GoKawiilCNET's year-long test finds iPhone 17 Pro Max holds up better than iPhone 16 Pro without a case
A CNET reviewer used an iPhone 17 Pro Max caseless for nearly a year, enduring drops and pocket wear, and found the Cosmic Orange finish largely intact aside from minor chipping and dents. Comparing it to a similarly used iPhone 16 Pro, the newer model's screen showed noticeably fewer scratches, suggesting Apple's Ceramic Shield 2 coating delivers a real durability improvement.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Apple faced backlash earlier this year over reports of scratched display units and discoloration on the iPhone 17 Pro line, with the company blaming worn MagSafe display risers rather than a manufacturing flaw. This long-term test offers independent evidence that the phone's actual scratch resistance has improved, which matters for buyers deciding whether a case is necessary and for Apple's durability claims to hold up under real-world scrutiny.
- A year of caseless daily use left the iPhone 17 Pro Max's color largely intact with only minor cosmetic wear.
- Side-by-side comparison showed the iPhone 17 Pro Max screen scratched noticeably less than an iPhone 16 Pro under similar use.
- The results support Apple's claim that Ceramic Shield 2 offers meaningfully better scratch resistance than prior generations.
Spigen Ultra Hybrid iPhone 17 Pro Max Case — If a year of caseless life sounds a little too brave, Spigen's Ultra Hybrid keeps your Cosmic Orange finish visible through a clear back while adding a raised bumper around the camera and screen. It's MagSafe-friendly, so you can still snap on chargers and ring stands like the reviewer did.
See Spigen Ultra Hybrid iPhone 17 Pro Max Case on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: cnet.com — Prakhar Khanna, 2026-09-07
Published there as: “I Used the iPhone 17 Pro Max Without a Case for a Year. Here’s How It Looks Now”
Read the original report → The summary and analysis above are GoKawiil's own, written from reporting by the source above. Facts and quotes belong to the original publisher.