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paulalex93
User level: Level 1 (8 points)

iPhone 18 Pro Max True Tone error

The iPhone 18 Pro Max display colour tone shifts (e.g. from cold to warm) and changes abruptly 1-2 seconds after activating the screen if it was completely off (e.g. in a pocket or face down). It looks almost like there's a lag before the True Tone kicks in and when it does, instead of it being a gradual switch in temperature, it’s abrupt. I already tried restoring as new with a MacBook. I already even got a replacement unit at an Apple Store but the problem is still there. Could it be an LG screen issue (found out my model has an LG screen instead of Samsung. Or could it be a software issue that will get fixed? If it’s hardware related I will go for a replacement yet again.

Posted on Oct 27, 2026 2:03 PM

2 replies

Jeff Donald
User level: Level 9 (64,078 points)

Oct 27, 2026 2:55 PM in response to paulalex93

I guess I don’t understand the issue. I’ve an LG GVC screen and have no issue. Don’t expect the Samsung screen to behave exactly like the LG screen. They have different firmware and hardware.


Can you explain your concern about the screen behavior?

paulalex93 Author
User level: Level 1 (8 points)

Oct 27, 2026 3:13 PM in response to Jeff Donald

If the phone is in my pocket, or facing down on my nightstand, or facing up but the room is dark, basically the conditions that are needed for the always one display to go off, because there is no light or something causes to not be needed so it turns off. If then, I press the power button to awake the screen, the screen starts with a cold temperature, almost like when True Tone is off altogether, then in a matter of a second, True Tone kicks in and the temperature switches to warm. This is not a gradual switch, more like a flicker between the cold and warm. It is really annoying because it feels like a lag. I have talked to other people who have an 18 pro max and they do not have this issue. Not sure if it’s a isolated software glitch for some users or it’s a hardware issue.

Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256384188