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As Apple prepares for its annual September keynote, insiders have revealed a first look at the color palette for the iPhone 18 Pro. According to Macworld, Apple is moving away from bright, saturated tones in favor of a deep, wine-red shade officially referred to as “Dark Cherry.”
While early rumors hinted at a bright red, internal sources suggest the final hue is much closer to a premium maroon or burgundy, designed to give the Pro models a more classy and bold aesthetic.
Table of Contents
The Full Pro Color Lineup
The Dark Cherry finish isn’t the only change coming to the 2026 Pro series. Internal Pantone codes suggest Apple is experimenting with four primary options:
- Dark Cherry: The signature new “hero” color.
- Light Blue: A soft, airy shade similar to the base iPhone 17’s Mist Blue.
- Dark Gray: A near-black, moody neutral replacing previous titanium grays.
- Silver: A classic, high-polish staple that remains a fan favorite.
Design Refinements: Smaller Dynamic Island
The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected to keep a familiar silhouette, but with one major functional improvement. CAD drawings show a smaller Dynamic Island, which reduces the cutout’s footprint on the screen. This change provides users with more active display space while still housing the essential FaceID and camera sensors.
The “iPhone Ultra”: A 4.7mm Foldable Revolution
Perhaps the most exciting news is the potential launch of the “iPhone Ultra”—Apple’s first foldable device. The Ultra is rumored to be an engineering marvel, measuring just 4.7 millimeters thick when unfolded.
Unlike the Pro models, the foldable Ultra is expected to stick to a more professional color palette. Sources indicate it will likely launch in a classic Silver and White and a deep Indigo finish, mirroring the “Deep Blue” look from previous years. The design reportedly resembles an iPad mini when fully open, featuring a dual-camera system on the rear and multiple selfie cameras for both the inner and outer displays.
Release and Pricing
The iPhone 18 Pro series and the new foldable Ultra are expected to be announced in September 2026. While the Pro models usually hit stores shortly after the announcement, some analysts suggest the foldable Ultra may face a slightly later release date due to the complexity of its 4.7mm chassis.
More affordable models, including the iPhone 18e and a new “iPhone Air,” are currently rumored for a secondary release in the first half of 2027.
Editor's Take
Our guide editor Adnan Abdullah, already using the latest iPhone 17 Pro, notes that the iPhone 18 Pro will bring a smaller Dynamic Island for more screen space, while getting slightly thicker (8.8mm vs 8.75mm) likely due to a larger battery.