You might have heard (and seen) people mentioning the brand-new iPhone 17 Pro, Pro Max, and Air display phones in stores looking badly scratched.
So, we finally have an answer. And no, the phones are not actually made of butter.
The “Scratchgate” Solution
Apple finally explained the initial “Scratchgate” issue. The problem wasn’t a flaw in the phone’s design—it was dirty display stands. It turns out that old MagSafe holders that kept the phones upright were rubbing against the backs of the new devices. This created marks that only looked like permanent scratches.
The company is now replacing the stands that caused the problem. The marks can simply be wiped clean! The big worry about the iPhone’s strength ended quietly. It was solved not with a bang, but with a microfiber cloth.
The Durability Question
Wait, though. While one problem is solved, there is a separate concern about how strong the colored coating (called anodized coating) is. People noticed this after watching popular tech videos from channels like iFixIt and JerryRigEverything (Zach Nelson).
These videos show that the edges of the camera area on the 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max can be chipped easily. In his video, Nelson rubbed a coin along the edge, which caused the coating to flake away.
Apple’s response is that the anodization on the 17 Pro models is just as tough as the coating they use on all their other products. The company insists the layer is extremely hard and is actually tougher than what most other companies use. However, they admit that the material might show small scratches and signs of chipping over time from simply being used every day.
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