Imagine shelling out ₹1,34,900 for a brand-new iPhone 17 Pro, only to see it start ageing like milk within a day. That’s exactly what a growing number of buyers are experiencing, and they’ve already given it a name: “Scratchgate.”
'Scratchgate' is blowing up online
Social media is buzzing with posts from frustrated users showing off scratches on their shiny new phones just hours after unboxing. The Deep Blue model seems to be the worst offender, showing scuffs even with light handling. It’s not just people at home noticing this; shoppers at Apple Stores have been sharing posts of just a day-old demo units that have been badly scratched-up. Not exactly a good look for a flagship phone. Luckily for the basic iPhone 17, we haven't seen any such issues.
What started as a few complaints has turned into a trending conversation. People are warning new buyers to slap on a case the moment they unbox their phone, unless they want those scratches to become part of the design.
Why Apple's move to aluminium is catching heat
The culprit here is Apple’s big design change this year. The iPhone 17 Pro ditched the titanium-glass sandwich of last year’s iPhone 16 Pro models in favour of an anodised aluminium unibody. The idea was to make the phone lighter and improve cooling with a larger vapour chamber, but aluminium comes with a trade-off: it’s softer, more malleable, and a lot easier to scratch.
The problem shows up most around the edges and the camera plateau, where the anodised coating takes the most beating. Darker colours like Deep Blue make those marks even more obvious, while the new orange option seems to hide them a little better.
Putting the iPhone 17 Pro to the test
YouTuber JerryRigEverything has already put the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max through his signature scratch-and-bend test video, and the results back up what users are seeing. Both phones passed the bend test with flying colours, proving they’re structurally solid. But the anodised aluminium frame didn’t fare nearly as well. Scratches showed up almost immediately, especially around the camera plateau.
Interestingly, the Deep Blue version looked the worst after testing, while the new orange finish seemed a bit more forgiving. On the bright side, stains and marks on the rear glass were easy to wipe clean, but any damage to the frame itself is there to stay.
How to save your iPhone 17 Pro from scratches
If you’re planning to buy one, your best bet is to grab a protective case right away, that’s just the smartest choice.
And if you’re not a fan of cases, then at the very least, you should be going a good-quality skin or wrap.
Otherwise, be ready to watch your ₹1.5 lakh phone pick up battle scars faster than you’d like.
