Early durability tests suggest that the iPhone 17 Pro may carry an unexpected weakness: its anodized coating can scratch very easily along the sharp edges of the camera bump.

In a YouTube teardown, tech reviewer Zack Nelson from JerryRigEverything demonstrated how everyday items (like coins or keys), can cause visible damage to the phone’s finish. He explains that the anodized aluminum “does not stick to corners very well,” making the edges of the camera island a notorious vulnerability. Nelson notes that Apple chose not to round off those corners with a chamfer or radius, saying “that decision … is going to plague everyone who owns this phone down the road.”

Interestingly, while the edges degrade easily, the flat plateaus of the camera bump resisted serious damage, scratches there mostly left dust that wiped off clean. The issue appears concentrated where the anodized layer doesn’t adhere as well to sharp edges.

Other confirmation came via reports that demo units in Apple stores were already showing signs of scuffs and wear after only hours on display, particularly on deep blue Pro variants and the black iPhone Air model. Bloomberg covered this, noting how the anodized finish was already flaking or scratching during early public handling.

If you plan to buy an iPhone 17 Pro, this is likely your cue to pair it with a good protective case. Even the best clear cases will help shield those vulnerable edges from incidental contact with keys, coins, or abrasive surfaces.

While the scratching is mainly cosmetic, and not known to affect the phone’s performance, it might impact resale value or how “new” your device looks over time. The fact that this comes so soon after launch suggests Apple took a design tradeoff for aesthetics over durability in this area.

In the long run, consumers will want to watch how Apple responds. Future iterations or revisions (like Pro Max, or future generations) might adopt rounded edges, more durable coatings, or alternate metals to avoid repeating the same issue.