Here are some pictures showing just what those scratches look like under a digital microscope:

iFixit discussed with David Niebuhr, an engineer and mechanical engineering professor, to understand why the iPhone 17 Pro’s camera area shows noticeable scratches and spalling damage, unlike other parts. Niebuhr explains that the issue arises from the camera bump’s sharp edge, where the anodization unevenly occurs. He suggests that Apple could have mitigated this by designing a more gradual curve instead of having a relatively sharp corner.

iFixit also notes that if you don’t use a case for the iPhone 17 Pro, it’s likely that the camera plateau will eventually incur some damage. Regarding repairability, iFixit acknowledges Apple’s positive decision of including a screwed-in battery. However, they criticize the need to remove the screen for most repairs, pointing out that Apple managed to avoid this issue with the new iPhone Air.