{"id":32930,"date":"2025-09-23T11:17:07","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T11:17:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/32930\/"},"modified":"2025-09-23T11:17:07","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T11:17:07","slug":"iphone-17-pro-faces-scratchgate-as-early-buyers-report-damage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/32930\/","title":{"rendered":"iPhone 17 Pro faces “Scratchgate” as early buyers report damage"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Apple<\/p>\n

Aamir Siddiqui \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

TL;DR<\/p>\n

Early iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max buyers and users are reporting scratches and scuffs just days after launch.
\nTech YouTuber JerryRigEverything also found that the sharp edges around the camera bump chip are easily damaged due to Apple\u2019s design choices this year.
\nShoppers worldwide are reporting scratches on display models and early units, with \u201cScratchgate\u201d now trending on social media platforms.<\/p>\n

Just days after Apple launched its latest flagship handsets, the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max<\/a>, the company is facing extreme criticism from early users. A growing wave of complaints from buyers,\u00a0 shoppers heading to pick up the new Pro iPhones, and tech reviewers who are putting the devices through their paces suggests the premium models may be unusually vulnerable to scratches and scuffs. The controversy has already earned the nickname \u201cScratchgate.\u201d<\/p>\n

A durability test from Zack Nelson of the popular JerryRigEverything YouTube channel shows that the sharp, unprotected corners around the camera bump scratch very easily. According to Neslon, the issue boils down to Apple\u2019s design change. The anodized aluminum coating on the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max \u201cdoes not stick to corners very well,\u201d Nelson noted. This leaves the phones\u2019 edges exposed to damage.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor some reason, Apple didn\u2019t add a chamfer, fillet, or radius around the camera plateau, and I think it was intentional, so it looks cooler,\u201d the YouTuber said. \u201cBut that decision to look cool out of the box is going to plague everyone who owns this phone down the road,\u201d he warned.<\/p>\n

Nelson claimed that everyday pocket contents like coins and house keys could quickly chip away at the coating, leaving visible scars on the new iPhones.<\/p>\n

Demo unit iPhone 17 Pro scratches on day 1\u2026 (it\u2019s not even 24 hours yet)<\/p>\n

Use a case immediately if you don\u2019t wait to experience this kind of issue. I\u2019m very disappointed with the quality here pic.twitter.com\/zRjIQrl3zA<\/a>
\n\"Scratched\"Scratched\"Scratched\"Scratched<\/p>\n

Nelson\u2019s findings are also being echoed by consumers worldwide. According to Bloomberg<\/a>, Apple Store demo units in cities from New York to Hong Kong showed scratches within hours of being put on display. Shoppers observed that the deep blue variants of the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max were particularly prone to scratching, while the black iPhone Air and Apple\u2019s statement Cosmic Orange iPhone Pro also displayed visible wear.<\/p>\n

Bloomberg also noted that Apple\u2019s own MagSafe charger leaves very visible circular imprints on the back of the new Pro models.<\/p>\n

Apple switched to a new aluminum shell for the Pro iPhones this year to improve heat dissipation and reduce weight. However, early evidence suggests that the new build may be less resilient to real-world use.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t want to miss the best from Android Authority?<\/p>\n

In China, one of Apple\u2019s biggest markets, the backlash about scratches on the new iPhones is already trending on platforms like Weibo. Photos of scratched iPhone 17 models are also flooding<\/a> social<\/a> media<\/a> platforms like X<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For now, Apple has not officially responded to the complaints. But with buyers paying premium prices for the company\u2019s Pro lineup, pressure is mounting on the Cupertino company to address the issue. Not impressed by the iPhone 17 Pro? Here are 5 Android alternatives you can check out<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Thank you for being part of our community. Read our\u00a0Comment Policy<\/a> before posting.<\/p>\n