Social media posts over the past week have shown photos and videos of iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max demo units at Apple Stores with scratches and marks on the back.
Apple told CNET that old and worn MagSafe risers, used in stores to display the phones, caused material to transfer to the backs of some iPhone 17, iPhone Air and iPhone 16 models.
Apple said that cleaning removes the material. The company also said it will be addressing the issues with its MagSafe display risers to prevent demo units from being affected at Apple and carrier stores.
Not all scratches are equal, and the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max's shape could make the anodized coating susceptible to chipping. People are also reacting to videos from iFixIt and Zach Nelson's YouTube channel JerryRigEverything. The videos show a possible issue with the anodized coating around the edges of the camera plateau on the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max. In his video, Nelson takes a quarter and rubs it along the edge of the camera plateau, causing the coating to chip.
Apple explained to CNET that the anodization on the 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max is just as durable as that on other products. However, over time, it may show small abrasions with normal wear and tear. The company said that its anodization layer is extremely hard and exceeds industry standard guidelines for microhardness.
Concerns about scratching and durability come on the heels of one of Apple's biggest iPhone redesigns in years. And while marks and scratches don't affect how Apple's phones work, no one wants to have a new $800-plus iPhone look anything but the best it can. The iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro units CNET has been testing for the past two weeks don't show any scratches, chips or scuffs.
If you are concerned about your new iPhone getting scuffed, you can always buy a case and screen protector.
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What is the iPhone 17 Pro made of?
Depending on the light, the Ceramic Shield cutout can sometimes look lighter than the rest of the 17 Pro Max's body. Celso Bulgatti/CNET
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