Finally made it into the Apple Store via "appointment" to check out the 2 colors in person and well, it didn't make my decision any easier!
Both are beautiful, that I expected. But I don't know what to think anymore..LOL, it's crazy. The blue as mentioned already has this wild "color shift" to it. Very muted blue at one angle....little more blue looking down, then almost a gray'ish blue..perhaps dull teal at another angle. That is with my own eyes, I cant really say my XS Max picked up on this?
Graphite, same slight shift, lighter at one angle, darker at another and almost then a hint of the 11 Midnight Green at other angles. The shiny sides on both...very nice and on the Pac Blue, far better than I expected.
There is one thing I did notice and i HOPE this won't be a major issue. The matte back, I kind of fear this may be screatchprone? Example - over time in pants/jeans pockets, or maybe an accidental finger nail across the back? I pointed this out on the Graphite model.
**I may be over-blowing it, this could be a non issue and these have been on display only a few days..but of course many have touched it.