iPhone 17 Pro Series' Painting is Vulnerable to Scratches - The "Scratchgate" is Real

The iPhone 17 Pro series has only just hit the market, but it already has its first controversy. The latest "-gate" scandal comes with the “scratchgate” moniker. Apple launched new colors this year, with the Deep Blue and the Cosmic Orange being the notable ones. The latter, certainly, is the trademark of this generation as it takes a major departure from what Apple does. However, it seems that these color options are more susceptible to the scratchgate.

Owners of the Deep Blue and Cosmic Orange versions are reporting that their devices are prone to picking up scratches far too easily, particularly around the large rear camera housing.

The iPhone 17 Pro has been on sale for only a short time, but it already has a new problem. Users are calling it “scratchgate.” People with the Deep Blue and Cosmic Orange models say the phone scratches too easily, especially around the big camera bump.

YouTuber Zack Nelson, known for his JerryRigEverything channel, tested the new iPhones as usual. The phones handled bending and heat well. But the scratch test was a surprise. The sharp edges of the camera housing showed marks right away. Even light contact chipped the colored coating.

Nelson believes this happens because of the way Apple coats the camera edges. These edges are sharper than before, which makes the coating harder to stick. As a result, they chip and scratch faster. The pocket items like keys, coins, or a bit of sand can leave visible damage.

This is frustrating for many buyers. Apple promoted the new aluminum unibody design as a major upgrade. It makes the phone lighter and helps it stay cooler during heavy use. Those benefits are still real, but the finish seems easier to damage than expected.

Right now, the best way to protect the phone is by using a case. That might not please buyers who wanted to show off the new colors, but it prevents scratches.

Both the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max passed all other durability tests. They survived bending, heat, and everyday stress without major issues. The scratches do not hurt the phone’s performance, but they do hurt its looks. Owners who want their phone to stay perfect will have to be careful.