Apple responds to concerns about iPhone 17 Pro scratches and durability
The new iPhone launch is not without its drama. While the iPhone Air has been impressive in all bending and scratch tests, some users have expressed concerns about the strength of the iPhone 17 Pro's aluminium body. 9to5mac.com asked Apple for an explanation, and the company responded, noting that the smartphones underwent the most rigorous endurance testing before release.
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The "scratchgate" scandal first appeared in a Bloomberg article published on the day of the iPhone 17 launch. The article noted examples of wear and tear on iPhone 17 Pro demo units in Apple stores and other retail partners. The marks were mostly on the back of the iPhone 17 Pro, especially around the MagSafe notch.
Apple said that these imperfections were caused by worn MagSafe stands used in some stores. The company has clarified that these marks are not scratches, but a transfer of material from the stand to the phone, which can be removed by cleaning. Apple is working to address this issue in stores, likely by replacing worn MagSafe stands. Other iPhones on display, including the iPhone 16, are also affected.
But the problem goes deeper than that. JerryRigEverything drew attention to another durability issue in his video over the weekend. During his testing, he found that the protruding edges around the camera plateau on the back of the iPhone 17 Pro are particularly prone to scratches. He explained that this is mainly due to the lack of chamfering or rounding of the edges of the camera plateau.
A similar conclusion was reached by iFixit, which examined the smartphone's body under a microscope and concluded that the anodising process, although it creates a durable coating that does not peel off, makes the metal structure more fragile, and therefore it is better not to apply anodising to small parts and sharp corners. Accordingly, the sharp edge of the camera block is the most vulnerable point in the Pro model, which will easily get chipped.
Apple has noted that the edges of the iPhone 17 Pro camera unit have characteristics similar to the edges of the anodised aluminium bodies of other Apple products, including other iPhone and MacBook models. Although these edges are durable and pass Apple's rigorous testing, the company notes that users may notice normal wear and tear over time, including minor scuffs.
Overall, the iPhone Air and the iPhone 17 lineup are impressive in durability tests. For example, the iPhone Air is extremely durable and does not bend under normal pressure, despite its ultra-thin body. Tests also show that the Ceramic Shield 2 on all four new iPhone models is significantly more scratch-resistant than before.
During the announcement of the iPhone 17 line, Apple emphasised that the phones now use "lightweight 7000-series aerospace aluminium alloy". The anodised layer on the phones also exceeds industry hardness standards. Apple emphasises that its products undergo rigorous durability tests, including scratch tests, to ensure endurance under normal use. However, it is clear that the new design has some compromises in terms of strength compared to the previous titanium case.
You should also remain sceptical when you see images of scratched or damaged iPhones on social media. Often, the damage is clearly intentional, but it's been passed off as normal wear and tear to get more social media hype.
Despite the concerns about durability, the new aluminium design of the iPhone 17 Pro has significant advantages. The phones have noticeably better thermal performance than previous iPhone models and feel good in the hand.
Source: 9to5mac.com
