’s sales significantly. They note that scratch worries are common when new models launch and that many users typically protect their devices with cases.
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