A 14-second video posted to Naver appears to show two iPhone 18 Pro models in Dark Cherry and Light Blue colors. The footage, posted by user yeux1122, depicts what looks like retail demo equipment with professional display stands and security cables. It arrives 2 days before Apple’s event on Wednesday (September 11, 2026) carrying the tagline “Surprise and Shine,” reigniting debate over whether these are genuine retail units or convincing fakes.
As discovered by MacRumors, the video shows an iPhone 18 Pro Max in Dark Cherry and an iPhone 18 Pro in light blue on clear plastic stands typical of retail environments. A dark blue iPhone 17 Pro Max held by the poster provides color comparison.
Dark Cherry Represents a Burgundy, Not Bright Red
Dark Cherry is Apple’s major signature finish for the iPhone 18 Pro generation. Macworld’s April exclusive confirmed the color corresponds to Pantone 6076, closer to wine and burgundy than the bright red Mark Gurman had initially suggested. The shade leans more purple than red depending on lighting, distinguishing it clearly from last year’s Cosmic Orange while maintaining enough warmth to stand as the generation’s standout finish.
The light blue in the Naver video bears resemblance to Sierra Blue from the iPhone 13 Pro, though the rumored shade appears more saturated with reduced red and green undertones. Combined with Dark Cherry, silver, and gray options, this four-color lineup has remained consistent in reports since May, when leaker Sonny Dickson posted dummy units in all four finishes.
Why Skeptics Question the Video’s Authenticity
Third-party manufacturers can easily obtain or fabricate convincing dummy units. 9to5Mac noted that case companies had production-quality prototypes on display at IFA, making it trivial to source realistic models for staged footage. The Naver poster has a track record but has more recently aggregated content from Chinese social media rather than breaking exclusive news.
However, retail environments would logically hold demo units this close to launch. The professional presentation of the display equipment suggests a real retail or distribution setting, though this alone does not guarantee authenticity. Apple’s risk tolerance for allowing leaked footage is low, yet the logistics of stocking retail units 24 hours before announcement make the scenario plausible.
