Apple has typically played it safe when it comes to color options for its flagship iPhones. Aside from the usual silver, white, gold and black tones, the company doesn’t use much boldness. That changed with the iPhone 18 Pro, which came in the eye-catching Cosmic Orange color and proved very popular. According to Bloomberg, Apple wants to repeat that success later this year with the iPhone 18 Pro, and its next bet could be a shade of red.
What’s the big change?
“Given the success of orange, I wouldn’t be surprised if the company kept this option and just added red as an additional option,” the outlet reports, adding, “Currently, red is the new flagship color in testing for the next iPhone Pros.” Now, deep red is just one of the colors Apple has in mind for the iPhone 18 Pro, and it’s plausible that the company could ultimately opt for other colors. It’s also worth noting that Apple has been experimenting with multiple colors for years in advance, so there’s a chance we’ll finally see a red iPhone in a few years.
It was recently reported that Apple tried out bold color options for the M2 MacBook Air but ultimately scrapped the idea. According to rumors, these colors will finally appear on the affordable MacBook, which is due to hit the market in March and features an A-series smartphone chip and a display smaller than 13 inches. It would be interesting to see if Apple also tries something new with the surface refinement of the deep red color of the iPhone 18 Pro. Several iPhone 17 Pro users have reported that the orange color gets scratched and discolored easily.
A return to red
Apple is no stranger to red iPhones. In fact, the company has a long history of releasing iPhones in a bright red hue, which the company markets as the (PRODUCT)RED iPhone. The company has released iPhones in this signature shade of red, reflecting a partnership with Red to raise HIV awareness and rally support for the cause. Apple has released mostly (PRODUCT)RED variants of iPhones and iPods, and the company says the initiative has raised $250 million to support HIV/AIDS programs.
As for the iPhone 18 Pro, it’s unclear whether the deep red hue will be a continuation of the partnership or if it’s just the signature color for the Fall 2026 iPhone lineup. Other rumors suggest that chocolate brown and purple are also being discussed at Apple. As for the upgrades, the iPhone 18 Pro is expected to feature a slimmer Dynamic Island, a variable aperture camera, a next-generation modem with improved satellite connectivity, and a faster chip.
