Apple has finally addressed the controversy dubbed ‘scratchgate’ surrounding its new iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Since their release, these premium iPhone models have been in the news, but not always for positive reasons. After they became available in stores, numerous reports emerged alleging that the new iPhone 17 Pro models were highly susceptible to scratches, particularly around the new MagSafe area. However, the tech giant from Cupertino has dismissed these concerns, stating that worn MagSafe stands are actually to blame.
What’s Causing Scratches on iPhone 17 Pro Demo Units?
The ‘scratchgate’ saga began after a report highlighted numerous instances of visible wear and tear on iPhone 17 Pro demo units displayed at Apple Stores. These marks were especially noticeable around the MagSafe panel on the phone’s back, which is a distinct component integrated into the unibody design. This quickly sparked worries about the device’s long-term robustness, with some speculating that Apple’s shift from titanium to aluminum might be a contributing factor.
Responding to the concerns, Apple clarified that the marks seen on the back of the iPhone 17 Pro demo units are not actual scratches. Instead, the company stated that these are material transfers from well-used MagSafe stands in certain retail locations. Apple assures that these cosmetic blemishes can be easily cleaned and removed.
Interestingly, Apple noted that this phenomenon isn’t exclusive to the iPhone 17 Pro, as similar material transfers have been observed on other iPhone models, including the previous iPhone 16 series demo units.
Separately, some users have reported observing small paint chips around the edges of the redesigned camera bump on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. The standard iPhone 17, which does not feature this redesigned camera island, seems unaffected by this particular issue.
Apple further informed that the phone’s edges share characteristics with the anodized aluminum finishes found on other Apple products, like MacBooks. While these finishes are designed for durability and pass extensive testing, minor abrasions are expected as part of typical daily use over time.
Earlier, a detailed examination of the iPhone 17 Pro by iFixit revealed that the anodization process around the camera island includes an additional underlying anodized layer. It appears that this is the layer observed stripping away in various social media videos. This phenomenon is attributed to an effect called “spalling,” which can lead to the anodized layer becoming brittle.