iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max Colours, the Burgundy Fading Reports and How to Protect Yours
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max come in four colours: black, silver, glacier (a pale blue) and burgundy. There is no gold, pink or orange this year. Since launch, some owners of the burgundy model, and a few with black, have posted photos of the colour fading around the camera. Apple has not commented. If you want the lowest risk, pick silver or glacier, and whichever colour you choose, keep bleach and hydrogen peroxide away from it.
Jump to your question:
- What colours are there?Black, silver, glacier, burgundy. All four
- Which one should I pick?Depends on how you use it. Our advice
- Is burgundy really fading?Some owners say so. The reports
- Why does it happen?The colour is a thin layer. How it works
- How do I protect mine?Five habits. Do this
- Mine has faded. What now?Your UK rights. What to do
The colours, prices and cleaning rules come from Apple’s own UK pages, the fading reports from named publications and owner forums, and your rights from the Consumer Rights Act 2015, all checked on 8 October 2026. We sell Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro cases, but not the phone itself.
- iPhone 18 Pro colours: black, silver, glacier and burgundy
- iPhone 18 Pro Max colours, UK price and release date
- Which iPhone 18 Pro colour should you choose?
- Burgundy iPhone 18 Pro fading: what owners are reporting
- Why iPhone 18 Pro colours fade: the anodised layer explained
- How to stop your iPhone 18 Pro colour fading
- Faded burgundy iPhone 18 Pro? Your warranty and UK rights
- iPhone 18 Pro colours: is there gold, pink or purple?
- iPhone Duo colours: star white and night sky
- iPhone 18 colours: the standard model is not out yet
- Quick answers
iPhone 18 Pro colours: black, silver, glacier and burgundy
Apple sells the iPhone 18 Pro in four colours: black, silver, glacier and burgundy. Apple calls burgundy “all-new”. The same four colours apply to both sizes.
| Colour | What it looks like | New this year? | Fading reports so far |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | Dark grey-black, close to the old matte black Pros | Back after a year off | A few |
| Silver | White back, light grey metal frame | Carried over | None in the reports we read |
| Glacier | Pale, cool blue | New | None in the reports we read |
| Burgundy | Deep wine red | New, Apple’s “all-new” colour | Most of them |
A few things you only notice in person:
- The colour sits in two places. The frame and the raised camera block are coloured aluminium. The back panel is matt glass in a matching shade. Reports of fading so far involve the aluminium, not the glass.
- Glacier is the subtle one. In photos it can look almost silver. In the hand it is a soft blue. One owner on the MacRumors forum who saw it in a shop called it “actually very nice”.
- Burgundy splits opinion. In the same MacRumors launch-day thread, owners called it “so much richer than the orange” and “beautiful”, while others said it “feels a little sad”. See it in a shop if you can.
- Black is back. Last year’s iPhone 17 Pro came only in silver, cosmic orange and deep blue. Black returns for the 18 Pro, and cosmic orange and deep blue are gone.
iPhone 18 Pro Max colours, UK price and release date
The iPhone 18 Pro Max comes in exactly the same four colours as the smaller Pro: black, silver, glacier and burgundy. Apple quotes one starting price per size, whatever the colour: £1,199 for the Pro and £1,299 for the Pro Max in the UK.
| iPhone 18 Pro | iPhone 18 Pro Max | iPhone Duo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colours | Black, silver, glacier, burgundy | Black, silver, glacier, burgundy | Star white, night sky |
| Body | Aluminium unibody | Aluminium unibody | Titanium, polished |
| UK price from (Apple) | £1,199 | £1,299 | £1,999 |
| Storage | 256GB to 2TB | 256GB to 2TB | 256GB to 2TB |
| On sale | 18 September 2026 | 18 September 2026 | 23 October 2026 (pre-order 16 October) |
Both went on sale on 18 September 2026, in all four colours. No colour is exclusive to one size. The only reason to choose one size over the other is the screen and battery, which we compare in our iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro guide. For release dates and what is coming next, see our iPhone 18 release date page.
Apple’s own cases are made to match. The £49 Silicone Case and the £59 TechWoven Case both come in burgundy, and the Silicone Case also comes in black, navy blue, crisp blue, olive and magenta. You can see the ones we sell in our Apple cases range.
Which iPhone 18 Pro colour should you choose?
Pick silver or glacier if you want the colour least likely to show wear. Pick black if you will always use a case. Pick burgundy only if you love it, and plan to keep it in a case until Apple says more about the fading reports.
- Silver is the safe choice. Light finishes hide fingerprints, small scuffs and edge wear best, because a chip in a light coating shows bare metal of almost the same tone. We found no fading reports for it.
- Glacier gives you colour without the risk so far. It is pale enough to hide marks in the same way silver does.
- Black looks the most serious, but dark finishes show every fingerprint and every chip, because the metal underneath is bright. A MacRumors forum member who saw black and burgundy in person called both a “fingerprint magnet” and chose glacier instead. A few black owners have also reported fading around the camera.
- Burgundy is the colour this year, and the one most of the fading reports are about. Apple has not confirmed a problem, and most burgundy phones look fine. But if you want it, use a case from day one.
Not sure yet? Apple’s UK store lets you return a phone for any reason within 14 days. One MacRumors forum member did exactly that: “I returned it and went silver.”
Burgundy iPhone 18 Pro fading: what owners are reporting
Since the iPhone 18 Pro went on sale, a number of owners have posted photos showing burgundy turning lighter or pinkish, usually starting around the camera lenses and on the edges of the camera block. A smaller number of black owners report the same. Apple has not commented, and the cause is not confirmed.
Here is how the reports built up:
- 18 September, launch day. A MacRumors forum thread titled “iPhone 18 PM in burgundy has faded color on top edge of rectangle?” was posted that night. Some replies could not see a difference in the photos. One person called it “Fadegate”.
- 30 September. Cult of Mac, republished on Yahoo, reported lighter rings around the rear lenses on burgundy and black Pro and Pro Max models, and advised owners to take affected phones to Apple while still under warranty.
- 7 October. Trusted Reviews reported pale patches “spreading across the aluminum chassis” on burgundy models, noting that these are still reports from “a relatively small number of early adopters”.
- 8 October. Business Today, citing Gadgets 360, described a “pinkish colour around the rear camera module” on some burgundy phones.
Two things are worth keeping in proportion. First, nobody knows how many phones are affected. These are photos from owners, not a count. Second, not every mark is damage. Apple itself notes that skin oil can temporarily change how the frames of earlier Pro models look. So before you worry, clean the area as described in the section below and look again.
If this sounds familiar, it is. Last year the cosmic orange iPhone 17 Pro had reports of turning pink, and the iPhone 17 Pro’s camera edges were criticised for chipping easily, which the internet called “scratchgate”. In both cases Apple did not announce a defect.
Why iPhone 18 Pro colours fade: the anodised layer explained
On the iPhone 18 Pro, the colour on the frame and camera block is not paint. It is a thin coloured oxide layer grown into the aluminium, a process called anodising. That layer is hard but brittle, it holds less firmly on sharp edges, and some chemicals can change its colour.
Two pieces of evidence explain most of what owners are seeing:
- Edges are the weak point. When the iPhone 17 Pro’s camera edges chipped, iFixit asked materials scientist David Niebuhr why. His answer was the shape, not the metal: “Apple could have prevented this by making a more gradual curve and avoiding a relatively sharp corner.” The anodised layer sticks less evenly to a sharp corner. The iPhone 18 Pro has the same kind of anodised aluminium body, Apple has not said it changed the camera block’s edges, and the fading reports start in exactly those places.
- Some chemicals change the colour. CNET’s Andrew Lanxon deliberately treated a cosmic orange iPhone 17 Pro with household chemicals. Bleach and an oxygen stain remover did nothing he could see. Hydrogen peroxide, rubbed on a few times, turned the metal parts “vibrantly pink” over a few weeks, while the glass stayed orange. He points out that hydrogen peroxide is also found in some hair dyes, so it can reach your phone from your hands.
What this means for you: a colour change on the camera edges can come from wear, from something on your skin or in a cleaner, or from a fault in how the coating was applied. From the outside you often cannot tell which, and that matters when you ask for a repair. Apple told 9to5Mac last year that camera plateau edges “have similar characteristics to the edges of the anodized aluminum cases on other Apple products” and that owners “may see normal wear and tear, including small abrasions, over time.”
How to stop your iPhone 18 Pro colour fading
Use a case that covers the edges of the camera block, clean the phone the way Apple says, and keep it away from bleach, hydrogen peroxide and anything abrasive. None of this is guaranteed to stop a manufacturing fault, but it removes the causes you control.
- Clean it the way Apple recommends. Apple’s UK support page says to use a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth. To disinfect, you may use a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe or a 75% ethyl alcohol wipe, gently. Apple also says: “Don’t use products containing bleach or hydrogen peroxide.”
- Wipe it after contact with anything harsh. Apple lists make-up, soap, detergent, acidic foods and lotions as things to clean off straight away. Add hair dye, which CNET notes can contain hydrogen peroxide.
- Use a case with a raised lip around the camera. Many cases leave the top of the camera block open. A raised lip still protects its edges when the phone is set down. We sell Apple’s cases in matching colours in our Apple cases range.
- Do not carry it loose with keys or coins. Hard objects can chip the coating at the edges, and a chip shows bright metal through any coloured finish.
- Photograph it now. Take clear photos of the camera block and edges in daylight, with the date. If it changes later, you have proof of how it looked when new.
Is a mark on yours wear or just grease? Wipe it with a slightly damp cloth, then, if it is still there, with a 70% alcohol wipe. If it comes off, it was residue. If you can still see a lighter patch in the metal, take photos and read the next section.
Faded burgundy iPhone 18 Pro? Your warranty and UK rights
In the UK you have two routes. Apple’s one-year warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship, but excludes cosmetic damage unless it comes from such a defect. Separately, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 says goods must be of satisfactory quality, which explicitly includes “appearance and finish” and “durability”. That claim is against whoever sold you the phone.
What to do, in order:
- Within 14 days of buying from Apple: you can return it for any reason under Apple’s UK returns policy. Simplest of all.
- Within 30 days of delivery: under section 22 of the Consumer Rights Act, you have a short-term right to reject faulty goods and get a full refund from the seller.
- Within six months of delivery: under section 19, a fault that appears is presumed to have been there from the start, unless the seller proves otherwise. Ask the seller for a repair or a replacement.
- With Apple directly: book a Genius Bar appointment or contact Apple Support with your photos. Say the colour has changed without damage or misuse, and ask Apple to assess it as a defect in materials or workmanship.
Be ready for one argument. Apple’s warranty excludes “cosmetic damage, including but not limited to scratches, dents and broken plastic on ports unless failure has occurred due to a defect in materials or workmanship”. Fading with no visible scratch or impact is your strongest case. Chips on the edges may be treated as normal wear. If you bought from a phone network or a shop, your Consumer Rights Act claim is with them, not Apple.
A different early problem, for completeness: Apple confirmed on 2 October that a small number of iPhone 18 Pro Max phones on AT&T’s US network lose service and must be replaced. Apple says it has seen it only on AT&T. UK models use Apple’s own C2 modem rather than the Qualcomm modem in US models, according to MacRumors.
iPhone 18 Pro colours: is there gold, pink or purple?
No. Apple announced four colours on 9 September and has not added any since: black, silver, glacier and burgundy. There is no gold, pink, purple or orange iPhone 18 Pro.
Before launch, leaks pointed to a dark cherry red. It arrived as burgundy, and black is still in the range. If you see “iPhone 18 Pro pink” online, it is either a case, a concept render, or a phone whose burgundy finish has faded. Apple has added a new colour in spring to past iPhones, but it has announced nothing for the 18 Pro.
iPhone Duo colours: star white and night sky
Apple’s first foldable, the iPhone Duo, comes in two colours: star white and night sky. Its body is polished grade 5 titanium, not anodised aluminium like the 18 Pro. Pre-orders open on 16 October and it goes on sale on 23 October, from £1,999 in the UK.
Titanium carries its colour differently from anodised aluminium, so the burgundy reports do not tell you anything about the Duo. Apple’s spec sheet lists 85% recycled titanium in the body and a 3D-printed titanium hinge cover. Our iPhone 18 release date page covers the Duo’s launch in more detail.
iPhone 18 colours: the standard model is not out yet
If you searched for iPhone 18 colours, note that Apple has not launched a phone called simply iPhone 18. It announced only the 18 Pro, the 18 Pro Max and the Duo in September. It has not said when the standard iPhone 18 will arrive, so its colours are unknown.
Apple’s standard iPhones usually come in brighter, more playful colours than the Pro models. Until Apple announces the phone, any list of iPhone 18 colours is a guess. We will update this page when it does.
Quick answers
Four: black, silver, glacier and burgundy. The iPhone 18 Pro Max comes in the same four. Burgundy is new this year, glacier is a pale blue, and black returns after the iPhone 17 Pro skipped it.
The same as the Pro: black, silver, glacier and burgundy. Storage runs from 256GB to 2TB, and Apple quotes the same starting price, £1,299 in the UK, for every colour.
Silver or glacier if you want the finish least likely to show wear and fingerprints. Black looks smart but shows every mark. Burgundy is the most striking, and also the colour most of the fading reports are about.
Some owners have posted photos of burgundy turning lighter or pinkish around the camera, and a few black owners report the same. Apple has not commented, nobody knows how many phones are affected, and some marks may be residue that wipes off.
The colour on the iPhone 18 Pro’s aluminium is a thin anodised layer. It can wear at sharp edges, react to chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide, or in rare cases be faulty. Skin oil and residue can also look like fading, so clean it first with a damp cloth and a 70% alcohol wipe.
Use a case that protects the camera block’s edges, clean only with a damp lint-free cloth or a 70% alcohol wipe, and never use bleach or hydrogen peroxide, which Apple warns against. Wipe off make-up, lotion and hair dye straight away.
Apple’s one-year warranty excludes cosmetic damage unless it comes from a defect in materials or workmanship, so fading without visible damage is your best case. In the UK, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 also covers appearance, finish and durability, and in the first six months a fault is presumed to have been there from the start.
No. Apple announced only black, silver, glacier and burgundy, and has not added a colour since. Pink iPhone 18 Pros you see online are cases, renders or faded burgundy phones.
The iPhone Duo comes in star white and night sky, in polished titanium. It goes on sale on 23 October 2026, from £1,999 in the UK.
Apple says it has only seen the loss-of-service problem on iPhone 18 Pro Max phones on AT&T’s US network. UK models use Apple’s C2 modem rather than the Qualcomm modem in US models, according to MacRumors.
How we know
We are a UK technology retailer. We sell Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro cases, but not the phone itself, and we have not handled an affected phone.
Colours, materials, prices and dates come from Apple’s UK newsroom announcements and spec sheets. Cleaning guidance comes from Apple’s UK support page, and returns and warranty terms from Apple’s UK returns policy and its UK and Ireland warranty, all read on 8 October 2026. Your legal rights are quoted from the Consumer Rights Act 2015 on legislation.gov.uk.
The fading reports come from owners on the MacRumors forum and from the publications named in the text. We have not counted affected phones, and nobody outside Apple can. Where we quote owners, we quote them as owners, not as proof of a defect. The colour descriptions in our table are our own reading of Apple’s images and owner photos.
Sources
- Apple Newsroom UK, 9 September 2026: iPhone 18 Pro colours, UK prices, dates and case colours.
- Apple UK, iPhone 18 Pro technical specifications: finishes and materials.
- Apple Newsroom UK, iPhone Duo and iPhone Duo specifications.
- Apple Newsroom, iPhone 17 Pro: last year’s three finishes.
- Apple Support UK, Cleaning your iPhone.
- Apple One (1) Year Limited Warranty, UK and Ireland and Apple UK returns and refunds.
- Consumer Rights Act 2015 on legislation.gov.uk: section 9, section 19 and section 22.
- Trusted Reviews, 7 October 2026, Business Today, 8 October 2026 and Cult of Mac via Yahoo, 30 September 2026.
- MacRumors forums: burgundy fading thread and launch-day first impressions.
- CNET: the hydrogen peroxide test on a cosmic orange iPhone 17 Pro.
- iFixit’s findings via Yahoo and 9to5Mac: anodised edges and Apple’s response on the iPhone 17 Pro.
- MacRumors, 2 October 2026: Apple’s statement on the AT&T issue.
Images: Apple press images of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo, from Apple Newsroom. Renders, not photos of real phones; the featured image is cropped to 16:9 by us.
