Apple’s latest iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max have sparked controversy within just 24 hours of launch, but not for the usual hype. Instead, customers are flooding social media with complaints about durability, pointing to scratches and scuffs appearing on demo units almost immediately.
Reports first surfaced in China, where users on Weibo shared images of easily marked devices. Bloomberg noted that the related hashtag has continued to trend. Many say the damage isn’t from rough handling — even MagSafe chargers are leaving circular marks on the back.
The issue is especially visible on the Deep Blue colorway but affects all three finishes. Apple’s decision to use aluminum instead of titanium is widely blamed.
While some online images exaggerate the extent of damage, there are real reports of dents, chips, and broken corners. The new plateau-style camera bump also creates areas that cases fail to protect, leaving users frustrated.
Apple maintains that the iPhone 17 Pro lineup is just as durable as past models, highlighting aluminum’s strength, lightness, and heat dissipation. But the backlash has been strong enough that some customers claim to have canceled their orders, echoing past durability controversies like the iPhone 5’s scratching issues, the iPhone 7’s finish problems, and the infamous iPhone 6 “bendgate.”
