Just a day after the iPhone 17 lineup went on sale, reports surfaced that some of the demo units in Apple Stores are already scratched and scuffed. The issue has been spotted on both iPhone 17 Pro models and the new iPhone Air, raising questions about durability.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that display models of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air in stores across New York, London, Hong Kong, and Shanghai had visible scratches. The damage seems most noticeable on darker finishes, including the Deep Blue iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, and the Space Black iPhone Air.
@bloombergbusiness Eager shoppers around the globe waiting to purchase a new #iPhone on Friday arrived at stores to find that some of the models were already covered in scratches. Mark Gurman explains why. #tech #news
Many scratches were concentrated around the MagSafe charging area, where repeated use left circular marks. Customers have also shared images online of scratched iPhone 17 Pro demo units, with some warning buyers to use a case immediately to avoid similar issues.
@megantinxie liked deep blue the best but ended up getting the silver 🥲 whyyyy #iphone17pro #iphone17promax #apple #iphone17
Apple switched from a titanium body on the iPhone 16 Pro to an aluminum unibody for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max this year. The change makes room for a vapor chamber cooling system, but anodized aluminum is more prone to scratches compared to titanium or glass. On the iPhone Air, which uses a titanium frame and Ceramic Shield back, scratches were spotted on the Space Black variant, despite Apple promoting the front as 3x more scratch-resistant and the back as 4x more crack-resistant compared to earlier models.
Russian YouTuber Wylsacom also tested the Deep Blue iPhone 17 Pro and found it scratched easily, confirming what has been seen in stores. So far, lighter finishes such as Cosmic Orange and Silver on the Pro models, and white or light gold on the Air, appear to be less affected or better at hiding marks.
While demo units are handled roughly in Apple Stores, the issue may explain why Apple skipped a black iPhone 17 Pro this year. Dark aluminum surfaces show scratches more prominently, and limiting darker options could be Apple’s way of minimizing complaints.
For buyers, the best way to avoid cosmetic damage is to use a case as soon as possible after unboxing.
(via Bloomberg)
