Previously, oxidation issues on iPhone 17 Pro Max models caused the “Cosmic Orange” color to fade to “Rose Gold” over time. However, a much more serious problem has now been reported: complete peeling of the paint. One iPhone 17 Pro Max owner discovered this unexpectedly while wiping their device with a wet wipe. While it’s tempting to use such products to keep their smartphone sparkling, a microfiber cloth seems to be the safest method for cleaning for now.

Bad news for iPhone 17 Pro Max owners: The paint is peeling

According to images shared by a user on the X platform by the codename @Rui35052730, the paint on a user’s “Cosmic Orange” iPhone 17 Pro Max was practically rubbed off when wiped with a wet wipe. This problem adds to the already known vulnerability of flagship phones, the camera protrusion corners, which are prone to scratches. The anodized aluminum process used to coat the device should have been flawless, but this incident demonstrated how easily the “Cosmic Orange” coating can peel off.

There are no records on other social platforms like Reddit of any other iPhone 17 Pro Max owners experiencing this issue. Therefore, for now, it’s safe to assume this is an isolated incident. However, this news is expected to reach Apple soon. Grok, the artificial intelligence assistant developed by xAI, confirmed in shared images that the Cosmic Orange coating on the iPhone 17 Pro Max can begin to peel if peroxide or alcohol-based wipes are used.

Apple strongly warns users not to use harsh chemicals when cleaning their iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone 17 Pro Max. These cleaners contain strong ingredients designed to dissolve paint. The company’s return to a single-piece aluminum casing from a titanium alloy for these models presents another problem: dents and dents. This often occurs when phones are dropped, especially from heights. In a drop test comparison with the Galaxy S25 Ultra, the iPhone 17 Pro Max was observed to withstand impacts well as long as it didn’t touch the corners, but suffered significant damage when hit from the corners. It’s not yet known whether users with peeling paint will be able to receive a replacement from Apple. However, this incident serves as a painful reminder for those who use wet wipes to clean their devices of dirt and stains.

So, what are your thoughts on this peeling issue on the “Cosmic Orange” iPhone 17 Pro Max? What are your favorite methods for cleaning your smartphone?