iPhone 18 Pro Owners Report the Burgundy Finish Fading Around the Camera

Reddit photos show pale or pinkish patches starting near the camera plateau on Burgundy iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max units. Apple has not commented, and the cause is unconfirmed.

Pravin KankanePublished 7 October 2026Updated 25 October 20264 min read

Early buyers of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max say the new Burgundy finish is fading, with discolouration appearing around the camera module within days of normal use. Apple has not commented, and there is no data on how many phones are affected (Android Headlines, Yahoo Tech).

What owners are reporting

GSMArena and Notebookcheck both report that the Burgundy colour is the main casualty. Photos shared on Reddit show the colour turning pale or pinkish in patches, starting at the raised camera plateau and spreading onto the aluminium frame (Gagadget). Some owners say the marks were there at unboxing; others say they appeared after use.

Android Headlines says owners who tried microfibre cloths had no success, though one commenter said a faint version came off with an alcohol wipe. Reports also mention some black units, while Glacier and Silver owners have not widely reported it. These descriptions come from user posts and the outlets that collected them, not a controlled test, and GSMArena's own test unit showed no fading.

Colour	Fading reports
Burgundy	Most reports
Black	Some reports
Glacier	Not widely reported
Silver	Not widely reported

How many phones are affected

Nobody knows yet. Ubergizmo calls the complaints widespread but gives no count, and GSMArena presents them as cases from early adopters. Without data from Apple or a large survey, the scale is unclear.

What might be causing it

Two theories circulate, both untested: heat from the camera system wearing down the anodised finish, and ultraviolet light breaking down the pigment. Others suggest a problem in the finishing process. One BigGo report says some earlier cases were traced to dust and debris in gaps rather than damage to the finish; that claim has not been independently verified (BigGo).

Echoes of last year

The reports recall a problem with the iPhone 17 Pro, where Cosmic Orange units were said to fade towards rose gold. Android Headlines says Apple never publicly acknowledged that issue, and that it reportedly approved returns and exchanges behind the scenes while updating its cleaning guidance to warn against bleach and hydrogen peroxide. Ubergizmo, by contrast, says Apple offered free replacements. Because the accounts differ, what Apple actually did last year is unclear.

Complaints about colour finishes on the most expensive iPhones have now come up in two consecutive generations. Whether the two problems share a cause is not known.

What Apple's own page says

Apple's iPhone 18 Pro page lists four colours: Burgundy, Glacier, Silver and Black. It highlights a 48MP main camera with variable aperture, a larger vapour chamber and up to 45 hours of video playback on the Pro Max, but says nothing about finish durability. Apple's general cleaning guidance recommends a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth and warns that cleaning products can wear down coatings.

What owners can do

Apple has issued no guidance on this issue or said whether cosmetic fading is covered by warranty. Owners who see discolouration can keep dated photos and their receipt, and raise it with Apple Support or the retailer while their return or warranty window is open. Avoiding harsh cleaners is sensible in any case.

Buyers who have not yet purchased have a simple reference point: Glacier and Silver phones are not widely reported as affected.