Overview

• Apple says most marks on display iPhone 17 units stem from worn MagSafe stands transferring material, not permanent scratches, and can be cleaned off.
• Retail mitigations now include silicone cushioning on MagSafe risers and a new salt‑mixed cleaning protocol reported by Bloomberg and observed by shoppers.
• Independent tests find Ceramic Shield 2 resists scratches better than prior models, though aluminum edges and the camera plateau on Pro phones can still scuff or chip.
• Drop tests show face‑down impacts can shatter unprotected screens, while bend tests rate the ultra‑thin iPhone Air and the iPhone 17 Pro as sturdier than feared.
• Some buyers report real chips on purchased phones and analysts are split on sales impact, with Jefferies flagging softer U.S. demand as others cite steadier trends; Apple also acknowledged a rare LED‑camera artifact and a Wi‑Fi bug fixed in iOS 26.1.