September 25, 2025, 1:12 pm | Read time: 3 minutes

Scratches visible at launch

As reported by “Bloomberg,” even display units in Apple Stores in cities like New York, London, Hong Kong, and Shanghai are affected. Noticeable wear and tear were visible there after just a few hours. The French online portal “Consomac” reported similar observations. In an Apple Store in Lyon, several devices showed scratches, even though they had only been on display for a short time.

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Materials and colors in focus

The iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air are particularly in the spotlight. They feature a back made of first-generation Ceramic Shield. The iPhone Air has a glass plate covering the entire back, with a titanium frame. In contrast, the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max have an aluminum back with a smaller glass plate under the camera plateau. According to media reports, scratches are especially noticeable on dark color variants like Deep Blue on the Pro and Space Black on the iPhone Air.

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The photos shown reveal several scratches on the glass plates. Some of them seem to come from the MagSafe mounts to which the display devices are attached.

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Scratches in the glass are the lesser problem with the iPhone 17 Pro

YouTuber Zack Nelson provides reassurance on his channel “JerryRigEverything.” The micro-etched glass back is abrasive–meaning it can be sanded down. However, simply wiping it off makes the scratches disappear immediately from the iPhone 17.

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Nelson points out another issue that is not so easily resolved. Apple uses a process called anodization to color the aluminum frame in the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max. However, for the edge of the camera plateau, Apple does not seem to have followed the recommendations for the anodization process. Normally, it should be rounded so that the anodized material can adhere. The plateau is so angular that the coating quickly peels off under external impact.

Apple responds

In a statement to “9To5Mac,” Apple addressed the allegations, confirming that the marks are not scratches but material from the MagSafe mounts that is peeling off. As Nelson showed in his video, the marks should disappear with wiping. The company has announced a solution to the problem in Apple Stores.

However, Apple shows less insight regarding the second allegation. According to the statement, the camera plateau has similar properties to the casing of other Apple products–such as MacBooks. Users should expect normal wear and tear, including minor abrasion.