Apple’s next pro-level iPhone is reportedly staying on the warm side of the color spectrum.
The latest newsletter from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who is usually correct when it comes to Apple predictions, is saying as much. Apparently, Apple has been testing out a new “deep red” color for the iPhone 18 Pro, using the same all-aluminum body type as last year’s iPhone 17 Pro. This would be the first red iPhone since 2022, and according to Gurman, it might exist alongside the cosmic orange color that made waves last year, instead of outright replacing it. The orange is very popular in China, which is why it might survive into 2026 and beyond.
The heavily rumored iPhone Fold, said to launch this year, may not be so fortunate with its color choices in its debut, Gurman says. As an aside, Gurman’s report notes that Apple is sticking to dark gray or black and white or silver for the colorways on that device. This aligns with previous leaks and rumors that said the iPhone Fold will only be available in black and white. Maybe we’ll get a fun iPhone Fold in year two.
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The all-aluminum chassis Apple adopted on the iPhone 17 Pro allowed the company to get a little bolder with its color choices, but it also came with a catch.
Last year’s model was notoriously easy to scratch up, creating a minor controversy known as “Scratchgate.” Some have theorized that Scratchgate is why Apple didn’t release a black iPhone 17 Pro last year, even though black has been a mainstay color option for iPhones for a long time. The scratches were more easily visible on darker models, and the lack of a black color for the 17 Pro bothered some longtime fans on the internet.
If you want an expensive iPhone with a more muted color scheme, go with the Fold this year. If you want something vivid that will ultimately need to be covered with a case to avoid scratches, go with the 18 Pro.
