Apple Addresses iPhone 17 Pro/Air 'Scratchgate' Durability

Following the iPhone 17 series launch, widespread reports on social media have been claiming the new iPhone 17 Pro, Pro Max, and iPhone Air models supposedly picking up scuffs very easily on display in retail stores.

Dubbed 'scratchgate', Apple is now formally responding to the backlash, and its position is clear: the marks are not scratches at all. The company attributes the issue to worn-out MagSafe risers used to showcase the devices, causing material from the display stand to transfer onto the aluminum body of the phone.

On launch day, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman first reported that darker colors of the iPhone 17 Pro (like Deep Blue) and iPhone Air (Space Black) appeared highly susceptible to scratching. However, Apple clarified that this material transfer issue also affects older iPhone 16 models on display.

More importantly, Apple asserts that the transfer is not permanent damage and is easily removable with cleaning. The company is also urging users to critically scrutinize online images of "scratched" iPhone 17 models, especially those showing devices that were intentionally damaged.

Since the new iPhone 17 models have only been on the market for less than a full week, it's hard to definitively say whether 'scratchgate' is truly worth all the hype. But we'll see.