Apple ‘s new iPhone 17 lineup has just hit the market. However, its debut has not been entirely smooth. Despite the company’s claims of a more durable, scratch-resistant finish on the new aluminum shell, early reports and social media posts suggest that the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air are surprisingly prone to scratches in certain colors.
Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air are scratching easily, early reports claim
Shoppers and reviewers in major cities like Shanghai, Hong Kong, and London have noticed visible scuffs on display units of the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. The issue seems to be more prominent on the new deep blue color option. This issue is not limited to the Pro models, though. There are similar reports about the ultra-thin iPhone Air in black color. These blemishes reportedly appear after only a few hours of handling in stores.
Via: wccftech
The issue is quickly gaining traction on social media. Consumers in China have been sharing photos of the scratches, raising questions about Apple’s durability promises .
It’s noteworthy that, although the most visibly affected units appear to be the blue and black ones, there are also reports of scratches on units of other colors. So, it could be more of a problem with the manufacturing material than the color.
This isn’t the first time Apple has faced such a problem. For those who remember, the situation is a bit of a throwback to the “Scuffgate” controversy surrounding the iPhone 5 in 2012, which also involved easily scratched dark aluminum models. The company has also dealt with other launch-day issues, such as “Bendgate” with the iPhone 6. We also cannot forget the antenna issues of the iPhone 4.
Demo unit iPhone 17 Pro scratches on day 1… (it’s not even 24 hours yet) Use a case immediately if you don’t wait to experience this kind of issue. I’m very disappointed with the quality here pic.twitter.com/zRjIQrl3zA — Bradley (@VerdeSelvans) September 19, 2025
It’s true that no phone is truly scratch-proof. However, the visibility of these blemishes on the new aluminum finish is particularly notable. It stands out even more in products from a company that prides itself on premium build quality. Some analysts have speculated that Apple might have been aware of the issue, which could be a reason why a black color option was not officially released for the Pro models this year.
General problem or isolated cases?
For now, it’s too early to talk about a widespread problem. It’s still possible that we’re seeing issues with the finish of certain units. However, it’s still unfortunate for early adopters who spent a lot of money on the new devices. We’ll have to wait a bit to see how things develop.
