Why are some cosmic orange iPhones turning pink?

If you bought the cosmic orange iPhone 17 Pro, you might want to be careful how you clean it — you could soon have a pink phone.

It was troubling for Apple fans when it surfaced online that folks' orange iPhones were, for some reason, reportedly turning a rosy, metallic shade of pink. A user on the iPhone subreddit posted a picture a week ago that apparently showed parts of their previously orange phone that had turned a (frankly pleasant) shade of pink. The post went viral as folks wondered how and why it happened.

Soon enough, there were posts claiming the same thing on TikTok.

So, why are cosmic orange iPhones turning pink?

In short: It's likely because of the way folks are cleaning their phone. The Apple-focused tech site 9to5Mac noted that the "iPhone 17 Pro’s chassis is constructed from anodized aluminum, which relies on an artificial oxide layer for both corrosion resistance and color uniformity." When that oxide layer interacts with a peroxide-based cleaner, the site reported, it could lead to discoloration of the metal underneath reacts to the solvent. That could explain why, in the viral posts, the glass back-panel remains orange while the metallic parts seemed to turn pink.

Users on TikTok have also suggested there could be an issue with the seal protecting the anodized aluminum.

So it may be that orange iPhones have come into contact with materials they shouldn't, like bleach or hydrogen peroxide. For reference, here's the section on Apple's support website on how to disinfect your phone.

"Using a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe, 75 percent ethyl alcohol wipe, or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, you may gently wipe the exterior surfaces of your iPhone. Don't use products containing bleach or hydrogen peroxide. Avoid getting moisture in any openings, and don't submerge your iPhone in any cleaning agents. After disinfecting, wipe with a soft, slightly damp (with water), lint-free cloth."

So if you've purchased a cosmic orange iPhone, certainly be careful how you clean it. Otherwise, you may risk discoloration. We've long loved the idea of pink iPhones here at Mashable, but this wasn't what we had in mind.