Early adopters of the red iPhone 18 Pro are reporting significant color fading and oxidation on their devices. Users shared images showing that the area around the camera module has noticeably lightened, with similar issues also appearing on black models.
This issue is not new, as similar fading was reported with the iPhone 17 Pro series, particularly affecting the Starry Orange colorway. In that case, the vibrant orange finish gradually turned pink, with problems concentrated in specific production batches.
Affected users claim they used protective cases and avoided chemical cleaners like alcohol. The devices utilize an aerospace-grade aluminum frame colored through an anodizing process, which involves creating a film layer with microscopic pores that must be sealed to lock in the dye.
Industry experts suggest the root cause is incomplete sealing of these pores during manufacturing. This allows human sweat and oils to penetrate the oxide film, damaging the dye structure over time. The iPhone 18 Pro retains the same material design as its predecessor, suggesting ongoing quality control issues with the anodization process.
