Last week, we reported that Apple was facing Scratchgate. A keen observer visited several Apple stores and found that the new iPhone 17 Pro scratches easily, stripping the colourful finish from its back.
The pictures were quite damning. The MagSafe chargers in Apple Store displays scuffed the brand‑new iPhones, leaving many marks.
9to5Mac details the reasons why the iPhone 17 Pro bodies are marked. It boils down to what Apple is calling “materials transfer”. The iPhones rub across the MagSafe chargers on which they are displayed. Some of the coating from the charger comes off and ends up on the iPhone. Scratchgate might be better termed “grubby iPhone syndrome”.
It’s a bit like when someone’s bumper touches your car. There may be a mark on your car but it could be paint from the other car on the surface of your car rather than a scratch. You can remove the marks with a little bit of car polish or some elbow grease
Apple has provided advice to Apple Store employees on how to remedy the issue. In addition to the usual cleaning products Apple uses to keep products in-store clean, staff are using a salt solution to safely remove the marks (source: Bloomberg).
Controversy averted. And thankfully, we don’t have to deal with yet another ‘gate’.
Anthony is the founder of Australian Apple News. He is a long-time Apple user and former editor of Australian Macworld. He has contributed to many technology magazines and newspapers as well as appearing regularly on radio and occasionally on TV.