For the first time, the four anticipated colors of the iPhone 18 Pro are not shown as renders, but on physical dummy models. Alongside black, silver, and a light blue, a new dark red shade takes center stage, intended to be this year's signature color. Whether it can replicate the sales success of Cosmic Orange will be the most intriguing aspect of the color palette.
As autumn approaches, the picture of the next Pro generation becomes clearer. While the display, camera, and casing have been making headlines for months, the color options have so far been primarily a matter of supply chain descriptions and digital renderings. This is precisely the point that now fits more concretely into the overall picture of the iPhone 18 Pro rumors: A well-known leaker has photographed dummy models in all four rumored colors, thus providing the first real impression of what the series might ultimately look like.
Four colors, for the first time as a physical model
The images come from Sonny Dickson, known for early hardware leaks. They show the iPhone 18 Pro Max in four colors: Light Blue, Black, Silver, and the new Dark Cherry. These models match what had previously leaked from several sources.
What's remarkable isn't so much the selection itself, but rather the way it's presented. Until now, only renders or descriptions from the supply chain have been circulating – now, for the first time, the colors are available on tangible mock-ups. Dickson himself particularly emphasizes the red shade: Cherry will likely be the next bestseller, following the success of Orange. He's referring to Cosmic Orange, the striking signature color of the iPhone 17 Pro, which proved especially popular with buyers.
Dark Cherry: from rumor to likely star
Dark Cherry is considered the key new color option for this year's Pro models. The trail goes back to February 2026, when a report by Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman suggested a deep red finish that Apple was testing for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Shortly afterward, a Chinese leaker chimed in, suggesting the color was highly likely – partly because Android manufacturers were already working on a similar shade.
Things became more concrete in April: The color was said to be called Dark Cherry, closer to wine than a bright red, and overall significantly more muted than Cosmic Orange. Shortly afterward, Instant Digital, a leaker known for color predictions, confirmed this name and described the blend as a combination of burgundy, coffee brown, and deep violet. His track record speaks for itself: He had already correctly predicted the yellow hue of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus. The fact that Dark Cherry has already been confirmed as a color multiple times lends additional weight to this current dummy sighting.
The complete range with Pantone codes
Beyond the names, the April report also revealed the internal Pantone codes reportedly circulating at Apple. According to the report, the palette includes Light Blue (Pantone 2121), which is said to resemble the Mist Blue of the current iPhone 17, Dark Cherry (Pantone 6076), Dark Gray (Pantone 426C), and Silver (Pantone 427C), which is close to the previous generation.
One minor discrepancy is noticeable: While the dummy images simply describe the fourth variant as black, the Pantone list lists it as dark gray. Whether Apple ultimately markets a pure black or a very dark gray is difficult to judge from a dummy anyway – the final name will likely only be determined at the official unveiling.
The selection will remain provisional until autumn
As revealing as the images are, they remain a snapshot in time. Dummy models are usually made of plastic or simple metals and do not achieve the build quality of the final production model. Therefore, the saturation and depth of the colors may still differ on the finished device. However, since the dummies correspond with previous reports, there is strong evidence to suggest that these four colors will indeed constitute the final palette.
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will be unveiled this fall – along with the first foldable iPhone. Until then, the color remains undecided, but the focus on a striking red is no coincidence: With Cosmic Orange, Apple demonstrated that a bold signature color can significantly boost sales of the Pro line. Dark Cherry is a bet that this effect can be repeated. (Image: @SonnyDickson / X)
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