Every September Apple promises the best iPhone yet, but this year’s shiny new model has already been hit with a wave of complaints, and they’re all about one very visible flaw. The iPhone 17 officially dropped on Friday, with Apple boasting a long-lasting battery, ultra-fast charging, and the usual marketing spiel about it being “better than ever.”
Samsung had its usual dig about how the iPhone still doesn’t fold (as if anyone actually wants that), but the real drama has come from people who’ve already got their hands on the new models. And the verdict? It scratches way too easily.
@Apple sorry but #Scratchgate is real and very disappointing – a case will help but i reckon even a few minutes without a case in the pocket with keys and the phone is damaged – truly shame on you!
My iPhone 13 Pro Max has been without a case and there are NO scratches at all… pic.twitter.com/toWqY2Osv2
— Amar Singh
(@amisecured) September 19, 2025
The hashtag #scratchgate is being used across X and TikTok, with new owners sharing pictures and videos of phones looking battered after barely a day of use. Some say even the display models in shops are showing damage, with one person calling it “shocking” and another branding it a “major flaw”. Others have gone further, dubbing the iPhone 17 a “scratch magnet” and warning that its sleek out-of-the-box look won’t last long at all.
One video that’s been doing the rounds shows a £1,200 blue iPhone 17 Pro Max already covered in marks. The same clip shows minor damage on the orange version, while the silver model seemed to hold up a bit better. “Apple sorry but #scratchgate is real and very disappointing,” said the person who posted it. “A case will help but even a few minutes in a pocket with keys and the phone is damaged.”
ok, it seems Scratchgate is real and im not going order the new iPhone pic.twitter.com/7Y84pkD0wH
— Tarek Badr (@tarekbadrsh) September 22, 2025
Tech YouTuber JerryRigEverything has also put the new iPhones through his usual torture test, dragging knives, screwdrivers, coins and keys across the glass and aluminium. His conclusion? They’re beautiful but fragile, with cosmetic damage showing up almost instantly. He warned the decision to focus on “looking cool out of the box” could backfire for Apple.
The possible reason behind all this could be that Apple ditched titanium this year in favour of aluminium across the entire range. While aluminium is better at handling heat (something older models struggled with), titanium is much tougher against scratches.
Barely a day in the #Apple showroom, and the #iPhone 17 Pro and Max backplates have a bunch of very visible scratches. Is this the beginning of a #Scratchgate?
pic.twitter.com/0ySopuE7o5
— Vikram Kriplaney (@krips) September 19, 2025
Apple had promised the Pro versions would be three times more scratch-resistant thanks to a new ceramic shield, but that doesn’t seem to match what people are experiencing in real life.
The Tab has reached out to Apple for comment.
For more like this, like The Tab on Facebook.
Featured image credit: X/@MARCIANOPHONE, @tarekbadrsh
