It’s early, but the annual iPhone rumor cycle is already focused on finishes and hardware tweaks expected for Apple’s 2026 flagship lineup. According to a new supply-chain report cited by Macworld, Apple is currently testing several colors for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, with a deep Dark Cherry Red shade positioned as the leading new option.
If the report is accurate, Dark Cherry would replace the more vivid Cosmic Orange introduced on the iPhone 17 Pro generation. The new tone is said to lean closer to burgundy or wine red rather than a bright red finish. Apple often rotates exclusive Pro colors each year, so a change here would be consistent with previous launches.
Other finishes reportedly in testing include Light Blue, Dark Gray, and Silver. As with any pre-production detail, there’s no guarantee all of them will ship. Apple frequently evaluates multiple finishes before locking the final retail lineup.
The report also includes Pantone references allegedly used internally during development:
- Light Blue (Pantone 2121)
- Dark Cherry (Pantone 6076)
- Dark Gray (Pantone 426C)
- Silver (Pantone 427C)
Those codes don’t confirm final retail names or exact appearance, especially once materials, coatings and lighting come into play.
On the hardware side, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected to retain the general design language of the current models. The most visible change in the leak is a smaller Dynamic Island, which would free up a bit more screen space when inactive.
Another possible adjustment involves the rear camera area, where the gap between the glass panel and camera bump may be narrower than before. It’s unclear whether that reflects a finalized design or an earlier prototype. Apple has previously been rumored to refine transitions between materials and reduce visible seams.
The same report also touches on Apple’s long-rumored foldable iPhone, currently referred to by some sources as iPhone Ultra. That device is said to use a more conservative color palette than the standard iPhone range, with options including Silver/White and Indigo.
via Macworld