Excited Apple fans from Hong Kong to London and New York lined up for hours on Friday to get their hands on the company’s newly released iPhone 17 models. However, some customers were surprised—and frustrated—to discover that several display units were already showing scratches and scuffs, despite being brand new and on show in stores for only a few hours.
Bloomberg reporters visiting Apple stores across New York, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and London noted that the deep blue versions of the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max were particularly prone to visible scuff marks. The black iPhone Air models also appeared to be vulnerable to scratching, raising questions about the durability of the devices’ new finishes.
In addition to these scuffs, Bloomberg found that Apple’s magnetic MagSafe charger can leave a noticeable circular imprint on the back of the iPhone 17 Pro models. Photographs taken at an Apple Store in Hong Kong show the imprint clearly on the aluminum back of the Pro Max model.
This launch represents Apple’s first significant physical redesign of its flagship smartphones in several years. The new iPhone 17 line returns to an aluminum shell and features what Apple has marketed as a more scratch-resistant rear finish. Despite these claims, the early reports from customers and journalists indicate that the devices may still be prone to cosmetic wear, particularly on the darker-colored finishes.
Apple has not immediately responded to requests for comment on the reports.
In China, one of the first regions to sell the new devices, consumers quickly took to social media Friday morning to share images of scratches appearing on the iPhone 17 models. On Weibo, a hashtag related to the scratches had already attracted more than 40 million views by Friday afternoon. Users on X (formerly Twitter) also posted videos and photos highlighting the marks on the new phones, sparking conversations about the durability of Apple’s latest designs.
The aluminum used for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max enclosures is known to be prone to scratches, and blemishes are especially noticeable on darker hues. The deep blue iPhone 17 Pro, in particular, appears to show marks more readily, echoing issues seen in past Apple releases. For example, the black and slate models of the iPhone 5 in 2012 drew similar complaints about scratches, while the glossy black finish of the iPhone 7 was also criticized for being easily scuffed. Apple’s previous devices—including the thin iPhone 6, which could bend under pressure, and the iPhone 4, which famously suffered wireless antenna problems—have all faced notable launch-day issues.
Despite these cosmetic concerns, the debut of the iPhone 17 line is otherwise strong. Apple is counting on the new generation of smartphones to sustain its sales momentum, particularly as the company continues to roll out AI-driven features that it hopes will distinguish the iPhone 17 from prior models. Early consumer enthusiasm remains high, even as social media discussions highlight the first reports of scratches and imperfections on the display units.
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