KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Four colors currently in development for the iPhone 18 Pro: Dark Cherry, Light Blue, Dark Gray, and Silver.
- Dark Cherry is described as a deep, wine-like red; considerably closer to burgundy than a bright red.
- Cosmic Orange, the signature color of the iPhone 17 Pro, is expected to be discontinued with this generation.
- All colors remain in development and could still change before mass production begins.
With Apple’s September 2026 iPhone event still months away, a supply chain leak published on April 17 has revealed the clearest look yet at the colour palette Apple is preparing for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
According to a source familiar with Apple’s supply chain, the company is internally working with four Pantone colour references for this year’s Pro lineup: Light Blue, Dark Cherry, Dark Grey, and Silver.
The leak comes from Macworld, the same outlet that accurately predicted the iPhone 17 Pro’s Cosmic Orange and Deep Blue finishes last year, giving the report strong credibility, even if the final palette is not yet locked.
Dark Cherry Is Apple’s Bold Signature Color for 2026
Every year, Apple introduces one headline colour that defines the Pro lineup’s visual identity: Pacific Blue, Desert Titanium, and Cosmic Orange. For 2026, the leaked signature is Dark Cherry.
As MacRumors confirmed, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and other leakers had previously reported Apple was experimenting with a “deep red” for the iPhone 18 Pro, but the supply chain source now gives a clearer picture of what that actually means.
Dark Cherry is expected to be a muted, wine-like red, Pantone 6076, sitting closer to burgundy or aubergine than a bright, vivid red. The report noted, based on the Pantone code, the shade leans more towards purple than classic red, making it a far more restrained choice than Cosmic Orange.
The outlet described it as classy and bold, but less visually striking in marketing compared to this year’s standout finish.
Light Blue, Dark Gray, and Silver Round Out the Lineup
Alongside the signature Dark Cherry, three additional finishes are in development.
Light Blue, Pantone 2121, is described by MacRumors as similar to Sierra Blue from the iPhone 13 Pro in 2021, and close in tone to the Mist Blue currently available on the base iPhone 17.
Dark Gray, Pantone 426C, serves as a darker neutral option and follows reporting from Weibo leaker Instant Digital that the iPhone 18 Pro will not feature a true black finish for a second consecutive year, making Dark Gray the darkest option in the current lineup.
Silver, Pantone 427C, completes the four colour palette as the familiar classic finish carried over from previous generations.
Why Cosmic Orange Is Expected to Exit After One Cycle
As 9to5Mac reported, it makes sense for Apple to retire Cosmic Orange with this generation. Apple’s recent Pro lineups tend to rotate their signature colour each year, with each distinctive shade acting as a limited-run identifier for that cycle.
Keeping Cosmic Orange for a second year would reduce the sense of exclusivity that gives it its impact.
The shift from a vivid warm tone like Cosmic Orange to a muted cool red like Dark Cherry also reflects a broader shift towards more understated premium finishes. This follows Apple’s approach in previous years with Natural Titanium and Desert Titanium.
What the Leak Does Not Confirm
MacRumors was careful to note a key caveat in the original report: all four colours are still in development, the iPhone 18 Pro has not yet entered mass production, and Apple can still change the lineup before launch.
The company does not always finalise four colour options for the Pro range, and one of the current candidates could be dropped. Last year, both black and steel grey were reportedly under consideration for the iPhone 17 Pro, but neither made it to release.
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to be unveiled in September 2026.
The accompanying foldable iPhone is also said to have a more limited colour range, with Silver, White, and an Indigo option currently reported, and no bold or bright colours planned at this stage, signaling a calculated shift in tech trends toward more minimalist aesthetics. .
Source: iPhone 18 Pro’s Four Rumored Colors Revealed, Including ‘Dark Cherry’
