iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange develops pink hue on metal surfaces

Several owners of Apple’s new iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max reported this week that units finished in the Cosmic Orange color have developed pink or rose gold discoloration on metal surfaces within days or weeks of purchase, according to posts and videos shared on social platforms. The change has been documented in photographs and clips showing the aluminum frame and camera housing shifting hue while the central matte glass back remains largely orange.

Images first posted on community forums and short-video platforms show the pinking most prominently around the camera island and along exposed edges, with some users saying the effect appears in streaks or patchy blotches. One user who posted photos online wrote, "I wanted Orange, not a pink iPhone," describing his intent to seek an exchange at an Apple Store. Other posts show that areas covered by clear cases have remained unchanged, suggesting the effect may be limited to exposed metal surfaces.

Technology analysts and commenters have pointed to the phones' anodized aluminum finish and a protective clear seal applied after coloring as likely factors. Anodization creates a colored oxide layer on aluminum, and experts say that a...