iOS 26 Reveals AI-Powered Reminders That Change Everything

Apple just dropped some serious updates to the ecosystem, and there's plenty to chew on. iOS 26 came out last week, with a fresh interface and power-user capabilities. Right on its heels, Apple releases first iOS 26.1 developer beta for iPhone, pushing the platform even further. But it's not all smooth sailing. We're also seeing concerning durability issues with the iPhone 17 Pro that have Apple scrambling to respond. So what actually matters here?

The iPhone 17 Pro durability saga explained

Here's where it gets messy, and it says a lot about Apple's material choices. The durability concerns represent a notable shift from the titanium-framed iPhone 16 Pro series to what Apple describes as a "lightweight aerospace-grade 7000-series aluminum alloy" design. The aluminum swap improves thermals, yet the new iPhone 17 Pro aluminum body may be more prone to scuffs and scratches, especially around the MagSafe ring and the camera plateau.

The controversy, dubbed "scratchgate," escalated fast. Bloomberg journalists visiting Apple stores in New York, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and London said they found deep blue variants of the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max showing scuffs after just hours on display. Social media has been awash with concerns that the new iPhone 17 specifically the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max that come in the deep blue finish are susceptible to wear and damage.

Apple's response splits the difference. Apple told 9to5Mac that the visible imperfections on demo units are not scratches, but rather "material transfer" from aging display equipment that can be removed with cleaning. The company also specified that, Apple clarified to 9to5Mac that "worn MagSafe stands used in some stores" are the culprits behind the marks.

The camera plateau tells its own story. Popular durability tester Zack Nelson of the JerryRigEverything channel demonstrated that the raised edges around the iPhone 17 Pro's camera plateau are particularly susceptible to permanent scratching. Apple counters that the iPhone 17 Pro's camera plateau edges "have similar characteristics to the edges of the anodized aluminum cases on other Apple products, including other iPhone models and MacBooks".

Bottom line: what this means for your next iPhone purchase

Taken together, the data shows real gains in durability, with trade-offs you can see. Extensive testing suggests Apple's claims about durability are broadly accurate, especially on the Air, which has particularly impressed in bend and scratch tests, maintaining structural integrity despite its ultra-thin profile.

For iPhone 17 Pro buyers, it is a calculated choice. Aluminum runs cooler than titanium during sustained workloads, good for performance, but aluminum will scuff easily at the point of impact in drops. Dark finishes make those marks pop.

Practical move, use a case. The best way to protect your investment is with a case, and keep in mind that a damaged iPhone can cost hundreds of dollars to fix. Ceramic Shield 2 is a genuine upgrade, and phones continuing to function after drops that once ended them is real progress. Physics still wins eventually.

Bottom line, Apple's 2025 lineup moves durability forward, especially for displays and overall rigidity. The aluminum scuff drama on the Pro models is real, mostly cosmetic, and tied to Apple prioritizing performance over pristine looks. If you plan to upgrade, the iPhone Air feels like the standout engineering trick, proof that thin does not have to mean fragile, while the Pro models deliver peak performance and, over time, a few battle scars.