Many iPhone 17 models developed noticeable scratches after just a few hours in Apple Stores. Dark-colored phones are particularly susceptible to scratches. Did Apple make a mistake with its material selection?
First scratch appeared after a few hours
Apple launched the new iPhone 17 series, including the iPhone Air, earlier this month. These smartphones are now available for order and delivery in German stores. However, on the first day of sales, customers and journalists reported noticeable scratches on the devices displayed in Apple Stores. Damage was particularly noticeable on the dark blue iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, as well as the space black iPhone Air. The scratches were particularly noticeable on the aluminum backs of the devices. Just hours after the devices went on sale, the first visitors to Apple Stores documented the damage to the demo devices in social media posts (via Bloomberg). Even the magnetic MagSafe charger appeared to leave noticeable circular marks on the backs of iPhone models. The problem does not appear to be limited to individual devices.
Are there any side effects from the material change?
Apple made a fundamental change to the materials used in the iPhone 17 Pro. Instead of the titanium used in previous models, the company has opted for a lighter and more flexible aluminum alloy. This decision offers advantages in heat dissipation and supports new color schemes, but it also has a significant disadvantage besides being less rigid.
Because anodized aluminum retains its original silvery metallic hue beneath the colored surface, even minor scratches or damage are clearly visible. The physical properties of anodized aluminum explain why darker versions of smartphones are more severely affected. Scratches are particularly noticeable due to the high contrast.
