Apple’s next Pro iPhones may be about to get one of their more unusual colour options in recent years. Rumoured details surrounding the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max suggest Apple has been testing four finishes: Dark Cherry, Light Blue, Dark Gray and Silver. Of those, Dark Cherry is shaping up as the colour most likely to define the 2026 Pro lineup.

What makes the leak particularly interesting is the level of detail attached to the shades. The reported colours are not simply described as red, blue, gray and silver. Specific Pantone references have also been linked to the finishes, offering a clearer idea of what Apple may be experimenting with ahead of launch.

The important caveat is that these remain rumoured colours. Apple’s final retail selection could still differ from the finishes currently appearing in reports and dummy models.

Dark Cherry could be the iPhone 18 Pro’s signature colour

The standout shade is described as Dark Cherry, linked to Pantone 6076.

Despite earlier rumours referring to a deep red iPhone 18 Pro, the latest description suggests buyers should not necessarily picture a straightforward dark red phone.

The reported shade is said to have a hint of purple, giving it more of a dark cherry appearance. That distinction could make the colour look considerably different depending on lighting, moving between deep red, burgundy and muted purple tones rather than appearing as a conventional bright red finish.

That also explains why “Dark Cherry” may be a more useful description than simply calling the phone red.

Multiple rumours have pointed towards Apple testing a deep red finish for the iPhone 18 Pro generation, with the colour expected to serve as the special option in the lineup. The more specific Dark Cherry description now gives that rumour a clearer identity.

If Apple ultimately adopts it, Dark Cherry could become the visually distinctive choice in a lineup otherwise expected to lean towards considerably more restrained colours.

What colours could the iPhone 18 Pro come in?

Based on the currently circulating information, these are the four finishes being associated with the iPhone 18 Pro models:

Dark Cherry, Pantone 6076: The headline new colour. It is described as a dark cherry shade with a slight purple character rather than a simple deep red.

Light Blue, Pantone 2121: A lighter and softer option said to resemble the Mist Blue finish associated with the current iPhone 17.

Dark Gray, Pantone 426C: A more understated dark finish that could appeal to buyers who prefer neutral Pro colours.

Silver, Pantone 427C: A familiar lighter option described as being similar to the current generation.

The specific Pantone references attached to the rumours are Light Blue 2121, Dark Cherry 6076, Dark Gray 426C and Silver 427C.

The four-colour rumour has another piece of evidence behind it

The colour discussion is not based only on written descriptions.

The same four shades have reportedly appeared on early iPhone 18 Pro dummy models, giving another indication of what Apple may be considering for the finished devices.

Images reproduced in the reporting show four dummy units placed together in blue, dark gray, silver and a rich reddish-purple finish. The last of those is particularly notable because its appearance fits the Dark Cherry description more closely than a traditional Apple red.

Dummy models are not confirmation of Apple’s final products, but their appearance alongside the separate colour reports makes the four-finish lineup worth watching as the expected launch approaches.

A more unified rear design could change how those colours look

There may also be a subtle design change affecting how the finishes are presented.

The iPhone 18 Pro models are rumoured to move away from some of the two-tone character of the iPhone 17 Pro generation. Reports suggest the back glass could be adjusted to reduce the visible colour difference between the glass section and the aluminium frame, producing a more unified appearance.

That could be particularly important for Dark Cherry.

A darker reddish-purple finish spread more consistently across the rear glass and frame would create a very different visual effect from a design in which the two materials appear noticeably different in colour.

The phones are still expected to use an anodized aluminium finish, while the overall design is expected to remain broadly similar to the iPhone 17 Pro models.

Colours may be one of the easiest ways to tell this generation apart

The wider iPhone 18 Pro design is not currently expected to undergo a dramatic overhaul.

The Pro models are expected to retain 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes, while rumours point to changes including a potentially thicker camera plateau and efforts to make the rear finish look more consistent.

That makes the colour palette more significant than it might initially appear.

If the overall silhouette remains familiar, a finish such as Dark Cherry could become one of the clearest visual identifiers separating an iPhone 18 Pro from the previous generation.

The other three reported colours tell a different story. Light Blue provides a softer alternative, while Dark Gray and Silver would preserve the neutral choices traditionally associated with premium smartphones.

Taken together, the leaked palette appears to give Apple one conspicuous colour and three comparatively conservative options.

When could Apple reveal the final iPhone 18 Pro colours?

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to arrive as part of Apple’s September 2026 iPhone launch. The reporting also places Apple’s new foldable iPhone in the same launch window, while the standard iPhone 18 is expected later, in spring 2027.

Until the devices are formally unveiled, however, Dark Cherry, Light Blue, Dark Gray and Silver should be treated as leaked or rumoured possibilities rather than confirmed retail colours.

For prospective Pro buyers, Dark Cherry is the shade to watch. If the Pantone 6076 description proves accurate, the iPhone 18 Pro’s headline colour may turn out to be less “red iPhone” and more of a deep reddish-purple finish, giving Apple’s 2026 Pro lineup a noticeably different character without requiring a major redesign.

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