This could be how to stop your orange iPhone turning pink

Some days ago, an image hit the internet which seemed to show that some iPhone 17 Pro smartphones are shifting colour from Cosmic Orange to Vaguely Pink. Leaker The Galox took to X to highlight an image of two iPhone 17 Pro Max handsets held side by side.

The one on the left looks like the bold orange-hued flagship many reviewers are praising right now. The one to the right, however, looks a little… different.

Indeed, the tone of Apple’s new camera “plateau” and the aluminium unibody frame is more of a blushing pink, indicating that something has shifted the original colour. The image appears to have been taken from a Reddit post, with original posted DakAttack316 claiming that “My Orange 17 iPhone Pro Max turned Rose Gold”.

Since we spotted this image, more pictures of discoloured iPhones have been doing the rounds online. The prevailing theory up until now has been that the culprit is oxidation or perhaps an issue with Apple’s anodisation process.

But now it’s looking as though the damage might have been done by iPhone users in a misguided attempt to keep the phone in tip-top condition.

How to protect your orange iPhone Pro

Updated care guidelines from Apple suggest that cleaning products, such as wipes, containing “bleach or hydrogen peroxide” could be responsible for the colour-changing phones.

Apple has clarified that you should only use “a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe, 75 percent ethyl alcohol wipe, or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes” to gently wipe down the exterior of your phone.

But is the brand just trying to shunt the blame for an easily damaged coating onto the aggrieved owners of unwanted pink and orange phones?

Hopefully, the truth will out. In the meantime, we’d advise that people follow Apple’s care guidelines and we wouldn’t suggest testing out whether or not bleach will give your iPhone a whole new look.

Here’s hoping Samsung learns the right lessons

A recent news story doing the rounds concerning a potential Cosmic Orange Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra colour option suggested that Samsung would be following Apple’s design lead in offering a burnt orange tone with its new flagship. It wouldn’t be the first time.

However, reliable leaker OnLeaks has offered his thoughts on the issue, and feels that these images are highly likely to have been AI-generated.

Not that we’d be averse to Samsung offering such brazen colour option with the Galaxy S26 Ultra. It’s reminding us a bit of the glorious copper-coloured Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.

We wouldn’t even have a problem with a rose gold Galaxy S26 Ultra option, so long as it’s intentional.

For extra protection check out our sibling site Macworld’s recommendations of the best cases for iPhone 17 Pro.