Final yr, a Reddit thread emerged suggesting that the iPhone 17 Professional’s vibrant cosmic orange coloration might in some way flip vivid 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 towards a contemporary iPhone 17 Professional Max at MWC 2026, the distinction was clear: mine was now vivid pink. This is what occurred and what you are able to do to guard yours.
As PCMag’s Eric Zeman famous, discoloration may be attributable to cleansing substances that have an effect on a telephone’s end, with oxidation being guilty for the colour shift from cosmic orange to scorching pink. Positive, this would possibly technically be a fault, however in all honesty I really like pink telephones (keep in mind the pink Moto Razr V3?) and the concept of a scorching 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’d by no means be so reckless in smearing it with chemical compounds that would probably do it irreparable hurt. And also you should not both. If it’s essential to clear your telephone, do it safely. Disclaimer apart, let’s dive in.
Don’t do what I do. Hold 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 prompted the colour to vary and that hydrogen peroxide might 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, accommodates “oxygen-based bleaching brokers” which sounded perfect. 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 material till it was noticeably moist from the liquid. I then liberally utilized it everywhere in the rear of the iPhone. The Reddit person with the affected telephone confirmed that it solely affected the metallic components, not the glass again panel, so I made positive to focus my consideration on the edges and digicam bar.
Smearing on the chemical compounds with a material.
With the telephone properly and actually doused in chemical compounds that don’t have any enterprise being wherever close to a telephone, I left it to take a seat and take into consideration what it had performed for half-hour — after which period I wiped it dry and took a detailed inspection. Disappointingly, my telephone was nonetheless manufacturing unit orange, moderately than “what the hell have you ever performed 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 material. Once more I smeared it over the defenceless telephone, concentrating once more on the metallic areas. I positively ought to have worn protecting gloves for all of this, so please be sure you take higher care of your self than I do should 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, trying 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 retailers within the UK, it was available on Amazon. I purchased a bottle and, utilizing a chunk of kitchen towel, rubbed some liberally across the telephone’s metallic components. I did this a number of instances, leaving it to air dry between functions. I used to be disillusioned at first that I did not actually see the orange rework into scorching pink, however over time I did discover that, in the precise gentle, there was a extra pinkish hue occurring.
However it felt delicate and in some lighting it simply appeared as orange as ever. However a number of weeks later, throughout Cell World Congress 2026, I in contrast the telephone with Patrick Holland’s cosmic orange iPhone 17 Professional Max and that is when the distinction grew to become wildly obvious. Mine wasn’t only a slight shift to pink, it appeared like I would purchased a totally totally different coloration variant. All of the metallic surfaces appeared vibrantly pink towards 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 fully.
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 actual deal. Or that one thing had gone incorrect inside Apple’s manufacturing and that buyer had merely purchased a fault mannequin. However lastly seeing my chemically-treated telephone towards a contemporary Cosmic Orange mannequin actually confirmed me what can occur to a telephone if not taken care of correctly.
So sure, it is completely potential 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 consider this may be thought of any type of fault on Apple’s aspect. Apple’s steering may be very clear that robust chemical compounds shouldn’t be used on its telephones and albeit, I do not suppose that is even steering that must be given. What I did — fully on goal — was to assault the telephone with chemical compounds so potent that I could not even purchase them in retailers.
When you have an orange iPhone and need to maintain it that method, my recommendation is straightforward: Do not cowl your telephone in hydrogen peroxide. You are welcome. Positive, I am being flippant and it is after all value holding in thoughts that hydrogen peroxide may be present in different merchandise, together with hair dyes, so it is potential you could have some in your arms after which choose up your telephone to reply a name with out pondering. A case would definitely assist defend your telephone additional.
However in any other case I do not suppose it’s essential to fear about holding your telephone in its unique orange state. After all, should you merely need a pink iPhone 17 Professional then that is one other matter fully, however my steering stays that smearing your telephone in harmful chemical compounds makes no sense. It might 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 spite of everything.
