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.
Apple clarified to 9to5Mac that “worn MagSafe stands used in some stores” are the culprits behind the marks, which appear primarily around the MagSafe cutout on the device’s back. The company emphasized these are “not scratches, but rather material transfer from the stand to the phone that is removable with cleaning.” (Again, some say that’s easier said than done.) Apple said it is working to address the problem by presumably replacing the worn charging stands, and noted that other iPhone models, including iPhone 16 variants, are similarly affected.
