Scratched iPhone 17 Pros: Photos from early users share social media.

The new iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, which have been in stores since last Friday, are reportedly more prone to showing scratches. Some consumers, including those in Italy, have posted photos of their devices with marks on the back on social media. As the specialized website Engadget explains, the aluminum back is more resistant to impacts and breakages, but can make small scratches from daily use without a protective case more visible.

"The visible scratches may be attributed to Apple's decision to switch from the iPhone 16 Pro's titanium frame to the notoriously scuff-prone aluminum," Engadget writes. "Many buyers may not even encounter this issue, considering most are using a case." Apparently, the blue color variant is the most prone to showing scuffs.

The issue was confirmed by a durability test conducted by the JerryRigEverything YouTube channel. The video focuses on the edges of the camera housing, which appears more vulnerable to scratches. "This is because the aluminum oxide coating, applied via anodization, tends to adhere less well to the sharpest corners," Engadget notes.

Despite this, Bloomberg notes that sales of the iPhone 17 and Air are going well, especially in Asia, where the first reports of scratched units have come from. "In Hong Kong, a small crowd gathered at the Apple store to check out the new phones," Bloomberg reports. "The wait time for the iPhone 17 and Pro is about three weeks."

Apple Stores in Australia, New Zealand, mainland China, and Singapore have similar shipping times, with the wait for the iPhone 17 Pro Max extending up to four weeks.