Apple is retiring the Cosmic Orange color that defined the iPhone 17 Pro in favor of Dark Cherry, a deep burgundy-inflected red that marks Apple’s shift toward moodier, more conservative tones for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max launching in September.
The four confirmed colors for the standard Pro models are Dark Cherry, Light Blue, Dark Gray, and Silver. According to Pantone specifications obtained by Macworld, Dark Cherry carries the code Pantone 6076 and reads as a wine-like crimson with subtle purple undertones. Light Blue (Pantone 2121) closely mirrors the current iPhone 17’s Mist Blue, while Silver (Pantone 427C) maintains the steel finish from last year’s Pro tier. Dark Gray rounds out the palette with a neutral alternative to the absent black option.
Why Dark Cherry Over Cosmic Orange
Dark Cherry represents a deliberate retreat from the high-energy saturation Cosmic Orange brought to the iPhone 18 Pro. The shift reflects broader fashion trends moving away from saturated hues toward deeper, more wearable jewel tones. Weibo leaker Fixed Focus Digital resolved confusion about the exact shade in August, confirming that the darker purple-red variant circulating online is the authentic Dark Cherry, not a lighter approximation. The description varies slightly depending on the source: Instant Digital characterized it as a combination of burgundy, coffee, and deep purple, while others simply call it a deep wine tone.
Leaker Sonny Dickson shared physical dummy unit images in May showing all four colors in realistic form, noting that “Cherry will probably be the next hit, orange did very well.” Those dummy models, made from plastic or low-quality metals rather than finished aluminum and glass, likely understate how Dark Cherry will appear in production units. Cosmic Orange itself improved noticeably when it moved from renders to the finished iPhone 17 Pro, a precedent that suggests Dark Cherry may look richer and more appealing in hand than early leaks suggest.
Black Is Absent Again
Black is not returning to the Pro lineup for a second consecutive year. Reports from 2025 indicated Apple had considered launching the iPhone 17 Pro in black or steel gray but chose neither. The decision to omit black while offering Dark Gray suggests that Apple is consciously moving away from traditional neutrals and toward colors with clearer visual identity. Four colors is itself not a guarantee: Macworld’s source noted in April that all four finishes were still in development and subject to change, since mass production had not yet begun.
iPhone Ultra Gets Conservative Treatment
The foldable iPhone Ultra, priced above $2,000, follows a radically different color strategy. Leaked accessories revealed in August confirm only two finishes: silver or white, and a dark blue shade that appears almost black. Apple is deliberately avoiding bold, narrow-appeal colors on its most expensive device, opting instead for colors with universal appeal. The conservative palette suits a $2,000+ device.
The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected to be announced the week of September, with pre-orders at the end of that same week and a September 18 launch.
