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Apple’s latest iPhone 17 models have sparked controversy over their durability. Despite marketing these devices as scratch-resistant due to a refined aluminum finish, early reports indicate that the real-world experience is quite different. Specifically, both the Blue iPhone 17 Pro and Black iPhone Air variants are prone to scratches and scuffs.
Durability Questions Emerge as iPhone 17 Models Show Scratches Within Hours
Shoppers and reviewers in China have noticed troubling signs on the latest iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models, particularly those with the new special Blue finish. Display units in Apple Stores across Shanghai and Hong Kong showed visible scuffs after just a few hours of handling, indicating that the finish is far from durable. The ultra-thin iPhone Air has shared the same fate, suffering similar scuffing and scratches.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman confirms these findings, stating he observed blemishes on demo units in Shanghai, Hong Kong, and London. If this issue is widespread, it poses a significant problem for Apple, which prides itself on premium build quality. The iPhone 17 lineup has just hit the shelves, and it remains to be seen if Apple will address these concerns.
Consomac, an Apple blog, also reported similar issues when checking out demo units at the Apple Store in Paris.
It appears that dark aluminum models like the Deep Blue iPhone Pro are scratch-prone due to their anodized aluminum frame. This is not entirely surprising, as previous dark aluminum models faced a similar issue, which likely explains why there’s no black version available this year.
Chinese consumers have expressed dismay on Weibo, and the topic of scratched iPhones has gone viral. As China is one of Apple’s most important markets, any inconveniences could negatively impact sales in the long run. Since Apple is catching up in the AI race, the novel design language is the main selling point for these new models. Therefore, a durability issue at this stage would be highly undesirable.
Apple has not yet commented on the issue, and it remains to be seen if they will address these concerns.
