Durability is a key selling point for the iPhone 17 lineup. But just how well can the latest phones from Apple stand up to the punishment that daily life can dish out?
Pretty well, going by all the different durability tests that have popped up online since the latest iPhones hit the stores earlier this month. Durability testers seem particularly impressed with both the updated Ceramic Shield that adorns the new iPhones, as well as the rigidity of the ultra-thin iPhone Air that Apple just introduced.
The iPhone 17 lineup isn't indestructible, as drop testing of the new models indicates. But the tests do back up Apple's claims that the latest iPhones are less susceptible to scratching than their predecessors. And bend tests should reassure people that the iPhone Air can withstand all sorts of pressures despite its seemingly slight frame.
The test results come at a good time for Apple, which has spent the past week dealing with "Scratchgate" reports detailng incidents where iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air models seemed to have picked up scuffs in retail stores. Apple has said the marks have been left by MagSafe risers in its stores and that the scuffs are easy enough for consumers to remove.
Here's a round-up of iPhone 17 durability tests that indicate how well the new phones can stand up to rough use.
Ceramic Shield 2 test results
Each of the new iPhones features Ceramic Shield 2 protecting the front display, with Apple claiming the new material is 3x more scratch resistant than the original Ceramic Shield. The iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone Air use the original Ceramic Shield to shore up the durability of the back panel, while the regular iPhone 17 still relies on glass for its back panel.
iPhone 17 torture test videos done by JerryRigEverything indicate that Ceramic Shield 2 certainly resists scratching, with scratch testing leaving only light scratches at level 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness. Scratches typically show up on glass at levels 5 or 6 on that scale.
"Ceramic Shield 2 is indeed the best we've ever seen," JerryRigEverything remarks in the iPhone 17 Pro testing video.
That backs up Apple's own Ceramic Shield 2 video, in which a mineral tip can be seen rubbing against a Ceramic Shield 2-coated display. There's residue left on the screen, but it's material from that tip, as it wipes away fairly easily.
The regular Ceramic shield also seems to made the backs of the iPhone Pro and Air models more durable, as the JerryRigEverything video indicates that any scuffs from everyday items like coins and keys can also be wiped away. Rougher materials like aluminum and titanium do leave lasting marks in those tests, but as the video notes, you're not likely to be carrying around titanium rods in your pocket or purse.
The new Ceramic Shield backing on the iPhone 17 Pro may have helped the phone in drop-testing conducted by Allstate Protection Plans, which sells insurance for mobile devices. In a 6-foot drop test with the back panel facing down, the iPhone 17 Pro came away with just minor scuffing on the camera housing and along the edges of the phone's frame.
The iPhone Air wasn't so lucky in the back-down drop test, with its rear panel cracking after one drop. However, Allstate reports that the phone was still functional.
iPhone 17 drop tests
Speaking of drop tests, gravity remains undefeated when unprotected phones are dropped with their screens facing the ground. In Allstate's 6-foot drop test, both the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro screens suffered from shattered glass, with the cracks in the display too sharp to safely use.
"While iPhone Air impressed, and the Ceramic Shield rear panels of both iPhone Air and 17 Pro are the most durable we’ve tested in years, both iPhones still shattered when dropped face-down," said Jason Siciliano, vice president of marketing at Allstate Protection Plans, in a statement accompanying the drop test results. "If you're spending more than $1,000 on a phone, a case, screen protector, and protection plan are smart investments.”
We certainly agree that phone cases are the best way to keep your new phone looking its best, and we've tracked down the top choices for each new iPhone model.
iPhone bend tests
Bend tests that show how much pressure it takes to break an iPhone are also drawing more interest than usual given the iPhone Air's slim 5.64mm frame. Apple even released a video where a machine simulates 130 pounds of pressure on the iPhone Air before the handset snaps back into place with no lasting damage.
According to other bend tests, Apple may have undersold how durable its new thin phone actually is. In Allstate Protection Plan's bend test, the Air withstood 190 pounds of pressure, approaching the 200-pound limit reached by the iPhone 17 Pro, even though that phones is more than 3mm thicker. For context, the iPhone 6 that was the subject of the Bendgate brouhaha a decade ago bent at 110 pounds and shattered at 179 pounds.
Both new iPhones were fully functional after their bend test, according to Allstate.
So what would it take to snap an iPhone Air in two? If JerryRigEverything's iPhone Air durability test video is anything to by, you'd need 216 pounds of pressure to make the phone's display crack. That's well above industry standards for bend durability.
Some iPhone 17 Pro durability concerns
While this spate of durability tests has largely offered good news about the chances of the new iPhone 17 models withstanding normal wear and tear, JerryRigEverything did flag up one potential area of concern — the camera plateau on the new iPhone 17 Pro models. Specifically, the edges of the plateau appear vulnerable to chipping and other cosmetic damage.
According to the video, anodized aluminum has a hard time sticking to corners and edges, leaving the ridge of the camera plateau on the iPhone 17 Pro models vulnerable to scratches. A chamfer or fillet can add some protection, but Apple didn't include that on its new phones.
That said, it's worth noting that Apple claims that the plateau on the iPhone 17 Pros have similar characteristics to the edges of other of anodized cases on other Apple products, such as the MacBook Pro and older iPhones.
Regardless, this is an area where a case can come in handy, particularly if it's one that offers a raised ridge around the camera array. That can keep the edges of the camera plateau from coming into contact with the kind of objects that can leave scuff marks.
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More from Tom's Guide
- I tried to break the iPhone Air during an interview with Apple execs
- iPhone 17 Air vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Here’s what you give up for a thinner phone
- I’m an ex-phone engineer — 3 tips to avoid iPhone 17 Pro Scratchgate
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