It’s been a while since the iPhone had a ‘-gate’ controversy, but the new iPhone 17 Pro lineup seems to have sparked one called ‘scratchgate’. Several users have claimed that the Deep Blue and Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max scratch far too easily.
YouTuber Zack Nelson from JerryRigEverything, in his durability tests, found that the iPhone 17 Pro series scratches easily, particularly around the sharp edges of the large rear camera module.
According to him, the issue lies in the anodized coating, which struggles to adhere to these sharp edges. The problem is especially noticeable on the Blue and Orange variants of the iPhone 17 Pro, where the coating on the edge can chip off with everyday contact from items like keys or coins.
While the new aluminum unibody design on the iPhone 17 Pro series does help with heat dissipation, the vulnerability to scratches is a bad look for Apple.
The only reliable way to protect your pricey new iPhone 17 Pro or 17 Pro Max from scratches is to use a case.
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
While the sharp edges around the camera module remain vulnerable, both Pro models otherwise aced the durability tests, performing exceptionally well in all other areas.
