iPhone 18 Pro’s Burgundy Units Are Reportedly Fading, Just Like Last Year’s Cosmic Orange

Here’s a sentence I genuinely didn’t expect to write twice in a year. About this time last year, reports of discoloration issues in the iPhone 17 Pro’s Cosmic Orange variant started to surface online. One year later, buyers are facing a similar issue, but it’s with the iPhone 18 Pro’s Burgundy colorway, or, more importantly, Apple’s flagship finish for the series.

A smaller group of buyers with the Black 18 Pro are reportedly facing the same issue. 

Also Read: Snapdragon X2 Plus Meets Its Match: 15 Days. One Lenovo Laptop. Zero Apologies

iPhone 18 Pro Discoloration: Plausible Reasons

Reddit and X users have posted photos showing a pale, washed-out color shift. While it mostly starts around the camera rings on the camera island, it slowly creeps its way across the rest of the aluminum frame. While buyers aren’t pointing to a sure-shot reason, some speculate that time spent outdoors links the discoloration to UV exposure.

Other plausible reasons include localized heat around the camera lenses, especially during heavy 4K recording sessions, or temporary surface residue and lint buildup around the lenses (also happens on regular phones), which could cause a discolored look.

However, there’s also a chance of a manufacturing inconsistency in a specific batch or early batches, which is why not all users are facing it. 

Also Read: Lumio Arc 7 (2026) Holds The ₹34,999 Price While Brightness Jumps 25%

A case plus regular wiping reportedly slow the problem, but there’s no immediate or permanent fix yet. 

Also Read: MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro and 9600M Announced for India

Why This Doesn’t Feel Like a Coincidence Anymore

I’ll be honest, this is the second time that a hero color has run into a problem. Last year’s iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange faced near-identical complaints, with Deep Blue units affected too. In fact, Apple acknowledged the issues and replaced the faulty units some time after the launch as well. 

We have an iPhone 18 Pro Glacier Blue unit in the house, and we haven’t encountered any such issues on the same. My honest take: if you’ve already bought the Burgundy variant, get a case for it now rather than waiting to see if your unit is one of the lucky ones. Even if Apple replaces the units this year, it could be a while before the company deems it right to do so. 

Also Read: Vivo S2 FE, V80 And X Fold 6 Launched In India: Check Price, Sale Dates, Offers And Key Features Here

You can follow Smartprix on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Google News. Visit smartprix.com for the latest tech and auto news, reviews, and guides.