Only six days have passed since the iPhone 17 line appeared on store shelves. That might sound like nothing, yet the Internet managed to explode with photos and angry posts in the very first hours. The new models already earned a reputation as scratch magnets, and not just in someone’s pocket, even the demo units in Apple Stores showed marks on day one. Complaints pile up fastest around the Pro and Pro Max in Deep Blue, as well as the black Air.
At this point, our feeds look like a broken record – swipe down, and there’s another picture of a scratched iPhone with a dramatic caption. Honestly, we got tired of counting them, so we decided to stop scrolling, take a closer look at the problem, and see what Apple itself has to say about it.
How the Internet Found Scratches Before the iPhone Boxes Left the Store
The durability debate did not start in some obscure corner of the internet. It went mainstream almost immediately. Bloomberg reported scratches on demo units right on launch day. Their journalists described how the Deep Blue iPhone 17 Pro and the new black Air looked scuffed after just a few hours in Apple Stores in Shanghai and Hong Kong. That is not exactly the image Apple wanted for its redesigned aluminum and titanium finishes.
Demo unit iPhone 17 Pro scratches on day 1… (it’s not even 24 hours yet)
Use a case immediately if you don’t wait to experience this kind of issue. I’m very disappointed with the quality here pic.twitter.com/zRjIQrl3zA
— Bradley (@VerdeSelvans) September 19, 2025
Tech reviewers quickly echoed those observations. John Velasco from Tom’s Guide called the situation “scratchgate” and admitted that his own Cosmic Orange 17 Pro already carried fine scratches across the back. He noted that lighter colors like Lavender and Sky Blue showed no obvious marks.
Durability testers also joined the conversation. Zack Nelson from JerryRigEverything put the iPhone 17 Pro through his usual scratch and bend trials. The front glass held up well and resisted marks better than previous models, but the thin rim around the camera bump scratched with little effort. Nelson advised owners to use a case or camera ring if they wanted to keep that part pristine.
On a positive note, the new iPhone Air surprised many. Despite its record-thin frame, it withstood more than 200 pounds of force in a bend test and proved less fragile than some feared. So the jokes on the day of the Apple Event that owners would need to fear sitting down with an iPhone Air in their pocket no longer hold up. Even after Nelson’s test left it shaped more like a gentle arc than a slab, the phone still powered on and functioned.
The irony is impossible to ignore. Apple promoted the iPhone 17 line as tougher and more resistant, yet the first public impression turned into a wave of photos showing scuffed $1,000 phones. It feels like déjà vu for anyone who remembers the Jet Black iPhone 7 or the slate-black iPhone 5. History repeats itself, just in sharper resolution and higher refresh rate.
Is There an Official Reaction from Apple?
Yes, but not exactly in the form of a press release with Tim Cook’s signature at the bottom. The response came in a quieter way. A journalist from 9to5Mac reached out to Apple, and the company gave its side of the story.
According to Apple, those scratches on the demo units in stores are not scratches at all. The company explained that the marks came from “material transfer” – bits of metal rubbed off from the worn MagSafe stands that hold the phones on display. Apple assured that the residue could be wiped away with proper cleaning, and they even began replacing those stands in stores. And this really seems to be true, as in most posts criticizing the unreliability of the aluminum case, a circular trace from the MagSafe is clearly visible. Here’s an example:
You may be seeing images like this showing the iPhone 17 Pro and Air “scratching easily”, but these are misleading.
The “scratched” portion is glass, not aluminium. In fact, these are not scratches at all but simply material deposits from the aluminium MagSafe pucks rubbing… pic.twitter.com/VlZUfOShH4
— AppleLeaker (@LeakerApple) September 21, 2025
When asked about scratches on customers’ personal phones, Apple admitted that the aluminum edges around the camera module may show small abrasions over time, just like the anodized finish on a MacBook. Apple emphasized that the iPhone 17 Pro’s finish exceeds industry standards for hardness and that the new design went through rigorous testing before launch.
The company also hinted at trade-offs. Last year’s titanium frame on the iPhone 16 Pro looked almost bulletproof, but this year’s shift to aluminum brought other benefits like lower weight and better heat management. A few scratches in return for cooler performance and a lighter pocket? Apple seems to think that is a fair deal.
And, of course, Apple reminded everyone of the simplest way to avoid cosmetic wear – use a case. That advice has been consistent for years, and it makes sense here as well. The iPhone 17 looks great in every color, but anyone who wants to keep it pristine can rely on a good case for peace of mind.
What Do We Think About the Situation with Scratches on iPhones?
To be honest, we were shocked, not by the scratches themselves, but by the scale of the noise around them. The topic spread across every possible platform – Reddit, X, Instagram, Threads, and more. Our feeds looked like one endless parade of scratched iPhones.
We think the problem looks overblown. Many people did not even try to clean the surface of the demo units in stores. They snapped a photo, wrote an angry caption, and declared the end of Apple’s quality control.
Apple’s advice made perfect sense. If someone values the flawless look of their new iPhone 17 Pro, Pro Max, or Air, they should use a case. Apple expanded the lineup this year, so there is plenty to choose from. We will not join the mass chaos. We believe Apple knows what it is doing and that this situation will calm down once the hype fades.
