Apple iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max owners report unexpected pinkish discoloration rings around their rear camera lenses following the device’s September 18 launch. The issue primarily affects burgundy and black models starting at $1,199, prompting some dissatisfied buyers to demand refunds and return their phones.
Mine is horrible. Already on its way back to Apple.
When Apple launched the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max on September 18, buyers expected a pristine flagship finish. Instead, customers posting on social media and Reddit discovered unwanted color shifts framing the rear camera plateau. Pro Max models start at £1,299 and can cost as much as £2,499 with additional mod cons added on to the basic model, according to LADBible. Despite costing over $1,000, the new iPhone 18 Pro is sending some shoppers into buyer’s remorse, with reports that the so-called state-of-the-art devices are beginning to fade.
Burgundy And Black Units Show Pink Halos
The discoloration manifests as a lighter, pinkish ring surrounding the three rear camera lenses. The $1,199 entry-level device and its larger Pro Max sibling have drawn particular scrutiny on social platforms, where owners of darker finishes share photographs of the two-toned casing. As reported by tech.yahoo.com, a social media user named OneUiOS noted on September 27, 2026, that display models at the Apple Store are also affected, and Apple offered them a replacement. An accompanying photo showed the Burgundy phone’s triple lenses ringed with slightly pink halos.
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 Yahoo
While silver and pale blue glacier models remain unaffected, owners of burgundy and black hardware report that the marks do not disappear with cleaning. Some purchasers state the discoloration was visible straight out of the box, with one customer telling LADBible and the New York Post that the device arrived two-toned. I have the same thing on Burgundy Pro Max,
declared another, while an owner of a black device noted that their phone came in the exact same way.
Production Process Suspected In Color Defect
Tech analysts point to the production process as a potential contributor. Both the iPhone 17 lineup and the new iPhone 18 Pro rely on anodization, submerging aluminum in an electrolytic bath to build a porous oxide layer that holds the dye. Tech.yahoo.com noted that PC Mag theorized getting common household cleaners on the phones could cause the discoloration.
If that microscopic seal fails during manufacturing, exposure to external contaminants like skin oils can alter the pigment. A similar phenomenon occurred with last year’s cosmic orange iPhone 17 Pro, where buyers reported pinkish color shifts weeks after release. Furthermore, tech.yahoo.com reported that iFixit examined the iPhone 17 Pro and found its camera plateau flaked badly in testing, with a materials scientist explaining that the camera bump’s sharp edges do not hold the anodization layer as firmly as the rest of the phone, and that thicker oxide layers would be more prone to spalling.
Buyers Send Defective Phones Back To Apple
Frustrated customers are bypassing troubleshooting tips and sending their phones back to Apple for refunds. Mashable reached out to Apple to ask about this potential issue, though Apple has not yet publicly commented on the camera halo reports.
Mine is horrible. Already on its way back to Apple.
Dissatisfied customer, via New York Post
Apple’s official support documentation warns users never to clean mobile devices with products containing bleach or hydrogen peroxide, though 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes, 75% ethyl alcohol wipes, and Clorox Disinfecting Wipes remain approved for gently wiping exterior surfaces as long as the products are not expired, according to tech.yahoo.com. I’m also not seeing any scratches, dents, or physical damage,
a customer noted.
