Apple is skipping black on the iPhone 18 Pro for the second year running. That's the news sitting underneath the more exciting headline — a deep red finish is reportedly being tested for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, and if it ships, it would be the first time the Pro lineup has ever come in red.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman broke the deep red detail. Weibo leaker WHYLAB confirmed black isn't coming back.
Key Points
- Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports Apple is testing a deep red finish for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max — described as more of a rich burgundy shade than a bright red
- Black is confirmed absent for a second consecutive year — the iPhone 17 Pro already dropped it for the first time in the lineup's history
- Earlier rumors of purple and brown options appear to be variants of the same red direction according to Gurman — not separate color choices
- The foldable iPhone launching alongside the 18 Pro is reportedly getting conservative space gray and silver finishes, contrasting with the Pro's bolder palette
- September 2026 is the expected launch window — all color details remain unconfirmed until Apple makes it official
A Pro iPhone in Red Would Be a First
The iPhone Pro line has never shipped in red. The standard and Plus models carried PRODUCT(RED) for years before it was discontinued — but the Pro tier always stuck to premium neutrals. Testing a deep red or burgundy finish for the 18 Pro represents a genuine departure from that tradition, not just an incremental palette refresh.
Gurman's "burgundy" description matters. This isn't the bright cherry red of old PRODUCT(RED) devices. It's a deeper, more sophisticated shade that fits the Pro's premium positioning while still being far bolder than the titanium and graphite options that defined recent generations.
Black Is Gone Again — And That's a Story Too
Apple removed black from the Pro lineup with the iPhone 17 Pro — the first time in the series' history that no dark option existed. Cosmic Orange and Deep Blue replaced it, generating significant discussion. The 18 Pro appears to be continuing that direction rather than course-correcting.
For buyers who want black, Gurman specifically noted that the foldable iPhone is being designed with conservative space gray and silver finishes. Apple is apparently separating its color identity across product lines — bold and expressive for Pro, understated and premium for the foldable.
Purple and Brown Aren't Happening
Multiple earlier leaks floated purple and brown as potential iPhone 18 Pro options. Gurman dismissed both as likely variants of the red concept rather than distinct color directions. That narrows the new color story to deep red — alongside whatever traditional options Apple carries forward from the 17 Pro lineup.
September is still months away. Colors are among the last details Apple finalizes before launch.
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