Apple admits to ‘scratchgate’ complaints but claims marks on iPhone 17 Pro can be cleaned off

Another year, another iPhone controversy. Apple’s latest flagship devices, the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, have become embroiled in what users are now calling “scratchgate” after multiple demo units displayed in Apple Stores were seen with visible marks on their backs.

Bloomberg first reported the issue, noting that many of the phones — including some brand-new demo models — were already showing significant abrasions, especially around the MagSafe cutout. For customers paying up to $2,000 for a fully loaded Pro Max, the sight of early wear and tear has caused widespread frustration.

Apple has since responded, telling 9to5Mac that the blemishes are not scratches at all, but residue transferred from worn-out MagSafe chargers used in its stores. The company insists that the marks can be removed with cleaning and promised to replace faulty stands in Apple Stores.

While Apple downplayed the problem, critics argue the concern runs deeper. The iPhone 17 Pro replaced last year’s titanium frame with anodised aluminium — a change marketed as improving thermal performance. However, the new material has raised fresh questions about durability. The sharp corners of the enlarged camera plate, in particular, appear especially vulnerable to surface damage.

iFixit’s teardown highlighted the design as a weak point. According to the repair specialists, “a more gradual curve” on the camera bump could have reduced the risk of scratches during daily use. Apple countered that the anodised aluminium is no different from that used in other products and undergoes rigorous testing, but admitted that “minor abrasions and normal wear and tear” are still possible over time.

The company stressed that demo units see unusually heavy handling from thousands of curious shoppers, which makes wear more likely. It also pointed out that earlier iPhones, including iPhone 16 models, showed similar issues when paired with ageing store chargers.

Still, the complaints sting all the more given Apple’s decision to showcase its craftsmanship this year with both the iPhone 17 Pro and the ultra-thin iPhone Air. The Pro range was pitched as combining premium design with practical resilience, featuring Ceramic Shield glass on the back to boost toughness. Apple executives even boasted on camera about the iPhone Air’s resistance to bending under normal pressure, positioning the new line-up as its most robust yet.

For buyers, however, durability expectations are sky-high. When the cost of a flagship smartphone edges towards $2,000, any suggestion that the device might scuff easily strikes a nerve. The “scratchgate” storm reflects more than cosmetic complaints — it taps into the trust Apple has cultivated for decades around build quality.

Apple’s immediate fix is simple: clean the devices and replace the worn charging stands in its stores. But the debate over whether the Pro’s anodised aluminium is as reliable as its titanium predecessor may linger, especially as more customers take their new iPhones out of the box and into the real world.

For now, Apple is urging calm, insisting that scratches are not the issue, only cosmetic residue. But for some customers, the controversy has already left its mark.