Apple responds to iPhone 17 'Scratchgate'

There are already controversies and the models have only been on the market for less than a week.

You might have heard or seen the new iPhone 17 scratchgate – essentially the iPhone 17 models are scratching a lot more than last years' models, specifically the iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max and the iPhone Air, though the iPhone Air is scratching for a different reason.

The reason the iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max models are scratching are because Apple has switched back to using aluminum on their Pro models after years of using stainless steel and then later titanium. Aluminum is a much softer metal, and due to the vibrant colors painted on as well, the aluminum can be scratched very noticeably.

However, some in-store iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro models in Deep Blue have had glass scratches, which, actually, according to Apple, are not scratches at all. They are some sort of material transfer from older, worn out MagSafe risers in-store. This is also now the case on some older iPhone 16 models that are still in store.

Tom's Guide has noted that they have had wildly different experiences depending on what the phone is subject to, even if they are similar experiences. One Cosmic Orange model is getting small scratches for them but that iPhone has been "in a bag with other phones rubbing up against it." This is different to what they have been experiencing with a Deep Blue model of theirs that has been in a back pocket instead of a bag with other phones and they haven't noticed nearly as many scratches.

The solution to this issue is a simple one – get a case for your iPhone 17. Some people might not be happy with that answer since they don't like having a case on their phone, but for now, it is really the only advice that works if you don't want a scratched iPhone 17.

The iPhone 17 models are great iPhones and bring improvements across the board. We will have to wait and see what Apple does soon.