Apple iPhone 17 Display Units Show Scratches on Launch Day

Shoppers in major cities reported scratches on Apple’s newly released iPhone 17 models within hours of launch. Customers in Hong Kong, London, and New York found that store display units of the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max in deep blue, as well as the black iPhone Air, already showed visible scuffs. Scratches on Launch Day Bloomberg News reported that the blemishes were observed during store visits in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and London. The marks appeared after just a few hours on display. The issue is particularly noticeable on the deep blue iPhone 17 Pro models, which represent Apple’s first major physical redesign in years. Apple introduced the 17 lineup with an aluminum shell and a new finish it described as more resistant to scratches. However, the material choice appears to have exposed darker-colored models to the same complaints that surrounded the iPhone 5’s black and slate editions in 2012. Consumer Reactions In China, some of the first customers to receive the new devices posted photos of scratched units on Weibo. The posts made the scratches one of the top trending topics on the platform Friday, with over 40 million views. Social media users on X also shared similar photos and videos of their handsets. https://twitter.com/VerdeSelvans/status/1968963202386964499 Apple’s Track Record Apple has faced criticism for durability problems in previous launches. The glossy black iPhone 7 finish was easily scuffed, the iPhone 6 was known for bending under pressure, and the iPhone 4 suffered antenna issues. While the company promoted the 17 lineup as stronger and more refined, the early reports suggest otherwise. Bloomberg noted that Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Sales Still Strong Despite the complaints, demand for the iPhone 17 Pro models remains high. Bloomberg reported that in Hong Kong, stock was limited to the iPhone Air for walk-in customers, while orders for Pro models showed three-week delivery times. Other markets, including Australia, Singapore, and mainland China, listed shipping delays of up to four weeks for the Pro Max. The strong sales highlight Apple’s reliance on the iPhone 17 lineup to maintain momentum as it continues to develop new AI features.