New iPhones Plagued by Scratch Complaints Just Days After Launch - #Scratchgate trends
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC – Apple’s newly released iPhone 17 Pro and Pro max are facing widespread complaints of easily visible scratches, sparking a social media outcry under the hashtag #scratchgate. Reports began surfacing on the phones’ first day of sale, with users documenting grooves appearing on devices exhibited in stores and on newly purchased models.
Customers are questioning how the phones could sustain damage so quickly.The scratches are most frequently appearing around the phone’s edges and on the back of the device.
The issue primarily affects the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, which retail in the Czech market starting at approximately 33,000 crowns. This year’s models feature a return to aluminum casing after last year’s titanium design, and many beleive the softer material is to blame. While aluminum is more affordable, it is more susceptible to scratches than titanium.
Apple stated the design change was intended to improve device performance, battery capacity, durability, and address overheating issues.
Bloomberg reports the problem isn’t limited to the Pro models, noting that the iPhone Air – currently Apple’s thinnest smartphone – is also showing vulnerability. While the iPhone Air doesn’t bend like the iPhone 6 of 2014, its black variant is reportedly easily scratched, even with its glass back.
Many scratches appear to be originating from the area housing the MagSafe system, used for attaching wireless chargers and other accessories.Some users claim their new iPhones arrived from official sales with pre-existing scratches, particularly on the dark blue and orange color variations.Some are recommending the silver model as a possibly more scratch-resistant option.
This isn’t the first time Apple has faced similar issues. The iPhone 6 (2014) was known for bending,and the iPhone 7,in its Jet Black finish,was prone to scratching.
Apple has not yet commented on the current situation.
