xeux
macrumors regular
I have personally had mine bend from minor drops. Anyone defending the alu casing hasn't had the problem YET. I do agree those cracked photos look fake.
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iPhone 17 Pro 17 Pro durability
- Thread starter BigDO
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I'm not denying the claims that Al is softer than the Ti before that. Just those pics specifically look really fake. And not even the quality kind.
Alex W.
macrumors 6502
Their real and there is quite a few more on the reddit.
The attenna line is plastic and its quite wide and is a weak point in the design.
The point is apple messed up big time in the design and is likely aware of it and will be making corrections in the 18, so wait.
Also
If a phone is bending like that in pockets, cracked plastic attenna lines are likely with such a weak structure; its less likely the phone isnt cracking vs likely it is when all of these reports are around.
I don’t believe those broken antenna pics are real. Looks like something from a Looney Tunes episode.
The antenna had been that way since the iPhone 6 days, and not once do I remember hearing of a broken antenna. Those are specifically plastic to allow for signal penetration. Metal blocks them. And they’d been pretty much the same width for generations.
I haven’t seen the pro max test, but 17 Pros have been tested to withstand 200 lbs. So unless someone much heavier than that keeps his phone in his back pocket, I don’t see how they could bend it accidentally.
From what I’ve seen the 17 Pro’s frame is slightly tougher than the early reports made it seem. Scratches and dents are still possible if it drops on hard edges but the ceramic shield and stainless steel combo holds up really well in everyday use. If you’re careful and mostly pocket it, you should be fine without a case, just maybe avoid concrete or gravel!
Indeed. Those pics defy the laws of physics. With the plateau providing extra support, you’d need to focus a ton of force specifically on the antenna to break it.
Those fake pics showing the antenna breaking on the lower edge would’ve been more believable.
If only those fake posters knew better.
Momof2.1107
macrumors demi-goddess
You have to realize that this is a per case basis. Not everyone is having these issues.
I mean, it’s Reddit. There’s also a reason why I didn’t just ask there 🙂
Cobalt Blizzard
macrumors 6502a
I don't know even what to say there lolSkip the 17 pro max, i know 3 coworkers who run caselss and first corner drop the entire frame is deformed.
This is the reality of the 5080 alimimum they used and im 100% certain they will be using a harder aluminium for the 18. Just go look at the subreddit, tons of people showing the physical frame where the metal is the thinnest completely deforming, or worse is a completely bent phone, or antenna lines cracking.
First drops destory the thing, and this is commonly shared. Go ask any ai chatbot will also agree with what im saying due to widespread reports on it. The AIR / 16 PRO Max is a better product, and if you dont upgrade yearly skip the 17 pro / max 5080 Al version and wait for a harder material.
Theres a reason this device is the most returned iphone ever; dont pay a premium for a lesser product.
Tyler on Instagram: "I’d rather have a scratch prone iPhone than a mini oven in my pocket. #iphone17promax #iphone17 #brokeniphone"
14K likes, 147 comments - hitomidocameraroll on September 29, 2025: "I’d rather have a scratch prone iPhone than a mini oven in my pocket. #iphone17promax #iphone17 #brokeniphone".www.instagram.com
Bent iPhone 17 Pro Max 😅 Pro ... - Smart Depot Tech
Bent iPhone 17 Pro Max 😅 Pro tip: try not to bend or sit on your new iPhone in the back pocket.www.facebook.com
Alex W.
macrumors 6502
From the iPhone17Pro community on Reddit: Frame bent out at speaker grill
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Another post showing how fragile the 5080 Alu is bending without being dropped just with natural metal fatigue.
wait for the 18, they’ll certainly be using hard alu given the engineering defect the current type has caused for a “pro max” model.
I just saw that the Artemis II crew is using a silver 17 Pro without cover.
Case closed. Mods pls lock thread.
Case closed. Mods pls lock thread.
xeux
macrumors regular
Tdude96
macrumors 6502a
I certainly had issues. My 6 (standard size) was my first iPhone and I kept it in a case. That didn't prevent damage. Dust scratching the back of the phone when it got caught between the phone and the case. Screen delamination from the bottom right corner where the aluminum bent away from the glass, causing touch sensitivity issues. Minor bends despite the case and no abuse of the phone (never dropped, etc).
I decided surely Apple had fixed the problems by the time they got a few more generations in, so I bought an 8 Plus to replace it. I decided not to go with a case, because I thought perhaps some of the delamination issue was due to popping the phone out of the case periodically to clean out the dust. That phone didn't have as many micro scratches on the back, but it did eventually succumb to bending & partial screen delamination despite being careful with it. Touch sensitivity didn't seem affected. In the last month before I upgraded, I did drop it a short distance and got a solid gouge in one corner and minor damage to just the edge of the display's bezel (no cracking).
Which leads to my iPhone 13 Pro Max, an absolute tank. I used it caseless for its incredible premium feel and never had any problem with it, even though I was less careful with it than the fragile aluminum phones. It got dropped on concrete and asphalt and never showed a scratch or a dent. It held up to years of hard use and looked like it was still in near-original condition until it took a feline-induced tumble off a railing and down a flight of concrete stairs. That caused the (non-Ceramic Shield) back glass to crack badly, but not break. The rest of the phone, surprisingly, still looked fine aside from the tiniest chip in the front display which was practically invisible. No bending or denting of the metal. I suspect that if the back glass had been Ceramic Shield, it would have been in better shape like the display was.
Unless Apple has massively upgraded the quality of aluminum they're using, I imagine that the iPhone 17 Pro models will suffer the same issues over time as other aluminum phones. However, since the back glass is now Ceramic Shield, I suspect that glass will hold up better than the previous generations of Pro phones, but the surrounding frame will wind up bent, scratched and dented with normal use - case or no - although after having tried it both ways I'd recommend a case on an aluminum phone due to the softness of the metal. You just might have to deal with the back getting some microscratches and likely delamination, particularly if you're taking the case off periodically to clean the phone while trying to reduce that scratching. I would have a lot more confidence in the durability of the iPhone 17 Pro if Apple had given it a steel or Titanium band around the edge, even if they did use cheap aluminum for heat conduction in areas of the back that are not glass.
Alex W.
macrumors 6502
More dents and bends
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From the iPhone17Pro community on Reddit: Never Buying a Torras Case Again...
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From the iPhone17Pro community on Reddit: Yes folks it still works flawless just a few buttons stuck after being sat on by a semi trailer🤣
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From the iPhone17Pro community on Reddit: Honestly this is impressive!!
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From the iPhone17Pro community on Reddit: Oh shoosh. Is there any way to hide it?
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From the iPhone17Pro community on Reddit: told everyone to skip the 17 pro…. bought it myself
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Andeddu
macrumors 68020
Six month check-in.
Yep, still looks as good as the day I got it.
Momof2.1107
macrumors demi-goddess
I go off real world testing, not someone on YouTube or Reddit. I use my device differently than they do, and treat my device differently than they do.