Final 12 months, a Reddit thread emerged suggesting that the iPhone 17 Professional’s vibrant cosmic orange coloration might one way or the other flip brilliant pink and it seems it is completely true. In a earlier model of this text I examined the Redditor’s claims by attacking my cellphone with varied 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 cellphone towards a contemporary iPhone 17 Professional Max at MWC 2026, the distinction was clear: mine was now brilliant pink. Here is what occurred and what you are able to do to guard yours.
As PCMag’s Eric Zeman famous, discoloration will be attributable to cleansing substances that have an effect on a cellphone’s end, with oxidation being responsible for the colour shift from cosmic orange to scorching pink. Certain, this would possibly technically be a fault, however in all honesty I like pink telephones (bear 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 speculation with varied cleansing fluids.
It is necessary 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 probably do it irreparable hurt. And also you should not both. If you must clear your cellphone, do it safely. Disclaimer apart, let’s dive in.
Don’t do what I do. Maintain this away out of your cellphone.
The chemical compounds
I first purchased two chemical compounds to check this out. Zeman explains that oxidation could have prompted the colour to alter 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, comprises “oxygen-based bleaching brokers” which sounded excellent. Apple clearly states, “do not use merchandise containing bleach or hydrogen peroxide” on its assist 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 person with the affected cellphone confirmed that it solely affected the steel components, not the glass again panel, so I made certain to focus my consideration on the perimeters and digital camera bar.
Smearing on the chemical compounds with a fabric.
With the cellphone effectively and actually doused in chemical compounds that haven’t any enterprise being wherever close to a cellphone, I left it to take a seat and take into consideration what it had achieved for half-hour — after which era I wiped it dry and took an in depth inspection. Disappointingly, my cellphone was nonetheless manufacturing facility orange, somewhat than “what the hell have you ever achieved to your cellphone” pink. Time to maneuver on.
Bleach blast
I opened the bleach and, attempting exhausting 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 cellphone, concentrating once more on the steel 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 when 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 cellphone 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 possibly 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 bit of kitchen towel, rubbed some liberally across the cellphone’s steel components. I did this just a few instances, leaving it to air dry between functions. I used to be dissatisfied at first that I did not actually see the orange remodel into scorching pink, however over time I did discover that, in the precise gentle, there was a extra pinkish hue happening.
But it surely felt delicate and in some lighting it simply seemed as orange as ever. However just a few weeks later, throughout Cell World Congress 2026, I in contrast the cellphone 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 seemed like I might purchased a totally totally different coloration variant. All of the steel surfaces seemed vibrantly pink towards the orange of Patrick’s mannequin, with solely the glass components — and the non-metallic slits of the antennas — remaining orange.
Aspect-by-side, it is clear that my cellphone 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 flawed inside Apple’s manufacturing and that buyer had merely purchased a fault mannequin. However lastly seeing my chemically-treated cellphone towards a contemporary Cosmic Orange mannequin actually confirmed me what can occur to a cellphone if not taken care of correctly.
So sure, it is completely doable 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 householders, and I do not consider this may be thought-about any type of fault on Apple’s facet. Apple’s steering may be very clear that sturdy chemical compounds shouldn’t be used on its telephones and admittedly, I do not assume that is even steering that must be given. What I did — fully on goal — was to assault the cellphone with chemical compounds so potent that I could not even purchase them in retailers.
When you have an orange iPhone and wish to hold it that means, my recommendation is straightforward: Do not cowl your cellphone in hydrogen peroxide. You are welcome. Certain, I am being flippant and it is in fact value conserving in thoughts that hydrogen peroxide will be present in different merchandise, together with hair dyes, so it is doable you could have some in your arms after which choose up your cellphone to reply a name with out considering. A case will surely assist defend your cellphone additional.
However in any other case I do not assume you must fear about conserving your cellphone in its authentic orange state. In fact, when you merely need a pink iPhone 17 Professional then that is one other matter fully, however my steering stays that smearing your cellphone in harmful chemical compounds is senseless. It might do severe hurt to you and your cellphone and also you’re significantly better off simply hoping that Apple launches a brand new pink iPhone Professional in September. And it’d — it has simply launched a pink iPhone 17E, in any case.
