We're likely about a month away from when Apple will launch new iPhone models, and color has been a major topic of discussion. There's going to be a dramatic new color for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, but Apple plans to play it safe with the foldable iPhone.
iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max
With the iPhone 17 Pro line, Apple introduced a bold new Cosmic Orange color. This year, Cosmic Orange is being retired for a shade that's darker and moodier.
Dark Cherry is the color Apple is rumored to be using, and it looks like a cross between red and purple.
Apple's colors always look different when lighting conditions change, which can lead to some confusion. At first, rumors described the color as a deep red.
We also heard rumors about the possibility of burgundy, purple, and brown color options, with Apple set to choose one.
In April, Macworld shared the exact Pantone colors Apple allegedly plans to use, describing the color as Dark Cherry for the first time. The site said the other three colors would include Silver, Dark Gray, and Light Blue. We used the Pantone shades to make a mockup.
- Light Blue (Pantone 2121), resembling the current iPhone 17's Mist Blue
- Dark Cherry (Pantone 6076), the headline new color
- Dark Gray (Pantone 426C)
- Silver (Pantone 427C), similar to the current generation
The color Apple goes with will likely be close to the Pantone shade, with purple or red tones depending on the lighting. It's not quite burgundy because it trends closer to purple. It's redder than a true purple, but more violet than a dark red or maroon. It's more of a wine or a plum color, so if Dark Cherry is indeed the name of the color, it's a fitting one.
We've had iPhones in Lavender, Pink, Deep Purple, (Product)RED, and Purple, but nothing like what Apple is planning for 2026.
There were only three color options for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, but it looks like there will be four for the iPhone 18 Pro models. Along with Silver and Dark Gray, there's a blue color.
Blue is a shade Apple has used for iPhone models multiple times in the past. The rumored blue is probably closest to the Sierra Blue color Apple used for the iPhone 13 Pro, but it's more saturated with less red and green to tone it down. Most of the blues Apple used in the past have been lighter or much darker, but this shade still won't feel as unique as the Dark Cherry color.
Uniform Back
The iPhone 17 Pro models have a two-tone design where the glass on the back is a noticeably lighter shade than the color of the aluminum frame. With the iPhone 18 Pro models, the color difference between the frame and the glass panel at the back could be less pronounced.
Rumors suggest Apple will minimize the color difference between the two components for a more unified appearance.
iPhone Ultra
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will have two colors that offer options beyond the standard silver or gray, Apple doesn't plan to experiment with the foldable iPhone (which might be called the iPhone Ultra).
The expensive new device is apparently only going to be available with a limited color palette. White has been mentioned multiple times, which probably means a white/silver type of shade, while rumors have been a little mixed on the second color (if there is one).
Macworld said in April that Apple would use silver and indigo, with the latter shade being similar to the Deep Blue color used for the iPhone 17 Pro. In May, Weibo leaker Instant Digital said white was the only confirmed color, and in June, dummy models leaked alongside a rumor that the foldable iPhone might only be available in white.
Camera accessories that leaked in August suggest the foldable iPhone will come in silver/white and a dark blue shade that's almost black. Since the foldable iPhone is going to cost upwards of $2,000, it's not surprising Apple didn't want to make it in colors that might have narrower appeal.
Color Caveats
We're working with rumors and dummy models at this point. The colors that leak ahead of when a new iPhone launches are typically accurate, but lighting and material affect how color appears. Apple's devices often look far better than the dummy models and renderings.
With the iPhone 17 Pro, mockups and dummy models featuring the Cosmic Orange color were a duller shade than we actually got, plus nothing quite captured the two-tone look of... Click here to read rest of article
Article Link: Dark Cherry and More: Every iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra Color Rumor
