iPhone 17 Pro A new era for iPhone pros, soft aluminum = crushed corners

[ArchEtech]

I have a 16 pro max and now a 17 pro max in hand.

I don’t think the build of the 16 pro is all that groundbreaking. I like the natural Ti as I like the look of satin Ti like my AWU. I tend to prefer the techy more squared edges. The 16 pro is very nice and sophisticated looking. Overall I think it’s a better more streamlined looking device.

I love the orange 17. It’s fun. I think it’s a bit softer in the hand. I had the red and the purple colors, so I like the brighter colors at times. The 17 pro max does not feel cheap at all. My only couple gripes are the back and the camera bumb. I don’t like the MagSafe square area. I’d rather it all be uniform. The camera bump on the 16 pro max does max is much better executed. I don’t like the sharp edges on the camera bump of the 17 and it doesn’t blend seamlessly as well into the back like the 16. It does stick out noticeably less though so it sits flatter - so that’s good. It’s also way more slippery without a case.

Observations: 17 has better cellular connection for me. It’s snappier with apps. It does not get as hot charging or in use, especially in use. Screen is definitely brighter.

I’ll be looking for durability tests.

 

[FlyingTexan]

I cannot believe they are still using trash aluminum on a $1100/$1200 phone and continue to call it “Pro”. Pro used to be the best of the best, now it’s being overshadowed by the less expensive Air. Which is using PREMIUM materials! Tim Apple pinching pennies again. Sad.

Aluminum is a premium material. The softness makes it more durable. It absorbs drops better. Yes it will ding and scratch and nick but the phone will stay usable. If it were stainless you’d get a nice shattered screen. I’ve dropped my 13 mini a hundred times and while it has small dings the screen still looks new. I’d rather have that than any of the other current materials. The only thing I’d see better is Liquid Metal which has twice the strength of titanium and is forgiving.

 

[newellj]

This is an issue that's so old that some people are looking at it like a new issue. I had two iPhone 6 models and they did get dropped without a case and they definitely did get mashed corners, as shown in the pic in the first post.

 

[vroom2]

This is an issue that's so old that some people are looking at it like a new issue. I had two iPhone 6 models and they did get dropped without a case and they definitely did get mashed corners, as shown in the pic in the first post.

It is an old issue, true. The reason this old news is being discussed now is because an iPhone Pro has never been released in aluminum before. There are some people that have never owned anything but an iPhone Pro so for them, it is a heads up about a material change that scratches and dents easier, so they can plan accordingly.

 

[rui no onna]

This is an issue that's so old that some people are looking at it like a new issue. I had two iPhone 6 models and they did get dropped without a case and they definitely did get mashed corners, as shown in the pic in the first post.

My iPad 3rd generation (the big heavy one with huge bezels) had a ding like that. I hadn't received my case yet and it dropped from my desk and one of the corners hit the legs of my computer chair.

 

[Cuesca]

My Mac Mini fell waste height in the Apple Folio, not a single scratch. I slid my M2 MBA into one of those metal Ember cups, the cup took no damage, but the MBA had a gouge. Crazy because I didn't pushed it very hard, in fact I was being very careful with it. I guess it's just bad luck for some people. Apple still gave me the full trade in value for it though so I wouldn't worry. I think these scratches/dents/battle damages build character.

 

[88tatz]

A brand new iPhone 17 Pro Max. That’s not a scratch. That’s a dent

 

[robertosh]

hopefully it is not the type of content creator that buys, films and returns

 

[langkhack18]

I don’t know if Apple did even check the demo units before hands. 30 minutes after opening on release date, the back of the Air has scratches and the entire area of charging port and speaker of 17prm scratches.

 

[vroom2]

hopefully it is not the type of content creator that buys, films and returns

It was a prerelease review unit given to him on loan by Apple. There is even a clip in the video where he is telling Tim Cook he plans to take it to Paris. It was an accident, I am not sure what Apple's policy is on accidental damage on review units when they are returned.

 

[Wags]

Are there any reports of damage even in a case?

 

[AffeAffe]

Are there any reports of damage even in a case?

Yes. My 17 Pro max fell out of my pocket while I was sitting on a chair. Despite having a case, it now has a clearly visible dent. I did not expect that.

 

[langkhack18]

Yes. My 17 Pro max fell out of my pocket while I was sitting on a chair. Despite having a case, it now has a clearly visible dent. I did not expect that.

First comment ever, love it. Picture?

 

[NauticalDan]

Yes. My 17 Pro max fell out of my pocket while I was sitting on a chair. Despite having a case, it now has a clearly visible dent. I did not expect that.

Oh yeah? What case, how high a drop, can we see a pic of the dent?

 

[Wags]

Yes. My 17 Pro max fell out of my pocket while I was sitting on a chair. Despite having a case, it now has a clearly visible dent. I did not expect that.

Wow. That’s soft aluminum.

 

[NauticalDan]

Wow. That’s soft aluminum.

Seems like the pro is more durable this year, but not in all aspects. A catastrophic failure and glass breakage seems way less likely with everyday drops. But minor scuffs and dents are more likely.

Anyone who is ocd ish showing off the barely visible marks of a phone right out of the box needs a case for sure.

 

[3Rock]

Yes. My 17 Pro max fell out of my pocket while I was sitting on a chair. Despite having a case, it now has a clearly visible dent. I did not expect that.

We want to see the case and show us and distance onto the floor. And by the way I wanna see the floor type, concrete, carpeting, tile, etc..

 

[AffeAffe]

Oh yeah? What case, how high a drop, can we see a pic of the dent?

I use a Pitaka Aramid case. They don't provide the best protection though. I was still surprised that even this height was enough to damage it. It was the height of a chair, maybe 50 cm.

https://imgur.com/a/vd3Q9sm

 

[SmOgER]

Yeps. Titanium, A19 Pro chip and no VC. Recipe for heating. Probably a prototype product that’s being tested for the foldable next year. So whatever floats your boat…..

Not necessarily. Pro is used there because it's a higher binned chip and can get the same performance with less heat (or more performance with the same heat). Obviously it's not gonna be hotter running than phat new Pro Max, but it's still gonna be fast enough to rival non-pro A19 on sustained performance and be faster than it for peak performance.

Also a note on their vapour chamber... That is predominantly cooling the battery. The effect on actual chip cooling is more indirect I believe. Not a gimmick, but the importance of that design change seems overblown for what it actually does and their sustained performance gains compared with gains from the previous years. A17Pro to A18Pro arguably saw bigger gains than what we are seeing with A19Pro and vapour chamber over A18Pro now.

 

[bsmr]

hopefully it is not the type of content creator that buys, films and returns

Hopefully he does as for this pricing this is not acceptable!

 

[bsmr]

I use a Pitaka Aramid case. They don't provide the best protection though.

That's because of the material Pitaka is using. It too thin and too hard to protect the phones!

 

[AffeAffe]

That's because of the material Pitaka is using. It too thin and too hard to protect the phones!

That's probably true. However, I had similar slight drops with previous Pros and Pitaka cases and it never resulted in any dents or scratches. It's always a bit of bad luck, depending on how the phone lands though. Nevertheless, aluminum is simply softer than steel or titanium.