Apple customers say new iPhone 18 Pro devices are arriving with pinkish halos and discoloration around their rear camera lenses. The $1,199 smartphones, launched on September 18, 2026, are showing pigment wear on burgundy and black models that owners report cannot be wiped away.
Buyers who picked up Apple’s latest Pro smartphone are taking to social media platforms like Reddit to report unexpected discoloration around their device’s camera plateau. The issue primarily surfaces on the burgundy and black models of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, while silver and glacier blue versions appear unaffected.
Discoloration Appears on Burgundy and Black iPhone 18 Pro Models
Customers dropping $1,199 and upwards on Apple’s latest flagship discovered lighter rings forming around the rear lenses shortly after unboxing. As LADBible noted, the Pro Max model starts at £1,299 and can cost as much as £2,499 with additional mod cons added on to the basic model. Some buyers noted the pigment shift was visible straight out of the box, ruling out user error or everyday wear and tear. Reports of this fading are strictly limited to the black and burgundy editions, with zero grievances raised regarding glacier blue or silver variants.
“Hey everyone, I noticed that the area around my camera lenses looks slightly lighter/pinkish compared with the surrounding camera housing. There is no oil, residue, or dirt on the phone, and I’ve cleaned the area carefully. I’m also not seeing any scratches, dents, or physical damage.”
Reddit user Low_Midnight_2601, via Mashable
While some owners initially suspected smudges or oil from daily handling, attempts to clean the chassis with Q-Tips, alcohol wipes, and cotton buds failed to restore the original finish. One owner observed that a faint mark vanished temporarily after cleaning only to creep back minutes later, suggesting an underlying material change rather than external dirt. Certain users maintained that no amount of scrubbing could eradicate the blemishes, despite trying tiny cotton swabs and alcohol pads to clear away any suspected residue.
Disgruntled Buyers Return Devices over Camera Plateau Flaws
Frustrated consumers are demanding refunds and sending their pricey devices back to Apple. Social media reports indicate that the flaw extends beyond customer units, with at least one observer on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) noting via Cult of Mac and Phandroid that store display models at retail locations exhibit the exact same lighter halo effect around the camera plateau.
“Mine is horrible. Already on its way back to Apple.”
Dissatisfied customer, via New York Post
As Phandroid notes, Apple has not yet issued a public comment regarding the pigment reports. Customers who purchased through official retail channels still have access to standard return windows, prompting some buyers to swap their burgundy or black units for unaffected silver or glacier variants.
Parallels to Anodized Aluminum and Last Year’s Cosmic Orange Shift
Tech analysts trace the potential root cause back to the manufacturing process. AppleInsider theorized that getting common household cleaners on the phones could cause the discoloration, noting that the company’s support page warns against products containing bleach or hydrogen peroxide while approving 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes, 75% ethyl alcohol wipes, or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes. Daily Mail reports that the iPhone 18 Pro utilizes an anodized aluminum finish where the device is submerged in an electrolytic bath to build a porous aluminum oxide layer that absorbs dye.
This color-shifting issue bears a strong resemblance to consumer complaints from the previous generation.