iPhone 17 Pro durability test shows Apple’s flagship scratches easily

Despite Apple's bold assertions regarding the durability of its Ceramic Shield 2 technology, recent tests suggest that the iPhone 17 Pro is vulnerable to scratches from common items such as keys and coins. A video by YouTuber Zack Nelson, known for his channel JerryRigEverything, illustrates how easily the corners of the iPhone 17 Pro's camera bump can be scratched, attributing this flaw to a design oversight by Apple. Nelson expressed his admiration for the iPhone 17 Pro's overall construction but criticized Apple for neglecting a crucial international standard in the design process. He noted that while the anodized coating on the aluminum frame creates a tough surface, it does not adhere well to sharp edges, particularly around the camera bump. "For some reason, Apple didn’t add a chamfer, fillet, or radius around the camera plateau, and I think it was intentional, so it looks cooler," he stated. This aesthetic choice, he believes, may lead to long-term issues since the anodizing fails to properly bond to those corners. Further reinforcing these concerns, a report from Bloomberg highlighted that both the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max showed signs of scuffing within hours of being displayed in stores worldwide. Additionally, even the iPhone 17 Air was noted to be prone to scratches. Notably, the iPhone 17 Pro models also reportedly left circular marks on their backs after being placed on Apple's MagSafe charger. This year's redesign of the iPhone 17 Pro features a new squarish camera module, accommodating a horizontal camera island at the top of the device. The new models utilize a sleek aluminum-glass sandwich design, shifting away from the titanium construction seen in previous versions. As consumers eagerly anticipate the iPhone 17 series, these durability issues raise important questions about the real-world performance of Apple's latest flagship.