Jason Hiner/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET's key takeaways Apple claims damage is normal wear and tear, or material transfer. A damaged iPhone can cost hundreds of dollars to fix. The best way to protect your investment is with a case. Every new iPhone seems to come with user concerns about durability. This is no surprise when you're dealing with a thin-and-light bit of glass and metal that costs upward of $1,000. Also: Worried about your iPhone 17 scratching? iFixit's teardown reveals what's happening - and why Social media has been awash with concerns that the new iPhone 17 -- specifically the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max that come in the deep blue finish -- are susceptible to wear and damage. Specifically, there have been photos of iPhones in Apple Stores showing wear from MagSafe chargers, and owners posting photos of damage around the camera plateau. Normal wear and tear? Apple has reached out to 9to5Mac to respond to these concerns, saying the scratches around the MagSafe are not scratches but material transfer from the stand to the phone that can be removed with some cleaning, and that the durability of the camera plateau is no different from the anodized aluminum found on other Apple products. As time goes on, it will experience normal wear and tear and pick up small abrasions. Also: I've reviewed every iPhone 17 model, and my advice is something different this year Even if you put it in a case, the slight flexing of the case around the iPhone will cause wear to the finish. Add the inevitable dirt and schmoo that gets inside the case, and the wear accelerates. I have come across the issue of MagSafe chargers causing what looks like wear on the back of iPhones in the past, where the dirt and grime from the back of the handset are squashed into the metal of the casing. I've also seen wear happen because the MagSafe charger can collect fine metallic particles, which can cause the finish to be abraded. Also: I tested the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and here's one big reason for a year-over-year upgrade Give your MagSafe charging pad a clean every few months and you should be fine -- it's unlikely that your charger at home or the office gets anywhere near the sort of wear that a demo unit at the quietest Apple Store gets. I also agree with 9to5Mac's Chance Miller that at least some of the photos of chipped and scratched camera plateaus look like the damage might have been caused deliberately. Proper iPhone protection My deep blue iPhone 17 Pro Max is being delivered today, and I'm not taking any chances. While I don't care much about the finish of the handset -- in my experience, it's either going to get scratched and scuffed out of a case, or manky, grimy, and scuffed in the case -- I do worry about breakages. Also: iPhone Air vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: I compared both flagship models, and here's the winner The screen is the part most people worry about, with good reason because it's the bit they look at and touch. But there's also the back glass, which can shatter and is an odyssey to fix. And then there's that Camera Control button that'll set you back $750 outside of warranty if you break it. I've heard from a lot of people who broke this, thought it would be a cheap fix, and got a shock when they realized that's most of the cost of a new handset. Also: Should you upgrade to an iPhone 17 Pro from last year's model? I am - here's why This is why I'll not only be putting my iPhone in a case, but that case will have proper protection for the Camera Control button, rather than a hole in the case, which is what you see for cheaper cases. I've got a selection of cases for my handset from companies such as Torres, Spigen, and Otterbox, all of which feature strong protection and a shield for the Camera Control button. And if you're really worried, add a screen protector -- while most do very little other than make the screen look awful, there are some good ones out there!