Another “gate” hashtag has impacted iPhone users this year. It all started in 2010 when Apple redesigned the iPhone 4 so that the antenna was outside of the casing; this caused an issue and phone calls would drop when iPhone users held the device using the “left-handed death grip.” The late Steve Jobs, then Apple CEO, accused iPhone users of holding their phones the wrong way, a comment that is still brought up 15 years later by those who criticize the tech giant.
Antennagate, Bendgate, Batterygate have become woven into the fabric of iPhone history
Four years later the iPhone 6 Plus started bending when placed in a tight front pocket which brought on #bendgate. In 2017, it was discovered that Apple had quietly included in an iOS update something that allowed the company to secretly throttle the CPU in iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus models with weak batteries. These phones would shut down doing processor-intensive tasks because of the weak and older cells. Apple later apologized and offered impacted users a huge discount on a battery replacement for their iPhone model.
There have been some other “gates” over the years such as #hissgate (2017), #beautygate and #batterygate (2018). This year, we have #scratchgate. The anodized finish on darker colored iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air models were being chipped away revealing the silver aluminum underneath the coating.
Steve Jobs’ admonishment of iPhone 4 users still lives on as powerfully today as it did in 2010
Remember when we said that Steve Jobs‘ “you’re holding it wrong” admonishment of iPhone 4 users still is remembered today? Apple practically brought it back with #scratchgate by telling consumers who saw scratches on iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air units on display in Apple Stores that what they saw were not scratches at all. Instead, the company claimed that what looked like scratches on the finish were actually the transfer of material from old and worn MagSafe risers used to display these phones at Apple Stores.
As if this story wasn’t strange enough, it now gets stranger. A TikTok video has gone viral supposedly showing that an iPhone 17 Pro unit changed colors. This new issue, dubbed #colorgate, was seconded by a Redditor with the user name DakAttack316 who has photos showing that his Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro Max has turned Rose Gold. The device owner says that this is not Photoshop or AI magic. Some have jokingly called it the Fire Red Charizard Edition after the powerful OG Pokémon.
Lee Elliot, the Chief Product Officer at electronics recycling website Compare and Recycle, says that while there is no definitive explanation for #colorgate, some possibilities include UV damage or Oxidation. Regardless of the cause of the problem, the existence of it can end up costing some iPhone 17 Pro users some money when time comes to trade in their devices. Elliot says, “This could lead to the iPhone 17 Pro holding the least value by the time the iPhone 18 series arrive on the market and valued significantly lower when traded in.”
Introducing #colorgate
He goes on to say exactly how much money an iPhone 17 Pro might cost you in a trade-in thanks to #scratchgate and #colorgate. Elliot writes, “”iPhone trade-in values are heavily influenced by the condition of a device. Phones are graded based on cosmetic appearance, with scratches, scuffs, or other physical damage such as discoloration playing a key role. Even minimal discoloration can still result in a lower grading, which means a reduced trade-in offer.”
“Looking at recent pricing data, the new iPhone 17 Pro in good condition, which means only minor signs of use, can be traded in for $964 on average between all three storage capacities. Whereas the one in poor condition with moderate signs of use i.e. more scratches, scuffs and discoloration, the best trade-in offer is $696 on average, marking a drop of approximately $268.”
He states that with the scratches and color changes to the body could take place over time. But these issues appearing so soon after buying a phone are what he calls “alarming.” He says that if the problem is Oxidation, the minerals on users’ fingers will expose the iPhone to worse problems and could lead these units to be devalued when trade-in time comes.
Elliot has some recommendations for iPhone 17 Pro owners. He says, “”To try [and] protect your new iPhone from inevitable damage, consider cases that have a raised lip that overlaps and extends slightly into the bezel of the screen but not too obstructive for interaction with the screen. Similarly, pay attention to cases that also cover the entire camera plateau protecting the curves and edges.”
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