If you believe reports and images on Reddit, some iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange phones are inexplicably turning pink. There aren’t many reported cases, but enough that some have already coined the term “Colorgate.”
It’s fun to have a new “door” to consider, but what if there was a simple, scientific explanation for these potential color changes and the answer was staring us in the face from one of Apple’s own support pages all along?
First of all, we’ve reviewed the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max here and we haven’t experienced any fading yet. Even Scratchgate hasn’t reached our new iPhones yet, but the outcry around this new issue is such that it’s worth investigating.
Let’s first take a step back to understand the finish of the iPhone 17 Pro (and 17 Pro Max), the process by which it’s made, and how it differs from the titanium finish of the iPhone 16 Pro line.
Titanium is a heavier and stronger metal than aluminum and when anodized (an electrochemical process) it takes on a smooth, non-porous finish. Anodizing aluminum, on the other hand, results in a porous finish that can be bathed in a special dye that infuses color into those pores and is then specially sealed.
These differences in the materials and manufacturing process of the iPhone 17 Pro chassis allow for the richer colors of the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max: Cosmic Orange and Deep Blue.
Anecdotally, cosmic orange has been found to be the most popular color, which may explain the number of reports. But how could this pretty orange transform into an almost equally attractive reddish pink?
Oddly enough, a partial answer might be found here in this PF Finishing Products 2013 article by Mark Jazefowicz, Vice President of Technical Services, Reliant Aluminum Products. Jazefowicz writes:
“Color anodized aluminum is widely used as a material in the medical device industry. From tool handles to trays, these repeated-use devices undergo regular cleaning and sterilization treatments, and it is essential that the original finish remains preserved throughout.
Several types of sterilization methods are used today, but those that incorporate hydrogen peroxide injection are particularly difficult to support for a color anodized finish, because significant discoloration or discoloration typically occurs after only a few sterilization cycles.
So, according to Jazefowicz, hydrogen peroxide, a chemical sometimes used to bleach hair, is no friend of an anodized aluminum finish color.
If we needed more proof, we just need to check out Apple’s own tips for cleaning the iPhone.
Yes, 70% isopropyl alcohol is acceptable, as is a 75% ethyl alcohol wipe. Even Clorox disinfecting wipes are successful when used gently. But the language is clear: “Do not use products that contain bleach or hydrogen peroxide.” »
Apple doesn’t explain here why you should never use these solvents, but based on the information in this over a decade old article, we can guess why.
Admittedly, this isn’t exactly incontrovertible proof. We don’t know the exact composition of Apple’s Cosmic Orange dye or 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 could assume that discoloration could at least be one of the concerns.
Apple, moreover, is not commenting on the controversy for the moment. But perhaps their support pages speak for themselves.
Is this why the colors of the best iPhones fade? Maybe. Reddit posts do not describe the use of hydrogen peroxide. Most complain about sun exposure, and anodized aluminum has been known to discolor under certain UV lights.
In other words, nothing is conclusive, but there’s a decent possibility that someone, somewhere erased their new Cosmic Orange edition iPhone 17 Pro Max with the wrong solution.
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