New iPhone colors could give Wednesday’s launch an immediate visual refresh, with Dark Cherry and lighter blue finishes among the shades rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro generation. But replacing Cosmic Orange in the promotional photographs would leave an uncomfortable question behind: what happens to customers whose orange iPhone 17 Pro has reportedly turned pink?
Owners have posted accounts of discoloration on Reddit and Apple’s own community forum. Some describe receiving replacement devices; others say their requests were rejected as cosmetic issues. The reports establish a reason for scrutiny, although they do not establish how frequently the problem occurs or whether every affected phone shares the same cause.
Apple does not appear to have published a dedicated technical explanation or a general service program addressing these complaints. With another generation approaching, the company has an opportunity to explain what owners should expect from the finish on an expensive phone—and from support when that finish changes.
The most consistent iPhone 18 Pro rumors center on Dark Cherry, sometimes described as burgundy or deep red, and Sky Blue, also called Light Blue. The neutral option remains disputed.
According to the latest color-leak roundup, Sonny Dickson shared an image of alleged SIM trays suggesting Silver, Dark Cherry, and Sky Blue. A separate claim from Fixed Focus Digital points to Black taking Silver’s place.
That leaves a plausible three-color lineup without agreement on all three finishes. The names also remain unofficial; a supplier’s description does not necessarily become the name displayed in the Apple Store.
The same reporting favors black and white for the foldable iPhone Ultra. A purported reddish version lost credibility after Mark Gurman identified the images associated with it as Xiaomi renders, and the post sharing them was subsequently deleted.
Cosmic Orange is absent from these leading launch rumors. Its possible departure would fit the annual rotation of signature shades, but there is no evidence that Apple is changing colors because of the discoloration complaints.
For buyers, the distinction is straightforward: a new shade may make the next phone look different. Its name cannot establish that its finish will age better.
One detailed Reddit replacement account describes an iPhone 17 Pro camera plateau turning pink approximately two weeks after purchase. The owner said the rest of the phone was protected by a case and denied using bleach, peroxide, or other treatments to produce the change.
According to that account, Apple Support escalated the case and supplied a warranty replacement without initially identifying the cause. The owner posted comparison images and later said an engineer contacted them after receiving the original phone, asking questions about usage and environmental conditions.
That reported follow-up complicates any claim that Apple has ignored every customer. At least some owners describe service and further investigation.
A separate Reddit complaint about a salmon-pink camera plateau describes a less satisfactory experience. The owner said the change became noticeable after several months and continued to develop. They reported being directed toward cleaning guidance and told that assistance would be outside warranty coverage, despite saying they had used only a microfiber cloth.
These accounts are owner testimony, not independently inspected service records. Different histories or inspection findings could explain different decisions. Even so, they expose the uncertainty customers face when trying to understand whether a changing finish is considered wear, external damage, or a possible manufacturing problem.
Someone seeking help should not have to reconstruct an unofficial support policy from strangers’ experiences.
The discussion extends beyond Reddit. In an Apple Community post about orange iPhone 17 Pro Max discoloration, an owner described color damage after approximately four months and said support had classified it as cosmetic and outside warranty coverage.
Apple Community is a customer discussion forum hosted by Apple. A complaint appearing there is evidence that an owner raised the issue publicly; replies from community participants do not amount to an official engineering finding or company statement.
The posts also cannot tell us the failure rate. A forum collects people who have a reason to speak, and the same incident can circulate through multiple websites. Counting photographs, comments, or reposts would not produce a reliable estimate of affected devices.
But the absence of a reliable denominator should not make individual complaints disappear. A customer does not need to demonstrate that thousands of other phones have changed color before their own device deserves an inspection and a reasoned response.
The unresolved issue is how Apple distinguishes those cases and communicates the result.
Apple’s official iPhone cleaning instructions advise against products containing bleach or hydrogen peroxide. They recommend appropriate gentle cleaning methods and warn against abrasives and several categories of household cleaner.
That guidance is useful for protecting a device. It does not establish that prohibited cleaning products caused every Cosmic Orange complaint.
Some owners expressly deny using those substances. Their statements cannot rule out every possible exposure, but a general warning cannot substitute for examining what happened to a particular phone.
Suggestions involving sunlight, chemical reactions, or variations in the finish’s protective treatment continue to circulate. None should be presented as the universal explanation without testing that connects the proposed cause to the reported changes.
A credible public response could explain whether Apple has identified a recurring mechanism, whether certain production periods require attention, and what service teams should examine. If the company concludes that several unrelated causes are involved, that would also be useful information.
The current uncertainty leaves customers debating material science when they should be able to ask a much simpler question: why does this phone no longer look like the one they bought?
Color is something Apple asks customers to choose deliberately. It receives prominent space in launch presentations, retail displays, advertising, and the ordering process. Buyers coordinate cases and accessories around it, and some wait for a particular finish to become available.
It is reasonable to expect that choice to survive ordinary use.
Normal wear exists, and no finish should be described as indestructible. Scratches, impacts, and chemical exposure can alter a device. A reported change from orange to pink, however, warrants an explanation rather than an assumption that every visible change belongs in the same category.
The financial stakes are also difficult to quantify responsibly. There is no verified public count of affected Cosmic Orange devices, no established failure rate, and no disclosed average remediation cost. Those gaps prevent a credible estimate of billion-dollar exposure.
The purchase value of potentially affected phones would not equal Apple’s repair liability in any event. A repair, replacement, refund, and lost future sale are different costs.
The more immediate commercial concern is confidence. A customer who receives a satisfactory explanation may accept a service decision even when it is disappointing. A customer who feels dismissed may carry that experience into their next purchase—and into conversations with other buyers.
Dark Cherry could become the finish most associated with the iPhone 18 Pro. The Ultra’s rumored neutral palette could place greater attention on the foldable design itself. Neither possibility tells us how those surfaces will look after months in pockets, cases, cars, and everyday handling.
Early product photographs will help buyers judge appearance. Longer ownership will reveal whether the finish retains it.
For existing Cosmic Orange owners noticing a change, documenting the phone under consistent lighting is a useful first step. Images taken on different days can help distinguish a developing alteration from reflections or camera white balance. Photographs of the complete device can also show whether the change is limited to exposed areas.
Keeping the purchase receipt, support case number, and written inspection outcome makes subsequent conversations easier. If service is declined, the useful question is what finding led to that decision and whether the device was assessed for a possible materials or workmanship issue.
A new color announcement will not supply those answers to someone still holding the previous generation.
The post iPhone Colors 2026: New Pro and Ultra Shades Won’t Erase Complaints appeared first on AppleMagazine.
French state investment bank Bpifrance sold a 2.5% stake in Orange for approximately €1.1 billion, but maintained its position as the operator’s largest shareholder.
In a statement, the investment bank disclosed it successfully placed 66.5 million shares at a price of €16.57 each, a move made in conjunction with the state.
Following the transaction, it separately holds approximately 7.1% of share capital and 5.9% voting rights.
Acting jointly as the group’s shareholder with the French state, the duo hold a stake of approximately 20.4% and 27% of voting rights. Board representation remains unchanged.
Reuters first reported the French stake was planning to sell a small stake in Orange yesterday (30 July).
“Bpifrance reiterates its support and confidence in the Orange management team and in the strategy pursued within the framework of its Trust the Future plan,” the investment bank added.
Orange CEO Christel Heydemann laid out the five-year strategy in February, focusing priorities on customer growth, AI investment and monetising infrastructure assets.
The post French state reduces Orange stake in €1.1B sale appeared first on Mobile World Live.
Mobile World Live brings you our top three picks of the week as Apple unveiled its device leasing programme, Orange struck a data centre JV deal and Amazon Leo plotted expansion.
Amazon Leo readies 5K satellites for D2D plan
What happened: Amazon Leo applied to the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to deploy up to 5,105 direct-to-device (D2D) satellites, advancing its ambition to deliver voice, messaging, data and emergency connectivity services to standard mobile devices.
Why it matters: In its FCC filing, Jeff Bezos-backed Amazon Leo explained its D2D system would communicate directly with existing mobile hardware using dedicated L-band and S-band spectrum links, potentially setting the stage to better compete against SpaceX’s Starlink service, among others.
“The newly filed application for Amazon’s next-generation LEO D2D constellation is massive,” said independent consultant Carlos Placido. “Although the system is planned to deploy 5,105 satellites beginning in 2028, the filing defines a total of 11,045 orbital positions.”
Apple lifts lid on US device leasing service
What happened: Apple fleshed out Apple Upgrade, a direct-to-consumer hardware leasing programme backed by Klarna Group, offering US customers monthly payment options across its iPhone, Apple Watch, Mac, and iPad product lines.
Why it matters: Apple confirmed the programme offers dual tenure options per category. iPhone and Apple Watch plans offer 12- and 24-month lease terms starting at $17.99 and $11.99 per month, respectively. CEO and marketing director of PP Foresight Paolo Pescatore stated the arrangement responds to rising device prices and longer consumer ownership cycles by shifting focus from high upfront costs to manageable monthly payments, making premium devices feel more accessible and encouraging regular upgrades.
“However, this is more than another payment option,” he said. “It marks a significant shift from owning devices to accessing them through an ongoing leasing relationship. This gives Apple another way to stimulate demand without resorting to aggressive discounting, while keeping customers within its family of products and exerting greater control over the upgrade, trade-in and return cycle.”
On the consumer front, he explained lower monthly payments will be attractive, but the apparent flexibility carries important trade-offs. Customers do not own the product during the lease, AppleCare costs extra, damaged devices can incur charges, and upgrading or leaving early could require them to pay the remaining lease payments.
“The total cost and end-of-term choices must therefore be made crystal clear,” he said. “Otherwise, consumers could find themselves locked into a perpetual cycle of monthly payments without building any ownership or resale value.”
Orange plots data centre JV with global investor
What happened: Orange agreed a deal with global infrastructure investor Morrison to create a jointly controlled data centre company in France, a move designed to meet rising demand for AI services in the country.
Why it matters: Orange said the 50:50 JV will support the development of its existing French data centre portfolio and target 400MW of capacity, almost 10 times its current level. To boost the entity, the operator said it will contribute five major data centres across four campuses in France, along with its operational expertise and commercial reach. The duo anticipate an investment of around €3 billion, utilising Orange’s existing assets, while Morrison will make an equity contribution.
“Orange Business will leverage this platform for its customers to accelerate its trusted AI and trusted cloud business ambitions,” Orange CEO Christel Heydemann explained on an investor call. “The value creation for Orange will therefore materialise through revenue upsides and dividends inflows.”
The post The Friday File: Amazon Leo; Orange JV; Apple appeared first on Mobile World Live.
O iPhone 17 Pro Max é o smartphone mais avançado da Apple! Na sua lista de especificações técnicas, podemos destacar a tela Super Retina XDR de 6,9 polegadas, o conjunto de três câmeras (com um sistema Fusion de 48 megapixels nas três lentes) e o processador A19 Pro, além da presença do Controle da Câmera (Camera Control) e do botão de Ação (Action Button).
Se você está atrás desse modelo, hoje a Amazon está com uma promoção excelente! Trata-se da versão de 512GB, na cor laranja-cósmico. Ele está saindo por R$10.835,91 em até 12x no cartão de crédito.
iPhone 17 Pro Max de 512GB
— MM Ofertas (@MMOfertas) July 21, 2026
Parcelado: de R$13.999,00 por R$10.835,91 em até 12x
À vista no cartão de crédito: de R$12.599,10 por R$9.752,31
🛍 Produto vendido e entregue pela Amazon💰https://t.co/IiOTmrBu0l
Se levarmos em conta que o preço tabelado desse modelo aqui no Brasil é de R$13.999 nessa mesma modalidade de pagamento, estamos diante de um desconto de 23%.
Já para quem preferir pagar à vista (também no cartão de crédito), o preço fica ainda melhor: ele cai para R$9.752,31 — um desconto também de 23% em relação ao valor da Apple na mesma modalidade de pagamento, de R$12.599,10.
Todos os descontos de promoções divulgadas pelo MacMagazine são calculados com base nos preços sugeridos pela Apple ou por outras fabricantes. Pode ser que um determinado produto seja comumente encontrado por valores inferiores em redes varejistas, mas a nossa base de comparação é sempre em cima das tabelas oficiais.
Se você não é louco, é claro que gosta de economizar. E, para isso, o MacMagazine tem diversas opções para ajudar você a conseguir comprar o seu produto Apple pagando menos!
Você pode usar a nossa extensão para os navegadores Chrome/Opera/Edge, acompanhar as ofertas pelo MM Fórum, pelo Facebook, pelo X, pelo Threads, pelo Bluesky, pelo Mastodon ou por um canal no Telegram. Escolha a melhor opção para você — ou todas, para depois não se arrepender — e economize! 😉
NOTA DE TRANSPARÊNCIA: O MacMagazine recebe uma pequena comissão sobre vendas concluídas por meio de links deste post, mas você, como consumidor, não paga nada mais pelos produtos/serviços usando os nossos links de afiliado.
Orange lined up Usman Javaid (pictured) as its next AI chief, tasking the current chief product and marketing officer of its business unit with delivering on ambitious revenue targets for the technology.
Javaid is scheduled to succeed Steve Jarrett on 1 September, a little over three years after taking on his current post within Orange Business.
Orange is in the throes of implementing a strategy intended to derive more than €600 million in value from AI by 2028. It is also working to expand internal use of the technology and stated implementing agentic iterations would be a key element in Javaid’s remit.
During an Orange Business event in March, Javaid told Mobile World Live past experience in adapting to emerging technologies would serve the company well in the AI era, explaining the focus is on how to employ advances to benefit customers.
Orange credited Jarrett with having laid the foundations of its use of AI and establishing its credentials in the field.
There is a circularity to Orange’s appointment given Javaid began his career with the company in 2005. The executive also racked up experience in various roles held with Vodafone Group and AWS spanning cloud, IoT and network strategy.
The post Orange readies AI chief succession appeared first on Mobile World Live.
Orange Business highlighted an established presence in the digital health sector as it revealed remote cardiac monitoring service provider MicroPort CardioFlow decided to stick with it for another five years.
An extended deal continues to cover the transmission of clinical health data from devices embedded in patients to healthcare professionals. The information is used to remotely monitor users and guide treatment decisions.
Orange Business explained it provides the IoT platform and secure connectivity for the data, tapping the operator group’s cybersecurity division to test the system and provide relevant reports.
Implanted devices transmit patient information to a bedside device using Bluetooth low-energy, with the information forwarded on demand or at set times. Connections are authenticated using a mobile module and SIM, with data encrypted during transmission.
Orange Business stated roaming SIMs are used to connect patients and healthcare professionals in different geographies.
The operator emphasised remote monitoring can cut the number of hospital visits a person needs to make.
It stated it would work with MicroPort CardioFlow to explore potential connected health developments unlocked by emerging technologies, in particular the possibility for personalised treatments to boost the quality of healthcare provided.
Claire Scotton, VP of Healthcare and Life Sciences at Orange Business, said connectivity “underpins the next generation of remote health monitoring”, enabling MicroPort CardioFlow “to provide even more precise, personalised care for chronic conditions”.
Orange Business highlighted remote health monitoring as a prime example of the need for sovereign data protections, in particular arrangements enabling companies to provide global services while complying with local regulations.
The extension builds on a working relationship spanning more than a decade, Orange Business stated.
The post Orange keeps finger on remote monitoring pulse appeared first on Mobile World Live.
Orange and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) launched a joint laboratory to explore semantic communications, a technology designed to cut data traffic and energy use in future AI-driven networks.
The AI-Native Communications lab will run for five years and develop semantic communications technologies and applications, which prioritise whether the receiver understands the meaning or content of a transmitted message, even when the received data is not exactly identical to what was sent. This marks a shift away from conventional data transmission, where networks aim to reproduce bits perfectly and treat any alteration as an error.
The partners said the approach could reduce the volume of data exchanged across networks, lowering energy consumption and infrastructure requirements. The technology could also support communication between AI agents, which are expected to play a greater role in future network architectures.
The laboratory will also combine research from Orange and CEA to study network evolution, create shared semantic representations between AI models and contribute to future standards work.
Announced at the annual VivaTech event in Paris by Orange CEO Christel Heydemann and CEA general administrator Anne-Isabelle Etienvre, the pair said the initiative forms part of a broader push to strengthen French and European sovereignty over future intelligent network technologies.
Lyse Brillouet, EVP of research at Orange, said the joint laboratory reflects the operator’s commitment to building “the networks of the future: smarter, more sustainable, and natively designed for artificial intelligence”. She added the move was “a key step in reconciling the performance of our infrastructure with the need to reduce our future carbon footprint”.
Meanwhile, Etienvre stated semantic communications marked “a major breakthrough in how future networks will process information”, adding the collaboration aimed to strengthen Europe’s ability to “design and influence technological standards”.
The post Orange, CEA lay groundwork for AI-native networks appeared first on Mobile World Live.
Orange stepped up ambitions to drive commercial growth for French start-ups, using the annual VivaTech event in Paris to outline a three-pronged strategy focused on procurement, distribution and enterprise integration.
Orange stated it will buy directly from French start-ups where their technology fits its operational and business needs, use its commercial network to connect companies with public and private-sector buyers and integrate select technology into Orange Business’ enterprise catalogue.
The operator said it aims to boost digital sovereignty by tackling long-standing barriers faced by young French companies, including lengthy contracting processes, limited access to large corporate customers, a lack of commercial references and the complexity of scaling technology at pace.
Separately, Orange Ventures, the group’s investment arm, added it would boost funding for start-ups working in AI, cloud, cybersecurity, health and defence as part of a wider digital trust push.
Orange pointed to several companies it has already worked with under the plan, citing successful partnerships with cybersecurity specialist Anozr Way, circular economy player Circular Place, agentic AI developer H Company and process optimisation firm Kerys.
The initiative forms part of the operator’s partnership with French Tech Mission 2030, a government-backed programme that aims to support the country’s start-ups seeking to move beyond pilots and into commercial deployment.
Orange CEO Christel Heydemann (pictured) said France needs start-ups “capable of reaching industrial scale, sustaining their solutions and rapidly winning their markets,” adding Orange aims to use its “purchasing volume”, “commercial strength” and “integration expertise” to help them grow.
Julie Huguet, director of the French Tech Mission, added “access to customers, trusted relays and smoother sales cycles” were “essential” for start-up growth. She said the partnership with Orange could “generate tangible commercial opportunities for our scale-ups and help bring out the future European technology leaders”.
The post Orange accelerates French start-up growth appeared first on Mobile World Live.
The iconic coats are due to a mutation not seen in other animals.Orange made a second decisive acquisition move in as many days after completing a buyout of its partner in Spanish joint venture MasOrange.
The French operator detailed the completion of the deal late yesterday (8 June), two days after a move involving the assets of domestic rival SFR.
Orange began its quest to purchase the 50% of MasOrange it did not own from partner Lorca in October 2025 and the process ran relatively smoothly, with a definitive deal made two months later and regulatory clearance secured earlier this year.
MasOrange CEO Meinrad Spenger gains a place on Orange’s executive committee. He said the buyout cements the operator’s foundations and improves its “capacity for investment and innovation”.
Orange intends to refinance MasOrange debt “over time”.
The operator highlighted the acquisition of the remainder of MasOrange as important to a current strategy focused on the theme of trust, while also bolstering its position in Spain, its second-largest market in Europe.
“It paves the way for accelerated industrial, operational and commercial synergies”, CEO Christel Heydemann said.
The post Orange completes MasOrange takeover appeared first on Mobile World Live.
French operators Bouygues Telecom, Free-Iliad Group and Orange reached a deal with Altice France to acquire SFR for a total enterprise value of €20.4 billion, sparking a major shake-up of the country’s telecoms sector.
The three would-be acquirers signed a memorandum of understanding with Altice France less than two months after entering into exclusive talks. An initial offer of €17 billion was rejected in October 2025.
Terms of the proposed deal remained unchanged from what was laid out in April, with Bouygues taking a 42% stake, Free-Iliad 31% and Orange 27%.
SFR’s consumer mobile and broadband units will be carved up between the consortium, with Bouygues to take control of the B2B segment.
With the deal expected to be subject to intense national and European regulation, breakup fees of between €100 million and €2 billion have been agreed, depending on the reason for any collapse and timing of termination of the deal.
Regulatory scrutiny is likely to be fierce because the transaction will reduce the number of players in the market from four to three, though there are signs traditional European regulatory resistance to deals which do so are beginning to lessen and the European Commission indicated an easing of corporate merger rules earlier this year.
The companies stated the proposed transaction would create value for all stakeholders, and ensure continued development of France’s infrastructure and digital ecosystem.
Combining SFR’s assets “is expected to generate significant synergies”, benefitting consumers and the overall digital ecosystem by bolstering the capacity to invest.
A consultation period will now be opened with relevant employee representative bodies. Definitive legal documents are expected to be signed in the second half of 2026 with completion expected in the second half of 2027, following regulatory clearance.
Big challenge
Kester Mann, director of consumer and connectivity at CCS Insight, believes the deal paves the way for the greatest shake-up in the French telecoms sector since the arrival of Iliad in 2012.
“The agreement appears a successful outcome for all parties. Bouygues, Orange and Iliad each gain important new assets in their pursuit for greater scale, while eliminating a major rival will reduce the competitive intensity of the market.”
He warned the biggest challenge would be to convince competition authorities the deal is positive for the French market.
“Several years ago, this would have felt like a herculean task. But the regulatory tide has steadily been turning favour of consolidation in Europe following recent deals approved in the UK and Spain. Although a lengthy probe is likely, it is surely odds-on to get the green light,” he added.
The post Bouygues, Orange, Free agree €20B SFR carve up appeared first on Mobile World Live.
Orange Business secured a deal to supply French public hospital group GHT Rouen Coeur de Seine with a generative AI (genAI) platform, equipping 15,000 health professionals across its network with secure sovereign AI tools.
The French operator’s enterprise unit will deploy Live Intelligence, its enterprise genAI platform, across the hospital group to provide a controlled alternative to unverified public AI tools. It stated the long-term partnership spans infrastructure, strategy and operational support.
Rouen University Hospital, the group’s support entity, selected the platform to govern AI usage and ensure secure deployment across its workforce. Orange Business said the platform intends to support and upskill staff across clinical, administrative and technical roles, creating a common framework for genAI training and responsible use.
The platform is hosted in France and can be connected to the hospital group’s information systems, with early use cases already in play. Research teams at Rouen University Hospital are using genAI to speed up grant applications, cutting the process timeframe from three weeks to two days. The operator added sourcing requests involving specifications and evaluation criteria could be reduced from two weeks to one day.
As part of the deal, the partners also plan to develop a long-term innovation programme with other university hospitals to build AI use cases relevant to the wider healthcare sector.
Claire Scotton, VP of healthcare and life sciences at Orange Business, said some hospital staff feel they have become “‘data managers’ as much as healthcare professionals”, adding the platform aims to help them “reclaim time to focus on what truly matters: patient care, meaningful work, and collaboration”.
The post Orange Business touts genAI healthcare use case appeared first on Mobile World Live.
Orange deepened its push into the travel eSIM market through a global distribution deal with online travel agency Trip.com, offering mobile connectivity at the point of travel booking as demand for roaming services grows.
Orange Travel, an Orange Group subsidiary, stated the partnership will enable Trip.com users to buy Orange Travel eSIM packages directly on the agency platform, allowing customers to arrange connectivity before departure, pay in local currency and activate the eSIM upon arrival.
Trip.com customers will be able to buy packages covering France, Italy, Spain, the UK and Switzerland, with the partners aiming to target key European tourist markets. The pair noted the region accounts for more than 50 per cent of global tourist arrivals, led by France and Spain.
The packages on offer include calls, texts and data across 20GB, 50GB and 100GB options, with validity periods of ranging from a week to 30 days. Prices start at €8.99.
Orange Travel highlighted its eSIM services are supported by the Orange Group’s network reach, including connectivity in more than 200 destinations and 700 roaming agreements worldwide.
Orange Travel CEO Frederic Blehaut said the agreement demonstrates its “commitment to accelerating our growth in Asia and internationally through strategic partnerships”, adding the subsidiary offers “European eSIMs with a recognised quality of service backed by the Orange Group’s know-how”.
Chase Liu, general manager of international attractions and tours business at Trip.com Group, added: “With tailor-made offers and packages easily accessible on our platform, our customers can enjoy enhanced connectivity and greater convenience when they travel in this region.”
The post Orange Travel takes eSIM push to Trip.com appeared first on Mobile World Live.
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