GoKawiilLast year, a Reddit thread emerged showing that a user's iPhone 17 Pro color had transformed from the once vibrant Cosmic Orange color that it was supposed to be to a wild pink tone. I was skeptical at first, but it turns out it's true. In an earlier version of this article, I attacked my phone with various chemicals, but little seemed to change. But when I put my phone against a fresh iPhone 17 Pro Max at this year's MWC, the difference was clear: mine was now bright pink. Here's what happened and what you can do to protect yours.
As PCMag's Eric Zeman noted, discoloration can be caused by cleaning substances that affect a phone's finish, with oxidation being to blame for the color shift from cosmic orange to hot pink. Sure, this might technically be a fault, but in all honesty, I love pink phones (remember the pink Moto Razr V3?) and the idea of a hot pink iPhone 17 Pro filled me with joy. Pink is on the rise, and I couldn't be happier. Whether it's the "blush" MacBook Neo, the soft pink iPhone 17E or the stunning pink Nothing 4A Pro (heck, I'll throw in my own recent Leica Q3 43 customization for good measure), the softer shade of spring can be seen sprouting in tech everywhere.
So I tested the theory with various cleaning fluids.
It's important to note that the iPhone 17 Pro I used was purchased by CNET for testing. Had I paid over $1,000 of my own money, I would never be so reckless as to smear it with chemicals that could potentially do it irreparable harm. And you shouldn't either. If you need to clean your phone, do it safely. Disclaimer aside, let's dive in.
Do not do what I do. Keep this away from your phone. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
The chemicals
I first bought two chemicals to test this out. Zeman explains that oxidation may have caused the color to change and that hydrogen peroxide could do this. I couldn't find this over the counter in the UK at the time (but more on this later), so I instead bought an "oxy-active" stain remover spray that, among other things, contains "oxygen-based bleaching agents," which sounded ideal. Apple clearly states on its support page, "don't use products containing bleach or hydrogen peroxide, so naturally, I bought some thick bleach, too.
Watch this: iPhone 17E Packs More Features for the Same $599 Price 02:32
Oxy application
I started by spraying the oxy cleaner on a microfiber cloth until it was noticeably wet from the liquid. I then liberally applied it all over the rear of the iPhone. The Reddit user with the affected phone showed that it only affected the metal parts, not the glass back panel, so I made sure to focus my attention on the sides and camera bar.
... continue reading