Following the launch of the iPhone 17 series, the tech world experienced a minor scratch crisis. The marks seen on the backs of the brand-new iPhone 17 and iPhone Air models displayed in stores raised questions in the minds of many users. Apple didn’t remain silent on the issue and found a solution by updating its charging accessories.

What was the secret behind the scratches on the iPhone 17?

Users were worried that these marks on the backs of display products in stores were permanent scratches. However, Apple revealed otherwise after an investigation. According to the company, these marks were not permanent scratches but rather a “material transfer” from the old-style MagSafe chargers in stores to the phone’s casing.

In other words, the phone’s casing wasn’t actually scratched; the material on the charger’s surface was sticking to the phone. Apple also stated that these marks could be completely removed with a simple cleaning.

To address the problem at its core, Apple decided to replace the MagSafe chargers in its stores. Recent images indicate that the tech giant has implemented a solution. New MagSafe chargers, which feature a protective silicone ring around the charger, are now being used in stores.

The advantages of this new design include:

• Protective Layer: The silicone ring acts as a soft barrier between the charger’s aluminum surface and the phone’s glass or metal back.
• Preventing Material Transfer: This barrier prevents the two surfaces from rubbing against each other and material transfer.
• Safer Use: This silicone protection is crucial, especially considering that display products are plugged and unplugged hundreds of times a day.

There is also speculation that this move may be a temporary measure until the next generation of chargers, made of completely different materials, arrive.

According to Apple’s statements, this issue wasn’t unique to the new iPhone 17 series. Similar traces of material transfer were also observed on the iPhone 16 models. However, naturally, all attention has focused on the newly released models.

For now, this issue appears to only occur under the intense and harsh conditions that display products in stores are subjected to. There haven’t been any widespread complaints from regular users who use their own MagSafe accessories at home. So, it seems you don’t need to worry about scratching your phone with your MagSafe at home.

In fact, the iPhone 17 series continues to claim to be one of the most durable iPhone models ever, thanks to the Ceramic Shield glass technology used on both the front and back.