If you believe the reports and images on Reddit, there are some Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro phones that are inexplicably turning pink. There aren’t many cases reported, but enough that some have already coined the term “Colorgate.”
It’s fun to have a new “door” to consider, but what if there is a simple scientific explanation for these possible color changes and the answer has been staring us in the face from one of Apple’s support pages all along?
First, we reviewed the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max here and we haven’t experienced any fading yet. Not even scratchgate has made its way to our new iPhones yet, but the hype surrounding this new issue is such that it’s worth investigating.
Let’s start by taking a step back to understand the finish of the iPhone 17 Pro (and 17 Pro Max), the process by which it is manufactured, and how it differs from the titanium finish of the iPhone 16 Pro line.
Titanium is a heavier, stronger metal than aluminum, and when it is anodized (an electrochemical process), it takes on a smooth, non-porous finish. Anodized aluminum, on the other hand, results in a porous finish that can be dipped in a special dye that soaks the color into those pores and then is specially sealed.
Those differences in the materials and process by which the iPhone 17 Pro chassis is made allow for the richer colors of the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max: Cosmic Orange and Deep Blue.
Anecdotally, Cosmic Orange has turned out to be the most popular color, which may explain the number of reports. But how could that beautiful orange fade into an almost equally attractive reddish pink?
Interestingly, a partial answer can be found here in this PF Finishing Products post from 2013 written by Mark Jazefowicz, Vice President of Technical Services at Reliant Aluminum Products. In it, Jazefowicz writes:
“Color anodized aluminum is widely used as a material in the medical device industry. From tool handles to trays, these repeatedly used devices undergo regular cleaning and sterilization treatments, and it is vital that the original finish is retained at all times.
Several types of sterilization methods are used today, but those that incorporate hydrogen peroxide injection are particularly difficult to withstand for a colored anodized finish, as significant discoloration or discoloration typically occurs after only a few sterilization cycles.”
So, according to Jazefowicz, hydrogen peroxide, a chemical occasionally used to bleach hair, is no friend to an anodized aluminum finish color.
If we needed more evidence, we need only look at Apple’s own guide to cleaning the iPhone.
Yes, 70% isopropyl alcohol is fine, as is a 75% ethyl alcohol wipe. Even Clorox disinfecting wipes work well when used carefully. But the language is very clear: “Do not use products that contain bleach or hydrogen peroxide.”
Apple doesn’t explain here why you should never use those solvents, but based on the information in that article from over a decade ago, we can guess why.
Of course, this is not irrefutable proof. We don’t know the exact composition of Apple’s Cosmic Orange dye or the sealing process. There have been advances in the types of dyes and “anodic coatings” that can help, at least anodized aluminum surgical equipment, avoid discoloration even when exposed to hydrogen peroxide.
However, since Apple recommends against using hydrogen peroxide to clean your iPhone, we can assume that discoloration could be at least one of the concerns.
Apple, by the way, has not commented on the controversy so far. But perhaps their support pages speak for themselves.
Is this why the colors of the best iPhones are possibly fading? Maybe. The Reddit posts do not describe the use of hydrogen peroxide. Most complain about sun exposure and anodized aluminum has been known to fade under some UV lights.
Put another way, nothing is conclusive, but there’s a good chance that someone, somewhere, has been cleaning their new Cosmic Orange edition iPhone 17 Pro Max with the wrong solution.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to receive news, reviews and opinions from our experts in your feeds. Be sure to click the Follow button!
And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form and receive regular updates from us on WhatsApp also.
