iPhone 17 Pro's Aluminum Body Raises Durability Concerns

Apple's latest iPhone 17 Pro, released today, features an aluminum chassis that has raised durability concerns among early users. Reports indicate that the anodized aluminum body, particularly in the Deep Blue model, is prone to visible scuffs and scratches. This issue arises because the anodized layer overlays raw silver aluminum; when scratched, the underlying material becomes apparent, making imperfections more noticeable compared to previous models with titanium or glass casings.

Bloomberg reported that some buyers observed visible scuffs and imperfections on iPhone 17 Pro demo units in Apple retail stores on launch day. Similarly, the French Apple blog Consomac noted scratching and scuffing on display units, with the MagSafe charger leaving marks on the glass area of both the iPhone 17 Pro and the black iPhone Air.

The susceptibility to visible scuffing is not new for colored aluminum devices. Similar issues have been observed in Apple's MacBook lineup, where minor scratches on Space Gray or Space Black MacBook Pro models are easily noticeable. Lighter-colored devices, such as the new Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro, may fare better in concealing everyday wear and tear due to their closer resemblance to the raw aluminum color.

To mitigate potential damage, users are advised to consider using protective cases to preserve the device's appearance over time.