Reviving the Black: The Return of Apple’s Classic Color

One of the most fascinating parts of the rumor cycle for any upcoming iPhone model is the debate on the new finishes Apple may have on offer. After all, we’re a long way from the days when the company stuck with neutrals like blacks, grays, silvers, whites, and the occasional gold.

We’ve been hearing color rumors for the iPhone 18 Pro for almost a year now. These first surfaced in October 2025 with reports of three new shades, described as coffee, purple, and burgundy. However, by February, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman had weighed in to say these were all variations on a theme — that what Apple was actually doing was trying to perfect a deep red color. At the time, Gurman speculated that Apple might offer this as a new shade, keeping the cosmic orange around due to its overwhelming popularity.

By April, the consensus was that Apple was settling on a “crimson red” shade. It wasn’t the first time we’d heard this; leakers predicted a similar color for the iPhone 15 Pro that never materialized, but it’s unclear if that was simply a red herring (pun only slightly intended) or if Apple actually tried to develop the color for its titanium finish back then but abandoned it.

Meanwhile, another rumor claimed that Apple would stick with the trend set by the iPhone 17 Pro, and not paint the iPhone 18 Pro black. However, that point is now in dispute, as leakers share conflicting reports.

Although everyone seems to agree on the actual colors — a dark cherry/burgundy and a sky blue — there’s now some debate on the single neutral color Apple is expected to offer this year. A new Weibo post from Fixed Focus Digital claims the black is coming back, and silver will “most likely” be omitted this year, noting he’s seen no evidence of the latter. If accurate, this suggests Apple will follow the iPhone 17 Pro in releasing only three colors.

On the flip side, Sonny Dickson contests that, and he’s bringing the photos to back it up. The longtime leaker claims to have seen the SIM card trays for the iPhone 18 Pro models, and they’re in light blue, dark red, and silver.

Dickson also told MacRumors that they’re the only ones he’s come across. Although he shared four dummy models in the spring — including a black finish — he noted that’s likely just a result of the accessory makers creating these out of habit, adding that black is “not a color Apple prefers to use anymore.”

A Sort of Colorful History

In 2018, the iPhone XR changed the game with a whole array of fun colors, and the following year Apple followed suit when it introduced the “Pro” branding for its flagship models that followed in the footsteps of the iPhone X and iPhone XS lineups.

Still, Apple initially eschewed the vibrant color palette of its non-pro models, preferring to focus on a single more “serious” color for each year’s Pro model. The iPhone 11 Pro came in a lovely “midnight green,” the iPhone 12 Pro followed that up with “pacific blue,” while the iPhone 13 Pro changed things up a bit with a brighter “sierra blue.”

However, Apple didn’t entirely leave the darker shade out — it introduced a mid-cycle refresh in “alpine green” in early 2022, marking the only time an iPhone Pro model has gotten a second color in a later update — and the only time an iPhone Pro has been offered in five shades. However, by the fall of that year, the iPhone 14 Pro had fully returned to the dark side with “deep purple.”

When Apple switched to titanium for the iPhone 15 Pro, it leaned more heavily into that with a “blue titanium” — a shade very similar to the iPhone 12 Pro’s pacific blue. Then the iPhone 16 Pro saw the light again when Apple switched over to “desert titanium,” a beige-ish champagne color.

During this entire color saga, Apple continued to offer its usual three neutrals: gray, silver, and gold. Some of the names varied over the years, especially for the gray, which varied between space gray, graphite, and space black. The gold was also replaced with “natural titanium” during the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro, while space black became “black titanium” and silver became “white titanium.”

Then came the iPhone 17 Pro. When Apple changed up the design last year and adopted a new aluminum material, it completely changed its playbook. For the first time since the iPhone XS, a flagship model came in only three colors… but to make matters even more unusual, none of them was black.

Instead, Apple kept only a single neutral — silver — and added two colors for the first time ever. Deep blue and cosmic orange.

Nobody was ever quite sure why Apple did that. It could have literally been nothing more than the design team deciding it was time for a change to go with the new aluminum unibody and full-width camera plateau. Still, some speculated that the aluminum anodization process couldn’t produce the kind of black that Apple wanted.

Whatever the reason, the evidence does seem to suggest that Apple will be skipping the black finish again this year. However, we shouldn’t have to wait much longer to find out, as Apple has already announced its Surprise and Shine event for September 9, where it’s pretty much guaranteed to show off the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, along with an action-packed lineup of other products.

[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual.

Why You Should Take Tech Rumors with a Grain of Salt

In the fast-paced world of technology, rumors can spread like wildfire. Whether it’s about the latest smartphone release or a groundbreaking new technology, it’s essential to approach these rumors with caution.

One of the most critical reasons to take tech rumors with a grain of salt is the nature of the industry itself. Technology is constantly evolving, with new advancements and developments happening every day. This means that what may seem like a groundbreaking rumor today could quickly become obsolete tomorrow.

Furthermore, tech rumors are often spread by individuals or sources with unknown credibility. While some rumors may turn out to be true, many are simply speculation or wishful thinking. It’s essential to consider the source of the rumor and their track record before placing too much trust in the information they provide.

Another reason to approach tech rumors with skepticism is the potential impact they can have on consumers. False rumors can lead to misinformation and confusion, causing individuals to make decisions based on inaccurate information. This can result in wasted time, money, and disappointment.

Ultimately, it’s crucial to stay informed about the latest tech news and developments but to do so with a critical eye. By taking tech rumors with a grain of salt and verifying information from reputable sources, you can navigate the ever-changing tech landscape with confidence and clarity.