'Cosmic Orange' Discoloration Reported
Possible Aluminum Oxidation and Coating Process Issues
Criticism Over Slower Speeds Compared to Previous Models
There have been ongoing reports of discoloration issues affecting the exterior of some iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models, which Apple unveiled in September.
According to industry sources and both domestic and international online communities on December 19, users have consistently complained about color changes in the 'Cosmic Orange' version of the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max since the devices were released. Photos posted on overseas communities such as Reddit show that, while the product originally had a vivid orange color when unboxed, after about two weeks of use, the area around the camera island turned rose gold or pink. In some cases, the discoloration spread across the entire device.
Although this phenomenon has not occurred with every unit, industry experts point to material changes as the likely cause. The iPhone 17 Pro is the first in the lineup to feature an aluminum body, and it is believed that this material may have oxidized after reacting with oxygen or moisture in the air. There are also observations that the anodized sealing process Apple uses may not have been sufficiently applied during certain stages of production, potentially resulting in inadequate protective coating.
Aluminum is lighter and less expensive than titanium, making it advantageous for reducing manufacturing costs, and its high thermal conductivity is beneficial for heat management. However, it is relatively less durable and can discolor when exposed to ultraviolet light or chemicals such as bleach or hydrogen peroxide. The highly saturated Cosmic Orange color is known to be particularly vulnerable to such changes.
Issues with network quality have also fueled consumer dissatisfaction. Since launch, the iPhone 17 series has been criticized for having slower and more inconsistent 5G and LTE speeds compared to previous models. This was confirmed in test videos by IT YouTubers such as ItsSub and Jooyeon, and the iOS 26.1 update did not resolve the problem, leading to suspicions of a hardware defect. Some improvements were observed in the iOS 26.2 beta released in mid-November, and the official version was distributed in South Korea on December 12 and 13.
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