Syed Saif Ul Hassan 
Oct 22, 2025
An undated image of iPhone 17 Pro. — Apple
Apple's latest iPhone 17 series has been in hot water for the past few days due to the discolouration in iPhone 17 Pro models, with the internet flooding complaints and backlash primarily to the iPhone 17 Pro in Cosmic Orange.
Out of all the complaints, most users of the iPhone 17 Pro's Cosmic Orange model reported that their devices turned pink.
What is iPhone 17 Pro's Colorgate issue?
Dubbed “Colorgate”, the iPhone 17 Pro's colour fading issue led to a heated discussion on Reddit. Although Apple hasn't yet officially addressed the issue, some clues were reportedly spotted in its cleaning guidelines and the science of anodised aluminium, shedding light on the phenomenon.
Detailing the problem, many Reddit posts hinted that a small number of Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro owners noticed their phones shifting from bright orange to a reddish-pink hue.
While being limited, the colour transformation has gained massive attention online, with analysts suggesting that the problem may stem from the interaction of the device’s titanium finish with certain cleaning products, indicating that no hardware flaw is at play here.
The anodisation process used on the iPhone 17 Pro creates a durable surface, but since titanium reacts differently to dyes compared to aluminium, harsh chemicals like hydrogen peroxide found in some disinfectants are most likely to damage the finish.
Recommending gentler options, Apple's cleaning guidelines specifically warned against using products containing bleach or hydrogen peroxide.
