Frequent Paint Chipping Issues with iPhone 17 Pro Sparking Debate Over Durability
The iPhone 17 Pro, launched last September, introduced a Starry Orange color option. This striking color quickly went viral on social media, earning the nickname "Hermès Orange" due to its distinctive look. Beyond the color, the iPhone 17 Pro features significant industrial design changes, including a new aluminum alloy unibody and a horizontal DECO design on the back for a futuristic feel. An ultra-ceramic crystal back panel is embedded below the camera module to enhance wireless charging. However, issues have arisen with this design.
Within less than a year of its release, numerous users have reported noticeable paint chipping on the Starry Orange version of the iPhone 17 Pro. Many users have shared photos on social media showing the paint chipping primarily concentrated on the aluminum alloy frame.
Faced with the mottled marks on the frame, some netizens exclaimed "the sky is falling." Other users have also reported varying degrees of fading on the phone's frame during normal use, in addition to the paint chipping.
A blogger commented that paint chipping issues are occurring frequently with the iPhone 17 Pro series, primarily due to the inherent physical properties of the aluminum alloy material. Wear and tear are often unavoidable when the material comes into contact with hard objects or is used frequently.
Notably, the next-generation iPhone 18 Pro series is likely to continue using this aluminum alloy design. This means that if Apple does not make fundamental improvements to the manufacturing process, the risk of paint chipping will continue to plague future new phone users.
From a technical perspective, the Mohs hardness of aluminum is significantly lower than that of titanium. In everyday use without protective measures, the aluminum alloy frame is easily scratched, leading to the detachment of the surface paint.
For perfectionist Apple fans, this regression in material quality and the resulting aesthetic drawbacks are undoubtedly a major pain point. While aluminum alloy is beneficial for weight reduction and cost control, its shortcomings in wear resistance remain a difficult problem to avoid in current industrial design.