Is there a discoloration issue plaguing certain iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max devices? Some users say there is.Credit: Nikolas Kokovlis/NurPhoto
Within hours of the iPhone 17 Pro launching last fall, users noticed that the new aluminum unibody was prone to scratching, a controversy later dubbed “Scratchgate” by tech reporters.
And now that the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max have been around for a couple of weeks, users are starting to notice all the little things they don’t like about their new phone.
Here’s a weird one: Some iPhone 18 Pro users are reporting mild discoloration on their devices, specifically around the rear camera lenses (as reported by the New York Post).
The iPhone 18 Pro has been reported to have a discolored body and cracked speakers.
Two weeks after the start of sales, owners of black and burgundy models are posting photos of light streaks around the cameras.
Some were noticeable almost immediately after unboxing. The reason… pic.twitter.com/cQdRN943ts— iReviewZones (@iReviewZones) October 1, 2026
Furthermore, the fading has only been reported on the burgundy and black models of the phones; we haven’t seen any complaints regarding the silver or glacier blue colors.
Mild discoloration around the camera lenses may be nitpicky, but customers will have high expectations for a device that costs $1,199 and up, especially when it’s still less than two weeks old.
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SEE ALSO:Review: Witht he Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max, it’s what’s on the inside that counts
Some users claimed they were able to fix the issue by cleaning the area with a Q-Tip; however, others insisted that it’s an actual discoloration problem.
“Hey everyone, I noticed that the area around my camera lenses looks slightly lighter/pinkish compared with the surrounding camera housing,” wrote one Reddit user. “There is no oil, residue, or dirt on the phone, and I’ve cleaned the area carefully. I’m also not seeing any scratches, dents, or physical damage.”
Yesterday, Mashable reported on Reddit complaints that some iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max devices were suffering from popping and crackling speaker issues. As the owner of my own black iPhone 18 Pro Max, I noted that I haven’t experienced any audio problems myself, nor have my colleagues with the same phone.
However, after seeing users complain about the discoloration issue, I took a closer look at my own smartphone, and I did notice some slight discoloring around the rear camera lenses. It looked like someone had touched the area with oily fingers. My attempts to clean the area with a Q-Tip did help… somewhat. The problem was less noticeable, but some faint discoloration along the edges of the lenses was still visible. So, perhaps this area is just more difficult to clean?
Based on user photos posted to Reddit, the problem seems more pronounced on the burgundy models. Last year’s cosmic orange iPhone 17 Pro had problems with scratching, but it was nothing a good iPhone case couldn’t fix, and the same should be true here.
Mashable reached out to Apple to ask about this potential issue, and we will update this piece if we receive a response.
Matt Binder joined Mashable’s tech vertical in 2018, where he covers social media, tech policy, cybersecurity, online scams, cryptocurrency, AI, creator news, weird tech, and other related tech beats.
