Apple is testing a ‘deep red’ color for iPhone 18 Pro, report says

Apple’s next pro-level iPhone would stay on the warm side of the color spectrum.

The latest newsletter from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who is usually right when it comes to Apple predictions, says so. Apparently, Apple has been testing a new “dark red” color for the iPhone 18 Pro, using the same type of all-aluminum body as last year’s iPhone 17 Pro. It would be the first red iPhone since 2022, and according to Gurman, it could exist alongside the cosmic orange color that made waves last year, instead of replacing it outright. Orange is very popular in China, which is why it could survive until 2026 and beyond.

The much-rumored iPhone Fold, scheduled to launch this year, may not have as much luck with its color choices when it debuts, Gurman says. As an aside, Gurman’s report notes that Apple is sticking to dark gray, black and white, or silver for this device’s colorways. This matches previous leaks and rumors that the iPhone Fold would only be available in black and white. Maybe we’ll get a fun iPhone Fold in year two.

The all-aluminum chassis Apple adopted on the iPhone 17 Pro allowed the company to be a little bolder with its color choices, but it also came with a problem.

Last year’s model was notoriously easy to scratch, creating a minor controversy known as “Scratchgate”. Some have speculated that Scratchgate is the reason Apple didn’t release a black iPhone 17 Pro last year, even though black has long been a primary color option for iPhones. 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 palette, go for the Fold this year. If you want something snappy that will ultimately need to be covered with a case to prevent scratches, go for the 18 Pro.