Two iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air Colors Appear to Scratch More Easily

[bigandtasty]

This is annoying. I just set up my deep blue iPhone 17pm. Good thing I put my phone in a case.

My phones go straight to a case as soon as they leave the box. They also get a glass screen protector immediately installed at the Apple Store. It is what it is.

til you get some debris in that case, then it's scratchy time

 

[mikeack]

These images have the scratches on the glass. I know we saw a few years ago that taking your keys to the frosted glass would leave lines of residue. Is this that, or is the anodized aluminum actually scratching off to show the raw material under it?

Because of if it's on the glass then yeah, it's going to "show more prominent on darker finishes" if the surface that is being rubbed against (e.g. keys) comes off on the device.

I'm definitely curious how this plays out as my Deep Blue iPhone 17 Pro arrives today, but I'm also careful not to just jump on the rage-bait.

 

[vallfjallet]

Feeling good about holding off on upgrading this year. Launch day iPhone 16 Pro still looks NEW!

Work supplies me with a new one every 2 years. But my 15pm still looks like new. I feel bad that Apple will be rewarded with a sale for this cheap crap

 

[brooklyn360]

Silver wins.

I have a case on my silver 17 pro max but it looks so good i might go "naked" lol.

does it really look so good? you are not bothered by the white ceramic part on the back? it looked kind of cheap on the videos.

thanks!

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

They dont scratch more easily, its basic physics, optics to be exact. Scratches are more visible in dark surfaces than light ones (considering the same material). Dark surfaces absorb more light and thus reflect less of it. For a smooth surface light should be reflected pretty uniformly and a scratch promotes a sharp change is the angle light does with the surface meaning what should be read by our eyes as a pretty uniform thing becomes messed up coming from the scratch area.

Light surfaces absorb much less energy and thus reflect much more compared to dark ones. That reflected light tho is much more diffuse (disorganized)/scathered. Since reflected light in light surfaces is already a mess, there is no visible change when the incoming light shines the scratched part.

In simpler words, the contrast is greater in dark surfaces. That doesn’t mean they scratch more easily, specially because for two finished that receive the same coating, scratch resistance should be the same.

Also, aluminium’s natural color is much closer to white than dark blue or orange so removing the coating shows a big contrast. If underneath the coating the material was black scratches would be much more apparent on a silver iPhone than on a black one.

They all scratch the same, just the darker colors are more visible. Is that what you wrote above in all those paragraphs?

 

[ProbablyDylan]

Ugh, the back of my Titanium 16 Pro is perfect and I don't use a case at all. Sucks they couldn't have continued with Titanium.

This is funny to me because the back of the 16 line is glass - not titanium. Only the little strip around the sides is titanium.

 

[macman01101]

You’re reviewing it wrong.

 

[DogHouseDub]

here's the back of an iPhone 12 mini that's been a caseless daily driver since launch (i.e., 260 weeks)

 

[bookcase]

The display models in store aren’t handled with care, they’re always covered in fingerprints from greasy hands, and people who like to scratch them to see if they can. Love my blue Air and don’t intend to get a full case. I’ll take my chances with a bumper.

 

[sleeptodream]

I guess the Ceramic Shield doesn't hold-up so well....

I’m surprised the color isn’t infused or underneath, like on the base iPhone

 

[culex]

Soooo... now we know why there is no black Pro?

 

[winxmac]

 

[CATiNTHESTORE]

This is no surprise when Apple cuts corners.

It's a big rounded corners, I have to say

 

[sleeptodream]

These images have the scratches on the glass. I know we saw a few years ago that taking your keys to the frosted glass would leave lines of residue. Is this that, or is the anodized aluminum actually scratching off to show the raw material under it?

Because of if it's on the glass then yeah, it's going to "show more prominent on darker finishes" if the surface that is being rubbed against (e.g. keys) comes off on the device.

I'm definitely curious how this plays out as my Deep Blue iPhone 17 Pro arrives today, but I'm also careful not to just jump on the rage-bait.

That’s what I was thinking, if the back is actually ceramic, that it might be the material coming off on the iPhone, and not an actual scratch. I would hope the ceramic shield is colored all the way through and doesn’t just have a coating on top

 

[smorrissey]

"Liquid Glass is not just a metaphor. With our deep integration of hardware and software, we are bringing literal water into your iPhone. Our engineers have worked so hard to make this possible. We know you'll love it"
- Tim Cooked


View attachment 2553305View attachment 2553310

This deserves its own thread.

 

[timborama]

Soooo... now we know why there is no black Pro?

So you’re saying dark blue scratches less than black?! LOL

 

[smorrissey]

https://www.reddit.com/r/iphone/comments/1nlc1c3/iphone_17_pro_scratching_just_from_magsafe_stands

Wonder if the iphone 17 black base scratches too, i'm on the verge to cancel it and move back to Samsung.

 

[Bcn]

Maybe someone did it on purpose and aired the photos for some drama!?

 

[Rigby]

I’m surprised the color isn’t infused or underneath, like on the base iPhone

I haven't seen them in person yet, but doesn't the base 17 also have this matte finish on the back? If so, the black one would probably be equally prone to scratches.

My 13 minis with their glossy back have held up really well ...

 

[Reeneman]

"Most durable iPhone Ever. We think you're gonna love it."

Again: you understand that this glass back that you seeing here with the scratches, is the same material as on the previous iPhones. Did you get it?

 

[Rogifan]

It is unclear how common this is, or how these devices were handled.

But let’s put it on the front page anyway because…

 

[Reeneman]

Maybe someone did it on purpose and aired the photos for some drama!?

Would never happen around an iPhone release… 😆
It’s the usual interaction farming.

 

[Reggiebaldwin]

Probably in a pocket with keys, a oney, a derringer and an aluminum stress ball.

 

[Rigby]

Maybe someone did it on purpose and aired the photos for some drama!?

Maybe. But the scratches in a circular pattern on the Air clearly look like they were caused by a magsafe charger.

 

[SactoGuy18]

Looks like it's mostly the matte finished ceramic shield on the Pro and Air. On the plus side, there's a business opportunity: the people who normally use screen protectors will now want back protectors too.

Or just get a good Spigen or Supcase protective case that is fully compatible with MagSafe.