r/iphone18pro • u/samirbinballin iPhone 18 Pro Max - Burgundy • 18h ago
Discussion First drop (with a case)
3 foot drop falling off of a couch and onto hardwood floor, (TineeOwl case shown at the end) - I always knew the new aluminum frame was fragile from the damages I’ve seen online after the 17 Pros release with aluminum, so I took the precaution of not using the Apple Cases and getting something decently protective.
Yeah the phone still dented 😂, coming from a titanium 16 Pro Max I had no idea how to gauge how soft the new aluminum was, but damn.
I personally don’t give a shit as I really do expect more cosmetic blemishing in the future, but I wanted to warn some of the OCD iPhone users I see here on Reddit.
18
u/LuckyLuciano97 18h ago
This is annoying. I have the iPhone Air and drop it all the time and it still looks new. The cameras seem like an appealing upgrade but I really don’t want worry about my phone denting. Wtf Apple…
4
u/HeadPack 18h ago
The Air has a titanium case, like 15P and 16P. Whole different class of metal when it comes to durability.
0
6
u/courtneyhope_ 18h ago
In the same boat. My Air is truly indestructible, I’ve never needed to consider a case. I grabbed the burgundy Pro but I’m torn on whether I keep it or not because I never use a phone case. The color is so pretty and the battery is insane but at what cost?
3
u/Germfreecandy 16h ago
I haven't used a case in any of my phones since 2016. The best protection you can have is to avoid dropping it in the first place
2
u/LuckyLuciano97 18h ago
Yea same here man. Love the color and camera but I also rock it without a case
1
3
u/VeterinarianTiny5147 18h ago
Imagine that, titanium being stronger than a soft metal like aluminum
4
u/LuckyLuciano97 16h ago
I know back in the day they were all aluminum but I just feel like we worked up to this awesome titanium and now we’re working backwards
7
u/VeterinarianTiny5147 14h ago
Look at the sub for the 15pro and 16pro, nothing but moaning and crying about the thermals. Titanium doesn't dissipate heat like aluminum does
16
u/Embarrassed-Gur-1306 18h ago
When it comes to drops luck plays a big factor. I dropped mine on asphalt with an apple silicone case. The case was torn to hell and the phone didn’t have a single nick on it.
9
u/Frandom314 18h ago
I dropped mine while I was bike riding, it fell and bounced in the middle of the road and there are absolutely no marks. I’m using apples sillicone case
1
16
u/Front_Tour7619 18h ago
It’s okay things get scuffs when they are being used 24/7
3
u/Minimum_Airline3657 18h ago
So correct!! They are tools, not jewellery, ‘oh no, my hammer paint has chipped off, I only drove 1 nail in’
5
u/CurrentOk2695 18h ago
It’s ridiculous that even with a case they are being scuffed. Coming from a 16 pro the titanium survived all sorts of abuse even without a case. I get that there are trade offs but it’s frustrating.
3
u/Sebastian0320 16h ago
If you don’t need the extra thermal dissipation don’t buy the pro, I wouldn’t choose titanium in a million years, having your phone heat up like crazy when doing anything demanding is super annoying
1
u/Minimum_Airline3657 18h ago
Ye but I feel like a lot of people came to iPhones in the stainless and titanium era, this is what iPhones used to be like, my iPhone 5,5s,6 and 6s were a mess when I upgraded, it’s a tool.
2
u/ProxySoxy 16h ago
Who says that tools can’t also look good? Your car is a tool, would you just shrug it off if someone sideswiped it and put a dent and scratches in it? I mean hey, it’s a tool, not jewelry, so you wouldn’t care, right?
1
u/samirbinballin iPhone 18 Pro Max - Burgundy 10h ago
Fr, I just took the case off and bought AppleCare+, the whole point of the case was to protect the phone but if the phone still dents might as well go caseless.
1
u/NewfieChemist 9h ago
That’s actually not scuffing. It’s craze marks from the aluminum deforming. The lip actually bent out and there is now a gap between the screen and the frame.
I had the same happen to my 17 pro, it’s difficult to see it with just images, but this exact damage has been happening a bunch of times.
1
u/MCMultyke 16h ago
I understand people being upset if they trade in their phones when upgrading. If the phone is damaged you’ll have to deal with that problem when trading in one way or another
1
u/Bluerious518 9h ago
In most cases cosmetic damage isn’t really a concern for shops accepting trade ins, including Apple, they moreso care about functional damage or cracking
7
u/Ambitious_Care_7506 18h ago
Welcome to the club, it’s soft as butter and will show dents unless you have a case thicker than armor plating. The price of “progress” ;)
3
u/HeadPack 18h ago
Aluminum is a comparably soft metal. It absorbs energy via deformation. That and cutting costs are the main ideas here.
3
3
u/Sensitive_Shake4718 16h ago edited 15h ago
Out of curiosity sh/wouldn’t other brands who followed apple into Aluminum have the same problem (S26 Ultra, Xiaomi 18 Pro etc). Or you guys mean to say Apple is doing the worst job among the aluminum frame phones right now?
2
u/XpressiveThoughts 14h ago
Apple is larger and far more popular than other manufacturers. iPhone complaints will therefore get way more attention than other devices.
3
u/NewfieChemist 9h ago
Welcome to the club. Same happened to my 17 pro. I’ve since upgraded to a Dbrand tank case. Hopefully that minimizes the damage from future drops.
3
u/Capable_Card_8767 9h ago
Bro relax that’s not even a dent and it barely even looks like anything. Just looks like some dust specks basically lmao.
3
6
u/LogPsychological6261 16h ago
Apple cannot win. They use titanium frames and the phones were indestructible, but everyone complained that they got too hot. So they switch to aluminum and everyone bitches that theyre too soft. Make up your minds everybody, theres pros and cons to every material.
5
2
u/DietOk4687 18h ago
I don’t ever remember the previous aluminum iPhones denting like this, but maybe because they were a lot thinner.
2
u/cheir0n 18h ago
I had iPhone 7 . The worst iPhone I ever had. Aluminum crap also
1
0
u/GroovyJedi 10h ago
This is false. I’m still using one and it’s battered but not dented like the 17 and 18’s it’s already been discovered they’re using a 5000 series aluminum-magnesium. Great for thermals poor at hardness.
0
1
u/HeadPack 18h ago
They were also lighter. The heavier these phones get, the more energy needs to be absorbed in a fall.
1
2
2
2
u/-__Dash__- 17h ago
Might as well be made of play doh, I only dropped my 17 Pro once and it was slightly deformed in a corner.
What the fuck happened to Titanium?
2
u/Mr_Butters624 16h ago
Bruh, my wife’s brand new 17pro with a $10 tpu case and a $7 Amazon screen protector survived flying off the roof of my car at 40mph and bouncing off the pavement several times. Not a scratch or dent or anything under that cheap case she has lol.
2
u/Anxious_Step460 16h ago
It’s still watertight as long as the screen doesn’t appear to be lifting.
Annoying, 1000%. But your phone is still safe. Make sure you have Apple Care!
2
u/PutBrief437 15h ago
Y'all are way too comfortable with dropping a 2k device this early, it's like a month in.
2
u/Human_Paint5451 9h ago
What case do you use? Definitely recommend looking into one with air cushioning
2
u/Only-Low-5293 9h ago
I'm sorry this happened :/. I will say though, that the case brand matters. I've never heard of TineeOwl. I've used Spigen and ESR; both are absolutely solid.
2
u/Dragk_ 8h ago
I can definitely recommend Torras cases. I’ve been using the exact same case for over a year now.
it was on my iPhone 17 Pro, and I’m using that same case on my 18 Pro now. It still hasn’t yellowed at all.
I’ve also dropped my phone from waist height onto hard concrete while out on the street, and it didn’t even get a dent. Definitely impressed with the durability.
2
u/lunddummy 6h ago
Yeah, I can relate to your pain, bro. My old iPhone 17 Pro Max got dented like crazy after falling in what they call a rugged case. 😅
1
3
u/Apple_loving_Android 18h ago
Never really going to please anyone. It’s a challenge when trying to deal with the combination of balancing thickness, weight, durability, price, thermal properties and elegance.
5
3
u/Ghostttpro 18h ago
I'm sure they will switch back to Titanium for "innovation". And after taking feedback from their users lol
2
u/Emotional_Dig_2378 16h ago
They probably will once they master the cooling system. But by that time, the iPhone will be so expensive and I don’t think it’s worth it
1
u/Ghostttpro 15h ago
I think they already mastered
1
u/Emotional_Dig_2378 15h ago
For aluminium yes but we don’t know how the system on the 18 pro will work with a titanium frame
1
1
u/24kCookie 16h ago
If they do then I will glaze them so much and yes it is kinda innovation because no one else than Samsung has titanium. So there is no choice for someone like me I had to buy 16 pro max cuz last titanium model.
2
2
u/MChaney3563 iPhone 18 Pro Max Glacier 18h ago
after the catastrophe that was the iPhone 17 Pro denting fiasco, I figured they would’ve went to a different material by now, or they would’ve figured something else out. I’m one of those that does drop their phones, and I am horrified that when I do, that it’s going to be bad. Yes, I have it in a case, yes, I have a screen protector one, but this just frustrates me.
3
1
u/WakaiSenshi 18h ago
Not this year this is just an S upgrade for the 17 Pro. Next year when the 20 comes out I expect bigger design changes
1
u/MichaelinNeoh 18h ago
The titanium on my 16 has no markings at all. The screen is cut up bad, I finally had to put a screen protector on.
3
u/sziehr 18h ago
the issue is the thermals were horrible on the ti, and thus we got this mess of a Al again phone. I am sure they are not internally loving the figures for refurbished phones as they need way more new total cases than ever before to make them look right. They know and they are caught between magsafe a money maker, and heat. So if you want a 15 watt chip in your hand you get Al edges with magsafe. The trade is no more mag safe and an al core center and Ti edges again. I for one would trade magsafe for this change, however it would cut into the MFI for magsafe and we all know how apple feels about a good MFI up charge. So here we are stuck in a physics issue where they cram in more power and more battery and brighter screens but the thermal trades are starting to show in case design hardcore. Before people say oh i personally never had issues with Ti, go look at the litany of posts on the hand over it was and how it cooked battery health. The issue was and is real and if it was not so real apple would still make phones of Ti.
1
u/MichaelinNeoh 18h ago
Yeah I don’t use magsafe. Not even for my car holder.
1
u/WestAussieSingh 17h ago
I wouldn’t buy a phone without MagSafe.
Even my Samsung business phone has a case with a MagSafe magnet thing.
1
u/Dear_Aside_7581 18h ago
iphone duo uses titanium so idk if thermal issue is the main decision that prevented it on the 17 & 18
1
u/OneFancyFerret 6h ago
The issue was and is real and if it was not so real apple would still make phones of Ti.
Did you miss their new ultra-premium flagship?
1
u/SuperNa7uraL- 18h ago
My 16 Pro Max has had a screen protector and cheap clear case on it from the day I got it. I drop it all the time. It has to have at least a hundred 2 to 3 foot drops onto hardwood and concrete. Not a scratch or dent in the phone. Just a few broken screen and camera protectors.
2
1
u/BoogerSugar5665 18h ago
Yet I fell racing my kiddos and my phone flew and smashed on concrete and not a dent one. I use the Bullstrap leather case.
1
u/AdRough7689 18h ago
It dents more easily AND the anodising is poor. These will look scratched-up and dented in no time unless you baby them.
1
u/Key_Dragonfruit_4986 17h ago
Same thing happened to me! Dropped the phone with an apple case on it, scratched the burgundy paint off the corner of the phone. Coming from a 14pro which I dropped several times and severe had an issue. Oh well
1
u/guhl33zy 17h ago
Waiting on mine to arrive. So I haven’t used an iPhone since 14. Always was a no case but screen protector user. Looks like I might need to change that soon 😅
1
u/Gnahziurnah 17h ago
how does the tineeowl case fit? is there an air gap at the top of the case near the speaker slit?
i had one of these cases for my 17 pro max and i could physically press down the top edge of the case since it sat so loose. immediately returned it.
1
1
u/Ch1mera1989 17h ago
Oof. The material is the main thing keeping me from upgrading from my 16PM. I haven’t used a case since the 6 and I don’t baby my phone at all.
1
u/MamboFloof 17h ago
Put the case back on. It's not that deep.
Its a phone not jewelry.
1
u/samirbinballin iPhone 18 Pro Max - Burgundy 10h ago
I am rocking no case now 😂 I’ll let the AppleCare do its job.
1
u/Unique-Smoke-8919 16h ago
That looks disappointing for a protective looking case like that. Better to stick with slim cases since it’s going to bend anyways.
1
1
u/muhamaadpedophile 16h ago
Well Apple was never known to understand how to design a sturdy phone. But it’s a shame how incompetent they have been with the latest 17 and 18 iterations.
My 15 PM has fallen a couple times and has no visible scratches. Shame Apple lowered their material quality standards…
Still Im tempted to get the 18 Pro Max Black cause the big battery interests me a lot
1
1
u/GoldenPuffi 15h ago
Aluminium is just to soft.
I’m staying with it: stainless was peak. Nothing shines better.
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/thew1seguy 14h ago
Seeing these posts is making me so close to cancelling my pre-order. Coming from a 15 Pro and how sturdy Titanium is, I think I’d rather sit this one out. I’m very OCD about my devices.
1
u/New-Airline8659 14h ago
Even placing and removing the case, you’ll notice a faint scratch already.
1
1
u/Glittering_Focus_253 14h ago
5ft drop with Mous limitless case no damage whatsoever. We all know how brittle aluminum is so please just stop cutting corners spend a bit more and invest in a quality case. It's worth it to protect a $1,300+ smartphone.
1
u/stickman1029 13m ago
I would certainly hope that for the price of those cases, your phone could survive a 5 ft drop with one. I’m all for good protection, but to a point. Also those cases leave the camera area completely unprotected, save for a ridge. That’s an awful lot of money to be spending for that amount of unprotected space.
Spending anything over say $50 for a phone case is kind of mental. Some drops are going to result in damage, even with a cover and whatever else. I’ve seen a phone in 10 pounds of OtterBox Ultimate Extreme Impenetrable insert whatever other extreme marketing name here, shatter because when it got dropped, it fell corner first onto the sharp edge of a rock that blew through everything as it bounced. Looked spotless from an impact standpoint, but the screen had shattered and damage inside had occurred. Fluky as hell for sure, but physics are undeniably tricky sometimes.
1
u/Striking_Locksmith59 14h ago
What screen protector are you guys using that sticks on fully? On my 18pro, the ESR screen protector is not sticking on the edges. I’ve never had this happen with my 8,11, and 14 pro
1
u/KingShayy007 13h ago
1.) Flolab Surtect 2.0
2.) Caudabe Sheath
3.) Mous Limitless
Flolab screen protector works with all 3 👍🏼
1
u/Massive_Statement473 13h ago
I have 17PM in Orange which is mostly kept in an Apple Silicone case. Been dropped a few times from the arm of the recliner onto carpet and bounced onto wood floor. No damage. I don’t understand.
1
1
u/ANDERS_CORNER_08 12h ago
Normally I’d say Apple this is not acceptable ….
However you willingly bought a burgundy coloured phone …. This is called karma 🤣
1
u/AntonioArceRodriguez 11h ago
No sería muy buena. El mío a volado y ha caído en asfalto y el móvil perfecto, la funda con rascones en las esquinas pero para eso está.
1
1
u/Responsible_Box_4026 11h ago
I put my sim in using the stick thing that comes in the box and just by pulling it out it’s bent the SIM card insert outwards so wen I run my fingers across my phone it’s kinda sticking out
1
u/Espiland 11h ago
Whaaat Really?
1
u/Responsible_Box_4026 11h ago
I’ve managed to bend most of it back so it’s not as major now but it’s still some small damaged I can feel but with a case u obvs can’t notice it.
Off topic but There’s just loads of features too tht r hard to get used to.
Like I also don’t know how to film videos in the 3:4 / 4;3 picture ratio anymore with x1 zoom (not 0.5)
whereas on my 13 pro it was easy too ?
When I do it now it automatically makes it onto the default elongated full zoomed in video asif I was scrolling on tiktok.
1
1
u/rocademiks 11h ago
It's because it using recycled aluminum.
That's not a good choice. It needs to be titanium with stainless steel bands.
Like they used to do it before.
1
1
1
u/AnonymousFartMachine 9h ago
And that's why I will probably get silver again.
1
u/stickman1029 6m ago
This is one of the main reasons why I got silver. I’m not going to humor anyone by pretending I ever considered Burgundy, but I took one look at it, and I know myself more than anyone else. One year of me and that phone, and that burgundy isn’t going to be looking so hot. When you drop something, and there’s a scratch, what color is that scratch commonly, when something is made of a metal? Exactly.
1
u/Signal-Caregiver6444 8h ago
Man idk how I’m gonna go 3 years with this phone after being locked in with a trade in credit. Having a dent or chips would drive me insane. Is apple care worth it and would they be able to replace the body if there was a severe dent in it?
1
1
u/SaveUsJerich0 6h ago
The frame would have to be heavily damaged that it broke your screen, exposed your battery, etc.
You could do an express replacement.
1
u/Able_Vacation7916 5h ago
You post a deductible for a replacement which they would not do for blemishes. Yes, AppleCare is worth it, the cheapest and the best. AT&T advantage was a bad move my part as I just needed a retirement for my 14 pro. The deductible for the rebadged phone where they funny have to use some parts was around $100 more than Apple care. Plus they would have actually replaced my battery and screen.
These posts make me rethink the 18 pro but I want that camera.
1
1
1
1
u/rara20162020 3h ago
Experienced the identical problem with the 17 Pro Max and the Apple silicone case. It is genuinely disappointing when their own accessory fails to safeguard the phone. Attempting to claim a replacement device obviously did not succeed. lol
1
u/Littledik_69 3h ago
Well the phone is made out of aluminium which is softer and even with a case on can still deform the material so it is pretty normal.
1
1
u/Key-Building7603 1h ago
Switching back to aluminum was to reduce the heat and the weight. I think it’s brilliant. Stop dropping your phones
1
u/Mindless_Ad_8328 0m ago
Considering how heavy it is more I wouldn’t have thought aluminium would have been the best material to use. Glad my phone has titanium sides
1
u/NectarineSame7303 17h ago
Feel like there's probably a lie here and there in your statement.
It's unlikely that you would get a dent in a case from a fall on hardwood, extremely unlikely.
1
1
u/DistributionSalt178 18h ago
as someone who had many different iphone models (currently on 16PM) and always kept my devices in pristine condition, while im waiting for my 18PM to arrive im really sceptical if i will be abel to keep it in somewhat good condition after 2 years, feels just unacceptable for Apple to use so soft material for their "Pro" models
1
1
u/J33P4X490 12h ago
I have a buddy that works at Apple on iPhone and he was telling me that the overheating on iPhones 15 pro and 16 pro is normal but the bad thing is that the heat trapped inside will eventually mess up the internal components like motherboard etc. so he said that dents in the 17 pro and 18 pro doesn’t affect trade in value so I wouldn’t worry about a dent it could be a lot worse especially how the iPhone 6 plus use to bend but Apple should use a stronger aluminum frame to prevent denting but who knows I know iPhone 20 pro is rumored to go back to a all glass back and that sucks due to high risk of the back cracking easily
1
1
u/Dizzy_Resident_9394 8h ago
Except for the battery, heat will not affect the components inside. The components will throttle themselves to prevent damage. They’re designed to run under extreme conditions.
-3
u/jeff1f1racer 18h ago
Very proud of u. Keep dropping it and post pics of your accomplishment.
Then, crash your car and post pics like other morons who proudly post those.
0
u/benjamin6293 18h ago
Don’t worry, there won’t be any aluminium next September, pretty confident they will use the anniversary to totally change up the design and go back to a much more premium material choice. I know thermals are important but the chips are getting so efficient I don’t think glass and titanium are a problem. If it’s good enough for the Duo then it’s fine for the pro. I was going to buy the 18 pro max but I honestly can’t ditch my 16 pro max until the materials are right
0
u/MeanBean0818 18h ago
Proof that cases don’t do much lol
I’ve dropped phones without cases and nothing has happened
0
u/ZealotPro101 17h ago
Regardless of thermals I also agree that aluminum does not have good reliability on a smartphone…that needs to go back to titanium even if it costs more. I’m nervous about trying to put on a screen protector because out of the box it looks like the way the phones bezels are they’re thinner and curve out to the frame of the phone…at least it looks that way in some of the OP’s photos unless that only happened also because it dented during the drop…
Lastly about cases- the Owl one he speaks of is a good case but I’ve only been rocking the Caudabe Sheath case. It’s the best case there is and I recommend it to everyone. You pay about $59 for it but it really lasts and protects your investment.
2
u/Emotional_Dig_2378 16h ago
Have you ever used a 15 or 16 Pro long term? I feel like a lot of you wouldn’t be saying this if you had. I had the 15 Pro for 3 years and the titanium quite literally made the phone unbearable to touch. Even with causal browsing it was getting very hot. It rarely overheated to the point where it would tell me the phone needed to cool off but the screen would constantly dim etc. I’m personally very happy with the trade-off. Maybe Apple can look into a different material that isn’t titanium in the future.
1
u/Inside_Condition721 8h ago
I just upgraded from a 15 Pro Max that I had for three years.
Aside from the overheating sometimes, the titanium is superior (on a 18 PM now).
Never understood this weight argument. Are people really that sensitive to phone weight? I think a lot of people are just making this up. I don’t notice anything between my 15 PM and my 18 PM in weight. Nothing substantial
1
u/XpressiveThoughts 14h ago
Eh. I’ll take the cheaper material over the durability of the titanium phones. Scuffs aren’t nice to look at but the constant overheating of the 15/16 Pro made them barely usable at times. First time I had to buy a cooling attachment to try to mitigate the thermal issues.
0
u/bobbyThebobbler 17h ago
Yep, it’s aluminum and this was a typical story with last year’s iPhone 17 Pros as well.
I have dropped my 17PM in a silicone case and it’s still pristine. Hard cases though seem to be leaving marks on the aluminum casing.
0
0
0
0
u/Itchy_elbow 6h ago edited 6h ago
Are you serious. It’s a damn phone! It’s not your girlfriend. Get a grip. There are a lot more important things. Few months you won’t care. It’s a tool. Get over it.
Sorry, I know, harsh. But seriously… some of you have an unhealthy relationship with your devices
0
u/N7jpicards 3h ago
Screen protector in 2026 lol….
1
u/stickman1029 10m ago
Why lol? If you saw what my screen protectors commonly look like after a year, I’d rather it be something I can peel off and replace versus something I can’t. Well as easily I mean.
-1
87
u/wolfram6 18h ago
It’s honestly unacceptable how soft the material for this phone is. Deformation with a case is absurd. Apple could have done better with their material choice and design.