Apple has acknowledged that worn MagSafe charging stands in its retail stores are causing marks on the new iPhone 17 Pro models, addressing concerns that emerged within hours of the device’s launch. Apple told 9to5Mac that the visible imperfections on demo units are not scratches, but rather “material transfer” from aging display equipment that can be removed with cleaning. (Some users, it’s worth noting, say they tried rubbing out the marks on the Apple Store’s demo units but “nothing happened,” claiming “they’re scratches.”)
The durability controversy, dubbed “scratchgate” on social media, first gained prominence through a Bloomberg report published last Friday, the same day Apple launched its new iPhones. Bloomberg journalists visiting Apple stores in New York, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and London said they found deep blue variants of the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max showing scuffs after just hours on display. The black iPhone Air also exhibited similar vulnerability to scratching.
