Apple used titanium alloy material for the first time on iPhone15Pro and iPhone15ProMax, instead of the stainless steel material on previous models. This shift in manufacturing materials ultimately made the latest flagships lighter, but in the process compromised their scratch resistance. One picture shows that the titanium edges are prone to scratches or marks, indicating that long-term use without a protective case is not recommended.
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Apple Online Store (China)
MajinBu shared a picture on X, in which a man shows off his brand new iPhone 15 Pro, with obvious marks on the titanium edge. The image shows a blue titanium body, which isn't surprising as this mark is more noticeable on darker bodies. The Midnight paint finish on the 15- and 13-inch MacBook Air is also prone to scratches, but since both portable Macs have a unibody aluminum body, it holds the paint very well, unlike titanium.
On the first-generation Apple Watch Ultra, we also saw the hidden dangers caused by the use of titanium alloy. Numerous reports mentioned that this wearable device cannot withstand minor collisions on the surface or scratches from knives, keys and other items. Apple did mention during its keynote that the grade 5 titanium alloy used in the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max is protected with a physical vapor deposition (PVD) coating to help the soft material resist scratches, but as you can see from the pictures, the company's efforts were in vain.
It is unclear whether Apple intends to honor the warranty on the scratch-prone surfaces of the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max by providing immediate replacements, or whether it has instructed employees in advance to educate customers on the use of protective cases to protect titanium surfaces. If you want to maintain the surface finish of the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, keep the value of your iPhone in a few years, and get a higher residual value when selling online, then you must invest in a protective case now.