The 'Scratchgate' Problem Appears In The Bodi Aluminum IPhone 17 Pro
Apple's latest iPhone 17 Pro is attracting attention not just because of the A19 Pro chip and its new design. A few weeks after its launch, in the US, users reported that the aluminum frame of this phone is easy to scratched, especially around the camera bulge a problem that some people dubbed Scratchgate.
The latest teasedown from iFixit provides insight into why this layer is less durable. Using the Evident DSX2000 microscope and a violent test tool, iFixit found that flat aluminum surfaces are sufficiently resistant to everyday wear, but sharp edges around the camera island are much more vulnerable. In tests that simulate contact with coins or locks, the anodization layer at these angles is easily peeling, showing the raw metal below.
Material expert David Niebur explained to iFixit that the problem lies in design geometry. The anodization process tends to be less powerful in areas with sharp transitions. A finer curve might reduce the risk of exfoliation, but Apple's design options seem to make these angles vulnerable.
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Substitution from titanium (used on the iPhone 16 Pro) to aluminum helps reduce weight and increase heat disposal, but appears to bring compromise to the aesthetic aspect.
In addition to layer problems,EARdown also revealed several changes related to repair. Batteries are now placed in removable batteries, tied with 14 Torx Plus screws, removing the use of adhesive and facilitating replacement. However, Apple switches to one-sided entry design, meaning most internal components can only be accessed from the screen side.
One positive value: the iPhone 17 Pro is equipped with a vapor chamber (vapor chamber) for cooling, replacing the graphite sheet used in the previous model. The thermal scan shows that this system distributes heat more evenly across devices.
Apple hasn't made any official comments regarding this scratch report yet. For now, users may be advised to use casings that protect the camera bulge if they want to keep the phone looking as new.