iPhone 17 Pro Max Where are my dented or scuffed 17 pro/pro Max peeps at?

[ShadowGuardian87]

The phone still is functional and durable after big drops. Chips and dents are just cosmetic at the end of the day. This would be a bigger issue if the phones stop working or suffered major damage to the screen or internal components after one small drop. Sure, I would have liked the aluminum to be a bit tougher but given how hot my 15 pro max use to get, I would rather have a cooler running phone. Besides, like 98% people with smart phones use cases.

 

[NotApplicable]

I would rather have a cooler running phone. Besides, like 98% people with smart phones use cases.

Slapping your phone in a rubber/plastic insulator means making the exterior of the phone out of aluminum is useless, from a heat dissipation POV.

PS, The number is closer to 70% according to surveys.

 

[mathiasinthe314]

Slapping your phone in a rubber/plastic insulator means making the exterior of the phone out of aluminum is useless, from a heat dissipation POV.

PS, The number is closer to 70% according to surveys.

I am no engineer, but is it possible that titanium in case still runs hotter and throttles more than an aluminum device with a vapor chamber that still spreads the heat out along a larger surface area even if it's surrounded by an insulating material?

Any engineers in the house?

 

[NotApplicable]

I am no engineer, but is it possible that titanium in case still runs hotter and throttles more than an aluminum device with a vapor chamber that still spreads the heat out along a larger surface area even if it's surrounded by an insulating material?

Any engineers in the house?

Vapor chamber doesn't require an aluminum exterior -- many Android phones have vapor chambers with titanium frames.

So the question is, if a phone is encased in a rubber/plastic case, does the exterior aluminum surface really make a significant difference, all else equal (vapor chamber in both, aluminum internal chassis to spread heat as the old Ti/SS iPhone Pros had)

 

[Bethanie21]

Well, I ment the iPhone 17 pro’s in general not the dent. I think these are the ugliest iPhones ever.

We get it, you think they’re ugly. Others don’t. It’s all a matter of opinion.

 

[Bethanie21]

I absolutely do not trust the poster. The phone clearly popped out of the case resulting in this damage. I have dropped my phones dozens of times on concrete with a case on and have never accrued any damage whatsoever. I can go as far back to aluminium designs such as the 6S, OGSE and 8 with all of my devices still in pristine condition.

The 8 had a glass back and aluminium sides, hardly comparable to the 17 Pros and Pro Maxes.

 

[Bethanie21]

Who said it was bad? It was great. However, for high-performance iPhones, aluminium is better. Every material has pros and cons.

Don't drop your phones.

End of thread.

 

[teh_hunterer]

End of thread.

Not really, because the thread is about the durability of the materials used in the phone.

 

[Andeddu]

The 8 had a glass back and aluminium sides, hardly comparable to the 17 Pros and Pro Maxes.

I said I have a 6S with aluminium sides and back also. I used it for 2 years as a daily driver and a year as a secondary Wi-Fi device. No wear and tear.

My OGSE has been used for around 3 years also with no marks on the rear or sides.

I won’t be worrying about my phones because I use cases.

 

[NotApplicable]

I won’t be worrying about my phones because I use cases.

That’s great, it also means you don’t need top thermal performance.

The real hilarity comes from users who laud the thermal benefits of an aluminum outer shell but immediately encase the aluminum in rubber and plastic.

 

[Andeddu]

That’s great, it also means you don’t need top thermal performance.

The real hilarity comes from users who laud the thermal benefits of an aluminum outer shell but immediately encase the aluminum in rubber and plastic.

I do play AAA games, but Resident Evil 2 (2019) runs smoothly with no FPS drops or noticeable throttling.

That said, things might be different once I try something more demanding, especially since I always keep a case on my phone.

I don’t mind aluminium, though I wouldn’t have complained if Apple had gone with titanium. As I mentioned, I’m a case user, so the materials don’t really matter much to me.

 

[mmacrumor]

This is my previous aluminium iPhone, 7 plus, matt black

Launch day I got deep blue 17 pro max, even though I liked deep blue colour, 7 plus losing colour was running behind my mind, so I returned and got a silver pro max.

At the 7 plus time I had to take apple to fair trading to get my Matt black replaced because the Genius Bar refused to accept it is as quality issue.

I got a full refund and purchased a new 7 plus in silver and then in a day or 2 the red 7 plus dropped, so returned the silver and got red. After 7 plus, apple moved to stainless steel and titanium for the pro phones

Never used cases on my phones, dropped it several times and it had never scuffed until this brittle 17 pro max

I never have my phone in shirt pocket but that day I had in my shirt pocket and bent to tie shoe lace and the phone slipped and fell in pebbles.

Now have my replacement in a techwoven case.

Can’t wait for the fold to come in titanium

 

[Bethanie21]

Not really, because the thread is about the durability of the materials used in the phone.

Really really, just don’t drop or be careless with your expensive mobile phones. Problem solved.

 

[Bethanie21]

Slapping your phone in a rubber/plastic insulator means making the exterior of the phone out of aluminum is useless, from a heat dissipation POV.

PS, The number is closer to 70% according to surveys.

Not everyone ‘slaps their phone in a rubber or plastic insulator’. I don’t, so the aluminium exterior is useful.

 

[teh_hunterer]

Really really, just don’t drop or be careless with your expensive mobile phones.

You're really really just trying to obfuscate the issue. The fact is that this year's Pro phones are made of a material that is far less resistant to wear and tear than the last years. You can say "You're holding it wrong" all you like, but it doesn't change that fact.

Problem solved.

Nah, the problem remains, no question about it. The question is really how much it actually matters to most people, and whether or not the design tradeoff is worth it (less durable but more performant). But trying to pretend it doesn't exist? "You're holding it wrong"? Nah.

 

[PhoenixDown]

Apple lauds the durability, and improvements - especially with glass, at every release but this one where we took a huge step back. Apple didn't even reduce the price, they increased it.

 

[Andeddu]

Apple lauds the durability, and improvements - especially with glass, at every release but this one where we took a huge step back. Apple didn't even reduce the price, they increased it.

Not really. They removed the 128gb option and provided us with the 256gb version as a baseline at the same price as the 16 Pro equivalent.

Taking inflation into account, the 17 Pro is a pretty decent deal.

 

[Bethanie21]

You're really really just trying to obfuscate the issue. The fact is that this year's Pro phones are made of a material that is far less resistant to wear and tear than the last years. You can say "You're holding it wrong" all you like, but it doesn't change that fact.



Nah, the problem remains, no question about it. The question is really how much it actually matters to most people, and whether or not the design tradeoff is worth it (less durable but more performant). But trying to pretend it doesn't exist? "You're holding it wrong"? Nah.

So they’re softer. What’s your gripe? Just don’t buy one and get an older titanium model.

 

[Sorig]

So they’re softer. What’s your gripe? Just don’t buy one and get an older titanium model.

They’re not just softer. They’re significantly softer than last year’s. This aluminum chips and dents way too easily. Not what you expect from a Pro model. It’s a downgrade. Feels cheap.

I would have happily bought the 16PM if it came with 12gb of ram. Not interested in the Air.

What’s your next “just do X” suggestion?

 

[Andeddu]

They’re not just softer. They’re significantly softer than last year’s. This aluminum chips and dents way too easily. Not what you expect from a Pro model. It’s a downgrade. Feels cheap.

I would have happily bought the 16PM if it came with 12gb of ram. Not interested in the Air.

What’s your next “just do X” suggestion?

Do whatever makes you happy and don’t be beholden to a single electronics manufacturer.

If you don’t like Apple’s current offerings, get yourself a phone from elsewhere or just wait it out. Apple’s phones have a long life; even an iPhone 11 is still viable as a daily driver today… if you don’t feel like they deserve your money, just keep your cash and wait until you see something you like.

We don’t really have much of a say when it comes to design as these phones will sell out regardless. There’s no point in kicking off because they aren’t making something you want.

Don’t like it? Don’t buy it. There isn’t much point in complaining as they’re unlikely to listen to a small number of people complaining on a forum about their switch from titanium to aluminium.

I use a case so it shouldn’t affect me. If you want to use a phone with no case, the Air might be the one for you. If you really must have the highest level of performance, battery life and additional lenses, then consider using a case with the Pro. The 17 Pro has also been shown to be more durable compared to the 16 Pro in relation so if you want to use it caseless, you can as long as have a high tolerance to cosmetic damage or are careful enough not to drop it.

I don’t get the numerous people on here using a naked iPhone and dropping it within days or weeks of getting it. If you’re going caseless, at least be conscious that you’re handling a very expensive device and don’t put yourself in situations where you’ll end up accidentally causing damage.

I went with the 17 Pro even though I much prefer the look of the Air because I am after a product that doesn’t compromise performance for cosmetic appearance. It’s a trade off for me.

If you aren’t willing to take it on the chin, the 17 Pro isn’t for you.

And that’s fine, no one is suggesting that you should drop $1099 on a device you don’t even like.

 

[3Rock]

They’re not just softer. They’re significantly softer than last year’s. This aluminum chips and dents way too easily. Not what you expect from a Pro model. It’s a downgrade. Feels cheap.

I would have happily bought the 16PM if it came with 12gb of ram. Not interested in the Air.

What’s your next “just do X” suggestion?

17 Pro Max here and I know they’re softer and I know they will get dented and scratched easier, so since I’m aware of this and a grown adult, I’ve put a case on it. And it doesn’t look cheap to me.

 

[teh_hunterer]

So they’re softer. What’s your gripe? Just don’t buy one and get an older titanium model.

Well... what's your gripe? Sounds like you just want everyone to shut up about it.

17 Pro Max here and I know they’re softer and I know they will get dented and scratched easier, so since I’m aware of this and a grown adult, I’ve put a case on it. And it doesn’t look cheap to me.

Putting a case on your phone must be some kind of rite of passage to adulthood some of us missed.

 

[NotApplicable]

since I’m aware of this and a grown adult

And you must not care about any of the purported thermal benefits of the aluminum enclosure, the primary “feature” of aluminum that all of the apologists cite. Wrapping it in rubber and plastic is a major insulator, rendering the “benefit” of an aluminum enclosure moot.

 

[Andeddu]

And you must not care about any of the purported thermal benefits of the aluminum enclosure, the primary “feature” of aluminum that all of the apologists cite. Wrapping it in rubber and plastic is a major insulator, rendering the “benefit” of an aluminum enclosure moot.

It would still run cooler in a case than a 16 Pro in a case. We still see a benefit, just not as big a benefit as using the device caseless.

 

[NotApplicable]

It would still run cooler in a case than a 16 Pro in a case. We still see a benefit, just not as big a benefit as using the device caseless.

Doubt that to be true to any significant degree. The vapor chamber helps the heat spread throughout the body of the device, but the heat then has nowhere to go because it hits layers of rubber and plastic. With no where to go, you saturate the phone very quickly with heat as it can't dissipate well. And I highly doubt it runs any cooler than an iPhone built like the 16 Pro with a vapor chamber would have, which is very clearly the optimal construction of a premium phone: vapor chamber, aluminum internal chassis (like the 16 pro), titanium outer shell (like the 16 pro). And also like premium Android flagships.

The aluminum is a cost-saving measure, and the lipstick on the pig is the thermal marketing. Especially considering a thermally-insulating case is required to prevent normal wear and tear from making the phone look like trash.