Following the iPhone 17 Pro, Apple is also foregoing a black color option for the iPhone 18 Pro. Instead, Deep Red is set to become the new premium color.
No Black, for the second time in a row
The well-known Weibo leaker Instant Digital has confirmed what many feared: the iPhone 18 Pro will likely not be available in black. This continues a trend Apple began with the iPhone 17 Pro – the first Pro model ever to launch without a black or dark gray option.
Instead, Apple offered the iPhone 17 Pro in silver, cosmic orange, and deep blue. Cosmic orange became a surprising bestseller, especially in the Chinese market. This experience likely reinforced Apple's decision to once again pursue a more striking color strategy for the iPhone 18 Pro.
iPhone 18 Pro: Deep Red as a new Premium color
According to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, Apple is internally testing a color called Deep Red as a new highlight for the iPhone 18 Pro. This would be an absolute first: A red iPhone has previously only been available in the standard line, most recently with the iPhone 14 in 2022 – but never in a Pro model.
Gurman categorizes earlier rumors about possible colors like violet or brown as variations of the same red hue. Apple is internally testing different shades, which may be named or perceived differently in the early stages of development – but in the end, it will likely come down to a single red variant.
Whether Cosmic Orange will be continued alongside the current offering is uncertain. Gurman acknowledges that red and orange are close together in the color spectrum and that offering them simultaneously would be unusual. However, given the success of orange in Asia, he doesn't rule it out.
The iPhone Fold remains classic
While Apple boldly experimented with colors for the iPhone 18 Pro, the iPhone Fold is expected to offer the exact opposite. According to Gurman, Apple plans to use conservative colors like space gray and silver/white for the foldable iPhone. Eye-catching tones like red or orange are not planned for the foldable – an understandable decision for a device that, as a new premium product, is intended to project a serious and timeless image.
iPhone 18 Pro: What this means for buyers
Anyone hoping for a black iPhone Pro will be disappointed again in the fall of 2026. Apple seems to have put the era of dark Pro models behind it for now – in favor of colors that stand out more from the competition and perform better in global markets. The switch to an aluminum casing with the iPhone 17 Pro has given Apple significantly more design freedom, and the company is clearly making the most of it.
The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to be unveiled in September 2026, with the iPhone Fold potentially following a few weeks later. (Image: Instant Digital)
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