Rumors point to Dark Cherry for iPhone 18 Pro, with other shades including Light Blue

Macworld When it comes to rumors about a new iPhone, some people are interested in specs—cameras, chips, AI features, etc.—but everyone wants to know what new colors it will come in. Now that we know, after my sources revealed to Macworld the likely color options for the iPhone 18 Pro lineup earlier this year, you’re probably wondering: What’s the best color option this year? Every year, Apple introduces at least one new iPhone color that becomes a signature for that generation. Last year it was Cosmic Orange, a surprisingly bold choice that helped the iPhone 17 Pro stand out from its predecessors. This year, according to information we’ve heard from sources, Apple plans to replace the vibrant orange with something a bit more sophisticated. Rumored iPhone 18 Pro colors The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to come in four colors this year. The star will be a new shade of dark red reportedly called “Dark Cherry,” in addition to more conventional options such as silver and dark gray. And although Apple’s plans may change, those considering upgrading their iPhone this fall are already thinking about which color to choose. Based on what we know so far, here’s a breakdown of the rumored colors for the iPhone 18 Pro, and which one we think will look best. Silver: The safe choice Foundry Every new iPhone needs a classic color that never goes out of style, and silver has been fulfilling that role for years. Silver is expected to be among the color options for the iPhone 18 Pro, and to be honest, it’s probably one of the best choices for those planning to keep the same phone for years. Fun colors are nice, but you might eventually get tired of them. Silver is timeless, elegant, and it also goes perfectly with other Apple products that aren’t available in fun colors (such as the MacBook Pro). I chose silver for my iPhone 17 Pro Max last year, and I haven’t regretted it. Also, rumors suggest that this year’s iPhone models will feature a silver-toned glass back instead of pure white, giving the rear a more seamless look. Dark Gray: The color for pros Foundry Nothing says “pro” quite like black or dark gray devices. And although Apple had offered black iPhones for years, that option simply disappeared with last year’s iPhone 17 Pro. However, according to our report, Apple has considered bringing back a darker color option for this year’s iPhones. The color would be a Dark Gray rather than pure black, but it would undeniably be a big hit among those who want something more subtle and sleek. The last time Apple made a gray iPhone Pro was the Graphite iPhone 13 Pro, which is one of our favorites of all time. Apple was rumored to be developing a “Steel Gray” iPhone 17 Pro last year, but that option never made the cut. So, we’re hoping it makes the cut for the final production this year. Light Blue: For a little whimsy Foundry The rumored light blue color option for the iPhone 18 Pro is certainly one of the biggest surprises. The only time an iPhone Pro model offered a color like this was in 2021 with the Sierra Blue iPhone 13 Pro. It’s still one of my favorites to this day. However, our sources say that this year’s blue finish is much softer than recent blue options such as Pacific Blue or Deep Blue. If you’re tired of gray phones but don’t want something as distinctive as Cosmic Orange, Light Blue might quietly become the sleeper hit of the lineup. If you’re a fan of blue like I am, this option is the one for you. Sierra Blue is one of the most elegant iPhone colors ever made, and if this new Light Blue is anything close, it’ll be an instant classic. Dark Cherry: The one that screams ‘new iPhone’ Foundry Just as Cosmic Orange makes the iPhone 17 Pro instantly recognizable, Dark Cherry will do the same for this year’s iPhone 18 Pro models. Beginning earlier this year, iPhone 18 Pro rumors began pointing to a “deep red” color as a follow-up to Cosmic Orange. But based on information from Macworld sources, the new color will skew closer to a deep wine, purplish hue than the bright red of sports cars. And that makes a lot of sense for an iPhone Pro. A true red iPhone Pro would have taken the iPhone Pro line in an aggressive direction following Cosmic Orange. Dark Cherry, on the other hand, is a return to the Pro line’s sophistication. It’s bold enough to feel different, but restrained enough that it still feels unmistakably like a Pro device. Since publishing our original report, we’ve also seen real-world evidence pointing to this finish, which only reinforces our confidence that Dark Cherry will be the signature color this year. If Apple gets the metallic finish right, Dark Cherry could become one of those colors people immediately associate with a specific iPhone generation, much like Cosmic Orange or Deep Purple before it.  Since the iPhone 18 Pro isn’t expected to look much different from the current generation, Dark Cherry is the finish to choose if you want an iPhone that looks brand new. Apple knows iPhone colors matter While tech specs are important, there are many customers who also spend a lot of time thinking about which iPhone color they should choose. That’s why Apple invests so much effort into developing signature finishes. A distinctive new color makes an upgrade feel immediately recognizable, even before you notice faster performance or better cameras. This year’s color lineup feels more restrained than the iPhone 17 Pro’s, yet it’s shaping up to be one of the most diverse in years. Instead of leaning on a bold color, Apple appears to be embracing a more mature palette centered around darker, richer tones. For some buyers, Silver or Dark Gray will always be the right choice. Others will appreciate how different Light Blue looks compared to previous Pro iPhones. But if someone asked me today which finish best captures what the iPhone 18 Pro generation is supposed to represent, I’d point to Dark Cherry without hesitation. While Cosmic Orange was something of a wild card, Dark Cherry is a signature iPhone Pro color and will surely be its best seller. Of course, color is entirely subjective, and that’s exactly why Apple offers multiple options. But if you’re the kind of buyer who upgrades every few years and wants your new iPhone to actually look new, I’d skip the safe choices this time. Dark Cherry appears to be the finish that best captures this generation, and the one people will remember long after next year’s iPhone arrives.

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 Dummy models soon surfaced showing similar colors, though with a bit more of a pink tone for the Dark Cherry shade. 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. An alleged ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ SIM tray in Dark Cherry 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 the glass back and the frame. Ahead of the iPhone 16 Pro launch, there were rumors of a desert titanium shade. The mockups and dummy models were a darker, uglier brown than the soft, almost pink-toned gold shade Apple used. It's unusual for the color rumors to be wrong, but it happens. Last year, rumors suggested there would be a black ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌, but it was a color Apple apparently dropped. What About the iPhone 18? The iPhone 18 isn't going to launch in the fall alongside the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ models and the foldable iPhone. Apple's holding it until spring 2027, and since it's still months away, we haven't heard what its color options might be. With standard iPhones, Apple often debuts a range of colors. There are five ‌iPhone 17‌ colors, including black, white, and three pastel shades in blue, lavender, and green. Apple tends to go back and forth between pastels and more saturated shades for the standard iPhone, so the 2027 ‌iPhone 18‌ could have brighter colors than the ones Apple used for the ‌iPhone 17‌ line. The ‌iPhone 18‌ is rumored to be launching alongside the iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2, and we also don't know what colors Apple will use for those devices. Launch Timing Apple is expected to introduce the foldable iPhone and the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ models at an iPhone event held the week of September 9. Pre-orders could start at the end of that same week, with a launch on September 18.Related Roundups: iPhone 18, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone FoldTag: iPhone UltraRelated Forum: iPhoneThis article, "Dark Cherry and More: Every iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra Color Rumor" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums