Apple’s new iPhone 18 Pro is facing early complaints over its burgundy finish, with some owners reporting that the colour is fading or changing after only a short time.

Reports have emerged online from owners of both the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, with photos that appear to show light fading or pinking areas around the rear camera housing. 

The complaints are notable given the premium positioning and pricing of Apple’s latest Pro models, the Pro pricing starting at $2,099 and the Pro Max starting at $2,299.

According to reports, some affected owners claim the discolouration has appeared within just weeks of purchase. And in some cases, users say the affected areas cannot be restored through cleaning.

The reports are anecdotal and there is currently no evidence that the issue affects all Burgundy models, or that it represents a widespread manufacturing defect.

The burgundy finish is one of four colours Apple introduced for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, alongside black, silver and glacier. Apple describes the devices as featuring an aluminium unibody design with a Ceramic Shield back.

While burgundy seems to be attracting the most attention for the changes in colour, some reports have also pointed out isolated discolouration on black models.

The complaints remind of the iPhone 17 Pro, where owners reported problems with the Cosmic Orange finish changing colour, including instances where orange devices developed a pinkish or lighter appearance. Similar reports were also made about the previous model’s Deep Blue finish.

The iPhone 18 Pro uses an aluminium construction rather than the titanium design previously used on Apple’s Pro models. Apple has promoted the new aluminium unibody as part of the device’s durability and thermal-performance improvements, claiming improved scratch resistance compared with the iPhone 16 Pro.

The latest reports on discolouration raise questions over whether the coloured surface treatment can withstand the demands of everyday use, particularly for consumers who choose to use their smartphones without cases.

The cause has not been confirmed however some owners posit the fading issue could be from exposure to sunlight or other environmental factors.

Apple has yet to publicly acknowledge a widespread Burgundy finish problem with the iPhone 18 Pro.

For retailers, the reports could create an additional customer-service issue if more owners begin seeking replacements or refunds over cosmetic changes to their devices.

With the iPhone 18 Pro only recently launched, the extent of the problem is likely to become clearer as more devices are sold and enter everyday use.

For now, the reports remain isolated complaints rather than evidence of a confirmed product defect, however Apple will likely be keeping this issue on its radar, particularly with the similarities to last year’s iPhone 17 Pro colour complaints.