It seems that when buying a new iPhone, it's not enough to just have a credit card, but also a survival kit: a protective case, a glass screen protector, and - just in case - a separate pocket in your pants. The iPhone 17 Pro has a color problem.
The new generation of Apple phones hit the shelves last week, and the initial reviews were mostly enthusiastic. The most attention was paid to iPhone 17 Plusd, which with its 5.6 mm thickness competes with the thickness of a credit card – at a much higher price. Nevertheless, the phone is surprisingly durable and offers top-notch performance. The biggest question mark still hangs over the battery: will it withstand marathon days of TikTok and Instagram, or will users become regular visitors to the socket? Time will tell the answer. But – iPhone 17 Pro.
Scratches – a new fashion line
While the battery mystery is still being unraveled, another problem has come to light, much more obvious. The cases of the new models scratch incredibly quickly. Social networks were flooded with photos and videos of iPhones with visible signs of use on the first day after their release. Ironically, the cheapest base model does not have these problems. Scratches are apparently a premium feature reserved for more expensive versions.
The black iPhone Air and the blue iPhone Air are particularly prominent. iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, which use a colored layer of aluminum oxide instead of titanium. At the September 9th presentation, Apple confidently emphasized the “ceramic protection” that is supposed to provide three times greater scratch resistance. But in practice? It seems that just a few minutes in a pocket with keys is enough to give the phone its “personal touch”.
#Scratchgate - Apple déjà vu
On the X platform, users called the scratches shocking. “I’m sorry Apple, but #scratchgate is real and extremely disappointing,” wrote one. Famous Youtuber JerryRigEverything also showed that the cases are fragile, even though the phones as a whole are quite robust. His advice is simple: a case and a protective glass are no longer optional, but mandatory equipment - just like a seat belt in a car.
Apple's chronicle of missteps
This is of course not the first time Apple has found itself in an embarrassing situation. Let's remember iPhone 4 and the infamous “Antennagate,” when the signal would fade depending on how you held the phone. And also iPhone 6, which could bend quite nicely with a slight pressure – almost as if it wanted to offer users the function of a fitness device.
@Apple sorry but #Scratchgate is real and very disappointing – a case will help but I reckon even a few minutes without a case in the pocket with keys and the phone is damaged – truly shame on you!
My iPhone 13 Pro Max has been without a case and there are NO scratches at all… pic.twitter.com/toWqY2Osv2
— Amar Singh🔹 (@amisecured) September 19, 2025
Apple has once again created a phone that offers cutting-edge performance and impeccable design, but also a reminder of how fragile beauty is. Some will see this as a metaphor for life, others will simply put on a mask.
