What is ‘scratchgate’? Unpacking the iPhone 17 Pro scratching problem.

The iPhone 17 has been officially released, and this is usually a happy time of year for Apple fans jonesing for a new smartphone. Overall, the early iPhone 17 Pro reviews are very positive, but this year’s model does have some issues, one of which is that the new iPhone 17 can be pretty easily scratched. 

As Apple Stores put the new iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max on display, shoppers noticed that the demo units were already getting scratched. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman also reported that the new aluminum unibody frame was especially prone to scratching, particularly on the darker colors like Deep Blue. (Gurman and others speculated that this is actually why Apple didn't release the Pro models in black.) The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max had a more scratch-resistant titanium body, and many new iPhone 17 Pro owners were surprised by how quickly their new phones showed wear and tear.

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So far, it seems the affected phones are the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max with the anodized aluminum shell. 

What is Scratchgate?

The tsunami of scratch-related complaints flooding social media has been dubbed "scratchgate." About 24 hours after iPhone Day, early adopters had already settled on this term. Some users have even found scratches on the aluminum body after leaving their phones in the same pocket as coins or keys. The scratches reveal the silver-colored aluminum underneath, which contrasts greatly with the bright orange or dark blue colors in particular.

Why does this happen? Anodized aluminum has a top layer that acts like the candy shell around an M&M. Once you scratch off the shell, you’re left with what’s underneath, and what’s underneath is your everyday silver-colored aluminum. Thus, even after a couple of days, people who rock their iPhone 17 Pro models without a case have noticed some surface damage. YouTubers like JerryRigEverything, known for breaking down phones, literally, are already sharing videos of the problem, which doesn't occur with the iPhone Air, thanks to its titanium enclosure.

The problem manifests in an even worse way around the back of the phone. Per JerryRigEverything, the camera bump on the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max was designed with a sharp corner instead of a chamfered edge. This design choice, mixed with how anodizing works, makes the camera bump on the new iPhone 17 Pro models prone to chipping, the YouTuber says. This problem can’t be solved and never goes away. We recommend watching the video in full to properly understand the phenomenom.

“The ISO standard says that sharp edges should be machined into a radius 10 times the intended thickness (of the anodized layer),” says JerryRigEverything. “Which if Apple is using 25 micrometer thick anodizing, the minimum radius would be between a quarter and half a millimeter. The U.S. military standard says about the same thing. But Apple just didn’t follow any of those public suggestions.”

So, in short, the candy coating-like anodized aluminum layer around the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are not only prone to scratching, but the camera bump on the back is prone to chipping, and it’s completely unfixable for the end user. 

Of course, there is a simple solution to scratchgate...

How to avoid scratches on iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max phones

The only way to reduce the likelihood scratchgate? Slap a case on your new iPhone ASAP. This will protect the aluminum frame as well as that sharp edge on the camera bump. This should also help keep larger digs and scratches from coming out if you drop the phone. Fortunately, you can find tons of iPhone 17 Pro cases (plus cases for the iPhone 17), with MagSafe-compatible options starting at $14.99.

Of course, the “relic” look is pretty popular among musicians these days, who intentionally age their guitars to make them look like road-worn antiques. If you dig that vibe, then leave your phone out of a case, and it’ll get there in pretty short order.