> applying a thinner layer of paint on the bodywork Paint? These things are anodized aluminum, right? Blue is probably the worst color for anodized aluminum.

> applying a thinner layer of paint on the bodywork Paint? These things are anodized aluminum, right? Blue is probably the worst color for anodized aluminum. If you want an exact shade with perfect consistency between parts on an industrial scale - thousands per week - it is an extreme challenge. I know some folks that run a few factories and supply aluminum parts to widget makers. They'll anodize in any color you want, but charge a ton more for blue in the hopes that nobody will actually ask for it. Yet they have a really large industrial customer that is really demanding and never happy, yet continues to pay and submit new orders - an indication perhaps that they can't find anyone better. If I was going to guess, I'd say that some supplier has made a breakthrough and Apple thought they would show off with this color, but it turns out that the new process isn't quite as durable as they thought it would be.