If you've been scrolling through social media this week, you've probably seen the mini-panic over brand-new iPhone 17 Pro, Pro Max, and iPhone Air demo units looking scuffed up in Apple Stores.
Well, Apple has finally solved the great "scratch-gate" mystery, and the answer is a little embarrassing. It turns out the phones aren't actually scratched. Instead, some of the store's old, worn-out MagSafe display stands were literally rubbing off and leaving marks on the back of the shiny new iPhones.
Apple says the residue can be easily wiped off and that it's fixing the issue with its displays. So no, the new phones aren't mysteriously fragile. It turns out that the display stands just needed a good cleaning.
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.
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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're concerned about your new iPhone getting scuffed, you can always buy a case and screen protector.
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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