The iPhone 17 Pro, announced just a few weeks ago, is now surrounded by a new wave of controversy dubbed "scratchgate", as users and reviewers quickly noticed that its shiny new anodized aluminium frame is surprisingly prone to visible scratches. iFixit"s teardown of the iPhone 17 Pro has revealed some insights into Apple"s design choices and why these scratches are so pronounced.
Perhaps the most probable cause one can imagine for the scratchgate is the change in material from titanium to heat-forged aluminum, which is then anodized to create a colorful outer layer. According to iFixit (and materials scientist David Niebuhr, who assisted in their tests), anodizing is a process that intentionally corrodes the metal surface to create a protective oxide layer, while also infusing it with color. The problem? The anodized layer is somewhat brittle, and while it remains intact on flat surfaces, it flakes off easily on sharp edges, particularly around the camera bump.
Although everyday objects like coins or keys won"t cut through the anodization on the phone"s back, the anodized layer flakes away around the sharper camera edges and reveals the raw aluminium underneath.
However, iFixit"s teardown actually explains that the issue isn"t just because of Apple"s metal choice. In fact, titanium oxidizes a bit harder than aluminium, but that alone doesn"t account for the scratches. The actual culprit is apparently the iPhone"s shape.
The sharp corners of the camera bump make for a poor surface for anodizing, causing the oxide layer to break and chip. If Apple made it even thicker, it would flake more dramatically due to the limits of physics and material science.
As iFixit quotes David Neibuhr,
"Apple could have prevented this by making a more gradual curve and avoiding a relatively sharp corner."
Unless protected by a case, iFixit points out that the iPhone 17 Pro"s camera plateau is almost certain to accumulate noticeable damage during regular use.
On the repairability front, however, iFixit praised Apple for introducing a screwed-in battery, making replacements much safer and simpler for users. Although most other repairs would still require removing the screen, something that Apple has avoided in its most repair-friendly iPhone Air.
Source and images: iFixit