I knew better than to carry around a naked phone — then my iPhone 17 Pro Max met the asphalt

(Image credit: Future) There was a point a couple of years ago when you could make an argument that phones didn't need cases or screen protectors. Phone makers had been adopting more durable materials, titanium frames were all the rage, and display glass was reaching the point where it could hold up to everyday conditions rather well.But those days are long gone, and given everything that's happening in the phone industry it's unlikely that they'll be coming back anytime soon. And my recent experience dropping a caseless iPhone 17 Pro Max proves it.It happened yesterday afternoon while taking my son for a walk. I'd kept the iPhone 17 Pro Max in a pouch on his stroller alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra — so they would be easily accessible to take photos with. Unfortunately, later on in the day, I didn't grab the iPhone tightly enough and, unable to catch it in time, it took a short tumble (maybe 4 feet) onto the asphalt below. (Image credit: Future)Had I been sensible, and put my iPhone in a case, things could have been different. I drop phones onto a variety of surfaces all the time, because I'm a clumsy fool, but those phones typically have some kind of protection. For some reason, I never afforded that same protection to the iPhone, and now that carelessness has come back to haunt me.The damage is pretty minor, and nothing close to as catastrophic as it could have been had the circumstances been a little different. But I really should know better, and everyone out there should learn from my mistake. Spigen Spigen iPhone 17 Pro Max Case Smartish Smartish iPhone 17 Pro Max Case OtterBox OtterBox Defender Case A backwards step for durability (Image credit: Future)A lot of phone companies like to employ aluminum in their phones, and with good reason. It's lightweight, easy to work with, easily recycled and, perhaps most importantly, cheap. Apple was pretty quick to jump onto the stainless steel bandwagon with 2010's iPhone 4 before moving to a wrap-around steel band on iPhone X.The main benefit of stainless steel is that it's considerably stronger than aluminum, though the exact difference varies depending on the specific alloy used. The downside to that strength is that steel is a lot heavier, so you're trading comfort for increased durability.Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.Apple's eventual switch to titanium on iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max was designed to offer the best of both worlds, a light design that maintains the strength and durability of stainless steel. Unfortunately, Apple didn't stick to that change for very long, ditching titanium just two years later with the release of iPhone 17 series. (Image credit: Future)Various reasons were given for the change, most notably the fact that titanium has poor thermal conductivity and that led to reports of iPhones overheating. However, the fact that titanium is rather an expensive metal can't be ignored either. This factor also means that Apple is unlikely to return to titanium on the majority of its phones — especially since RAMageddon has caused component prices to rise to unprecedented highs.This means only the devices that really need titanium, like iPhone Air and (we assume) iPhone Ultra, are likely to get that metal in the near future.But rather than switching back to stainless steel, Apple opted to use aluminum instead. Not just any aluminum, of course. According to Apple this is an "aerospace-grade 7000-series aluminum alloy" which supposedly exceeds industry standards for hardness.While that sounds all well and good, it doesn't change the fact that aluminum is a softer metal — and it didn't take long for people to notice just how much damage it can pick up. Apple Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Case Apple Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Case URBAN ARMOR GEAR Urban Armor Gear Pathfinder Case I knew about scratchgate and neglected to case up anyway (Image credit: Future)The first reports of what became known as "scratchgate" started happening within days of the iPhone 17 Pro being released. Users were reporting damage occurring to the back of their iPhone, particularly around the raised edges of the phone's protruding camera bar — also known as the forged plateau.People were noticing that the anodized layer was getting damaged, exposing the silver aluminum underneath. Apple did respond, even going so far as to claim that some of the scratches weren't actually scratches at all and could be wiped away.Some of us here at Tom's Guide experienced the issue first hand, to varying degrees, and even my iPhone 17 Pro Max had some minor scratches that came from everyday use. Now, though, it's collected a few dents and a scratch along the edge of the ultrawide camera lens. It's purely cosmetic damage, and doesn't actually affect the day-to-day workings of the phone, but I'm still kicking myself for letting it happen.Because, let's be completely honest here, I could just have easily done some serious damage. All it would have taken is if the fall had been a little higher, or the phone had landed at a slightly different angle, and suddenly you have a busted phone or cracked screen that needs fixing ASAP. URBAN ARMOR GEAR Urban Armor Gear Pathfinder Case NOMAD Nomad Traditional Leather Case Don't make the same mistake I did (Image credit: Future)Everyone out there should learn from my mistakes, and let this be a lesson in over-protectiveness. Your phone is an expensive device, and a split-second fumble could be the difference between it lasting through the day and needing an expensive out of warranty repair. I got lucky this time, but the next accidental drop may actually take out my iPhone 17 Pro Max — which is the absolute last thing I need to happen.The fact that phone companies are looking for ways to help cut costs also means that durability is potentially one of the things that gets cut. We know this has happened to Pro-tier iPhones, but we've also seen other companies pull similar tricks. The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is made of aluminum too, a downgrade from the titanium S25 Ultra and S24 Ultra of previous years.This means protecting your phone is about to be even more important than ever. You don't need an expensive bulky shock-absorbing case that can survive a nuclear blast, but you should have something to help keep the thing safe from falls and other accidental damage. (Image credit: Future)Likewise, a screen protector is crucial to protect the most important part of the phone itself. Believe me, nothing is worse than having a phone that would be working perfectly well, if it weren't for the cracked screen making it totally unusable. I had to swap out my Sony Xperia Z3 because of this about a decade ago, simply because nobody could get the right parts to repair it.Even Apple's Ceramic Shield 2, which is regarded as one of the best and strongest display glasses out there, isn't perfect. It's still glass, and glass will break under the right conditions. Once that happens, an official Apple screen repair is going to set you back $379 if you don't have AppleCare+, or $29 (plus the $140 annual fee) if you do. The cost of a semi-competent case and a screen protector is a fraction of that price — not to mention it saves you the hassle of getting the repair sorted.That's a best case scenario in terms of major damage. Worst case is that your phone needs completely replacing. With iPhone 17 Pro Maxs starting at $1,199, and rumors that prices could rise by as much as $200 for the iPhone 18 Pro Max,Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. More from Tom's GuideI tried using the Galaxy Z Fold 8’s MyFanCam on my dogs, but I hit a major walliOS 27 finally fixes the most annoying iPhone workaround we all useGalaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra doesn't have a crease-free display — but it's the closest Samsung has ever got to one Tom is the Tom's Guide's UK Phones Editor, tackling the latest smartphone news and vocally expressing his opinions about upcoming features or changes. It's long way from his days as editor of Gizmodo UK, when pretty much everything was on the table. He’s usually found trying to squeeze another giant Lego set onto the shelf, draining very large cups of coffee, or complaining about how terrible his Smart TV is.