Apple has officially responded to growing concerns around the durability of iPhone 17 Pro after early reports and videos showed visible marks on display units. The issue, dubbed “scratchgate,” gained traction as users noticed abrasions on the aluminum frame and around the raised camera plateau.
As reported by 9to5Mac, Apple explained that the marks seen on demo models are not scratches in the metal but rather “material transfer” from worn MagSafe stands used in certain retail stores. These marks can be wiped off with cleaning, and Apple is now addressing the problem by updating fixtures in stores. Similar residue has also been observed on iPhone 16 models, further supporting Apple’s explanation that it originates from worn accessories rather than the iPhone 17 Pro itself.
Apple also commented on concerns raised by JerryRigEverything regarding the raised edges of the camera plateau. In his durability test, those edges were easily scratched because they feature flat anodized aluminum with no chamfer or rounded design. According to Apple, this behavior is consistent with other anodized aluminum edges across its product lineup. The company stressed that the edges have been tested for durability but, like all metal finishes, will still show normal signs of wear with daily use.
These clarifications come after days of debate online, with some users speculating that iPhone 17 Pro’s lightweight aluminum frame was less durable than expected. iFixit’s iPhone 17 Pro teardown provides more detail on Apple’s shift to a 7000-series aluminum alloy and how the chassis is engineered for strength and weight reduction.
Apple’s response suggests that “scratchgate” is more about perception than an actual defect. Demo units face unusual wear in stores, and flat aluminum edges naturally highlight micro-abrasions more than rounded surfaces. For those interested in how the controversy unfolded, we covered the early reactions and durability tests in JerryRigEverything’s iPhone 17 Pro scratchgate post, before Apple’s official clarification.
