Although these phones have only been on the market for a few days, information has spread on social networks that just holding the phone can cause the metal casing to change color. The images show that many 15 Pro and Pro Max have significant color changes after the metal edges are covered with fingerprints and oil from users’ hands.

Apple has officially confirmed this information, admitting that the titanium border of this latest phone line may temporarily change color if there is no protective case.

A user of social network X expressed disappointment that such an expensive phone had color distortion problems. Another person is afraid to buy the iPhone 15 anymore because he is afraid it will change color.

In the support appendix for the new iPhone 15 series, Apple notes that for iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, oils on your skin may temporarily change the color of the outer metal band.

The cause of this problem is that the more expensive Pro series uses lightweight titanium instead of stainless steel like the cheaper iPhone 15 and 15 Plus models.

While this material may be super durable and super light, it does run the risk of discoloring with frequent use.

Titan has the interesting characteristic of exhibiting “interference colors”. This metal surface can look like a rainbow when heated.

Through a process called anodizing, the surface of titanium reacts with air and creates very thin oxide layers that scatter light and cause the surface to change color dramatically.

However, when you touch a piece of titanium with your bare hands, the thin layer of oil from your fingers sticks to the surface and causes the same effect.

According to Associate Professor Walter Navarrini at Milan Polytechnic University, one of the major disadvantages of using titanium is the color change that greasy stains cause on the surface.

However, if you have bought an expensive phone, there is no need to worry too much. Because the metal shell does not change color permanently.

As Apple says, the phone will restore its color after being wiped with a soft, slightly damp cloth.

Keeping the titanium surface clean is a problem that Apple has had to overcome for many years.

As early as 2021, the company received a patent on a specialized processing method for titanium alloy to create new shells for iPhone, MacBook, iWatch and iPad.

Earlier this year, Apple also filed a patent for an oxide coating that hides fingerprints, aiming to reduce the unsightly appearance of fingerprints on new products.

However, this problem clearly has not been fixed because Apple’s previous titanium product, the Apple Watch Ultra, also encountered color problems.

Despite the above disadvantages, titanium frames still offer significant advantages in terms of weight reduction.
The 5.8-inch iPhone 15 Pro weighs only 187 grams, 9% lighter than last year’s similarly sized 206g iPhone 14 Pro.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is nearly 20g lighter than the previous version, the iPhone 14 Pro Max, and is also a bit thicker.

With prices ranging from 999 USD or more for iPhone 15 Pro and from 1,199 USD or more for Pro Max, Apple’s latest products are considered to possess a correspondingly high-tech structure.

New models also receive upgrades such as more advanced cameras and more powerful processor chips.

Apple’s latest products have also removed the familiar Lightning charging cable to switch to a USB-C port according to general regulations of the European Union (EU).