- Apple has responded to claims that the iPhone 17 Pro scratches easily
- The firm says scratches are actually material from worn MagSafe chargers
- Apple also says the iPhone’s camera plateau is durable
The iPhone 17 Pro has only just launched, but already it’s been beset with claims that it scratches far too easily. Social media has been flooded with photos of scratched-up iPhones littering Apple Stores across the country, and the controversy has been dubbed ‘scratchgate’ by some. The issue has gained so much attention, in fact, that Apple has responded to the allegations – and it claims the problem is nowhere near as serious as you’d think.
Many of the images posted by concerned users showed scuffs on the backs of iPhone 17 Pro models. These often congregated around the MagSafe charging ring, but others appeared unrelated to this element of the phone. But according to Apple, it could be a case of mistaken identity.
Speaking to 9to5Mac, Apple explained that the marks depicted on the rear sides of iPhone 17 Pro units were caused by worn MagSafe stands. In Apple’s account, the scuffs are not actually scratches but are instead material transferred from damaged MagSafe stands onto the iPhones. Apple believes this material can be removed by cleaning the affected iPhone and says it’s working to replace the faulty stands in Apple Stores.
Apple also addressed another concern regarding the iPhone 17 Pro’s durability, this time raised by prominent YouTuber JerryRigEverything, who said that the corners of the raised camera ‘plateau’ on the devices are particularly susceptible to scratching. Here, Apple told 9to5Mac that the plateau’s edges are similar to those on other anodized iPhones and MacBook Pros, and that while they are durable and undergo rigorous testing, some users may experience normal wear and tear (including small abrasions).
Passing the scratch test
Apple’s new iPhones have impressed with their durability so far – TechRadar’s own Lance Ulanoff tried and failed to bend an iPhone Air in front of Apple’s Greg Joswiak and John Ternus – and JerryRigEverything commended the iPhone 17 Pro for having a highly scratch-resistant back panel. That’s exactly the area that seems to be affected by ‘scratchgate’ claims, so there could be something in Apple’s argument that the marks are actually material from worn MagSafe chargers.
It’s also worth noting that demo iPhone units housed in Apple Stores are handled by hundreds (or even thousands) of people every day, so will likely wear at a faster rate than a device would in normal usage. Just because something scuffs quickly in an Apple Store, it doesn’t mean that it will when you use it.
That said, one Cult of Mac reporter tried removing some marks on an affected iPhone 17 Pro with a microfiber cloth but was unable to, suggesting that the blemishes were “definitely scratches, not surface-level scuffs or any kind of markings that can be removed.”
It’s possible that some affected iPhones have indeed been scratched. The iPhone 17 Pro uses aluminum for its chassis material instead of the titanium used in the iPhone 16 Pro, which is a softer metal that could potentially scratch more easily. The change was made to improve heat dissipation in the latest iPhone, but there’s a chance that it could make it a little more prone to cuts and scrapes.
Still, Apple’s claims might go some way to explaining the issue and reassuring you about the durability of the iPhone 17 Pro, as might JerryRigEverything’s own testing. If you’re uncertain about whether you trust the device’s durability, do plenty of research and try going to an Apple Store to see for yourself – and preferably check an iPhone that is not sat on a visibly worn MagSafe charger, just to be certain.
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alexblake.techradar@gmail.com (Alex Blake)
