Final 12 months, a Reddit thread emerged suggesting that the iPhone 17 Professional’s vibrant cosmic orange coloration may one way or the other flip shiny pink and it seems it is completely true. In a earlier model of this text I examined the Redditor’s claims by attacking my telephone with numerous chemical compounds and on the time I did not discover a lot distinction, however a few months on, issues have modified. And after I put my telephone in opposition to a contemporary iPhone 17 Professional Max at MWC 2026, the distinction was clear: mine was now shiny pink. Here is what occurred and what you are able to do to guard yours.
As PCMag’s Eric Zeman famous, discoloration might be attributable to cleansing substances that have an effect on a telephone’s end, with oxidation being responsible for the colour shift from cosmic orange to sizzling pink. Certain, this may technically be a fault, however in all honesty I like pink telephones (keep in mind the pink Moto Razr V3?) and the thought of a sizzling pink iPhone 17 Professional stuffed me with pleasure. So I examined the idea with numerous cleansing fluids.
It is essential to notice right here that the iPhone 17 Professional I used was purchased by CNET for the needs of testing. Had I paid over $1,000 of my very own cash, I might by no means be so reckless in smearing it with chemical compounds that might doubtlessly do it irreparable hurt. And also you should not both. If you have to clear your telephone, do it safely. Disclaimer apart, let’s dive in.
Don’t do what I do. Maintain this away out of your telephone.
The chemical compounds
I first purchased two chemical compounds to check this out. Zeman explains that oxidation might have induced the colour to vary and that hydrogen peroxide may do that. I could not discover this over-the-counter within the UK on the time (however extra on this later), so I as an alternative purchased an “oxy-active” stain remover spray that, amongst different issues, incorporates “oxygen-based bleaching brokers” which sounded excellent. Apple clearly states, “do not use merchandise containing bleach or hydrogen peroxide” on its help web page — so, naturally, I purchased some thick bleach too.
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Oxy utility
I began by spraying the oxy cleaner on a microfiber fabric till it was noticeably moist from the liquid. I then liberally utilized it everywhere in the rear of the iPhone. The Reddit consumer with the affected telephone confirmed that it solely affected the steel components, not the glass again panel, so I made certain to focus my consideration on the edges and digital camera bar.
Smearing on the chemical compounds with a fabric.
With the telephone effectively and really doused in chemical compounds that haven’t any enterprise being wherever close to a telephone, I left it to sit down and take into consideration what it had achieved for half-hour — after which period I wiped it dry and took a detailed inspection. Disappointingly, my telephone was nonetheless manufacturing facility orange, quite than “what the hell have you ever achieved to your telephone” pink. Time to maneuver on.
Bleach blast
I opened the bleach and, making an attempt arduous not to consider my days as a middle-school cleaner, utilized a liberal blob of the stuff to a fabric. Once more I smeared it over the defenceless telephone, concentrating once more on the steel areas. I positively ought to have worn protecting gloves for all of this, so please be sure to take higher care of your self than I do in the event you do something with bleach.
Once more, I gave it a 30-minute settling-in interval earlier than cleansing it off and inspecting the outcomes. The telephone remained as orange as ever, wanting as field contemporary because it was the day earlier than when it was, certainly, field contemporary.
The orange iPhone 17 Professional survives, unscathed, and doubtless a bit cleaner.
Hydrogen Peroxide FTW
Whereas I could not discover hydrogen peroxide in outlets within the UK, it was available on Amazon. I purchased a bottle and, utilizing a bit of kitchen towel, rubbed some liberally across the telephone’s steel components. I did this just a few instances, leaving it to air dry between purposes. I used to be disenchanted at first that I did not actually see the orange rework into sizzling pink, however over time I did discover that, in the best mild, there was a extra pinkish hue occurring.
Nevertheless it felt delicate and in some lighting it simply appeared as orange as ever. However just a few weeks later, throughout Cellular World Congress 2026, I in contrast the telephone with Patrick Holland’s cosmic orange iPhone 17 Professional Max and that is when the distinction turned wildly obvious. Mine wasn’t only a slight shift to pink, it appeared like I would purchased a very totally different coloration variant. All of the steel surfaces appeared vibrantly pink in opposition to the orange of Patrick’s mannequin, with solely the glass components — and the non-metallic slits of the antennas — remaining orange.
Facet-by-side, it is clear that my telephone has modified coloration utterly.
Is the pink iPhone 17 actual?
My first model of this text needed to conclude that possibly that vibrant pink iPhone seen on Reddit wasn’t the true deal. Or that one thing had gone improper inside Apple’s manufacturing and that buyer had merely purchased a fault mannequin. However lastly seeing my chemically-treated telephone in opposition to a contemporary Cosmic Orange mannequin actually confirmed me what can occur to a telephone if not sorted correctly.
So sure, it is completely attainable for an iPhone 17 Professional to show from orange to pink. However the actuality is that this is not going to be a difficulty for the overwhelming majority of homeowners, and I do not imagine this may be thought-about any form of fault on Apple’s facet. Apple’s steerage may be very clear that sturdy chemical compounds shouldn’t be used on its telephones and albeit, I do not assume that is even steerage that must be given. What I did — fully on objective — was to assault the telephone with chemical compounds so potent that I could not even purchase them in outlets.
In case you have an orange iPhone and need to preserve it that approach, my recommendation is straightforward: Do not cowl your telephone in hydrogen peroxide. You are welcome. Certain, I am being flippant and it is in fact value holding in thoughts that hydrogen peroxide might be present in different merchandise, together with hair dyes, so it is attainable you could have some in your arms after which decide up your telephone to reply a name with out considering. A case would definitely assist shield your telephone additional.
However in any other case I do not assume you have to fear about holding your telephone in its authentic orange state. After all, in the event you merely need a pink iPhone 17 Professional then that is one other matter fully, however my steerage stays that smearing your telephone in harmful chemical compounds makes no sense. It may do severe hurt to you and your telephone and also you’re significantly better off simply hoping that Apple launches a brand new pink iPhone Professional in September. And it would — it has simply launched a pink iPhone 17E, in any case.
