Job’s Mob claimed the switch was necessary to integrate a new vapour chamber for heat dissipation, but it ditched the strength that titanium offered in spades. Titanium is the darling of the everyday carry crowd because it resists bending and scratching. Even though earlier Pro iPhones only used it in the frame, it gave the line-up some much-needed toughness.

Now, with aluminium making a comeback, complaints are pouring in from iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max users who expected a rock-solid slab but got something that bruises easily. Threads posts are full of moaning about dents after minor drops.

YouTuber JerryRigEverything found the same problem, showing in his stress test that the alloy scratches with embarrassing ease, exposing bare metal underneath. He blamed not just aluminium’s softness but Apple’s stingy anodisation coating.

The worst-hit area appears to be the sharp lip of the oversized camera bump. With no chamfer or bevel to protect it, the edge scuffs against anything from coins in your pocket to tabletops. JerryRigEverything’s video makes grim viewing for anyone thinking about “raw-dogging” their iPhone without a case.

Unlike the titanium-clad iPhone Air, which can take a beating, the Pro looks set to need a shell if it’s going to last. Case makers are already circling. TORRAS has a creator-friendly model with airbags, Supcase offers a monster with 20-foot drop protection, and Benks has gone for class with a Kevlar wrap.