The 15s and 16s both had titanium bodies which (as I recall at least) don't take on colour as well when they're anodized, so that could be the cause of drab colour ways.

edit: It was only the Pros and up which had titanium bodies. The 17s are all aluminum.

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mauvehaus 5 days ago | parent | next [-]

Anodizing titanium creates an oxide layer, the thickness of which varies with the voltage used. The thickness of that oxide layer determines which wavelengths of light it refracts [0]. In practical terms, your choices for color are pretty limited[1].

I'm not a chemist, but I looked into this years back when I was wondering why everything titanium is offered in the same couple of colors. Personally, I like the plain gray.

[0] https://wisensemachining.com/titanium-anodizing-guide/

[1] https://www.snowpeak.com/collections/cups/products/ti-single...

	▲	steve_adams_86 5 days ago \| parent \| next [-]
		Hey, cool! This is very interesting and explains a lot. Thanks for connecting more dots for me > I looked into this years back when I was wondering why everything titanium is offered in the same couple of colors I wondered the same thing, but never hit that threshold of urgency to actually look into it!
	▲	svitlak 3 days ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		this is so cool! thanks for sharing! 18 pro rainbow phone anyone?

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formerly_proven 6 days ago | parent | prev [-]

But even the non-Pro phones had mostly ugly colors in the last couple years. Maybe to match the ugliness of the Pro models?

	▲	jachee 6 days ago \| parent [-]
		A realization that I came to today is the fact that I’m still on my 12 because it’s (one of the?) last PRODUCT(RED) one. The Sage Air has my eye. Would match my AirPods Max. But that orange pro is also calling.